f58f5216f8d3ce25250aaca3cdeccbdeef6c3290
[deliverable/binutils-gdb.git] / gdb / doc / gdb.texinfo
1 \input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
2 @c Copyright (C) 1988-1996, 1998-2012 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
3 @c
4 @c %**start of header
5 @c makeinfo ignores cmds prev to setfilename, so its arg cannot make use
6 @c of @set vars. However, you can override filename with makeinfo -o.
7 @setfilename gdb.info
8 @c
9 @include gdb-cfg.texi
10 @c
11 @settitle Debugging with @value{GDBN}
12 @setchapternewpage odd
13 @c %**end of header
14
15 @iftex
16 @c @smallbook
17 @c @cropmarks
18 @end iftex
19
20 @finalout
21 @syncodeindex ky cp
22 @syncodeindex tp cp
23
24 @c readline appendices use @vindex, @findex and @ftable,
25 @c annotate.texi and gdbmi use @findex.
26 @syncodeindex vr cp
27 @syncodeindex fn cp
28
29 @c !!set GDB manual's edition---not the same as GDB version!
30 @c This is updated by GNU Press.
31 @set EDITION Tenth
32
33 @c !!set GDB edit command default editor
34 @set EDITOR /bin/ex
35
36 @c THIS MANUAL REQUIRES TEXINFO 4.0 OR LATER.
37
38 @c This is a dir.info fragment to support semi-automated addition of
39 @c manuals to an info tree.
40 @dircategory Software development
41 @direntry
42 * Gdb: (gdb). The GNU debugger.
43 @end direntry
44
45 @copying
46 Copyright @copyright{} 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996,
47 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
48 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
49
50 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
51 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or
52 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
53 Invariant Sections being ``Free Software'' and ``Free Software Needs
54 Free Documentation'', with the Front-Cover Texts being ``A GNU Manual,''
55 and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below.
56
57 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You are free to copy and modify
58 this GNU Manual. Buying copies from GNU Press supports the FSF in
59 developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
60 @end copying
61
62 @ifnottex
63 This file documents the @sc{gnu} debugger @value{GDBN}.
64
65 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, of @cite{Debugging with
66 @value{GDBN}: the @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger} for @value{GDBN}
67 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
68 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
69 @end ifset
70 Version @value{GDBVN}.
71
72 @insertcopying
73 @end ifnottex
74
75 @titlepage
76 @title Debugging with @value{GDBN}
77 @subtitle The @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger
78 @sp 1
79 @subtitle @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN}
80 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
81 @sp 1
82 @subtitle @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
83 @end ifset
84 @author Richard Stallman, Roland Pesch, Stan Shebs, et al.
85 @page
86 @tex
87 {\parskip=0pt
88 \hfill (Send bugs and comments on @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.)\par
89 \hfill {\it Debugging with @value{GDBN}}\par
90 \hfill \TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par
91 }
92 @end tex
93
94 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
95 Published by the Free Software Foundation @*
96 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor,
97 Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA@*
98 ISBN 978-0-9831592-3-0 @*
99
100 @insertcopying
101 @end titlepage
102 @page
103
104 @ifnottex
105 @node Top, Summary, (dir), (dir)
106
107 @top Debugging with @value{GDBN}
108
109 This file describes @value{GDBN}, the @sc{gnu} symbolic debugger.
110
111 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN}
112 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
113 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
114 @end ifset
115 Version @value{GDBVN}.
116
117 Copyright (C) 1988-2010 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
118
119 This edition of the GDB manual is dedicated to the memory of Fred
120 Fish. Fred was a long-standing contributor to GDB and to Free
121 software in general. We will miss him.
122
123 @menu
124 * Summary:: Summary of @value{GDBN}
125 * Sample Session:: A sample @value{GDBN} session
126
127 * Invocation:: Getting in and out of @value{GDBN}
128 * Commands:: @value{GDBN} commands
129 * Running:: Running programs under @value{GDBN}
130 * Stopping:: Stopping and continuing
131 * Reverse Execution:: Running programs backward
132 * Process Record and Replay:: Recording inferior's execution and replaying it
133 * Stack:: Examining the stack
134 * Source:: Examining source files
135 * Data:: Examining data
136 * Optimized Code:: Debugging optimized code
137 * Macros:: Preprocessor Macros
138 * Tracepoints:: Debugging remote targets non-intrusively
139 * Overlays:: Debugging programs that use overlays
140
141 * Languages:: Using @value{GDBN} with different languages
142
143 * Symbols:: Examining the symbol table
144 * Altering:: Altering execution
145 * GDB Files:: @value{GDBN} files
146 * Targets:: Specifying a debugging target
147 * Remote Debugging:: Debugging remote programs
148 * Configurations:: Configuration-specific information
149 * Controlling GDB:: Controlling @value{GDBN}
150 * Extending GDB:: Extending @value{GDBN}
151 * Interpreters:: Command Interpreters
152 * TUI:: @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
153 * Emacs:: Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
154 * GDB/MI:: @value{GDBN}'s Machine Interface.
155 * Annotations:: @value{GDBN}'s annotation interface.
156 * JIT Interface:: Using the JIT debugging interface.
157
158 * GDB Bugs:: Reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
159
160 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
161 * Command Line Editing: (rluserman). Command Line Editing
162 * Using History Interactively: (history). Using History Interactively
163 @end ifset
164 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
165 * Command Line Editing:: Command Line Editing
166 * Using History Interactively:: Using History Interactively
167 @end ifclear
168 * In Memoriam:: In Memoriam
169 * Formatting Documentation:: How to format and print @value{GDBN} documentation
170 * Installing GDB:: Installing GDB
171 * Maintenance Commands:: Maintenance Commands
172 * Remote Protocol:: GDB Remote Serial Protocol
173 * Agent Expressions:: The GDB Agent Expression Mechanism
174 * Target Descriptions:: How targets can describe themselves to
175 @value{GDBN}
176 * Operating System Information:: Getting additional information from
177 the operating system
178 * Trace File Format:: GDB trace file format
179 * Index Section Format:: .gdb_index section format
180 * Copying:: GNU General Public License says
181 how you can copy and share GDB
182 * GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation
183 * Index:: Index
184 @end menu
185
186 @end ifnottex
187
188 @contents
189
190 @node Summary
191 @unnumbered Summary of @value{GDBN}
192
193 The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
194 going on ``inside'' another program while it executes---or what another
195 program was doing at the moment it crashed.
196
197 @value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
198 these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
199
200 @itemize @bullet
201 @item
202 Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
203
204 @item
205 Make your program stop on specified conditions.
206
207 @item
208 Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
209
210 @item
211 Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
212 effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
213 @end itemize
214
215 You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C and C@t{++}.
216 For more information, see @ref{Supported Languages,,Supported Languages}.
217 For more information, see @ref{C,,C and C++}.
218
219 Support for D is partial. For information on D, see
220 @ref{D,,D}.
221
222 @cindex Modula-2
223 Support for Modula-2 is partial. For information on Modula-2, see
224 @ref{Modula-2,,Modula-2}.
225
226 Support for OpenCL C is partial. For information on OpenCL C, see
227 @ref{OpenCL C,,OpenCL C}.
228
229 @cindex Pascal
230 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
231 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
232 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
233 syntax.
234
235 @cindex Fortran
236 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, although
237 it may be necessary to refer to some variables with a trailing
238 underscore.
239
240 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Objective-C,
241 using either the Apple/NeXT or the GNU Objective-C runtime.
242
243 @menu
244 * Free Software:: Freely redistributable software
245 * Contributors:: Contributors to GDB
246 @end menu
247
248 @node Free Software
249 @unnumberedsec Free Software
250
251 @value{GDBN} is @dfn{free software}, protected by the @sc{gnu}
252 General Public License
253 (GPL). The GPL gives you the freedom to copy or adapt a licensed
254 program---but every person getting a copy also gets with it the
255 freedom to modify that copy (which means that they must get access to
256 the source code), and the freedom to distribute further copies.
257 Typical software companies use copyrights to limit your freedoms; the
258 Free Software Foundation uses the GPL to preserve these freedoms.
259
260 Fundamentally, the General Public License is a license which says that
261 you have these freedoms and that you cannot take these freedoms away
262 from anyone else.
263
264 @unnumberedsec Free Software Needs Free Documentation
265
266 The biggest deficiency in the free software community today is not in
267 the software---it is the lack of good free documentation that we can
268 include with the free software. Many of our most important
269 programs do not come with free reference manuals and free introductory
270 texts. Documentation is an essential part of any software package;
271 when an important free software package does not come with a free
272 manual and a free tutorial, that is a major gap. We have many such
273 gaps today.
274
275 Consider Perl, for instance. The tutorial manuals that people
276 normally use are non-free. How did this come about? Because the
277 authors of those manuals published them with restrictive terms---no
278 copying, no modification, source files not available---which exclude
279 them from the free software world.
280
281 That wasn't the first time this sort of thing happened, and it was far
282 from the last. Many times we have heard a GNU user eagerly describe a
283 manual that he is writing, his intended contribution to the community,
284 only to learn that he had ruined everything by signing a publication
285 contract to make it non-free.
286
287 Free documentation, like free software, is a matter of freedom, not
288 price. The problem with the non-free manual is not that publishers
289 charge a price for printed copies---that in itself is fine. (The Free
290 Software Foundation sells printed copies of manuals, too.) The
291 problem is the restrictions on the use of the manual. Free manuals
292 are available in source code form, and give you permission to copy and
293 modify. Non-free manuals do not allow this.
294
295 The criteria of freedom for a free manual are roughly the same as for
296 free software. Redistribution (including the normal kinds of
297 commercial redistribution) must be permitted, so that the manual can
298 accompany every copy of the program, both on-line and on paper.
299
300 Permission for modification of the technical content is crucial too.
301 When people modify the software, adding or changing features, if they
302 are conscientious they will change the manual too---so they can
303 provide accurate and clear documentation for the modified program. A
304 manual that leaves you no choice but to write a new manual to document
305 a changed version of the program is not really available to our
306 community.
307
308 Some kinds of limits on the way modification is handled are
309 acceptable. For example, requirements to preserve the original
310 author's copyright notice, the distribution terms, or the list of
311 authors, are ok. It is also no problem to require modified versions
312 to include notice that they were modified. Even entire sections that
313 may not be deleted or changed are acceptable, as long as they deal
314 with nontechnical topics (like this one). These kinds of restrictions
315 are acceptable because they don't obstruct the community's normal use
316 of the manual.
317
318 However, it must be possible to modify all the @emph{technical}
319 content of the manual, and then distribute the result in all the usual
320 media, through all the usual channels. Otherwise, the restrictions
321 obstruct the use of the manual, it is not free, and we need another
322 manual to replace it.
323
324 Please spread the word about this issue. Our community continues to
325 lose manuals to proprietary publishing. If we spread the word that
326 free software needs free reference manuals and free tutorials, perhaps
327 the next person who wants to contribute by writing documentation will
328 realize, before it is too late, that only free manuals contribute to
329 the free software community.
330
331 If you are writing documentation, please insist on publishing it under
332 the GNU Free Documentation License or another free documentation
333 license. Remember that this decision requires your approval---you
334 don't have to let the publisher decide. Some commercial publishers
335 will use a free license if you insist, but they will not propose the
336 option; it is up to you to raise the issue and say firmly that this is
337 what you want. If the publisher you are dealing with refuses, please
338 try other publishers. If you're not sure whether a proposed license
339 is free, write to @email{licensing@@gnu.org}.
340
341 You can encourage commercial publishers to sell more free, copylefted
342 manuals and tutorials by buying them, and particularly by buying
343 copies from the publishers that paid for their writing or for major
344 improvements. Meanwhile, try to avoid buying non-free documentation
345 at all. Check the distribution terms of a manual before you buy it,
346 and insist that whoever seeks your business must respect your freedom.
347 Check the history of the book, and try to reward the publishers that
348 have paid or pay the authors to work on it.
349
350 The Free Software Foundation maintains a list of free documentation
351 published by other publishers, at
352 @url{http://www.fsf.org/doc/other-free-books.html}.
353
354 @node Contributors
355 @unnumberedsec Contributors to @value{GDBN}
356
357 Richard Stallman was the original author of @value{GDBN}, and of many
358 other @sc{gnu} programs. Many others have contributed to its
359 development. This section attempts to credit major contributors. One
360 of the virtues of free software is that everyone is free to contribute
361 to it; with regret, we cannot actually acknowledge everyone here. The
362 file @file{ChangeLog} in the @value{GDBN} distribution approximates a
363 blow-by-blow account.
364
365 Changes much prior to version 2.0 are lost in the mists of time.
366
367 @quotation
368 @emph{Plea:} Additions to this section are particularly welcome. If you
369 or your friends (or enemies, to be evenhanded) have been unfairly
370 omitted from this list, we would like to add your names!
371 @end quotation
372
373 So that they may not regard their many labors as thankless, we
374 particularly thank those who shepherded @value{GDBN} through major
375 releases:
376 Andrew Cagney (releases 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1 and 5.0);
377 Jim Blandy (release 4.18);
378 Jason Molenda (release 4.17);
379 Stan Shebs (release 4.14);
380 Fred Fish (releases 4.16, 4.15, 4.13, 4.12, 4.11, 4.10, and 4.9);
381 Stu Grossman and John Gilmore (releases 4.8, 4.7, 4.6, 4.5, and 4.4);
382 John Gilmore (releases 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, and 3.9);
383 Jim Kingdon (releases 3.5, 3.4, and 3.3);
384 and Randy Smith (releases 3.2, 3.1, and 3.0).
385
386 Richard Stallman, assisted at various times by Peter TerMaat, Chris
387 Hanson, and Richard Mlynarik, handled releases through 2.8.
388
389 Michael Tiemann is the author of most of the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} support
390 in @value{GDBN}, with significant additional contributions from Per
391 Bothner and Daniel Berlin. James Clark wrote the @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
392 demangler. Early work on C@t{++} was by Peter TerMaat (who also did
393 much general update work leading to release 3.0).
394
395 @value{GDBN} uses the BFD subroutine library to examine multiple
396 object-file formats; BFD was a joint project of David V.
397 Henkel-Wallace, Rich Pixley, Steve Chamberlain, and John Gilmore.
398
399 David Johnson wrote the original COFF support; Pace Willison did
400 the original support for encapsulated COFF.
401
402 Brent Benson of Harris Computer Systems contributed DWARF 2 support.
403
404 Adam de Boor and Bradley Davis contributed the ISI Optimum V support.
405 Per Bothner, Noboyuki Hikichi, and Alessandro Forin contributed MIPS
406 support.
407 Jean-Daniel Fekete contributed Sun 386i support.
408 Chris Hanson improved the HP9000 support.
409 Noboyuki Hikichi and Tomoyuki Hasei contributed Sony/News OS 3 support.
410 David Johnson contributed Encore Umax support.
411 Jyrki Kuoppala contributed Altos 3068 support.
412 Jeff Law contributed HP PA and SOM support.
413 Keith Packard contributed NS32K support.
414 Doug Rabson contributed Acorn Risc Machine support.
415 Bob Rusk contributed Harris Nighthawk CX-UX support.
416 Chris Smith contributed Convex support (and Fortran debugging).
417 Jonathan Stone contributed Pyramid support.
418 Michael Tiemann contributed SPARC support.
419 Tim Tucker contributed support for the Gould NP1 and Gould Powernode.
420 Pace Willison contributed Intel 386 support.
421 Jay Vosburgh contributed Symmetry support.
422 Marko Mlinar contributed OpenRISC 1000 support.
423
424 Andreas Schwab contributed M68K @sc{gnu}/Linux support.
425
426 Rich Schaefer and Peter Schauer helped with support of SunOS shared
427 libraries.
428
429 Jay Fenlason and Roland McGrath ensured that @value{GDBN} and GAS agree
430 about several machine instruction sets.
431
432 Patrick Duval, Ted Goldstein, Vikram Koka and Glenn Engel helped develop
433 remote debugging. Intel Corporation, Wind River Systems, AMD, and ARM
434 contributed remote debugging modules for the i960, VxWorks, A29K UDI,
435 and RDI targets, respectively.
436
437 Brian Fox is the author of the readline libraries providing
438 command-line editing and command history.
439
440 Andrew Beers of SUNY Buffalo wrote the language-switching code, the
441 Modula-2 support, and contributed the Languages chapter of this manual.
442
443 Fred Fish wrote most of the support for Unix System Vr4.
444 He also enhanced the command-completion support to cover C@t{++} overloaded
445 symbols.
446
447 Hitachi America (now Renesas America), Ltd. sponsored the support for
448 H8/300, H8/500, and Super-H processors.
449
450 NEC sponsored the support for the v850, Vr4xxx, and Vr5xxx processors.
451
452 Mitsubishi (now Renesas) sponsored the support for D10V, D30V, and M32R/D
453 processors.
454
455 Toshiba sponsored the support for the TX39 Mips processor.
456
457 Matsushita sponsored the support for the MN10200 and MN10300 processors.
458
459 Fujitsu sponsored the support for SPARClite and FR30 processors.
460
461 Kung Hsu, Jeff Law, and Rick Sladkey added support for hardware
462 watchpoints.
463
464 Michael Snyder added support for tracepoints.
465
466 Stu Grossman wrote gdbserver.
467
468 Jim Kingdon, Peter Schauer, Ian Taylor, and Stu Grossman made
469 nearly innumerable bug fixes and cleanups throughout @value{GDBN}.
470
471 The following people at the Hewlett-Packard Company contributed
472 support for the PA-RISC 2.0 architecture, HP-UX 10.20, 10.30, and 11.0
473 (narrow mode), HP's implementation of kernel threads, HP's aC@t{++}
474 compiler, and the Text User Interface (nee Terminal User Interface):
475 Ben Krepp, Richard Title, John Bishop, Susan Macchia, Kathy Mann,
476 Satish Pai, India Paul, Steve Rehrauer, and Elena Zannoni. Kim Haase
477 provided HP-specific information in this manual.
478
479 DJ Delorie ported @value{GDBN} to MS-DOS, for the DJGPP project.
480 Robert Hoehne made significant contributions to the DJGPP port.
481
482 Cygnus Solutions has sponsored @value{GDBN} maintenance and much of its
483 development since 1991. Cygnus engineers who have worked on @value{GDBN}
484 fulltime include Mark Alexander, Jim Blandy, Per Bothner, Kevin
485 Buettner, Edith Epstein, Chris Faylor, Fred Fish, Martin Hunt, Jim
486 Ingham, John Gilmore, Stu Grossman, Kung Hsu, Jim Kingdon, John Metzler,
487 Fernando Nasser, Geoffrey Noer, Dawn Perchik, Rich Pixley, Zdenek
488 Radouch, Keith Seitz, Stan Shebs, David Taylor, and Elena Zannoni. In
489 addition, Dave Brolley, Ian Carmichael, Steve Chamberlain, Nick Clifton,
490 JT Conklin, Stan Cox, DJ Delorie, Ulrich Drepper, Frank Eigler, Doug
491 Evans, Sean Fagan, David Henkel-Wallace, Richard Henderson, Jeff
492 Holcomb, Jeff Law, Jim Lemke, Tom Lord, Bob Manson, Michael Meissner,
493 Jason Merrill, Catherine Moore, Drew Moseley, Ken Raeburn, Gavin
494 Romig-Koch, Rob Savoye, Jamie Smith, Mike Stump, Ian Taylor, Angela
495 Thomas, Michael Tiemann, Tom Tromey, Ron Unrau, Jim Wilson, and David
496 Zuhn have made contributions both large and small.
497
498 Andrew Cagney, Fernando Nasser, and Elena Zannoni, while working for
499 Cygnus Solutions, implemented the original @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
500
501 Jim Blandy added support for preprocessor macros, while working for Red
502 Hat.
503
504 Andrew Cagney designed @value{GDBN}'s architecture vector. Many
505 people including Andrew Cagney, Stephane Carrez, Randolph Chung, Nick
506 Duffek, Richard Henderson, Mark Kettenis, Grace Sainsbury, Kei
507 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Andreas Schwab, Jason
508 Thorpe, Corinna Vinschen, Ulrich Weigand, and Elena Zannoni, helped
509 with the migration of old architectures to this new framework.
510
511 Andrew Cagney completely re-designed and re-implemented @value{GDBN}'s
512 unwinder framework, this consisting of a fresh new design featuring
513 frame IDs, independent frame sniffers, and the sentinel frame. Mark
514 Kettenis implemented the @sc{dwarf 2} unwinder, Jeff Johnston the
515 libunwind unwinder, and Andrew Cagney the dummy, sentinel, tramp, and
516 trad unwinders. The architecture-specific changes, each involving a
517 complete rewrite of the architecture's frame code, were carried out by
518 Jim Blandy, Joel Brobecker, Kevin Buettner, Andrew Cagney, Stephane
519 Carrez, Randolph Chung, Orjan Friberg, Richard Henderson, Daniel
520 Jacobowitz, Jeff Johnston, Mark Kettenis, Theodore A. Roth, Kei
521 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Corinna Vinschen, and Ulrich
522 Weigand.
523
524 Christian Zankel, Ross Morley, Bob Wilson, and Maxim Grigoriev from
525 Tensilica, Inc.@: contributed support for Xtensa processors. Others
526 who have worked on the Xtensa port of @value{GDBN} in the past include
527 Steve Tjiang, John Newlin, and Scott Foehner.
528
529 Michael Eager and staff of Xilinx, Inc., contributed support for the
530 Xilinx MicroBlaze architecture.
531
532 @node Sample Session
533 @chapter A Sample @value{GDBN} Session
534
535 You can use this manual at your leisure to read all about @value{GDBN}.
536 However, a handful of commands are enough to get started using the
537 debugger. This chapter illustrates those commands.
538
539 @iftex
540 In this sample session, we emphasize user input like this: @b{input},
541 to make it easier to pick out from the surrounding output.
542 @end iftex
543
544 @c FIXME: this example may not be appropriate for some configs, where
545 @c FIXME...primary interest is in remote use.
546
547 One of the preliminary versions of @sc{gnu} @code{m4} (a generic macro
548 processor) exhibits the following bug: sometimes, when we change its
549 quote strings from the default, the commands used to capture one macro
550 definition within another stop working. In the following short @code{m4}
551 session, we define a macro @code{foo} which expands to @code{0000}; we
552 then use the @code{m4} built-in @code{defn} to define @code{bar} as the
553 same thing. However, when we change the open quote string to
554 @code{<QUOTE>} and the close quote string to @code{<UNQUOTE>}, the same
555 procedure fails to define a new synonym @code{baz}:
556
557 @smallexample
558 $ @b{cd gnu/m4}
559 $ @b{./m4}
560 @b{define(foo,0000)}
561
562 @b{foo}
563 0000
564 @b{define(bar,defn(`foo'))}
565
566 @b{bar}
567 0000
568 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
569
570 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
571 @b{baz}
572 @b{Ctrl-d}
573 m4: End of input: 0: fatal error: EOF in string
574 @end smallexample
575
576 @noindent
577 Let us use @value{GDBN} to try to see what is going on.
578
579 @smallexample
580 $ @b{@value{GDBP} m4}
581 @c FIXME: this falsifies the exact text played out, to permit smallbook
582 @c FIXME... format to come out better.
583 @value{GDBN} is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies
584 of it under certain conditions; type "show copying" to see
585 the conditions.
586 There is absolutely no warranty for @value{GDBN}; type "show warranty"
587 for details.
588
589 @value{GDBN} @value{GDBVN}, Copyright 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc...
590 (@value{GDBP})
591 @end smallexample
592
593 @noindent
594 @value{GDBN} reads only enough symbol data to know where to find the
595 rest when needed; as a result, the first prompt comes up very quickly.
596 We now tell @value{GDBN} to use a narrower display width than usual, so
597 that examples fit in this manual.
598
599 @smallexample
600 (@value{GDBP}) @b{set width 70}
601 @end smallexample
602
603 @noindent
604 We need to see how the @code{m4} built-in @code{changequote} works.
605 Having looked at the source, we know the relevant subroutine is
606 @code{m4_changequote}, so we set a breakpoint there with the @value{GDBN}
607 @code{break} command.
608
609 @smallexample
610 (@value{GDBP}) @b{break m4_changequote}
611 Breakpoint 1 at 0x62f4: file builtin.c, line 879.
612 @end smallexample
613
614 @noindent
615 Using the @code{run} command, we start @code{m4} running under @value{GDBN}
616 control; as long as control does not reach the @code{m4_changequote}
617 subroutine, the program runs as usual:
618
619 @smallexample
620 (@value{GDBP}) @b{run}
621 Starting program: /work/Editorial/gdb/gnu/m4/m4
622 @b{define(foo,0000)}
623
624 @b{foo}
625 0000
626 @end smallexample
627
628 @noindent
629 To trigger the breakpoint, we call @code{changequote}. @value{GDBN}
630 suspends execution of @code{m4}, displaying information about the
631 context where it stops.
632
633 @smallexample
634 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
635
636 Breakpoint 1, m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
637 at builtin.c:879
638 879 if (bad_argc(TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[0]),argc,1,3))
639 @end smallexample
640
641 @noindent
642 Now we use the command @code{n} (@code{next}) to advance execution to
643 the next line of the current function.
644
645 @smallexample
646 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
647 882 set_quotes((argc >= 2) ? TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[1])\
648 : nil,
649 @end smallexample
650
651 @noindent
652 @code{set_quotes} looks like a promising subroutine. We can go into it
653 by using the command @code{s} (@code{step}) instead of @code{next}.
654 @code{step} goes to the next line to be executed in @emph{any}
655 subroutine, so it steps into @code{set_quotes}.
656
657 @smallexample
658 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
659 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
660 at input.c:530
661 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
662 @end smallexample
663
664 @noindent
665 The display that shows the subroutine where @code{m4} is now
666 suspended (and its arguments) is called a stack frame display. It
667 shows a summary of the stack. We can use the @code{backtrace}
668 command (which can also be spelled @code{bt}), to see where we are
669 in the stack as a whole: the @code{backtrace} command displays a
670 stack frame for each active subroutine.
671
672 @smallexample
673 (@value{GDBP}) @b{bt}
674 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
675 at input.c:530
676 #1 0x6344 in m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
677 at builtin.c:882
678 #2 0x8174 in expand_macro (sym=0x33320) at macro.c:242
679 #3 0x7a88 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=209696, td=0xf7fffa30)
680 at macro.c:71
681 #4 0x79dc in expand_input () at macro.c:40
682 #5 0x2930 in main (argc=0, argv=0xf7fffb20) at m4.c:195
683 @end smallexample
684
685 @noindent
686 We step through a few more lines to see what happens. The first two
687 times, we can use @samp{s}; the next two times we use @code{n} to avoid
688 falling into the @code{xstrdup} subroutine.
689
690 @smallexample
691 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
692 0x3b5c 532 if (rquote != def_rquote)
693 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
694 0x3b80 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? \
695 def_lquote : xstrdup(lq);
696 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
697 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
698 : xstrdup(rq);
699 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
700 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
701 @end smallexample
702
703 @noindent
704 The last line displayed looks a little odd; we can examine the variables
705 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} to see if they are in fact the new left
706 and right quotes we specified. We use the command @code{p}
707 (@code{print}) to see their values.
708
709 @smallexample
710 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p lquote}
711 $1 = 0x35d40 "<QUOTE>"
712 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p rquote}
713 $2 = 0x35d50 "<UNQUOTE>"
714 @end smallexample
715
716 @noindent
717 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} are indeed the new left and right quotes.
718 To look at some context, we can display ten lines of source
719 surrounding the current line with the @code{l} (@code{list}) command.
720
721 @smallexample
722 (@value{GDBP}) @b{l}
723 533 xfree(rquote);
724 534
725 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? def_lquote\
726 : xstrdup (lq);
727 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
728 : xstrdup (rq);
729 537
730 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
731 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
732 540 @}
733 541
734 542 void
735 @end smallexample
736
737 @noindent
738 Let us step past the two lines that set @code{len_lquote} and
739 @code{len_rquote}, and then examine the values of those variables.
740
741 @smallexample
742 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
743 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
744 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
745 540 @}
746 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote}
747 $3 = 9
748 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote}
749 $4 = 7
750 @end smallexample
751
752 @noindent
753 That certainly looks wrong, assuming @code{len_lquote} and
754 @code{len_rquote} are meant to be the lengths of @code{lquote} and
755 @code{rquote} respectively. We can set them to better values using
756 the @code{p} command, since it can print the value of
757 any expression---and that expression can include subroutine calls and
758 assignments.
759
760 @smallexample
761 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote=strlen(lquote)}
762 $5 = 7
763 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote=strlen(rquote)}
764 $6 = 9
765 @end smallexample
766
767 @noindent
768 Is that enough to fix the problem of using the new quotes with the
769 @code{m4} built-in @code{defn}? We can allow @code{m4} to continue
770 executing with the @code{c} (@code{continue}) command, and then try the
771 example that caused trouble initially:
772
773 @smallexample
774 (@value{GDBP}) @b{c}
775 Continuing.
776
777 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
778
779 baz
780 0000
781 @end smallexample
782
783 @noindent
784 Success! The new quotes now work just as well as the default ones. The
785 problem seems to have been just the two typos defining the wrong
786 lengths. We allow @code{m4} exit by giving it an EOF as input:
787
788 @smallexample
789 @b{Ctrl-d}
790 Program exited normally.
791 @end smallexample
792
793 @noindent
794 The message @samp{Program exited normally.} is from @value{GDBN}; it
795 indicates @code{m4} has finished executing. We can end our @value{GDBN}
796 session with the @value{GDBN} @code{quit} command.
797
798 @smallexample
799 (@value{GDBP}) @b{quit}
800 @end smallexample
801
802 @node Invocation
803 @chapter Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}
804
805 This chapter discusses how to start @value{GDBN}, and how to get out of it.
806 The essentials are:
807 @itemize @bullet
808 @item
809 type @samp{@value{GDBP}} to start @value{GDBN}.
810 @item
811 type @kbd{quit} or @kbd{Ctrl-d} to exit.
812 @end itemize
813
814 @menu
815 * Invoking GDB:: How to start @value{GDBN}
816 * Quitting GDB:: How to quit @value{GDBN}
817 * Shell Commands:: How to use shell commands inside @value{GDBN}
818 * Logging Output:: How to log @value{GDBN}'s output to a file
819 @end menu
820
821 @node Invoking GDB
822 @section Invoking @value{GDBN}
823
824 Invoke @value{GDBN} by running the program @code{@value{GDBP}}. Once started,
825 @value{GDBN} reads commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit.
826
827 You can also run @code{@value{GDBP}} with a variety of arguments and options,
828 to specify more of your debugging environment at the outset.
829
830 The command-line options described here are designed
831 to cover a variety of situations; in some environments, some of these
832 options may effectively be unavailable.
833
834 The most usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument,
835 specifying an executable program:
836
837 @smallexample
838 @value{GDBP} @var{program}
839 @end smallexample
840
841 @noindent
842 You can also start with both an executable program and a core file
843 specified:
844
845 @smallexample
846 @value{GDBP} @var{program} @var{core}
847 @end smallexample
848
849 You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
850 to debug a running process:
851
852 @smallexample
853 @value{GDBP} @var{program} 1234
854 @end smallexample
855
856 @noindent
857 would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
858 named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
859
860 Taking advantage of the second command-line argument requires a fairly
861 complete operating system; when you use @value{GDBN} as a remote
862 debugger attached to a bare board, there may not be any notion of
863 ``process'', and there is often no way to get a core dump. @value{GDBN}
864 will warn you if it is unable to attach or to read core dumps.
865
866 You can optionally have @code{@value{GDBP}} pass any arguments after the
867 executable file to the inferior using @code{--args}. This option stops
868 option processing.
869 @smallexample
870 @value{GDBP} --args gcc -O2 -c foo.c
871 @end smallexample
872 This will cause @code{@value{GDBP}} to debug @code{gcc}, and to set
873 @code{gcc}'s command-line arguments (@pxref{Arguments}) to @samp{-O2 -c foo.c}.
874
875 You can run @code{@value{GDBP}} without printing the front material, which describes
876 @value{GDBN}'s non-warranty, by specifying @code{-silent}:
877
878 @smallexample
879 @value{GDBP} -silent
880 @end smallexample
881
882 @noindent
883 You can further control how @value{GDBN} starts up by using command-line
884 options. @value{GDBN} itself can remind you of the options available.
885
886 @noindent
887 Type
888
889 @smallexample
890 @value{GDBP} -help
891 @end smallexample
892
893 @noindent
894 to display all available options and briefly describe their use
895 (@samp{@value{GDBP} -h} is a shorter equivalent).
896
897 All options and command line arguments you give are processed
898 in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the
899 @samp{-x} option is used.
900
901
902 @menu
903 * File Options:: Choosing files
904 * Mode Options:: Choosing modes
905 * Startup:: What @value{GDBN} does during startup
906 @end menu
907
908 @node File Options
909 @subsection Choosing Files
910
911 When @value{GDBN} starts, it reads any arguments other than options as
912 specifying an executable file and core file (or process ID). This is
913 the same as if the arguments were specified by the @samp{-se} and
914 @samp{-c} (or @samp{-p}) options respectively. (@value{GDBN} reads the
915 first argument that does not have an associated option flag as
916 equivalent to the @samp{-se} option followed by that argument; and the
917 second argument that does not have an associated option flag, if any, as
918 equivalent to the @samp{-c}/@samp{-p} option followed by that argument.)
919 If the second argument begins with a decimal digit, @value{GDBN} will
920 first attempt to attach to it as a process, and if that fails, attempt
921 to open it as a corefile. If you have a corefile whose name begins with
922 a digit, you can prevent @value{GDBN} from treating it as a pid by
923 prefixing it with @file{./}, e.g.@: @file{./12345}.
924
925 If @value{GDBN} has not been configured to included core file support,
926 such as for most embedded targets, then it will complain about a second
927 argument and ignore it.
928
929 Many options have both long and short forms; both are shown in the
930 following list. @value{GDBN} also recognizes the long forms if you truncate
931 them, so long as enough of the option is present to be unambiguous.
932 (If you prefer, you can flag option arguments with @samp{--} rather
933 than @samp{-}, though we illustrate the more usual convention.)
934
935 @c NOTE: the @cindex entries here use double dashes ON PURPOSE. This
936 @c way, both those who look for -foo and --foo in the index, will find
937 @c it.
938
939 @table @code
940 @item -symbols @var{file}
941 @itemx -s @var{file}
942 @cindex @code{--symbols}
943 @cindex @code{-s}
944 Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
945
946 @item -exec @var{file}
947 @itemx -e @var{file}
948 @cindex @code{--exec}
949 @cindex @code{-e}
950 Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when appropriate,
951 and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core dump.
952
953 @item -se @var{file}
954 @cindex @code{--se}
955 Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
956 file.
957
958 @item -core @var{file}
959 @itemx -c @var{file}
960 @cindex @code{--core}
961 @cindex @code{-c}
962 Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
963
964 @item -pid @var{number}
965 @itemx -p @var{number}
966 @cindex @code{--pid}
967 @cindex @code{-p}
968 Connect to process ID @var{number}, as with the @code{attach} command.
969
970 @item -command @var{file}
971 @itemx -x @var{file}
972 @cindex @code{--command}
973 @cindex @code{-x}
974 Execute commands from file @var{file}. The contents of this file is
975 evaluated exactly as the @code{source} command would.
976 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
977
978 @item -eval-command @var{command}
979 @itemx -ex @var{command}
980 @cindex @code{--eval-command}
981 @cindex @code{-ex}
982 Execute a single @value{GDBN} command.
983
984 This option may be used multiple times to call multiple commands. It may
985 also be interleaved with @samp{-command} as required.
986
987 @smallexample
988 @value{GDBP} -ex 'target sim' -ex 'load' \
989 -x setbreakpoints -ex 'run' a.out
990 @end smallexample
991
992 @item -directory @var{directory}
993 @itemx -d @var{directory}
994 @cindex @code{--directory}
995 @cindex @code{-d}
996 Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source and script files.
997
998 @item -r
999 @itemx -readnow
1000 @cindex @code{--readnow}
1001 @cindex @code{-r}
1002 Read each symbol file's entire symbol table immediately, rather than
1003 the default, which is to read it incrementally as it is needed.
1004 This makes startup slower, but makes future operations faster.
1005
1006 @end table
1007
1008 @node Mode Options
1009 @subsection Choosing Modes
1010
1011 You can run @value{GDBN} in various alternative modes---for example, in
1012 batch mode or quiet mode.
1013
1014 @table @code
1015 @item -nx
1016 @itemx -n
1017 @cindex @code{--nx}
1018 @cindex @code{-n}
1019 Do not execute commands found in any initialization files. Normally,
1020 @value{GDBN} executes the commands in these files after all the command
1021 options and arguments have been processed. @xref{Command Files,,Command
1022 Files}.
1023
1024 @item -quiet
1025 @itemx -silent
1026 @itemx -q
1027 @cindex @code{--quiet}
1028 @cindex @code{--silent}
1029 @cindex @code{-q}
1030 ``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
1031 messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
1032
1033 @item -batch
1034 @cindex @code{--batch}
1035 Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the
1036 command files specified with @samp{-x} (and all commands from
1037 initialization files, if not inhibited with @samp{-n}). Exit with
1038 nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN} commands
1039 in the command files. Batch mode also disables pagination, sets unlimited
1040 terminal width and height @pxref{Screen Size}, and acts as if @kbd{set confirm
1041 off} were in effect (@pxref{Messages/Warnings}).
1042
1043 Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for
1044 example to download and run a program on another computer; in order to
1045 make this more useful, the message
1046
1047 @smallexample
1048 Program exited normally.
1049 @end smallexample
1050
1051 @noindent
1052 (which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under
1053 @value{GDBN} control terminates) is not issued when running in batch
1054 mode.
1055
1056 @item -batch-silent
1057 @cindex @code{--batch-silent}
1058 Run in batch mode exactly like @samp{-batch}, but totally silently. All
1059 @value{GDBN} output to @code{stdout} is prevented (@code{stderr} is
1060 unaffected). This is much quieter than @samp{-silent} and would be useless
1061 for an interactive session.
1062
1063 This is particularly useful when using targets that give @samp{Loading section}
1064 messages, for example.
1065
1066 Note that targets that give their output via @value{GDBN}, as opposed to
1067 writing directly to @code{stdout}, will also be made silent.
1068
1069 @item -return-child-result
1070 @cindex @code{--return-child-result}
1071 The return code from @value{GDBN} will be the return code from the child
1072 process (the process being debugged), with the following exceptions:
1073
1074 @itemize @bullet
1075 @item
1076 @value{GDBN} exits abnormally. E.g., due to an incorrect argument or an
1077 internal error. In this case the exit code is the same as it would have been
1078 without @samp{-return-child-result}.
1079 @item
1080 The user quits with an explicit value. E.g., @samp{quit 1}.
1081 @item
1082 The child process never runs, or is not allowed to terminate, in which case
1083 the exit code will be -1.
1084 @end itemize
1085
1086 This option is useful in conjunction with @samp{-batch} or @samp{-batch-silent},
1087 when @value{GDBN} is being used as a remote program loader or simulator
1088 interface.
1089
1090 @item -nowindows
1091 @itemx -nw
1092 @cindex @code{--nowindows}
1093 @cindex @code{-nw}
1094 ``No windows''. If @value{GDBN} comes with a graphical user interface
1095 (GUI) built in, then this option tells @value{GDBN} to only use the command-line
1096 interface. If no GUI is available, this option has no effect.
1097
1098 @item -windows
1099 @itemx -w
1100 @cindex @code{--windows}
1101 @cindex @code{-w}
1102 If @value{GDBN} includes a GUI, then this option requires it to be
1103 used if possible.
1104
1105 @item -cd @var{directory}
1106 @cindex @code{--cd}
1107 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
1108 instead of the current directory.
1109
1110 @item -data-directory @var{directory}
1111 @cindex @code{--data-directory}
1112 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its data directory.
1113 The data directory is where @value{GDBN} searches for its
1114 auxiliary files. @xref{Data Files}.
1115
1116 @item -fullname
1117 @itemx -f
1118 @cindex @code{--fullname}
1119 @cindex @code{-f}
1120 @sc{gnu} Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a
1121 subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line
1122 number in a standard, recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is
1123 displayed (which includes each time your program stops). This
1124 recognizable format looks like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by
1125 the file name, line number and character position separated by colons,
1126 and a newline. The Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two
1127 @samp{\032} characters as a signal to display the source code for the
1128 frame.
1129
1130 @item -epoch
1131 @cindex @code{--epoch}
1132 The Epoch Emacs-@value{GDBN} interface sets this option when it runs
1133 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to modify its print
1134 routines so as to allow Epoch to display values of expressions in a
1135 separate window.
1136
1137 @item -annotate @var{level}
1138 @cindex @code{--annotate}
1139 This option sets the @dfn{annotation level} inside @value{GDBN}. Its
1140 effect is identical to using @samp{set annotate @var{level}}
1141 (@pxref{Annotations}). The annotation @var{level} controls how much
1142 information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt, values of
1143 expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0 is the
1144 normal, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a subprocess of
1145 @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable for programs
1146 that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 has been deprecated.
1147
1148 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
1149 (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
1150
1151 @item --args
1152 @cindex @code{--args}
1153 Change interpretation of command line so that arguments following the
1154 executable file are passed as command line arguments to the inferior.
1155 This option stops option processing.
1156
1157 @item -baud @var{bps}
1158 @itemx -b @var{bps}
1159 @cindex @code{--baud}
1160 @cindex @code{-b}
1161 Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
1162 interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
1163
1164 @item -l @var{timeout}
1165 @cindex @code{-l}
1166 Set the timeout (in seconds) of any communication used by @value{GDBN}
1167 for remote debugging.
1168
1169 @item -tty @var{device}
1170 @itemx -t @var{device}
1171 @cindex @code{--tty}
1172 @cindex @code{-t}
1173 Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
1174 @c FIXME: kingdon thinks there is more to -tty. Investigate.
1175
1176 @c resolve the situation of these eventually
1177 @item -tui
1178 @cindex @code{--tui}
1179 Activate the @dfn{Text User Interface} when starting. The Text User
1180 Interface manages several text windows on the terminal, showing
1181 source, assembly, registers and @value{GDBN} command outputs
1182 (@pxref{TUI, ,@value{GDBN} Text User Interface}). Do not use this
1183 option if you run @value{GDBN} from Emacs (@pxref{Emacs, ,
1184 Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}).
1185
1186 @c @item -xdb
1187 @c @cindex @code{--xdb}
1188 @c Run in XDB compatibility mode, allowing the use of certain XDB commands.
1189 @c For information, see the file @file{xdb_trans.html}, which is usually
1190 @c installed in the directory @code{/opt/langtools/wdb/doc} on HP-UX
1191 @c systems.
1192
1193 @item -interpreter @var{interp}
1194 @cindex @code{--interpreter}
1195 Use the interpreter @var{interp} for interface with the controlling
1196 program or device. This option is meant to be set by programs which
1197 communicate with @value{GDBN} using it as a back end.
1198 @xref{Interpreters, , Command Interpreters}.
1199
1200 @samp{--interpreter=mi} (or @samp{--interpreter=mi2}) causes
1201 @value{GDBN} to use the @dfn{@sc{gdb/mi} interface} (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,
1202 The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}) included since @value{GDBN} version 6.0. The
1203 previous @sc{gdb/mi} interface, included in @value{GDBN} version 5.3 and
1204 selected with @samp{--interpreter=mi1}, is deprecated. Earlier
1205 @sc{gdb/mi} interfaces are no longer supported.
1206
1207 @item -write
1208 @cindex @code{--write}
1209 Open the executable and core files for both reading and writing. This
1210 is equivalent to the @samp{set write on} command inside @value{GDBN}
1211 (@pxref{Patching}).
1212
1213 @item -statistics
1214 @cindex @code{--statistics}
1215 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print statistics about time and
1216 memory usage after it completes each command and returns to the prompt.
1217
1218 @item -version
1219 @cindex @code{--version}
1220 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print its version number and
1221 no-warranty blurb, and exit.
1222
1223 @end table
1224
1225 @node Startup
1226 @subsection What @value{GDBN} Does During Startup
1227 @cindex @value{GDBN} startup
1228
1229 Here's the description of what @value{GDBN} does during session startup:
1230
1231 @enumerate
1232 @item
1233 Sets up the command interpreter as specified by the command line
1234 (@pxref{Mode Options, interpreter}).
1235
1236 @item
1237 @cindex init file
1238 Reads the system-wide @dfn{init file} (if @option{--with-system-gdbinit} was
1239 used when building @value{GDBN}; @pxref{System-wide configuration,
1240 ,System-wide configuration and settings}) and executes all the commands in
1241 that file.
1242
1243 @item
1244 Reads the init file (if any) in your home directory@footnote{On
1245 DOS/Windows systems, the home directory is the one pointed to by the
1246 @code{HOME} environment variable.} and executes all the commands in
1247 that file.
1248
1249 @item
1250 Processes command line options and operands.
1251
1252 @item
1253 Reads and executes the commands from init file (if any) in the current
1254 working directory. This is only done if the current directory is
1255 different from your home directory. Thus, you can have more than one
1256 init file, one generic in your home directory, and another, specific
1257 to the program you are debugging, in the directory where you invoke
1258 @value{GDBN}.
1259
1260 @item
1261 If the command line specified a program to debug, or a process to
1262 attach to, or a core file, @value{GDBN} loads any auto-loaded
1263 scripts provided for the program or for its loaded shared libraries.
1264 @xref{Auto-loading}.
1265
1266 If you wish to disable the auto-loading during startup,
1267 you must do something like the following:
1268
1269 @smallexample
1270 $ gdb -ex "set auto-load-scripts off" -ex "file myprogram"
1271 @end smallexample
1272
1273 The following does not work because the auto-loading is turned off too late:
1274
1275 @smallexample
1276 $ gdb -ex "set auto-load-scripts off" myprogram
1277 @end smallexample
1278
1279 @item
1280 Reads command files specified by the @samp{-x} option. @xref{Command
1281 Files}, for more details about @value{GDBN} command files.
1282
1283 @item
1284 Reads the command history recorded in the @dfn{history file}.
1285 @xref{Command History}, for more details about the command history and the
1286 files where @value{GDBN} records it.
1287 @end enumerate
1288
1289 Init files use the same syntax as @dfn{command files} (@pxref{Command
1290 Files}) and are processed by @value{GDBN} in the same way. The init
1291 file in your home directory can set options (such as @samp{set
1292 complaints}) that affect subsequent processing of command line options
1293 and operands. Init files are not executed if you use the @samp{-nx}
1294 option (@pxref{Mode Options, ,Choosing Modes}).
1295
1296 To display the list of init files loaded by gdb at startup, you
1297 can use @kbd{gdb --help}.
1298
1299 @cindex init file name
1300 @cindex @file{.gdbinit}
1301 @cindex @file{gdb.ini}
1302 The @value{GDBN} init files are normally called @file{.gdbinit}.
1303 The DJGPP port of @value{GDBN} uses the name @file{gdb.ini}, due to
1304 the limitations of file names imposed by DOS filesystems. The Windows
1305 ports of @value{GDBN} use the standard name, but if they find a
1306 @file{gdb.ini} file, they warn you about that and suggest to rename
1307 the file to the standard name.
1308
1309
1310 @node Quitting GDB
1311 @section Quitting @value{GDBN}
1312 @cindex exiting @value{GDBN}
1313 @cindex leaving @value{GDBN}
1314
1315 @table @code
1316 @kindex quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1317 @kindex q @r{(@code{quit})}
1318 @item quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1319 @itemx q
1320 To exit @value{GDBN}, use the @code{quit} command (abbreviated
1321 @code{q}), or type an end-of-file character (usually @kbd{Ctrl-d}). If you
1322 do not supply @var{expression}, @value{GDBN} will terminate normally;
1323 otherwise it will terminate using the result of @var{expression} as the
1324 error code.
1325 @end table
1326
1327 @cindex interrupt
1328 An interrupt (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}) does not exit from @value{GDBN}, but rather
1329 terminates the action of any @value{GDBN} command that is in progress and
1330 returns to @value{GDBN} command level. It is safe to type the interrupt
1331 character at any time because @value{GDBN} does not allow it to take effect
1332 until a time when it is safe.
1333
1334 If you have been using @value{GDBN} to control an attached process or
1335 device, you can release it with the @code{detach} command
1336 (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
1337
1338 @node Shell Commands
1339 @section Shell Commands
1340
1341 If you need to execute occasional shell commands during your
1342 debugging session, there is no need to leave or suspend @value{GDBN}; you can
1343 just use the @code{shell} command.
1344
1345 @table @code
1346 @kindex shell
1347 @kindex !
1348 @cindex shell escape
1349 @item shell @var{command-string}
1350 @itemx !@var{command-string}
1351 Invoke a standard shell to execute @var{command-string}.
1352 Note that no space is needed between @code{!} and @var{command-string}.
1353 If it exists, the environment variable @code{SHELL} determines which
1354 shell to run. Otherwise @value{GDBN} uses the default shell
1355 (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix systems, @file{COMMAND.COM} on MS-DOS, etc.).
1356 @end table
1357
1358 The utility @code{make} is often needed in development environments.
1359 You do not have to use the @code{shell} command for this purpose in
1360 @value{GDBN}:
1361
1362 @table @code
1363 @kindex make
1364 @cindex calling make
1365 @item make @var{make-args}
1366 Execute the @code{make} program with the specified
1367 arguments. This is equivalent to @samp{shell make @var{make-args}}.
1368 @end table
1369
1370 @node Logging Output
1371 @section Logging Output
1372 @cindex logging @value{GDBN} output
1373 @cindex save @value{GDBN} output to a file
1374
1375 You may want to save the output of @value{GDBN} commands to a file.
1376 There are several commands to control @value{GDBN}'s logging.
1377
1378 @table @code
1379 @kindex set logging
1380 @item set logging on
1381 Enable logging.
1382 @item set logging off
1383 Disable logging.
1384 @cindex logging file name
1385 @item set logging file @var{file}
1386 Change the name of the current logfile. The default logfile is @file{gdb.txt}.
1387 @item set logging overwrite [on|off]
1388 By default, @value{GDBN} will append to the logfile. Set @code{overwrite} if
1389 you want @code{set logging on} to overwrite the logfile instead.
1390 @item set logging redirect [on|off]
1391 By default, @value{GDBN} output will go to both the terminal and the logfile.
1392 Set @code{redirect} if you want output to go only to the log file.
1393 @kindex show logging
1394 @item show logging
1395 Show the current values of the logging settings.
1396 @end table
1397
1398 @node Commands
1399 @chapter @value{GDBN} Commands
1400
1401 You can abbreviate a @value{GDBN} command to the first few letters of the command
1402 name, if that abbreviation is unambiguous; and you can repeat certain
1403 @value{GDBN} commands by typing just @key{RET}. You can also use the @key{TAB}
1404 key to get @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest of a word in a command (or to
1405 show you the alternatives available, if there is more than one possibility).
1406
1407 @menu
1408 * Command Syntax:: How to give commands to @value{GDBN}
1409 * Completion:: Command completion
1410 * Help:: How to ask @value{GDBN} for help
1411 @end menu
1412
1413 @node Command Syntax
1414 @section Command Syntax
1415
1416 A @value{GDBN} command is a single line of input. There is no limit on
1417 how long it can be. It starts with a command name, which is followed by
1418 arguments whose meaning depends on the command name. For example, the
1419 command @code{step} accepts an argument which is the number of times to
1420 step, as in @samp{step 5}. You can also use the @code{step} command
1421 with no arguments. Some commands do not allow any arguments.
1422
1423 @cindex abbreviation
1424 @value{GDBN} command names may always be truncated if that abbreviation is
1425 unambiguous. Other possible command abbreviations are listed in the
1426 documentation for individual commands. In some cases, even ambiguous
1427 abbreviations are allowed; for example, @code{s} is specially defined as
1428 equivalent to @code{step} even though there are other commands whose
1429 names start with @code{s}. You can test abbreviations by using them as
1430 arguments to the @code{help} command.
1431
1432 @cindex repeating commands
1433 @kindex RET @r{(repeat last command)}
1434 A blank line as input to @value{GDBN} (typing just @key{RET}) means to
1435 repeat the previous command. Certain commands (for example, @code{run})
1436 will not repeat this way; these are commands whose unintentional
1437 repetition might cause trouble and which you are unlikely to want to
1438 repeat. User-defined commands can disable this feature; see
1439 @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
1440
1441 The @code{list} and @code{x} commands, when you repeat them with
1442 @key{RET}, construct new arguments rather than repeating
1443 exactly as typed. This permits easy scanning of source or memory.
1444
1445 @value{GDBN} can also use @key{RET} in another way: to partition lengthy
1446 output, in a way similar to the common utility @code{more}
1447 (@pxref{Screen Size,,Screen Size}). Since it is easy to press one
1448 @key{RET} too many in this situation, @value{GDBN} disables command
1449 repetition after any command that generates this sort of display.
1450
1451 @kindex # @r{(a comment)}
1452 @cindex comment
1453 Any text from a @kbd{#} to the end of the line is a comment; it does
1454 nothing. This is useful mainly in command files (@pxref{Command
1455 Files,,Command Files}).
1456
1457 @cindex repeating command sequences
1458 @kindex Ctrl-o @r{(operate-and-get-next)}
1459 The @kbd{Ctrl-o} binding is useful for repeating a complex sequence of
1460 commands. This command accepts the current line, like @key{RET}, and
1461 then fetches the next line relative to the current line from the history
1462 for editing.
1463
1464 @node Completion
1465 @section Command Completion
1466
1467 @cindex completion
1468 @cindex word completion
1469 @value{GDBN} can fill in the rest of a word in a command for you, if there is
1470 only one possibility; it can also show you what the valid possibilities
1471 are for the next word in a command, at any time. This works for @value{GDBN}
1472 commands, @value{GDBN} subcommands, and the names of symbols in your program.
1473
1474 Press the @key{TAB} key whenever you want @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest
1475 of a word. If there is only one possibility, @value{GDBN} fills in the
1476 word, and waits for you to finish the command (or press @key{RET} to
1477 enter it). For example, if you type
1478
1479 @c FIXME "@key" does not distinguish its argument sufficiently to permit
1480 @c complete accuracy in these examples; space introduced for clarity.
1481 @c If texinfo enhancements make it unnecessary, it would be nice to
1482 @c replace " @key" by "@key" in the following...
1483 @smallexample
1484 (@value{GDBP}) info bre @key{TAB}
1485 @end smallexample
1486
1487 @noindent
1488 @value{GDBN} fills in the rest of the word @samp{breakpoints}, since that is
1489 the only @code{info} subcommand beginning with @samp{bre}:
1490
1491 @smallexample
1492 (@value{GDBP}) info breakpoints
1493 @end smallexample
1494
1495 @noindent
1496 You can either press @key{RET} at this point, to run the @code{info
1497 breakpoints} command, or backspace and enter something else, if
1498 @samp{breakpoints} does not look like the command you expected. (If you
1499 were sure you wanted @code{info breakpoints} in the first place, you
1500 might as well just type @key{RET} immediately after @samp{info bre},
1501 to exploit command abbreviations rather than command completion).
1502
1503 If there is more than one possibility for the next word when you press
1504 @key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} sounds a bell. You can either supply more
1505 characters and try again, or just press @key{TAB} a second time;
1506 @value{GDBN} displays all the possible completions for that word. For
1507 example, you might want to set a breakpoint on a subroutine whose name
1508 begins with @samp{make_}, but when you type @kbd{b make_@key{TAB}} @value{GDBN}
1509 just sounds the bell. Typing @key{TAB} again displays all the
1510 function names in your program that begin with those characters, for
1511 example:
1512
1513 @smallexample
1514 (@value{GDBP}) b make_ @key{TAB}
1515 @exdent @value{GDBN} sounds bell; press @key{TAB} again, to see:
1516 make_a_section_from_file make_environ
1517 make_abs_section make_function_type
1518 make_blockvector make_pointer_type
1519 make_cleanup make_reference_type
1520 make_command make_symbol_completion_list
1521 (@value{GDBP}) b make_
1522 @end smallexample
1523
1524 @noindent
1525 After displaying the available possibilities, @value{GDBN} copies your
1526 partial input (@samp{b make_} in the example) so you can finish the
1527 command.
1528
1529 If you just want to see the list of alternatives in the first place, you
1530 can press @kbd{M-?} rather than pressing @key{TAB} twice. @kbd{M-?}
1531 means @kbd{@key{META} ?}. You can type this either by holding down a
1532 key designated as the @key{META} shift on your keyboard (if there is
1533 one) while typing @kbd{?}, or as @key{ESC} followed by @kbd{?}.
1534
1535 @cindex quotes in commands
1536 @cindex completion of quoted strings
1537 Sometimes the string you need, while logically a ``word'', may contain
1538 parentheses or other characters that @value{GDBN} normally excludes from
1539 its notion of a word. To permit word completion to work in this
1540 situation, you may enclose words in @code{'} (single quote marks) in
1541 @value{GDBN} commands.
1542
1543 The most likely situation where you might need this is in typing the
1544 name of a C@t{++} function. This is because C@t{++} allows function
1545 overloading (multiple definitions of the same function, distinguished
1546 by argument type). For example, when you want to set a breakpoint you
1547 may need to distinguish whether you mean the version of @code{name}
1548 that takes an @code{int} parameter, @code{name(int)}, or the version
1549 that takes a @code{float} parameter, @code{name(float)}. To use the
1550 word-completion facilities in this situation, type a single quote
1551 @code{'} at the beginning of the function name. This alerts
1552 @value{GDBN} that it may need to consider more information than usual
1553 when you press @key{TAB} or @kbd{M-?} to request word completion:
1554
1555 @smallexample
1556 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble( @kbd{M-?}
1557 bubble(double,double) bubble(int,int)
1558 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1559 @end smallexample
1560
1561 In some cases, @value{GDBN} can tell that completing a name requires using
1562 quotes. When this happens, @value{GDBN} inserts the quote for you (while
1563 completing as much as it can) if you do not type the quote in the first
1564 place:
1565
1566 @smallexample
1567 (@value{GDBP}) b bub @key{TAB}
1568 @exdent @value{GDBN} alters your input line to the following, and rings a bell:
1569 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1570 @end smallexample
1571
1572 @noindent
1573 In general, @value{GDBN} can tell that a quote is needed (and inserts it) if
1574 you have not yet started typing the argument list when you ask for
1575 completion on an overloaded symbol.
1576
1577 For more information about overloaded functions, see @ref{C Plus Plus
1578 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}. You can use the command @code{set
1579 overload-resolution off} to disable overload resolution;
1580 see @ref{Debugging C Plus Plus, ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
1581
1582 @cindex completion of structure field names
1583 @cindex structure field name completion
1584 @cindex completion of union field names
1585 @cindex union field name completion
1586 When completing in an expression which looks up a field in a
1587 structure, @value{GDBN} also tries@footnote{The completer can be
1588 confused by certain kinds of invalid expressions. Also, it only
1589 examines the static type of the expression, not the dynamic type.} to
1590 limit completions to the field names available in the type of the
1591 left-hand-side:
1592
1593 @smallexample
1594 (@value{GDBP}) p gdb_stdout.@kbd{M-?}
1595 magic to_fputs to_rewind
1596 to_data to_isatty to_write
1597 to_delete to_put to_write_async_safe
1598 to_flush to_read
1599 @end smallexample
1600
1601 @noindent
1602 This is because the @code{gdb_stdout} is a variable of the type
1603 @code{struct ui_file} that is defined in @value{GDBN} sources as
1604 follows:
1605
1606 @smallexample
1607 struct ui_file
1608 @{
1609 int *magic;
1610 ui_file_flush_ftype *to_flush;
1611 ui_file_write_ftype *to_write;
1612 ui_file_write_async_safe_ftype *to_write_async_safe;
1613 ui_file_fputs_ftype *to_fputs;
1614 ui_file_read_ftype *to_read;
1615 ui_file_delete_ftype *to_delete;
1616 ui_file_isatty_ftype *to_isatty;
1617 ui_file_rewind_ftype *to_rewind;
1618 ui_file_put_ftype *to_put;
1619 void *to_data;
1620 @}
1621 @end smallexample
1622
1623
1624 @node Help
1625 @section Getting Help
1626 @cindex online documentation
1627 @kindex help
1628
1629 You can always ask @value{GDBN} itself for information on its commands,
1630 using the command @code{help}.
1631
1632 @table @code
1633 @kindex h @r{(@code{help})}
1634 @item help
1635 @itemx h
1636 You can use @code{help} (abbreviated @code{h}) with no arguments to
1637 display a short list of named classes of commands:
1638
1639 @smallexample
1640 (@value{GDBP}) help
1641 List of classes of commands:
1642
1643 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1644 breakpoints -- Making program stop at certain points
1645 data -- Examining data
1646 files -- Specifying and examining files
1647 internals -- Maintenance commands
1648 obscure -- Obscure features
1649 running -- Running the program
1650 stack -- Examining the stack
1651 status -- Status inquiries
1652 support -- Support facilities
1653 tracepoints -- Tracing of program execution without
1654 stopping the program
1655 user-defined -- User-defined commands
1656
1657 Type "help" followed by a class name for a list of
1658 commands in that class.
1659 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1660 documentation.
1661 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1662 (@value{GDBP})
1663 @end smallexample
1664 @c the above line break eliminates huge line overfull...
1665
1666 @item help @var{class}
1667 Using one of the general help classes as an argument, you can get a
1668 list of the individual commands in that class. For example, here is the
1669 help display for the class @code{status}:
1670
1671 @smallexample
1672 (@value{GDBP}) help status
1673 Status inquiries.
1674
1675 List of commands:
1676
1677 @c Line break in "show" line falsifies real output, but needed
1678 @c to fit in smallbook page size.
1679 info -- Generic command for showing things
1680 about the program being debugged
1681 show -- Generic command for showing things
1682 about the debugger
1683
1684 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1685 documentation.
1686 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1687 (@value{GDBP})
1688 @end smallexample
1689
1690 @item help @var{command}
1691 With a command name as @code{help} argument, @value{GDBN} displays a
1692 short paragraph on how to use that command.
1693
1694 @kindex apropos
1695 @item apropos @var{args}
1696 The @code{apropos} command searches through all of the @value{GDBN}
1697 commands, and their documentation, for the regular expression specified in
1698 @var{args}. It prints out all matches found. For example:
1699
1700 @smallexample
1701 apropos reload
1702 @end smallexample
1703
1704 @noindent
1705 results in:
1706
1707 @smallexample
1708 @c @group
1709 set symbol-reloading -- Set dynamic symbol table reloading
1710 multiple times in one run
1711 show symbol-reloading -- Show dynamic symbol table reloading
1712 multiple times in one run
1713 @c @end group
1714 @end smallexample
1715
1716 @kindex complete
1717 @item complete @var{args}
1718 The @code{complete @var{args}} command lists all the possible completions
1719 for the beginning of a command. Use @var{args} to specify the beginning of the
1720 command you want completed. For example:
1721
1722 @smallexample
1723 complete i
1724 @end smallexample
1725
1726 @noindent results in:
1727
1728 @smallexample
1729 @group
1730 if
1731 ignore
1732 info
1733 inspect
1734 @end group
1735 @end smallexample
1736
1737 @noindent This is intended for use by @sc{gnu} Emacs.
1738 @end table
1739
1740 In addition to @code{help}, you can use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{info}
1741 and @code{show} to inquire about the state of your program, or the state
1742 of @value{GDBN} itself. Each command supports many topics of inquiry; this
1743 manual introduces each of them in the appropriate context. The listings
1744 under @code{info} and under @code{show} in the Index point to
1745 all the sub-commands. @xref{Index}.
1746
1747 @c @group
1748 @table @code
1749 @kindex info
1750 @kindex i @r{(@code{info})}
1751 @item info
1752 This command (abbreviated @code{i}) is for describing the state of your
1753 program. For example, you can show the arguments passed to a function
1754 with @code{info args}, list the registers currently in use with @code{info
1755 registers}, or list the breakpoints you have set with @code{info breakpoints}.
1756 You can get a complete list of the @code{info} sub-commands with
1757 @w{@code{help info}}.
1758
1759 @kindex set
1760 @item set
1761 You can assign the result of an expression to an environment variable with
1762 @code{set}. For example, you can set the @value{GDBN} prompt to a $-sign with
1763 @code{set prompt $}.
1764
1765 @kindex show
1766 @item show
1767 In contrast to @code{info}, @code{show} is for describing the state of
1768 @value{GDBN} itself.
1769 You can change most of the things you can @code{show}, by using the
1770 related command @code{set}; for example, you can control what number
1771 system is used for displays with @code{set radix}, or simply inquire
1772 which is currently in use with @code{show radix}.
1773
1774 @kindex info set
1775 To display all the settable parameters and their current
1776 values, you can use @code{show} with no arguments; you may also use
1777 @code{info set}. Both commands produce the same display.
1778 @c FIXME: "info set" violates the rule that "info" is for state of
1779 @c FIXME...program. Ck w/ GNU: "info set" to be called something else,
1780 @c FIXME...or change desc of rule---eg "state of prog and debugging session"?
1781 @end table
1782 @c @end group
1783
1784 Here are three miscellaneous @code{show} subcommands, all of which are
1785 exceptional in lacking corresponding @code{set} commands:
1786
1787 @table @code
1788 @kindex show version
1789 @cindex @value{GDBN} version number
1790 @item show version
1791 Show what version of @value{GDBN} is running. You should include this
1792 information in @value{GDBN} bug-reports. If multiple versions of
1793 @value{GDBN} are in use at your site, you may need to determine which
1794 version of @value{GDBN} you are running; as @value{GDBN} evolves, new
1795 commands are introduced, and old ones may wither away. Also, many
1796 system vendors ship variant versions of @value{GDBN}, and there are
1797 variant versions of @value{GDBN} in @sc{gnu}/Linux distributions as well.
1798 The version number is the same as the one announced when you start
1799 @value{GDBN}.
1800
1801 @kindex show copying
1802 @kindex info copying
1803 @cindex display @value{GDBN} copyright
1804 @item show copying
1805 @itemx info copying
1806 Display information about permission for copying @value{GDBN}.
1807
1808 @kindex show warranty
1809 @kindex info warranty
1810 @item show warranty
1811 @itemx info warranty
1812 Display the @sc{gnu} ``NO WARRANTY'' statement, or a warranty,
1813 if your version of @value{GDBN} comes with one.
1814
1815 @end table
1816
1817 @node Running
1818 @chapter Running Programs Under @value{GDBN}
1819
1820 When you run a program under @value{GDBN}, you must first generate
1821 debugging information when you compile it.
1822
1823 You may start @value{GDBN} with its arguments, if any, in an environment
1824 of your choice. If you are doing native debugging, you may redirect
1825 your program's input and output, debug an already running process, or
1826 kill a child process.
1827
1828 @menu
1829 * Compilation:: Compiling for debugging
1830 * Starting:: Starting your program
1831 * Arguments:: Your program's arguments
1832 * Environment:: Your program's environment
1833
1834 * Working Directory:: Your program's working directory
1835 * Input/Output:: Your program's input and output
1836 * Attach:: Debugging an already-running process
1837 * Kill Process:: Killing the child process
1838
1839 * Inferiors and Programs:: Debugging multiple inferiors and programs
1840 * Threads:: Debugging programs with multiple threads
1841 * Forks:: Debugging forks
1842 * Checkpoint/Restart:: Setting a @emph{bookmark} to return to later
1843 @end menu
1844
1845 @node Compilation
1846 @section Compiling for Debugging
1847
1848 In order to debug a program effectively, you need to generate
1849 debugging information when you compile it. This debugging information
1850 is stored in the object file; it describes the data type of each
1851 variable or function and the correspondence between source line numbers
1852 and addresses in the executable code.
1853
1854 To request debugging information, specify the @samp{-g} option when you run
1855 the compiler.
1856
1857 Programs that are to be shipped to your customers are compiled with
1858 optimizations, using the @samp{-O} compiler option. However, some
1859 compilers are unable to handle the @samp{-g} and @samp{-O} options
1860 together. Using those compilers, you cannot generate optimized
1861 executables containing debugging information.
1862
1863 @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler, supports @samp{-g} with or
1864 without @samp{-O}, making it possible to debug optimized code. We
1865 recommend that you @emph{always} use @samp{-g} whenever you compile a
1866 program. You may think your program is correct, but there is no sense
1867 in pushing your luck. For more information, see @ref{Optimized Code}.
1868
1869 Older versions of the @sc{gnu} C compiler permitted a variant option
1870 @w{@samp{-gg}} for debugging information. @value{GDBN} no longer supports this
1871 format; if your @sc{gnu} C compiler has this option, do not use it.
1872
1873 @value{GDBN} knows about preprocessor macros and can show you their
1874 expansion (@pxref{Macros}). Most compilers do not include information
1875 about preprocessor macros in the debugging information if you specify
1876 the @option{-g} flag alone. Version 3.1 and later of @value{NGCC},
1877 the @sc{gnu} C compiler, provides macro information if you are using
1878 the DWARF debugging format, and specify the option @option{-g3}.
1879
1880 @xref{Debugging Options,,Options for Debugging Your Program or GCC,
1881 gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu} Compiler Collection (GCC)}, for more
1882 information on @value{NGCC} options affecting debug information.
1883
1884 You will have the best debugging experience if you use the latest
1885 version of the DWARF debugging format that your compiler supports.
1886 DWARF is currently the most expressive and best supported debugging
1887 format in @value{GDBN}.
1888
1889 @need 2000
1890 @node Starting
1891 @section Starting your Program
1892 @cindex starting
1893 @cindex running
1894
1895 @table @code
1896 @kindex run
1897 @kindex r @r{(@code{run})}
1898 @item run
1899 @itemx r
1900 Use the @code{run} command to start your program under @value{GDBN}.
1901 You must first specify the program name (except on VxWorks) with an
1902 argument to @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Invocation, ,Getting In and Out of
1903 @value{GDBN}}), or by using the @code{file} or @code{exec-file} command
1904 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
1905
1906 @end table
1907
1908 If you are running your program in an execution environment that
1909 supports processes, @code{run} creates an inferior process and makes
1910 that process run your program. In some environments without processes,
1911 @code{run} jumps to the start of your program. Other targets,
1912 like @samp{remote}, are always running. If you get an error
1913 message like this one:
1914
1915 @smallexample
1916 The "remote" target does not support "run".
1917 Try "help target" or "continue".
1918 @end smallexample
1919
1920 @noindent
1921 then use @code{continue} to run your program. You may need @code{load}
1922 first (@pxref{load}).
1923
1924 The execution of a program is affected by certain information it
1925 receives from its superior. @value{GDBN} provides ways to specify this
1926 information, which you must do @emph{before} starting your program. (You
1927 can change it after starting your program, but such changes only affect
1928 your program the next time you start it.) This information may be
1929 divided into four categories:
1930
1931 @table @asis
1932 @item The @emph{arguments.}
1933 Specify the arguments to give your program as the arguments of the
1934 @code{run} command. If a shell is available on your target, the shell
1935 is used to pass the arguments, so that you may use normal conventions
1936 (such as wildcard expansion or variable substitution) in describing
1937 the arguments.
1938 In Unix systems, you can control which shell is used with the
1939 @code{SHELL} environment variable.
1940 @xref{Arguments, ,Your Program's Arguments}.
1941
1942 @item The @emph{environment.}
1943 Your program normally inherits its environment from @value{GDBN}, but you can
1944 use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{set environment} and @code{unset
1945 environment} to change parts of the environment that affect
1946 your program. @xref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}.
1947
1948 @item The @emph{working directory.}
1949 Your program inherits its working directory from @value{GDBN}. You can set
1950 the @value{GDBN} working directory with the @code{cd} command in @value{GDBN}.
1951 @xref{Working Directory, ,Your Program's Working Directory}.
1952
1953 @item The @emph{standard input and output.}
1954 Your program normally uses the same device for standard input and
1955 standard output as @value{GDBN} is using. You can redirect input and output
1956 in the @code{run} command line, or you can use the @code{tty} command to
1957 set a different device for your program.
1958 @xref{Input/Output, ,Your Program's Input and Output}.
1959
1960 @cindex pipes
1961 @emph{Warning:} While input and output redirection work, you cannot use
1962 pipes to pass the output of the program you are debugging to another
1963 program; if you attempt this, @value{GDBN} is likely to wind up debugging the
1964 wrong program.
1965 @end table
1966
1967 When you issue the @code{run} command, your program begins to execute
1968 immediately. @xref{Stopping, ,Stopping and Continuing}, for discussion
1969 of how to arrange for your program to stop. Once your program has
1970 stopped, you may call functions in your program, using the @code{print}
1971 or @code{call} commands. @xref{Data, ,Examining Data}.
1972
1973 If the modification time of your symbol file has changed since the last
1974 time @value{GDBN} read its symbols, @value{GDBN} discards its symbol
1975 table, and reads it again. When it does this, @value{GDBN} tries to retain
1976 your current breakpoints.
1977
1978 @table @code
1979 @kindex start
1980 @item start
1981 @cindex run to main procedure
1982 The name of the main procedure can vary from language to language.
1983 With C or C@t{++}, the main procedure name is always @code{main}, but
1984 other languages such as Ada do not require a specific name for their
1985 main procedure. The debugger provides a convenient way to start the
1986 execution of the program and to stop at the beginning of the main
1987 procedure, depending on the language used.
1988
1989 The @samp{start} command does the equivalent of setting a temporary
1990 breakpoint at the beginning of the main procedure and then invoking
1991 the @samp{run} command.
1992
1993 @cindex elaboration phase
1994 Some programs contain an @dfn{elaboration} phase where some startup code is
1995 executed before the main procedure is called. This depends on the
1996 languages used to write your program. In C@t{++}, for instance,
1997 constructors for static and global objects are executed before
1998 @code{main} is called. It is therefore possible that the debugger stops
1999 before reaching the main procedure. However, the temporary breakpoint
2000 will remain to halt execution.
2001
2002 Specify the arguments to give to your program as arguments to the
2003 @samp{start} command. These arguments will be given verbatim to the
2004 underlying @samp{run} command. Note that the same arguments will be
2005 reused if no argument is provided during subsequent calls to
2006 @samp{start} or @samp{run}.
2007
2008 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration. In
2009 these cases, using the @code{start} command would stop the execution of
2010 your program too late, as the program would have already completed the
2011 elaboration phase. Under these circumstances, insert breakpoints in your
2012 elaboration code before running your program.
2013
2014 @kindex set exec-wrapper
2015 @item set exec-wrapper @var{wrapper}
2016 @itemx show exec-wrapper
2017 @itemx unset exec-wrapper
2018 When @samp{exec-wrapper} is set, the specified wrapper is used to
2019 launch programs for debugging. @value{GDBN} starts your program
2020 with a shell command of the form @kbd{exec @var{wrapper}
2021 @var{program}}. Quoting is added to @var{program} and its
2022 arguments, but not to @var{wrapper}, so you should add quotes if
2023 appropriate for your shell. The wrapper runs until it executes
2024 your program, and then @value{GDBN} takes control.
2025
2026 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
2027 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
2028 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
2029 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
2030
2031 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
2032 the debugged program, without setting the variable in your shell's
2033 environment:
2034
2035 @smallexample
2036 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper env 'LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so'
2037 (@value{GDBP}) run
2038 @end smallexample
2039
2040 This command is available when debugging locally on most targets, excluding
2041 @sc{djgpp}, Cygwin, MS Windows, and QNX Neutrino.
2042
2043 @kindex set disable-randomization
2044 @item set disable-randomization
2045 @itemx set disable-randomization on
2046 This option (enabled by default in @value{GDBN}) will turn off the native
2047 randomization of the virtual address space of the started program. This option
2048 is useful for multiple debugging sessions to make the execution better
2049 reproducible and memory addresses reusable across debugging sessions.
2050
2051 This feature is implemented only on certain targets, including @sc{gnu}/Linux.
2052 On @sc{gnu}/Linux you can get the same behavior using
2053
2054 @smallexample
2055 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper setarch `uname -m` -R
2056 @end smallexample
2057
2058 @item set disable-randomization off
2059 Leave the behavior of the started executable unchanged. Some bugs rear their
2060 ugly heads only when the program is loaded at certain addresses. If your bug
2061 disappears when you run the program under @value{GDBN}, that might be because
2062 @value{GDBN} by default disables the address randomization on platforms, such
2063 as @sc{gnu}/Linux, which do that for stand-alone programs. Use @kbd{set
2064 disable-randomization off} to try to reproduce such elusive bugs.
2065
2066 On targets where it is available, virtual address space randomization
2067 protects the programs against certain kinds of security attacks. In these
2068 cases the attacker needs to know the exact location of a concrete executable
2069 code. Randomizing its location makes it impossible to inject jumps misusing
2070 a code at its expected addresses.
2071
2072 Prelinking shared libraries provides a startup performance advantage but it
2073 makes addresses in these libraries predictable for privileged processes by
2074 having just unprivileged access at the target system. Reading the shared
2075 library binary gives enough information for assembling the malicious code
2076 misusing it. Still even a prelinked shared library can get loaded at a new
2077 random address just requiring the regular relocation process during the
2078 startup. Shared libraries not already prelinked are always loaded at
2079 a randomly chosen address.
2080
2081 Position independent executables (PIE) contain position independent code
2082 similar to the shared libraries and therefore such executables get loaded at
2083 a randomly chosen address upon startup. PIE executables always load even
2084 already prelinked shared libraries at a random address. You can build such
2085 executable using @command{gcc -fPIE -pie}.
2086
2087 Heap (malloc storage), stack and custom mmap areas are always placed randomly
2088 (as long as the randomization is enabled).
2089
2090 @item show disable-randomization
2091 Show the current setting of the explicit disable of the native randomization of
2092 the virtual address space of the started program.
2093
2094 @end table
2095
2096 @node Arguments
2097 @section Your Program's Arguments
2098
2099 @cindex arguments (to your program)
2100 The arguments to your program can be specified by the arguments of the
2101 @code{run} command.
2102 They are passed to a shell, which expands wildcard characters and
2103 performs redirection of I/O, and thence to your program. Your
2104 @code{SHELL} environment variable (if it exists) specifies what shell
2105 @value{GDBN} uses. If you do not define @code{SHELL}, @value{GDBN} uses
2106 the default shell (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix).
2107
2108 On non-Unix systems, the program is usually invoked directly by
2109 @value{GDBN}, which emulates I/O redirection via the appropriate system
2110 calls, and the wildcard characters are expanded by the startup code of
2111 the program, not by the shell.
2112
2113 @code{run} with no arguments uses the same arguments used by the previous
2114 @code{run}, or those set by the @code{set args} command.
2115
2116 @table @code
2117 @kindex set args
2118 @item set args
2119 Specify the arguments to be used the next time your program is run. If
2120 @code{set args} has no arguments, @code{run} executes your program
2121 with no arguments. Once you have run your program with arguments,
2122 using @code{set args} before the next @code{run} is the only way to run
2123 it again without arguments.
2124
2125 @kindex show args
2126 @item show args
2127 Show the arguments to give your program when it is started.
2128 @end table
2129
2130 @node Environment
2131 @section Your Program's Environment
2132
2133 @cindex environment (of your program)
2134 The @dfn{environment} consists of a set of environment variables and
2135 their values. Environment variables conventionally record such things as
2136 your user name, your home directory, your terminal type, and your search
2137 path for programs to run. Usually you set up environment variables with
2138 the shell and they are inherited by all the other programs you run. When
2139 debugging, it can be useful to try running your program with a modified
2140 environment without having to start @value{GDBN} over again.
2141
2142 @table @code
2143 @kindex path
2144 @item path @var{directory}
2145 Add @var{directory} to the front of the @code{PATH} environment variable
2146 (the search path for executables) that will be passed to your program.
2147 The value of @code{PATH} used by @value{GDBN} does not change.
2148 You may specify several directory names, separated by whitespace or by a
2149 system-dependent separator character (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on
2150 MS-DOS and MS-Windows). If @var{directory} is already in the path, it
2151 is moved to the front, so it is searched sooner.
2152
2153 You can use the string @samp{$cwd} to refer to whatever is the current
2154 working directory at the time @value{GDBN} searches the path. If you
2155 use @samp{.} instead, it refers to the directory where you executed the
2156 @code{path} command. @value{GDBN} replaces @samp{.} in the
2157 @var{directory} argument (with the current path) before adding
2158 @var{directory} to the search path.
2159 @c 'path' is explicitly nonrepeatable, but RMS points out it is silly to
2160 @c document that, since repeating it would be a no-op.
2161
2162 @kindex show paths
2163 @item show paths
2164 Display the list of search paths for executables (the @code{PATH}
2165 environment variable).
2166
2167 @kindex show environment
2168 @item show environment @r{[}@var{varname}@r{]}
2169 Print the value of environment variable @var{varname} to be given to
2170 your program when it starts. If you do not supply @var{varname},
2171 print the names and values of all environment variables to be given to
2172 your program. You can abbreviate @code{environment} as @code{env}.
2173
2174 @kindex set environment
2175 @item set environment @var{varname} @r{[}=@var{value}@r{]}
2176 Set environment variable @var{varname} to @var{value}. The value
2177 changes for your program only, not for @value{GDBN} itself. @var{value} may
2178 be any string; the values of environment variables are just strings, and
2179 any interpretation is supplied by your program itself. The @var{value}
2180 parameter is optional; if it is eliminated, the variable is set to a
2181 null value.
2182 @c "any string" here does not include leading, trailing
2183 @c blanks. Gnu asks: does anyone care?
2184
2185 For example, this command:
2186
2187 @smallexample
2188 set env USER = foo
2189 @end smallexample
2190
2191 @noindent
2192 tells the debugged program, when subsequently run, that its user is named
2193 @samp{foo}. (The spaces around @samp{=} are used for clarity here; they
2194 are not actually required.)
2195
2196 @kindex unset environment
2197 @item unset environment @var{varname}
2198 Remove variable @var{varname} from the environment to be passed to your
2199 program. This is different from @samp{set env @var{varname} =};
2200 @code{unset environment} removes the variable from the environment,
2201 rather than assigning it an empty value.
2202 @end table
2203
2204 @emph{Warning:} On Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program using
2205 the shell indicated
2206 by your @code{SHELL} environment variable if it exists (or
2207 @code{/bin/sh} if not). If your @code{SHELL} variable names a shell
2208 that runs an initialization file---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell, or
2209 @file{.bashrc} for BASH---any variables you set in that file affect
2210 your program. You may wish to move setting of environment variables to
2211 files that are only run when you sign on, such as @file{.login} or
2212 @file{.profile}.
2213
2214 @node Working Directory
2215 @section Your Program's Working Directory
2216
2217 @cindex working directory (of your program)
2218 Each time you start your program with @code{run}, it inherits its
2219 working directory from the current working directory of @value{GDBN}.
2220 The @value{GDBN} working directory is initially whatever it inherited
2221 from its parent process (typically the shell), but you can specify a new
2222 working directory in @value{GDBN} with the @code{cd} command.
2223
2224 The @value{GDBN} working directory also serves as a default for the commands
2225 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2226 Specify Files}.
2227
2228 @table @code
2229 @kindex cd
2230 @cindex change working directory
2231 @item cd @var{directory}
2232 Set the @value{GDBN} working directory to @var{directory}.
2233
2234 @kindex pwd
2235 @item pwd
2236 Print the @value{GDBN} working directory.
2237 @end table
2238
2239 It is generally impossible to find the current working directory of
2240 the process being debugged (since a program can change its directory
2241 during its run). If you work on a system where @value{GDBN} is
2242 configured with the @file{/proc} support, you can use the @code{info
2243 proc} command (@pxref{SVR4 Process Information}) to find out the
2244 current working directory of the debuggee.
2245
2246 @node Input/Output
2247 @section Your Program's Input and Output
2248
2249 @cindex redirection
2250 @cindex i/o
2251 @cindex terminal
2252 By default, the program you run under @value{GDBN} does input and output to
2253 the same terminal that @value{GDBN} uses. @value{GDBN} switches the terminal
2254 to its own terminal modes to interact with you, but it records the terminal
2255 modes your program was using and switches back to them when you continue
2256 running your program.
2257
2258 @table @code
2259 @kindex info terminal
2260 @item info terminal
2261 Displays information recorded by @value{GDBN} about the terminal modes your
2262 program is using.
2263 @end table
2264
2265 You can redirect your program's input and/or output using shell
2266 redirection with the @code{run} command. For example,
2267
2268 @smallexample
2269 run > outfile
2270 @end smallexample
2271
2272 @noindent
2273 starts your program, diverting its output to the file @file{outfile}.
2274
2275 @kindex tty
2276 @cindex controlling terminal
2277 Another way to specify where your program should do input and output is
2278 with the @code{tty} command. This command accepts a file name as
2279 argument, and causes this file to be the default for future @code{run}
2280 commands. It also resets the controlling terminal for the child
2281 process, for future @code{run} commands. For example,
2282
2283 @smallexample
2284 tty /dev/ttyb
2285 @end smallexample
2286
2287 @noindent
2288 directs that processes started with subsequent @code{run} commands
2289 default to do input and output on the terminal @file{/dev/ttyb} and have
2290 that as their controlling terminal.
2291
2292 An explicit redirection in @code{run} overrides the @code{tty} command's
2293 effect on the input/output device, but not its effect on the controlling
2294 terminal.
2295
2296 When you use the @code{tty} command or redirect input in the @code{run}
2297 command, only the input @emph{for your program} is affected. The input
2298 for @value{GDBN} still comes from your terminal. @code{tty} is an alias
2299 for @code{set inferior-tty}.
2300
2301 @cindex inferior tty
2302 @cindex set inferior controlling terminal
2303 You can use the @code{show inferior-tty} command to tell @value{GDBN} to
2304 display the name of the terminal that will be used for future runs of your
2305 program.
2306
2307 @table @code
2308 @item set inferior-tty /dev/ttyb
2309 @kindex set inferior-tty
2310 Set the tty for the program being debugged to /dev/ttyb.
2311
2312 @item show inferior-tty
2313 @kindex show inferior-tty
2314 Show the current tty for the program being debugged.
2315 @end table
2316
2317 @node Attach
2318 @section Debugging an Already-running Process
2319 @kindex attach
2320 @cindex attach
2321
2322 @table @code
2323 @item attach @var{process-id}
2324 This command attaches to a running process---one that was started
2325 outside @value{GDBN}. (@code{info files} shows your active
2326 targets.) The command takes as argument a process ID. The usual way to
2327 find out the @var{process-id} of a Unix process is with the @code{ps} utility,
2328 or with the @samp{jobs -l} shell command.
2329
2330 @code{attach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} a second time after
2331 executing the command.
2332 @end table
2333
2334 To use @code{attach}, your program must be running in an environment
2335 which supports processes; for example, @code{attach} does not work for
2336 programs on bare-board targets that lack an operating system. You must
2337 also have permission to send the process a signal.
2338
2339 When you use @code{attach}, the debugger finds the program running in
2340 the process first by looking in the current working directory, then (if
2341 the program is not found) by using the source file search path
2342 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}). You can also use
2343 the @code{file} command to load the program. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2344 Specify Files}.
2345
2346 The first thing @value{GDBN} does after arranging to debug the specified
2347 process is to stop it. You can examine and modify an attached process
2348 with all the @value{GDBN} commands that are ordinarily available when
2349 you start processes with @code{run}. You can insert breakpoints; you
2350 can step and continue; you can modify storage. If you would rather the
2351 process continue running, you may use the @code{continue} command after
2352 attaching @value{GDBN} to the process.
2353
2354 @table @code
2355 @kindex detach
2356 @item detach
2357 When you have finished debugging the attached process, you can use the
2358 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control. Detaching
2359 the process continues its execution. After the @code{detach} command,
2360 that process and @value{GDBN} become completely independent once more, and you
2361 are ready to @code{attach} another process or start one with @code{run}.
2362 @code{detach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
2363 executing the command.
2364 @end table
2365
2366 If you exit @value{GDBN} while you have an attached process, you detach
2367 that process. If you use the @code{run} command, you kill that process.
2368 By default, @value{GDBN} asks for confirmation if you try to do either of these
2369 things; you can control whether or not you need to confirm by using the
2370 @code{set confirm} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
2371 Messages}).
2372
2373 @node Kill Process
2374 @section Killing the Child Process
2375
2376 @table @code
2377 @kindex kill
2378 @item kill
2379 Kill the child process in which your program is running under @value{GDBN}.
2380 @end table
2381
2382 This command is useful if you wish to debug a core dump instead of a
2383 running process. @value{GDBN} ignores any core dump file while your program
2384 is running.
2385
2386 On some operating systems, a program cannot be executed outside @value{GDBN}
2387 while you have breakpoints set on it inside @value{GDBN}. You can use the
2388 @code{kill} command in this situation to permit running your program
2389 outside the debugger.
2390
2391 The @code{kill} command is also useful if you wish to recompile and
2392 relink your program, since on many systems it is impossible to modify an
2393 executable file while it is running in a process. In this case, when you
2394 next type @code{run}, @value{GDBN} notices that the file has changed, and
2395 reads the symbol table again (while trying to preserve your current
2396 breakpoint settings).
2397
2398 @node Inferiors and Programs
2399 @section Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs
2400
2401 @value{GDBN} lets you run and debug multiple programs in a single
2402 session. In addition, @value{GDBN} on some systems may let you run
2403 several programs simultaneously (otherwise you have to exit from one
2404 before starting another). In the most general case, you can have
2405 multiple threads of execution in each of multiple processes, launched
2406 from multiple executables.
2407
2408 @cindex inferior
2409 @value{GDBN} represents the state of each program execution with an
2410 object called an @dfn{inferior}. An inferior typically corresponds to
2411 a process, but is more general and applies also to targets that do not
2412 have processes. Inferiors may be created before a process runs, and
2413 may be retained after a process exits. Inferiors have unique
2414 identifiers that are different from process ids. Usually each
2415 inferior will also have its own distinct address space, although some
2416 embedded targets may have several inferiors running in different parts
2417 of a single address space. Each inferior may in turn have multiple
2418 threads running in it.
2419
2420 To find out what inferiors exist at any moment, use @w{@code{info
2421 inferiors}}:
2422
2423 @table @code
2424 @kindex info inferiors
2425 @item info inferiors
2426 Print a list of all inferiors currently being managed by @value{GDBN}.
2427
2428 @value{GDBN} displays for each inferior (in this order):
2429
2430 @enumerate
2431 @item
2432 the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2433
2434 @item
2435 the target system's inferior identifier
2436
2437 @item
2438 the name of the executable the inferior is running.
2439
2440 @end enumerate
2441
2442 @noindent
2443 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} inferior number
2444 indicates the current inferior.
2445
2446 For example,
2447 @end table
2448 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2449
2450 @smallexample
2451 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2452 Num Description Executable
2453 2 process 2307 hello
2454 * 1 process 3401 goodbye
2455 @end smallexample
2456
2457 To switch focus between inferiors, use the @code{inferior} command:
2458
2459 @table @code
2460 @kindex inferior @var{infno}
2461 @item inferior @var{infno}
2462 Make inferior number @var{infno} the current inferior. The argument
2463 @var{infno} is the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}, as shown
2464 in the first field of the @samp{info inferiors} display.
2465 @end table
2466
2467
2468 You can get multiple executables into a debugging session via the
2469 @code{add-inferior} and @w{@code{clone-inferior}} commands. On some
2470 systems @value{GDBN} can add inferiors to the debug session
2471 automatically by following calls to @code{fork} and @code{exec}. To
2472 remove inferiors from the debugging session use the
2473 @w{@code{remove-inferiors}} command.
2474
2475 @table @code
2476 @kindex add-inferior
2477 @item add-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ -exec @var{executable} ]
2478 Adds @var{n} inferiors to be run using @var{executable} as the
2479 executable. @var{n} defaults to 1. If no executable is specified,
2480 the inferiors begins empty, with no program. You can still assign or
2481 change the program assigned to the inferior at any time by using the
2482 @code{file} command with the executable name as its argument.
2483
2484 @kindex clone-inferior
2485 @item clone-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ @var{infno} ]
2486 Adds @var{n} inferiors ready to execute the same program as inferior
2487 @var{infno}. @var{n} defaults to 1. @var{infno} defaults to the
2488 number of the current inferior. This is a convenient command when you
2489 want to run another instance of the inferior you are debugging.
2490
2491 @smallexample
2492 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2493 Num Description Executable
2494 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2495 (@value{GDBP}) clone-inferior
2496 Added inferior 2.
2497 1 inferiors added.
2498 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2499 Num Description Executable
2500 2 <null> helloworld
2501 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2502 @end smallexample
2503
2504 You can now simply switch focus to inferior 2 and run it.
2505
2506 @kindex remove-inferiors
2507 @item remove-inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2508 Removes the inferior or inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}. It is not
2509 possible to remove an inferior that is running with this command. For
2510 those, use the @code{kill} or @code{detach} command first.
2511
2512 @end table
2513
2514 To quit debugging one of the running inferiors that is not the current
2515 inferior, you can either detach from it by using the @w{@code{detach
2516 inferior}} command (allowing it to run independently), or kill it
2517 using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}} command:
2518
2519 @table @code
2520 @kindex detach inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2521 @item detach inferior @var{infno}@dots{}
2522 Detach from the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN}
2523 inferior number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry
2524 still stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors},
2525 but its Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2526
2527 @kindex kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2528 @item kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2529 Kill the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN} inferior
2530 number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry still
2531 stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors}, but its
2532 Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2533 @end table
2534
2535 After the successful completion of a command such as @code{detach},
2536 @code{detach inferiors}, @code{kill} or @code{kill inferiors}, or after
2537 a normal process exit, the inferior is still valid and listed with
2538 @code{info inferiors}, ready to be restarted.
2539
2540
2541 To be notified when inferiors are started or exit under @value{GDBN}'s
2542 control use @w{@code{set print inferior-events}}:
2543
2544 @table @code
2545 @kindex set print inferior-events
2546 @cindex print messages on inferior start and exit
2547 @item set print inferior-events
2548 @itemx set print inferior-events on
2549 @itemx set print inferior-events off
2550 The @code{set print inferior-events} command allows you to enable or
2551 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new
2552 inferiors have started or that inferiors have exited or have been
2553 detached. By default, these messages will not be printed.
2554
2555 @kindex show print inferior-events
2556 @item show print inferior-events
2557 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that
2558 inferiors have started, exited or have been detached.
2559 @end table
2560
2561 Many commands will work the same with multiple programs as with a
2562 single program: e.g., @code{print myglobal} will simply display the
2563 value of @code{myglobal} in the current inferior.
2564
2565
2566 Occasionaly, when debugging @value{GDBN} itself, it may be useful to
2567 get more info about the relationship of inferiors, programs, address
2568 spaces in a debug session. You can do that with the @w{@code{maint
2569 info program-spaces}} command.
2570
2571 @table @code
2572 @kindex maint info program-spaces
2573 @item maint info program-spaces
2574 Print a list of all program spaces currently being managed by
2575 @value{GDBN}.
2576
2577 @value{GDBN} displays for each program space (in this order):
2578
2579 @enumerate
2580 @item
2581 the program space number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2582
2583 @item
2584 the name of the executable loaded into the program space, with e.g.,
2585 the @code{file} command.
2586
2587 @end enumerate
2588
2589 @noindent
2590 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} program space number
2591 indicates the current program space.
2592
2593 In addition, below each program space line, @value{GDBN} prints extra
2594 information that isn't suitable to display in tabular form. For
2595 example, the list of inferiors bound to the program space.
2596
2597 @smallexample
2598 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2599 Id Executable
2600 2 goodbye
2601 Bound inferiors: ID 1 (process 21561)
2602 * 1 hello
2603 @end smallexample
2604
2605 Here we can see that no inferior is running the program @code{hello},
2606 while @code{process 21561} is running the program @code{goodbye}. On
2607 some targets, it is possible that multiple inferiors are bound to the
2608 same program space. The most common example is that of debugging both
2609 the parent and child processes of a @code{vfork} call. For example,
2610
2611 @smallexample
2612 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2613 Id Executable
2614 * 1 vfork-test
2615 Bound inferiors: ID 2 (process 18050), ID 1 (process 18045)
2616 @end smallexample
2617
2618 Here, both inferior 2 and inferior 1 are running in the same program
2619 space as a result of inferior 1 having executed a @code{vfork} call.
2620 @end table
2621
2622 @node Threads
2623 @section Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads
2624
2625 @cindex threads of execution
2626 @cindex multiple threads
2627 @cindex switching threads
2628 In some operating systems, such as HP-UX and Solaris, a single program
2629 may have more than one @dfn{thread} of execution. The precise semantics
2630 of threads differ from one operating system to another, but in general
2631 the threads of a single program are akin to multiple processes---except
2632 that they share one address space (that is, they can all examine and
2633 modify the same variables). On the other hand, each thread has its own
2634 registers and execution stack, and perhaps private memory.
2635
2636 @value{GDBN} provides these facilities for debugging multi-thread
2637 programs:
2638
2639 @itemize @bullet
2640 @item automatic notification of new threads
2641 @item @samp{thread @var{threadno}}, a command to switch among threads
2642 @item @samp{info threads}, a command to inquire about existing threads
2643 @item @samp{thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{args}},
2644 a command to apply a command to a list of threads
2645 @item thread-specific breakpoints
2646 @item @samp{set print thread-events}, which controls printing of
2647 messages on thread start and exit.
2648 @item @samp{set libthread-db-search-path @var{path}}, which lets
2649 the user specify which @code{libthread_db} to use if the default choice
2650 isn't compatible with the program.
2651 @end itemize
2652
2653 @quotation
2654 @emph{Warning:} These facilities are not yet available on every
2655 @value{GDBN} configuration where the operating system supports threads.
2656 If your @value{GDBN} does not support threads, these commands have no
2657 effect. For example, a system without thread support shows no output
2658 from @samp{info threads}, and always rejects the @code{thread} command,
2659 like this:
2660
2661 @smallexample
2662 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2663 (@value{GDBP}) thread 1
2664 Thread ID 1 not known. Use the "info threads" command to
2665 see the IDs of currently known threads.
2666 @end smallexample
2667 @c FIXME to implementors: how hard would it be to say "sorry, this GDB
2668 @c doesn't support threads"?
2669 @end quotation
2670
2671 @cindex focus of debugging
2672 @cindex current thread
2673 The @value{GDBN} thread debugging facility allows you to observe all
2674 threads while your program runs---but whenever @value{GDBN} takes
2675 control, one thread in particular is always the focus of debugging.
2676 This thread is called the @dfn{current thread}. Debugging commands show
2677 program information from the perspective of the current thread.
2678
2679 @cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message
2680 @cindex thread identifier (system)
2681 @c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2682 @c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2683 @c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2684 Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2685 the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2686 form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2687 whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2688 @sc{gnu}/Linux, you might see
2689
2690 @smallexample
2691 [New Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 25582)]
2692 @end smallexample
2693
2694 @noindent
2695 when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread. In contrast, on an SGI system,
2696 the @var{systag} is simply something like @samp{process 368}, with no
2697 further qualifier.
2698
2699 @c FIXME!! (1) Does the [New...] message appear even for the very first
2700 @c thread of a program, or does it only appear for the
2701 @c second---i.e.@: when it becomes obvious we have a multithread
2702 @c program?
2703 @c (2) *Is* there necessarily a first thread always? Or do some
2704 @c multithread systems permit starting a program with multiple
2705 @c threads ab initio?
2706
2707 @cindex thread number
2708 @cindex thread identifier (GDB)
2709 For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2710 number---always a single integer---with each thread in your program.
2711
2712 @table @code
2713 @kindex info threads
2714 @item info threads @r{[}@var{id}@dots{}@r{]}
2715 Display a summary of all threads currently in your program. Optional
2716 argument @var{id}@dots{} is one or more thread ids separated by spaces, and
2717 means to print information only about the specified thread or threads.
2718 @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2719
2720 @enumerate
2721 @item
2722 the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2723
2724 @item
2725 the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2726
2727 @item
2728 the thread's name, if one is known. A thread can either be named by
2729 the user (see @code{thread name}, below), or, in some cases, by the
2730 program itself.
2731
2732 @item
2733 the current stack frame summary for that thread
2734 @end enumerate
2735
2736 @noindent
2737 An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2738 indicates the current thread.
2739
2740 For example,
2741 @end table
2742 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2743
2744 @smallexample
2745 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2746 Id Target Id Frame
2747 3 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2748 2 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2749 * 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
2750 at threadtest.c:68
2751 @end smallexample
2752
2753 On Solaris, you can display more information about user threads with a
2754 Solaris-specific command:
2755
2756 @table @code
2757 @item maint info sol-threads
2758 @kindex maint info sol-threads
2759 @cindex thread info (Solaris)
2760 Display info on Solaris user threads.
2761 @end table
2762
2763 @table @code
2764 @kindex thread @var{threadno}
2765 @item thread @var{threadno}
2766 Make thread number @var{threadno} the current thread. The command
2767 argument @var{threadno} is the internal @value{GDBN} thread number, as
2768 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display.
2769 @value{GDBN} responds by displaying the system identifier of the thread
2770 you selected, and its current stack frame summary:
2771
2772 @smallexample
2773 (@value{GDBP}) thread 2
2774 [Switching to thread 2 (Thread 0xb7fdab70 (LWP 12747))]
2775 #0 some_function (ignore=0x0) at example.c:8
2776 8 printf ("hello\n");
2777 @end smallexample
2778
2779 @noindent
2780 As with the @samp{[New @dots{}]} message, the form of the text after
2781 @samp{Switching to} depends on your system's conventions for identifying
2782 threads.
2783
2784 @vindex $_thread@r{, convenience variable}
2785 The debugger convenience variable @samp{$_thread} contains the number
2786 of the current thread. You may find this useful in writing breakpoint
2787 conditional expressions, command scripts, and so forth. See
2788 @xref{Convenience Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for general
2789 information on convenience variables.
2790
2791 @kindex thread apply
2792 @cindex apply command to several threads
2793 @item thread apply [@var{threadno} | all] @var{command}
2794 The @code{thread apply} command allows you to apply the named
2795 @var{command} to one or more threads. Specify the numbers of the
2796 threads that you want affected with the command argument
2797 @var{threadno}. It can be a single thread number, one of the numbers
2798 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display; or it
2799 could be a range of thread numbers, as in @code{2-4}. To apply a
2800 command to all threads, type @kbd{thread apply all @var{command}}.
2801
2802 @kindex thread name
2803 @cindex name a thread
2804 @item thread name [@var{name}]
2805 This command assigns a name to the current thread. If no argument is
2806 given, any existing user-specified name is removed. The thread name
2807 appears in the @samp{info threads} display.
2808
2809 On some systems, such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, @value{GDBN} is able to
2810 determine the name of the thread as given by the OS. On these
2811 systems, a name specified with @samp{thread name} will override the
2812 system-give name, and removing the user-specified name will cause
2813 @value{GDBN} to once again display the system-specified name.
2814
2815 @kindex thread find
2816 @cindex search for a thread
2817 @item thread find [@var{regexp}]
2818 Search for and display thread ids whose name or @var{systag}
2819 matches the supplied regular expression.
2820
2821 As well as being the complement to the @samp{thread name} command,
2822 this command also allows you to identify a thread by its target
2823 @var{systag}. For instance, on @sc{gnu}/Linux, the target @var{systag}
2824 is the LWP id.
2825
2826 @smallexample
2827 (@value{GDBN}) thread find 26688
2828 Thread 4 has target id 'Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688)'
2829 (@value{GDBN}) info thread 4
2830 Id Target Id Frame
2831 4 Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688) 0x00000031ca6cd372 in select ()
2832 @end smallexample
2833
2834 @kindex set print thread-events
2835 @cindex print messages on thread start and exit
2836 @item set print thread-events
2837 @itemx set print thread-events on
2838 @itemx set print thread-events off
2839 The @code{set print thread-events} command allows you to enable or
2840 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new threads have
2841 started or that threads have exited. By default, these messages will
2842 be printed if detection of these events is supported by the target.
2843 Note that these messages cannot be disabled on all targets.
2844
2845 @kindex show print thread-events
2846 @item show print thread-events
2847 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that threads
2848 have started and exited.
2849 @end table
2850
2851 @xref{Thread Stops,,Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs}, for
2852 more information about how @value{GDBN} behaves when you stop and start
2853 programs with multiple threads.
2854
2855 @xref{Set Watchpoints,,Setting Watchpoints}, for information about
2856 watchpoints in programs with multiple threads.
2857
2858 @table @code
2859 @kindex set libthread-db-search-path
2860 @cindex search path for @code{libthread_db}
2861 @item set libthread-db-search-path @r{[}@var{path}@r{]}
2862 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
2863 directories @value{GDBN} will use to search for @code{libthread_db}.
2864 If you omit @var{path}, @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to
2865 its default value (@code{$sdir:$pdir} on @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems).
2866 Internally, the default value comes from the @code{LIBTHREAD_DB_SEARCH_PATH}
2867 macro.
2868
2869 On @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems, @value{GDBN} uses a ``helper''
2870 @code{libthread_db} library to obtain information about threads in the
2871 inferior process. @value{GDBN} will use @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2872 to find @code{libthread_db}.
2873
2874 A special entry @samp{$sdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2875 refers to the default system directories that are
2876 normally searched for loading shared libraries.
2877
2878 A special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2879 refers to the directory from which @code{libpthread}
2880 was loaded in the inferior process.
2881
2882 For any @code{libthread_db} library @value{GDBN} finds in above directories,
2883 @value{GDBN} attempts to initialize it with the current inferior process.
2884 If this initialization fails (which could happen because of a version
2885 mismatch between @code{libthread_db} and @code{libpthread}), @value{GDBN}
2886 will unload @code{libthread_db}, and continue with the next directory.
2887 If none of @code{libthread_db} libraries initialize successfully,
2888 @value{GDBN} will issue a warning and thread debugging will be disabled.
2889
2890 Setting @code{libthread-db-search-path} is currently implemented
2891 only on some platforms.
2892
2893 @kindex show libthread-db-search-path
2894 @item show libthread-db-search-path
2895 Display current libthread_db search path.
2896
2897 @kindex set debug libthread-db
2898 @kindex show debug libthread-db
2899 @cindex debugging @code{libthread_db}
2900 @item set debug libthread-db
2901 @itemx show debug libthread-db
2902 Turns on or off display of @code{libthread_db}-related events.
2903 Use @code{1} to enable, @code{0} to disable.
2904 @end table
2905
2906 @node Forks
2907 @section Debugging Forks
2908
2909 @cindex fork, debugging programs which call
2910 @cindex multiple processes
2911 @cindex processes, multiple
2912 On most systems, @value{GDBN} has no special support for debugging
2913 programs which create additional processes using the @code{fork}
2914 function. When a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug the
2915 parent process and the child process will run unimpeded. If you have
2916 set a breakpoint in any code which the child then executes, the child
2917 will get a @code{SIGTRAP} signal which (unless it catches the signal)
2918 will cause it to terminate.
2919
2920 However, if you want to debug the child process there is a workaround
2921 which isn't too painful. Put a call to @code{sleep} in the code which
2922 the child process executes after the fork. It may be useful to sleep
2923 only if a certain environment variable is set, or a certain file exists,
2924 so that the delay need not occur when you don't want to run @value{GDBN}
2925 on the child. While the child is sleeping, use the @code{ps} program to
2926 get its process ID. Then tell @value{GDBN} (a new invocation of
2927 @value{GDBN} if you are also debugging the parent process) to attach to
2928 the child process (@pxref{Attach}). From that point on you can debug
2929 the child process just like any other process which you attached to.
2930
2931 On some systems, @value{GDBN} provides support for debugging programs that
2932 create additional processes using the @code{fork} or @code{vfork} functions.
2933 Currently, the only platforms with this feature are HP-UX (11.x and later
2934 only?) and @sc{gnu}/Linux (kernel version 2.5.60 and later).
2935
2936 By default, when a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug
2937 the parent process and the child process will run unimpeded.
2938
2939 If you want to follow the child process instead of the parent process,
2940 use the command @w{@code{set follow-fork-mode}}.
2941
2942 @table @code
2943 @kindex set follow-fork-mode
2944 @item set follow-fork-mode @var{mode}
2945 Set the debugger response to a program call of @code{fork} or
2946 @code{vfork}. A call to @code{fork} or @code{vfork} creates a new
2947 process. The @var{mode} argument can be:
2948
2949 @table @code
2950 @item parent
2951 The original process is debugged after a fork. The child process runs
2952 unimpeded. This is the default.
2953
2954 @item child
2955 The new process is debugged after a fork. The parent process runs
2956 unimpeded.
2957
2958 @end table
2959
2960 @kindex show follow-fork-mode
2961 @item show follow-fork-mode
2962 Display the current debugger response to a @code{fork} or @code{vfork} call.
2963 @end table
2964
2965 @cindex debugging multiple processes
2966 On Linux, if you want to debug both the parent and child processes, use the
2967 command @w{@code{set detach-on-fork}}.
2968
2969 @table @code
2970 @kindex set detach-on-fork
2971 @item set detach-on-fork @var{mode}
2972 Tells gdb whether to detach one of the processes after a fork, or
2973 retain debugger control over them both.
2974
2975 @table @code
2976 @item on
2977 The child process (or parent process, depending on the value of
2978 @code{follow-fork-mode}) will be detached and allowed to run
2979 independently. This is the default.
2980
2981 @item off
2982 Both processes will be held under the control of @value{GDBN}.
2983 One process (child or parent, depending on the value of
2984 @code{follow-fork-mode}) is debugged as usual, while the other
2985 is held suspended.
2986
2987 @end table
2988
2989 @kindex show detach-on-fork
2990 @item show detach-on-fork
2991 Show whether detach-on-fork mode is on/off.
2992 @end table
2993
2994 If you choose to set @samp{detach-on-fork} mode off, then @value{GDBN}
2995 will retain control of all forked processes (including nested forks).
2996 You can list the forked processes under the control of @value{GDBN} by
2997 using the @w{@code{info inferiors}} command, and switch from one fork
2998 to another by using the @code{inferior} command (@pxref{Inferiors and
2999 Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs}).
3000
3001 To quit debugging one of the forked processes, you can either detach
3002 from it by using the @w{@code{detach inferiors}} command (allowing it
3003 to run independently), or kill it using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}}
3004 command. @xref{Inferiors and Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors
3005 and Programs}.
3006
3007 If you ask to debug a child process and a @code{vfork} is followed by an
3008 @code{exec}, @value{GDBN} executes the new target up to the first
3009 breakpoint in the new target. If you have a breakpoint set on
3010 @code{main} in your original program, the breakpoint will also be set on
3011 the child process's @code{main}.
3012
3013 On some systems, when a child process is spawned by @code{vfork}, you
3014 cannot debug the child or parent until an @code{exec} call completes.
3015
3016 If you issue a @code{run} command to @value{GDBN} after an @code{exec}
3017 call executes, the new target restarts. To restart the parent
3018 process, use the @code{file} command with the parent executable name
3019 as its argument. By default, after an @code{exec} call executes,
3020 @value{GDBN} discards the symbols of the previous executable image.
3021 You can change this behaviour with the @w{@code{set follow-exec-mode}}
3022 command.
3023
3024 @table @code
3025 @kindex set follow-exec-mode
3026 @item set follow-exec-mode @var{mode}
3027
3028 Set debugger response to a program call of @code{exec}. An
3029 @code{exec} call replaces the program image of a process.
3030
3031 @code{follow-exec-mode} can be:
3032
3033 @table @code
3034 @item new
3035 @value{GDBN} creates a new inferior and rebinds the process to this
3036 new inferior. The program the process was running before the
3037 @code{exec} call can be restarted afterwards by restarting the
3038 original inferior.
3039
3040 For example:
3041
3042 @smallexample
3043 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3044 (gdb) info inferior
3045 Id Description Executable
3046 * 1 <null> prog1
3047 (@value{GDBP}) run
3048 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3049 Program exited normally.
3050 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3051 Id Description Executable
3052 * 2 <null> prog2
3053 1 <null> prog1
3054 @end smallexample
3055
3056 @item same
3057 @value{GDBN} keeps the process bound to the same inferior. The new
3058 executable image replaces the previous executable loaded in the
3059 inferior. Restarting the inferior after the @code{exec} call, with
3060 e.g., the @code{run} command, restarts the executable the process was
3061 running after the @code{exec} call. This is the default mode.
3062
3063 For example:
3064
3065 @smallexample
3066 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3067 Id Description Executable
3068 * 1 <null> prog1
3069 (@value{GDBP}) run
3070 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3071 Program exited normally.
3072 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3073 Id Description Executable
3074 * 1 <null> prog2
3075 @end smallexample
3076
3077 @end table
3078 @end table
3079
3080 You can use the @code{catch} command to make @value{GDBN} stop whenever
3081 a @code{fork}, @code{vfork}, or @code{exec} call is made. @xref{Set
3082 Catchpoints, ,Setting Catchpoints}.
3083
3084 @node Checkpoint/Restart
3085 @section Setting a @emph{Bookmark} to Return to Later
3086
3087 @cindex checkpoint
3088 @cindex restart
3089 @cindex bookmark
3090 @cindex snapshot of a process
3091 @cindex rewind program state
3092
3093 On certain operating systems@footnote{Currently, only
3094 @sc{gnu}/Linux.}, @value{GDBN} is able to save a @dfn{snapshot} of a
3095 program's state, called a @dfn{checkpoint}, and come back to it
3096 later.
3097
3098 Returning to a checkpoint effectively undoes everything that has
3099 happened in the program since the @code{checkpoint} was saved. This
3100 includes changes in memory, registers, and even (within some limits)
3101 system state. Effectively, it is like going back in time to the
3102 moment when the checkpoint was saved.
3103
3104 Thus, if you're stepping thru a program and you think you're
3105 getting close to the point where things go wrong, you can save
3106 a checkpoint. Then, if you accidentally go too far and miss
3107 the critical statement, instead of having to restart your program
3108 from the beginning, you can just go back to the checkpoint and
3109 start again from there.
3110
3111 This can be especially useful if it takes a lot of time or
3112 steps to reach the point where you think the bug occurs.
3113
3114 To use the @code{checkpoint}/@code{restart} method of debugging:
3115
3116 @table @code
3117 @kindex checkpoint
3118 @item checkpoint
3119 Save a snapshot of the debugged program's current execution state.
3120 The @code{checkpoint} command takes no arguments, but each checkpoint
3121 is assigned a small integer id, similar to a breakpoint id.
3122
3123 @kindex info checkpoints
3124 @item info checkpoints
3125 List the checkpoints that have been saved in the current debugging
3126 session. For each checkpoint, the following information will be
3127 listed:
3128
3129 @table @code
3130 @item Checkpoint ID
3131 @item Process ID
3132 @item Code Address
3133 @item Source line, or label
3134 @end table
3135
3136 @kindex restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3137 @item restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3138 Restore the program state that was saved as checkpoint number
3139 @var{checkpoint-id}. All program variables, registers, stack frames
3140 etc.@: will be returned to the values that they had when the checkpoint
3141 was saved. In essence, gdb will ``wind back the clock'' to the point
3142 in time when the checkpoint was saved.
3143
3144 Note that breakpoints, @value{GDBN} variables, command history etc.
3145 are not affected by restoring a checkpoint. In general, a checkpoint
3146 only restores things that reside in the program being debugged, not in
3147 the debugger.
3148
3149 @kindex delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3150 @item delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3151 Delete the previously-saved checkpoint identified by @var{checkpoint-id}.
3152
3153 @end table
3154
3155 Returning to a previously saved checkpoint will restore the user state
3156 of the program being debugged, plus a significant subset of the system
3157 (OS) state, including file pointers. It won't ``un-write'' data from
3158 a file, but it will rewind the file pointer to the previous location,
3159 so that the previously written data can be overwritten. For files
3160 opened in read mode, the pointer will also be restored so that the
3161 previously read data can be read again.
3162
3163 Of course, characters that have been sent to a printer (or other
3164 external device) cannot be ``snatched back'', and characters received
3165 from eg.@: a serial device can be removed from internal program buffers,
3166 but they cannot be ``pushed back'' into the serial pipeline, ready to
3167 be received again. Similarly, the actual contents of files that have
3168 been changed cannot be restored (at this time).
3169
3170 However, within those constraints, you actually can ``rewind'' your
3171 program to a previously saved point in time, and begin debugging it
3172 again --- and you can change the course of events so as to debug a
3173 different execution path this time.
3174
3175 @cindex checkpoints and process id
3176 Finally, there is one bit of internal program state that will be
3177 different when you return to a checkpoint --- the program's process
3178 id. Each checkpoint will have a unique process id (or @var{pid}),
3179 and each will be different from the program's original @var{pid}.
3180 If your program has saved a local copy of its process id, this could
3181 potentially pose a problem.
3182
3183 @subsection A Non-obvious Benefit of Using Checkpoints
3184
3185 On some systems such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, address space randomization
3186 is performed on new processes for security reasons. This makes it
3187 difficult or impossible to set a breakpoint, or watchpoint, on an
3188 absolute address if you have to restart the program, since the
3189 absolute location of a symbol will change from one execution to the
3190 next.
3191
3192 A checkpoint, however, is an @emph{identical} copy of a process.
3193 Therefore if you create a checkpoint at (eg.@:) the start of main,
3194 and simply return to that checkpoint instead of restarting the
3195 process, you can avoid the effects of address randomization and
3196 your symbols will all stay in the same place.
3197
3198 @node Stopping
3199 @chapter Stopping and Continuing
3200
3201 The principal purposes of using a debugger are so that you can stop your
3202 program before it terminates; or so that, if your program runs into
3203 trouble, you can investigate and find out why.
3204
3205 Inside @value{GDBN}, your program may stop for any of several reasons,
3206 such as a signal, a breakpoint, or reaching a new line after a
3207 @value{GDBN} command such as @code{step}. You may then examine and
3208 change variables, set new breakpoints or remove old ones, and then
3209 continue execution. Usually, the messages shown by @value{GDBN} provide
3210 ample explanation of the status of your program---but you can also
3211 explicitly request this information at any time.
3212
3213 @table @code
3214 @kindex info program
3215 @item info program
3216 Display information about the status of your program: whether it is
3217 running or not, what process it is, and why it stopped.
3218 @end table
3219
3220 @menu
3221 * Breakpoints:: Breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints
3222 * Continuing and Stepping:: Resuming execution
3223 * Skipping Over Functions and Files::
3224 Skipping over functions and files
3225 * Signals:: Signals
3226 * Thread Stops:: Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
3227 @end menu
3228
3229 @node Breakpoints
3230 @section Breakpoints, Watchpoints, and Catchpoints
3231
3232 @cindex breakpoints
3233 A @dfn{breakpoint} makes your program stop whenever a certain point in
3234 the program is reached. For each breakpoint, you can add conditions to
3235 control in finer detail whether your program stops. You can set
3236 breakpoints with the @code{break} command and its variants (@pxref{Set
3237 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}), to specify the place where your program
3238 should stop by line number, function name or exact address in the
3239 program.
3240
3241 On some systems, you can set breakpoints in shared libraries before
3242 the executable is run. There is a minor limitation on HP-UX systems:
3243 you must wait until the executable is run in order to set breakpoints
3244 in shared library routines that are not called directly by the program
3245 (for example, routines that are arguments in a @code{pthread_create}
3246 call).
3247
3248 @cindex watchpoints
3249 @cindex data breakpoints
3250 @cindex memory tracing
3251 @cindex breakpoint on memory address
3252 @cindex breakpoint on variable modification
3253 A @dfn{watchpoint} is a special breakpoint that stops your program
3254 when the value of an expression changes. The expression may be a value
3255 of a variable, or it could involve values of one or more variables
3256 combined by operators, such as @samp{a + b}. This is sometimes called
3257 @dfn{data breakpoints}. You must use a different command to set
3258 watchpoints (@pxref{Set Watchpoints, ,Setting Watchpoints}), but aside
3259 from that, you can manage a watchpoint like any other breakpoint: you
3260 enable, disable, and delete both breakpoints and watchpoints using the
3261 same commands.
3262
3263 You can arrange to have values from your program displayed automatically
3264 whenever @value{GDBN} stops at a breakpoint. @xref{Auto Display,,
3265 Automatic Display}.
3266
3267 @cindex catchpoints
3268 @cindex breakpoint on events
3269 A @dfn{catchpoint} is another special breakpoint that stops your program
3270 when a certain kind of event occurs, such as the throwing of a C@t{++}
3271 exception or the loading of a library. As with watchpoints, you use a
3272 different command to set a catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints, ,Setting
3273 Catchpoints}), but aside from that, you can manage a catchpoint like any
3274 other breakpoint. (To stop when your program receives a signal, use the
3275 @code{handle} command; see @ref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
3276
3277 @cindex breakpoint numbers
3278 @cindex numbers for breakpoints
3279 @value{GDBN} assigns a number to each breakpoint, watchpoint, or
3280 catchpoint when you create it; these numbers are successive integers
3281 starting with one. In many of the commands for controlling various
3282 features of breakpoints you use the breakpoint number to say which
3283 breakpoint you want to change. Each breakpoint may be @dfn{enabled} or
3284 @dfn{disabled}; if disabled, it has no effect on your program until you
3285 enable it again.
3286
3287 @cindex breakpoint ranges
3288 @cindex ranges of breakpoints
3289 Some @value{GDBN} commands accept a range of breakpoints on which to
3290 operate. A breakpoint range is either a single breakpoint number, like
3291 @samp{5}, or two such numbers, in increasing order, separated by a
3292 hyphen, like @samp{5-7}. When a breakpoint range is given to a command,
3293 all breakpoints in that range are operated on.
3294
3295 @menu
3296 * Set Breaks:: Setting breakpoints
3297 * Set Watchpoints:: Setting watchpoints
3298 * Set Catchpoints:: Setting catchpoints
3299 * Delete Breaks:: Deleting breakpoints
3300 * Disabling:: Disabling breakpoints
3301 * Conditions:: Break conditions
3302 * Break Commands:: Breakpoint command lists
3303 * Save Breakpoints:: How to save breakpoints in a file
3304 * Error in Breakpoints:: ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
3305 * Breakpoint-related Warnings:: ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
3306 @end menu
3307
3308 @node Set Breaks
3309 @subsection Setting Breakpoints
3310
3311 @c FIXME LMB what does GDB do if no code on line of breakpt?
3312 @c consider in particular declaration with/without initialization.
3313 @c
3314 @c FIXME 2 is there stuff on this already? break at fun start, already init?
3315
3316 @kindex break
3317 @kindex b @r{(@code{break})}
3318 @vindex $bpnum@r{, convenience variable}
3319 @cindex latest breakpoint
3320 Breakpoints are set with the @code{break} command (abbreviated
3321 @code{b}). The debugger convenience variable @samp{$bpnum} records the
3322 number of the breakpoint you've set most recently; see @ref{Convenience
3323 Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for a discussion of what you can do with
3324 convenience variables.
3325
3326 @table @code
3327 @item break @var{location}
3328 Set a breakpoint at the given @var{location}, which can specify a
3329 function name, a line number, or an address of an instruction.
3330 (@xref{Specify Location}, for a list of all the possible ways to
3331 specify a @var{location}.) The breakpoint will stop your program just
3332 before it executes any of the code in the specified @var{location}.
3333
3334 When using source languages that permit overloading of symbols, such as
3335 C@t{++}, a function name may refer to more than one possible place to break.
3336 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}, for a discussion of
3337 that situation.
3338
3339 It is also possible to insert a breakpoint that will stop the program
3340 only if a specific thread (@pxref{Thread-Specific Breakpoints})
3341 or a specific task (@pxref{Ada Tasks}) hits that breakpoint.
3342
3343 @item break
3344 When called without any arguments, @code{break} sets a breakpoint at
3345 the next instruction to be executed in the selected stack frame
3346 (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}). In any selected frame but the
3347 innermost, this makes your program stop as soon as control
3348 returns to that frame. This is similar to the effect of a
3349 @code{finish} command in the frame inside the selected frame---except
3350 that @code{finish} does not leave an active breakpoint. If you use
3351 @code{break} without an argument in the innermost frame, @value{GDBN} stops
3352 the next time it reaches the current location; this may be useful
3353 inside loops.
3354
3355 @value{GDBN} normally ignores breakpoints when it resumes execution, until at
3356 least one instruction has been executed. If it did not do this, you
3357 would be unable to proceed past a breakpoint without first disabling the
3358 breakpoint. This rule applies whether or not the breakpoint already
3359 existed when your program stopped.
3360
3361 @item break @dots{} if @var{cond}
3362 Set a breakpoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
3363 @var{cond} each time the breakpoint is reached, and stop only if the
3364 value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
3365 @samp{@dots{}} stands for one of the possible arguments described
3366 above (or no argument) specifying where to break. @xref{Conditions,
3367 ,Break Conditions}, for more information on breakpoint conditions.
3368
3369 @kindex tbreak
3370 @item tbreak @var{args}
3371 Set a breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args} are the
3372 same as for the @code{break} command, and the breakpoint is set in the same
3373 way, but the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the first time your
3374 program stops there. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3375
3376 @kindex hbreak
3377 @cindex hardware breakpoints
3378 @item hbreak @var{args}
3379 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint. @var{args} are the same as for the
3380 @code{break} command and the breakpoint is set in the same way, but the
3381 breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware may not
3382 have this support. The main purpose of this is EPROM/ROM code
3383 debugging, so you can set a breakpoint at an instruction without
3384 changing the instruction. This can be used with the new trap-generation
3385 provided by SPARClite DSU and most x86-based targets. These targets
3386 will generate traps when a program accesses some data or instruction
3387 address that is assigned to the debug registers. However the hardware
3388 breakpoint registers can take a limited number of breakpoints. For
3389 example, on the DSU, only two data breakpoints can be set at a time, and
3390 @value{GDBN} will reject this command if more than two are used. Delete
3391 or disable unused hardware breakpoints before setting new ones
3392 (@pxref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}).
3393 @xref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3394 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3395 breakpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3396 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3397
3398 @kindex thbreak
3399 @item thbreak @var{args}
3400 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args}
3401 are the same as for the @code{hbreak} command and the breakpoint is set in
3402 the same way. However, like the @code{tbreak} command,
3403 the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the
3404 first time your program stops there. Also, like the @code{hbreak}
3405 command, the breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware
3406 may not have this support. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3407 See also @ref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3408
3409 @kindex rbreak
3410 @cindex regular expression
3411 @cindex breakpoints at functions matching a regexp
3412 @cindex set breakpoints in many functions
3413 @item rbreak @var{regex}
3414 Set breakpoints on all functions matching the regular expression
3415 @var{regex}. This command sets an unconditional breakpoint on all
3416 matches, printing a list of all breakpoints it set. Once these
3417 breakpoints are set, they are treated just like the breakpoints set with
3418 the @code{break} command. You can delete them, disable them, or make
3419 them conditional the same way as any other breakpoint.
3420
3421 The syntax of the regular expression is the standard one used with tools
3422 like @file{grep}. Note that this is different from the syntax used by
3423 shells, so for instance @code{foo*} matches all functions that include
3424 an @code{fo} followed by zero or more @code{o}s. There is an implicit
3425 @code{.*} leading and trailing the regular expression you supply, so to
3426 match only functions that begin with @code{foo}, use @code{^foo}.
3427
3428 @cindex non-member C@t{++} functions, set breakpoint in
3429 When debugging C@t{++} programs, @code{rbreak} is useful for setting
3430 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
3431 classes.
3432
3433 @cindex set breakpoints on all functions
3434 The @code{rbreak} command can be used to set breakpoints in
3435 @strong{all} the functions in a program, like this:
3436
3437 @smallexample
3438 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak .
3439 @end smallexample
3440
3441 @item rbreak @var{file}:@var{regex}
3442 If @code{rbreak} is called with a filename qualification, it limits
3443 the search for functions matching the given regular expression to the
3444 specified @var{file}. This can be used, for example, to set breakpoints on
3445 every function in a given file:
3446
3447 @smallexample
3448 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak file.c:.
3449 @end smallexample
3450
3451 The colon separating the filename qualifier from the regex may
3452 optionally be surrounded by spaces.
3453
3454 @kindex info breakpoints
3455 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info breakpoints}
3456 @item info breakpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3457 @itemx info break @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3458 Print a table of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints set and
3459 not deleted. Optional argument @var{n} means print information only
3460 about the specified breakpoint(s) (or watchpoint(s) or catchpoint(s)).
3461 For each breakpoint, following columns are printed:
3462
3463 @table @emph
3464 @item Breakpoint Numbers
3465 @item Type
3466 Breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint.
3467 @item Disposition
3468 Whether the breakpoint is marked to be disabled or deleted when hit.
3469 @item Enabled or Disabled
3470 Enabled breakpoints are marked with @samp{y}. @samp{n} marks breakpoints
3471 that are not enabled.
3472 @item Address
3473 Where the breakpoint is in your program, as a memory address. For a
3474 pending breakpoint whose address is not yet known, this field will
3475 contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Such breakpoint won't fire until a shared
3476 library that has the symbol or line referred by breakpoint is loaded.
3477 See below for details. A breakpoint with several locations will
3478 have @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in this field---see below for details.
3479 @item What
3480 Where the breakpoint is in the source for your program, as a file and
3481 line number. For a pending breakpoint, the original string passed to
3482 the breakpoint command will be listed as it cannot be resolved until
3483 the appropriate shared library is loaded in the future.
3484 @end table
3485
3486 @noindent
3487 If a breakpoint is conditional, there are two evaluation modes: ``host'' and
3488 ``target''. If mode is ``host'', breakpoint condition evaluation is done by
3489 @value{GDBN} on the host's side. If it is ``target'', then the condition
3490 is evaluated by the target. The @code{info break} command shows
3491 the condition on the line following the affected breakpoint, together with
3492 its condition evaluation mode in between parentheses.
3493
3494 Breakpoint commands, if any, are listed after that. A pending breakpoint is
3495 allowed to have a condition specified for it. The condition is not parsed for
3496 validity until a shared library is loaded that allows the pending
3497 breakpoint to resolve to a valid location.
3498
3499 @noindent
3500 @code{info break} with a breakpoint
3501 number @var{n} as argument lists only that breakpoint. The
3502 convenience variable @code{$_} and the default examining-address for
3503 the @code{x} command are set to the address of the last breakpoint
3504 listed (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}).
3505
3506 @noindent
3507 @code{info break} displays a count of the number of times the breakpoint
3508 has been hit. This is especially useful in conjunction with the
3509 @code{ignore} command. You can ignore a large number of breakpoint
3510 hits, look at the breakpoint info to see how many times the breakpoint
3511 was hit, and then run again, ignoring one less than that number. This
3512 will get you quickly to the last hit of that breakpoint.
3513
3514 @noindent
3515 For a breakpoints with an enable count (xref) greater than 1,
3516 @code{info break} also displays that count.
3517
3518 @end table
3519
3520 @value{GDBN} allows you to set any number of breakpoints at the same place in
3521 your program. There is nothing silly or meaningless about this. When
3522 the breakpoints are conditional, this is even useful
3523 (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
3524
3525 @cindex multiple locations, breakpoints
3526 @cindex breakpoints, multiple locations
3527 It is possible that a breakpoint corresponds to several locations
3528 in your program. Examples of this situation are:
3529
3530 @itemize @bullet
3531 @item
3532 Multiple functions in the program may have the same name.
3533
3534 @item
3535 For a C@t{++} constructor, the @value{NGCC} compiler generates several
3536 instances of the function body, used in different cases.
3537
3538 @item
3539 For a C@t{++} template function, a given line in the function can
3540 correspond to any number of instantiations.
3541
3542 @item
3543 For an inlined function, a given source line can correspond to
3544 several places where that function is inlined.
3545 @end itemize
3546
3547 In all those cases, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at all
3548 the relevant locations.
3549
3550 A breakpoint with multiple locations is displayed in the breakpoint
3551 table using several rows---one header row, followed by one row for
3552 each breakpoint location. The header row has @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in the
3553 address column. The rows for individual locations contain the actual
3554 addresses for locations, and show the functions to which those
3555 locations belong. The number column for a location is of the form
3556 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number}.
3557
3558 For example:
3559
3560 @smallexample
3561 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
3562 1 breakpoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
3563 stop only if i==1
3564 breakpoint already hit 1 time
3565 1.1 y 0x080486a2 in void foo<int>() at t.cc:8
3566 1.2 y 0x080486ca in void foo<double>() at t.cc:8
3567 @end smallexample
3568
3569 Each location can be individually enabled or disabled by passing
3570 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number} as argument to the
3571 @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands. Note that you cannot
3572 delete the individual locations from the list, you can only delete the
3573 entire list of locations that belong to their parent breakpoint (with
3574 the @kbd{delete @var{num}} command, where @var{num} is the number of
3575 the parent breakpoint, 1 in the above example). Disabling or enabling
3576 the parent breakpoint (@pxref{Disabling}) affects all of the locations
3577 that belong to that breakpoint.
3578
3579 @cindex pending breakpoints
3580 It's quite common to have a breakpoint inside a shared library.
3581 Shared libraries can be loaded and unloaded explicitly,
3582 and possibly repeatedly, as the program is executed. To support
3583 this use case, @value{GDBN} updates breakpoint locations whenever
3584 any shared library is loaded or unloaded. Typically, you would
3585 set a breakpoint in a shared library at the beginning of your
3586 debugging session, when the library is not loaded, and when the
3587 symbols from the library are not available. When you try to set
3588 breakpoint, @value{GDBN} will ask you if you want to set
3589 a so called @dfn{pending breakpoint}---breakpoint whose address
3590 is not yet resolved.
3591
3592 After the program is run, whenever a new shared library is loaded,
3593 @value{GDBN} reevaluates all the breakpoints. When a newly loaded
3594 shared library contains the symbol or line referred to by some
3595 pending breakpoint, that breakpoint is resolved and becomes an
3596 ordinary breakpoint. When a library is unloaded, all breakpoints
3597 that refer to its symbols or source lines become pending again.
3598
3599 This logic works for breakpoints with multiple locations, too. For
3600 example, if you have a breakpoint in a C@t{++} template function, and
3601 a newly loaded shared library has an instantiation of that template,
3602 a new location is added to the list of locations for the breakpoint.
3603
3604 Except for having unresolved address, pending breakpoints do not
3605 differ from regular breakpoints. You can set conditions or commands,
3606 enable and disable them and perform other breakpoint operations.
3607
3608 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling what
3609 happens when the @samp{break} command cannot resolve breakpoint
3610 address specification to an address:
3611
3612 @kindex set breakpoint pending
3613 @kindex show breakpoint pending
3614 @table @code
3615 @item set breakpoint pending auto
3616 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} cannot find the breakpoint
3617 location, it queries you whether a pending breakpoint should be created.
3618
3619 @item set breakpoint pending on
3620 This indicates that an unrecognized breakpoint location should automatically
3621 result in a pending breakpoint being created.
3622
3623 @item set breakpoint pending off
3624 This indicates that pending breakpoints are not to be created. Any
3625 unrecognized breakpoint location results in an error. This setting does
3626 not affect any pending breakpoints previously created.
3627
3628 @item show breakpoint pending
3629 Show the current behavior setting for creating pending breakpoints.
3630 @end table
3631
3632 The settings above only affect the @code{break} command and its
3633 variants. Once breakpoint is set, it will be automatically updated
3634 as shared libraries are loaded and unloaded.
3635
3636 @cindex automatic hardware breakpoints
3637 For some targets, @value{GDBN} can automatically decide if hardware or
3638 software breakpoints should be used, depending on whether the
3639 breakpoint address is read-only or read-write. This applies to
3640 breakpoints set with the @code{break} command as well as to internal
3641 breakpoints set by commands like @code{next} and @code{finish}. For
3642 breakpoints set with @code{hbreak}, @value{GDBN} will always use hardware
3643 breakpoints.
3644
3645 You can control this automatic behaviour with the following commands::
3646
3647 @kindex set breakpoint auto-hw
3648 @kindex show breakpoint auto-hw
3649 @table @code
3650 @item set breakpoint auto-hw on
3651 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} sets a breakpoint, it
3652 will try to use the target memory map to decide if software or hardware
3653 breakpoint must be used.
3654
3655 @item set breakpoint auto-hw off
3656 This indicates @value{GDBN} should not automatically select breakpoint
3657 type. If the target provides a memory map, @value{GDBN} will warn when
3658 trying to set software breakpoint at a read-only address.
3659 @end table
3660
3661 @value{GDBN} normally implements breakpoints by replacing the program code
3662 at the breakpoint address with a special instruction, which, when
3663 executed, given control to the debugger. By default, the program
3664 code is so modified only when the program is resumed. As soon as
3665 the program stops, @value{GDBN} restores the original instructions. This
3666 behaviour guards against leaving breakpoints inserted in the
3667 target should gdb abrubptly disconnect. However, with slow remote
3668 targets, inserting and removing breakpoint can reduce the performance.
3669 This behavior can be controlled with the following commands::
3670
3671 @kindex set breakpoint always-inserted
3672 @kindex show breakpoint always-inserted
3673 @table @code
3674 @item set breakpoint always-inserted off
3675 All breakpoints, including newly added by the user, are inserted in
3676 the target only when the target is resumed. All breakpoints are
3677 removed from the target when it stops.
3678
3679 @item set breakpoint always-inserted on
3680 Causes all breakpoints to be inserted in the target at all times. If
3681 the user adds a new breakpoint, or changes an existing breakpoint, the
3682 breakpoints in the target are updated immediately. A breakpoint is
3683 removed from the target only when breakpoint itself is removed.
3684
3685 @cindex non-stop mode, and @code{breakpoint always-inserted}
3686 @item set breakpoint always-inserted auto
3687 This is the default mode. If @value{GDBN} is controlling the inferior
3688 in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}), gdb behaves as if
3689 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is on. If @value{GDBN} is
3690 controlling the inferior in all-stop mode, @value{GDBN} behaves as if
3691 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is off.
3692 @end table
3693
3694 @value{GDBN} handles conditional breakpoints by evaluating these conditions
3695 when a breakpoint breaks. If the condition is true, then the process being
3696 debugged stops, otherwise the process is resumed.
3697
3698 If the target supports evaluating conditions on its end, @value{GDBN} may
3699 download the breakpoint, together with its conditions, to it.
3700
3701 This feature can be controlled via the following commands:
3702
3703 @kindex set breakpoint condition-evaluation
3704 @kindex show breakpoint condition-evaluation
3705 @table @code
3706 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation host
3707 This option commands @value{GDBN} to evaluate the breakpoint
3708 conditions on the host's side. Unconditional breakpoints are sent to
3709 the target which in turn receives the triggers and reports them back to GDB
3710 for condition evaluation. This is the standard evaluation mode.
3711
3712 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation target
3713 This option commands @value{GDBN} to download breakpoint conditions
3714 to the target at the moment of their insertion. The target
3715 is responsible for evaluating the conditional expression and reporting
3716 breakpoint stop events back to @value{GDBN} whenever the condition
3717 is true. Due to limitations of target-side evaluation, some conditions
3718 cannot be evaluated there, e.g., conditions that depend on local data
3719 that is only known to the host. Examples include
3720 conditional expressions involving convenience variables, complex types
3721 that cannot be handled by the agent expression parser and expressions
3722 that are too long to be sent over to the target, specially when the
3723 target is a remote system. In these cases, the conditions will be
3724 evaluated by @value{GDBN}.
3725
3726 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation auto
3727 This is the default mode. If the target supports evaluating breakpoint
3728 conditions on its end, @value{GDBN} will download breakpoint conditions to
3729 the target (limitations mentioned previously apply). If the target does
3730 not support breakpoint condition evaluation, then @value{GDBN} will fallback
3731 to evaluating all these conditions on the host's side.
3732 @end table
3733
3734
3735 @cindex negative breakpoint numbers
3736 @cindex internal @value{GDBN} breakpoints
3737 @value{GDBN} itself sometimes sets breakpoints in your program for
3738 special purposes, such as proper handling of @code{longjmp} (in C
3739 programs). These internal breakpoints are assigned negative numbers,
3740 starting with @code{-1}; @samp{info breakpoints} does not display them.
3741 You can see these breakpoints with the @value{GDBN} maintenance command
3742 @samp{maint info breakpoints} (@pxref{maint info breakpoints}).
3743
3744
3745 @node Set Watchpoints
3746 @subsection Setting Watchpoints
3747
3748 @cindex setting watchpoints
3749 You can use a watchpoint to stop execution whenever the value of an
3750 expression changes, without having to predict a particular place where
3751 this may happen. (This is sometimes called a @dfn{data breakpoint}.)
3752 The expression may be as simple as the value of a single variable, or
3753 as complex as many variables combined by operators. Examples include:
3754
3755 @itemize @bullet
3756 @item
3757 A reference to the value of a single variable.
3758
3759 @item
3760 An address cast to an appropriate data type. For example,
3761 @samp{*(int *)0x12345678} will watch a 4-byte region at the specified
3762 address (assuming an @code{int} occupies 4 bytes).
3763
3764 @item
3765 An arbitrarily complex expression, such as @samp{a*b + c/d}. The
3766 expression can use any operators valid in the program's native
3767 language (@pxref{Languages}).
3768 @end itemize
3769
3770 You can set a watchpoint on an expression even if the expression can
3771 not be evaluated yet. For instance, you can set a watchpoint on
3772 @samp{*global_ptr} before @samp{global_ptr} is initialized.
3773 @value{GDBN} will stop when your program sets @samp{global_ptr} and
3774 the expression produces a valid value. If the expression becomes
3775 valid in some other way than changing a variable (e.g.@: if the memory
3776 pointed to by @samp{*global_ptr} becomes readable as the result of a
3777 @code{malloc} call), @value{GDBN} may not stop until the next time
3778 the expression changes.
3779
3780 @cindex software watchpoints
3781 @cindex hardware watchpoints
3782 Depending on your system, watchpoints may be implemented in software or
3783 hardware. @value{GDBN} does software watchpointing by single-stepping your
3784 program and testing the variable's value each time, which is hundreds of
3785 times slower than normal execution. (But this may still be worth it, to
3786 catch errors where you have no clue what part of your program is the
3787 culprit.)
3788
3789 On some systems, such as HP-UX, PowerPC, @sc{gnu}/Linux and most other
3790 x86-based targets, @value{GDBN} includes support for hardware
3791 watchpoints, which do not slow down the running of your program.
3792
3793 @table @code
3794 @kindex watch
3795 @item watch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3796 Set a watchpoint for an expression. @value{GDBN} will break when the
3797 expression @var{expr} is written into by the program and its value
3798 changes. The simplest (and the most popular) use of this command is
3799 to watch the value of a single variable:
3800
3801 @smallexample
3802 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo
3803 @end smallexample
3804
3805 If the command includes a @code{@r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}}
3806 argument, @value{GDBN} breaks only when the thread identified by
3807 @var{threadnum} changes the value of @var{expr}. If any other threads
3808 change the value of @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} will not break. Note
3809 that watchpoints restricted to a single thread in this way only work
3810 with Hardware Watchpoints.
3811
3812 Ordinarily a watchpoint respects the scope of variables in @var{expr}
3813 (see below). The @code{-location} argument tells @value{GDBN} to
3814 instead watch the memory referred to by @var{expr}. In this case,
3815 @value{GDBN} will evaluate @var{expr}, take the address of the result,
3816 and watch the memory at that address. The type of the result is used
3817 to determine the size of the watched memory. If the expression's
3818 result does not have an address, then @value{GDBN} will print an
3819 error.
3820
3821 The @code{@r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}} argument allows creation
3822 of masked watchpoints, if the current architecture supports this
3823 feature (e.g., PowerPC Embedded architecture, see @ref{PowerPC
3824 Embedded}.) A @dfn{masked watchpoint} specifies a mask in addition
3825 to an address to watch. The mask specifies that some bits of an address
3826 (the bits which are reset in the mask) should be ignored when matching
3827 the address accessed by the inferior against the watchpoint address.
3828 Thus, a masked watchpoint watches many addresses simultaneously---those
3829 addresses whose unmasked bits are identical to the unmasked bits in the
3830 watchpoint address. The @code{mask} argument implies @code{-location}.
3831 Examples:
3832
3833 @smallexample
3834 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo mask 0xffff00ff
3835 (@value{GDBP}) watch *0xdeadbeef mask 0xffffff00
3836 @end smallexample
3837
3838 @kindex rwatch
3839 @item rwatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3840 Set a watchpoint that will break when the value of @var{expr} is read
3841 by the program.
3842
3843 @kindex awatch
3844 @item awatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
3845 Set a watchpoint that will break when @var{expr} is either read from
3846 or written into by the program.
3847
3848 @kindex info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3849 @item info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3850 This command prints a list of watchpoints, using the same format as
3851 @code{info break} (@pxref{Set Breaks}).
3852 @end table
3853
3854 If you watch for a change in a numerically entered address you need to
3855 dereference it, as the address itself is just a constant number which will
3856 never change. @value{GDBN} refuses to create a watchpoint that watches
3857 a never-changing value:
3858
3859 @smallexample
3860 (@value{GDBP}) watch 0x600850
3861 Cannot watch constant value 0x600850.
3862 (@value{GDBP}) watch *(int *) 0x600850
3863 Watchpoint 1: *(int *) 6293584
3864 @end smallexample
3865
3866 @value{GDBN} sets a @dfn{hardware watchpoint} if possible. Hardware
3867 watchpoints execute very quickly, and the debugger reports a change in
3868 value at the exact instruction where the change occurs. If @value{GDBN}
3869 cannot set a hardware watchpoint, it sets a software watchpoint, which
3870 executes more slowly and reports the change in value at the next
3871 @emph{statement}, not the instruction, after the change occurs.
3872
3873 @cindex use only software watchpoints
3874 You can force @value{GDBN} to use only software watchpoints with the
3875 @kbd{set can-use-hw-watchpoints 0} command. With this variable set to
3876 zero, @value{GDBN} will never try to use hardware watchpoints, even if
3877 the underlying system supports them. (Note that hardware-assisted
3878 watchpoints that were set @emph{before} setting
3879 @code{can-use-hw-watchpoints} to zero will still use the hardware
3880 mechanism of watching expression values.)
3881
3882 @table @code
3883 @item set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3884 @kindex set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3885 Set whether or not to use hardware watchpoints.
3886
3887 @item show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3888 @kindex show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3889 Show the current mode of using hardware watchpoints.
3890 @end table
3891
3892 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3893 watchpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3894 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3895
3896 When you issue the @code{watch} command, @value{GDBN} reports
3897
3898 @smallexample
3899 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: @var{expr}
3900 @end smallexample
3901
3902 @noindent
3903 if it was able to set a hardware watchpoint.
3904
3905 Currently, the @code{awatch} and @code{rwatch} commands can only set
3906 hardware watchpoints, because accesses to data that don't change the
3907 value of the watched expression cannot be detected without examining
3908 every instruction as it is being executed, and @value{GDBN} does not do
3909 that currently. If @value{GDBN} finds that it is unable to set a
3910 hardware breakpoint with the @code{awatch} or @code{rwatch} command, it
3911 will print a message like this:
3912
3913 @smallexample
3914 Expression cannot be implemented with read/access watchpoint.
3915 @end smallexample
3916
3917 Sometimes, @value{GDBN} cannot set a hardware watchpoint because the
3918 data type of the watched expression is wider than what a hardware
3919 watchpoint on the target machine can handle. For example, some systems
3920 can only watch regions that are up to 4 bytes wide; on such systems you
3921 cannot set hardware watchpoints for an expression that yields a
3922 double-precision floating-point number (which is typically 8 bytes
3923 wide). As a work-around, it might be possible to break the large region
3924 into a series of smaller ones and watch them with separate watchpoints.
3925
3926 If you set too many hardware watchpoints, @value{GDBN} might be unable
3927 to insert all of them when you resume the execution of your program.
3928 Since the precise number of active watchpoints is unknown until such
3929 time as the program is about to be resumed, @value{GDBN} might not be
3930 able to warn you about this when you set the watchpoints, and the
3931 warning will be printed only when the program is resumed:
3932
3933 @smallexample
3934 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: Could not insert watchpoint
3935 @end smallexample
3936
3937 @noindent
3938 If this happens, delete or disable some of the watchpoints.
3939
3940 Watching complex expressions that reference many variables can also
3941 exhaust the resources available for hardware-assisted watchpoints.
3942 That's because @value{GDBN} needs to watch every variable in the
3943 expression with separately allocated resources.
3944
3945 If you call a function interactively using @code{print} or @code{call},
3946 any watchpoints you have set will be inactive until @value{GDBN} reaches another
3947 kind of breakpoint or the call completes.
3948
3949 @value{GDBN} automatically deletes watchpoints that watch local
3950 (automatic) variables, or expressions that involve such variables, when
3951 they go out of scope, that is, when the execution leaves the block in
3952 which these variables were defined. In particular, when the program
3953 being debugged terminates, @emph{all} local variables go out of scope,
3954 and so only watchpoints that watch global variables remain set. If you
3955 rerun the program, you will need to set all such watchpoints again. One
3956 way of doing that would be to set a code breakpoint at the entry to the
3957 @code{main} function and when it breaks, set all the watchpoints.
3958
3959 @cindex watchpoints and threads
3960 @cindex threads and watchpoints
3961 In multi-threaded programs, watchpoints will detect changes to the
3962 watched expression from every thread.
3963
3964 @quotation
3965 @emph{Warning:} In multi-threaded programs, software watchpoints
3966 have only limited usefulness. If @value{GDBN} creates a software
3967 watchpoint, it can only watch the value of an expression @emph{in a
3968 single thread}. If you are confident that the expression can only
3969 change due to the current thread's activity (and if you are also
3970 confident that no other thread can become current), then you can use
3971 software watchpoints as usual. However, @value{GDBN} may not notice
3972 when a non-current thread's activity changes the expression. (Hardware
3973 watchpoints, in contrast, watch an expression in all threads.)
3974 @end quotation
3975
3976 @xref{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}.
3977
3978 @node Set Catchpoints
3979 @subsection Setting Catchpoints
3980 @cindex catchpoints, setting
3981 @cindex exception handlers
3982 @cindex event handling
3983
3984 You can use @dfn{catchpoints} to cause the debugger to stop for certain
3985 kinds of program events, such as C@t{++} exceptions or the loading of a
3986 shared library. Use the @code{catch} command to set a catchpoint.
3987
3988 @table @code
3989 @kindex catch
3990 @item catch @var{event}
3991 Stop when @var{event} occurs. @var{event} can be any of the following:
3992 @table @code
3993 @item throw
3994 @cindex stop on C@t{++} exceptions
3995 The throwing of a C@t{++} exception.
3996
3997 @item catch
3998 The catching of a C@t{++} exception.
3999
4000 @item exception
4001 @cindex Ada exception catching
4002 @cindex catch Ada exceptions
4003 An Ada exception being raised. If an exception name is specified
4004 at the end of the command (eg @code{catch exception Program_Error}),
4005 the debugger will stop only when this specific exception is raised.
4006 Otherwise, the debugger stops execution when any Ada exception is raised.
4007
4008 When inserting an exception catchpoint on a user-defined exception whose
4009 name is identical to one of the exceptions defined by the language, the
4010 fully qualified name must be used as the exception name. Otherwise,
4011 @value{GDBN} will assume that it should stop on the pre-defined exception
4012 rather than the user-defined one. For instance, assuming an exception
4013 called @code{Constraint_Error} is defined in package @code{Pck}, then
4014 the command to use to catch such exceptions is @kbd{catch exception
4015 Pck.Constraint_Error}.
4016
4017 @item exception unhandled
4018 An exception that was raised but is not handled by the program.
4019
4020 @item assert
4021 A failed Ada assertion.
4022
4023 @item exec
4024 @cindex break on fork/exec
4025 A call to @code{exec}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4026 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4027
4028 @item syscall
4029 @itemx syscall @r{[}@var{name} @r{|} @var{number}@r{]} @dots{}
4030 @cindex break on a system call.
4031 A call to or return from a system call, a.k.a.@: @dfn{syscall}. A
4032 syscall is a mechanism for application programs to request a service
4033 from the operating system (OS) or one of the OS system services.
4034 @value{GDBN} can catch some or all of the syscalls issued by the
4035 debuggee, and show the related information for each syscall. If no
4036 argument is specified, calls to and returns from all system calls
4037 will be caught.
4038
4039 @var{name} can be any system call name that is valid for the
4040 underlying OS. Just what syscalls are valid depends on the OS. On
4041 GNU and Unix systems, you can find the full list of valid syscall
4042 names on @file{/usr/include/asm/unistd.h}.
4043
4044 @c For MS-Windows, the syscall names and the corresponding numbers
4045 @c can be found, e.g., on this URL:
4046 @c http://www.metasploit.com/users/opcode/syscalls.html
4047 @c but we don't support Windows syscalls yet.
4048
4049 Normally, @value{GDBN} knows in advance which syscalls are valid for
4050 each OS, so you can use the @value{GDBN} command-line completion
4051 facilities (@pxref{Completion,, command completion}) to list the
4052 available choices.
4053
4054 You may also specify the system call numerically. A syscall's
4055 number is the value passed to the OS's syscall dispatcher to
4056 identify the requested service. When you specify the syscall by its
4057 name, @value{GDBN} uses its database of syscalls to convert the name
4058 into the corresponding numeric code, but using the number directly
4059 may be useful if @value{GDBN}'s database does not have the complete
4060 list of syscalls on your system (e.g., because @value{GDBN} lags
4061 behind the OS upgrades).
4062
4063 The example below illustrates how this command works if you don't provide
4064 arguments to it:
4065
4066 @smallexample
4067 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4068 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4069 (@value{GDBP}) r
4070 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4071
4072 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'close'), \
4073 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4074 (@value{GDBP}) c
4075 Continuing.
4076
4077 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'close'), \
4078 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4079 (@value{GDBP})
4080 @end smallexample
4081
4082 Here is an example of catching a system call by name:
4083
4084 @smallexample
4085 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall chroot
4086 Catchpoint 1 (syscall 'chroot' [61])
4087 (@value{GDBP}) r
4088 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4089
4090 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'chroot'), \
4091 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4092 (@value{GDBP}) c
4093 Continuing.
4094
4095 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'chroot'), \
4096 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4097 (@value{GDBP})
4098 @end smallexample
4099
4100 An example of specifying a system call numerically. In the case
4101 below, the syscall number has a corresponding entry in the XML
4102 file, so @value{GDBN} finds its name and prints it:
4103
4104 @smallexample
4105 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4106 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 'exit_group')
4107 (@value{GDBP}) r
4108 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4109
4110 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'exit_group'), \
4111 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4112 (@value{GDBP}) c
4113 Continuing.
4114
4115 Program exited normally.
4116 (@value{GDBP})
4117 @end smallexample
4118
4119 However, there can be situations when there is no corresponding name
4120 in XML file for that syscall number. In this case, @value{GDBN} prints
4121 a warning message saying that it was not able to find the syscall name,
4122 but the catchpoint will be set anyway. See the example below:
4123
4124 @smallexample
4125 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 764
4126 warning: The number '764' does not represent a known syscall.
4127 Catchpoint 2 (syscall 764)
4128 (@value{GDBP})
4129 @end smallexample
4130
4131 If you configure @value{GDBN} using the @samp{--without-expat} option,
4132 it will not be able to display syscall names. Also, if your
4133 architecture does not have an XML file describing its system calls,
4134 you will not be able to see the syscall names. It is important to
4135 notice that these two features are used for accessing the syscall
4136 name database. In either case, you will see a warning like this:
4137
4138 @smallexample
4139 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4140 warning: Could not open "syscalls/i386-linux.xml"
4141 warning: Could not load the syscall XML file 'syscalls/i386-linux.xml'.
4142 GDB will not be able to display syscall names.
4143 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4144 (@value{GDBP})
4145 @end smallexample
4146
4147 Of course, the file name will change depending on your architecture and system.
4148
4149 Still using the example above, you can also try to catch a syscall by its
4150 number. In this case, you would see something like:
4151
4152 @smallexample
4153 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4154 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 252)
4155 @end smallexample
4156
4157 Again, in this case @value{GDBN} would not be able to display syscall's names.
4158
4159 @item fork
4160 A call to @code{fork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4161 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4162
4163 @item vfork
4164 A call to @code{vfork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4165 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4166
4167 @item load @r{[}regexp@r{]}
4168 @itemx unload @r{[}regexp@r{]}
4169 The loading or unloading of a shared library. If @var{regexp} is
4170 given, then the catchpoint will stop only if the regular expression
4171 matches one of the affected libraries.
4172
4173 @end table
4174
4175 @item tcatch @var{event}
4176 Set a catchpoint that is enabled only for one stop. The catchpoint is
4177 automatically deleted after the first time the event is caught.
4178
4179 @end table
4180
4181 Use the @code{info break} command to list the current catchpoints.
4182
4183 There are currently some limitations to C@t{++} exception handling
4184 (@code{catch throw} and @code{catch catch}) in @value{GDBN}:
4185
4186 @itemize @bullet
4187 @item
4188 If you call a function interactively, @value{GDBN} normally returns
4189 control to you when the function has finished executing. If the call
4190 raises an exception, however, the call may bypass the mechanism that
4191 returns control to you and cause your program either to abort or to
4192 simply continue running until it hits a breakpoint, catches a signal
4193 that @value{GDBN} is listening for, or exits. This is the case even if
4194 you set a catchpoint for the exception; catchpoints on exceptions are
4195 disabled within interactive calls.
4196
4197 @item
4198 You cannot raise an exception interactively.
4199
4200 @item
4201 You cannot install an exception handler interactively.
4202 @end itemize
4203
4204 @cindex raise exceptions
4205 Sometimes @code{catch} is not the best way to debug exception handling:
4206 if you need to know exactly where an exception is raised, it is better to
4207 stop @emph{before} the exception handler is called, since that way you
4208 can see the stack before any unwinding takes place. If you set a
4209 breakpoint in an exception handler instead, it may not be easy to find
4210 out where the exception was raised.
4211
4212 To stop just before an exception handler is called, you need some
4213 knowledge of the implementation. In the case of @sc{gnu} C@t{++}, exceptions are
4214 raised by calling a library function named @code{__raise_exception}
4215 which has the following ANSI C interface:
4216
4217 @smallexample
4218 /* @var{addr} is where the exception identifier is stored.
4219 @var{id} is the exception identifier. */
4220 void __raise_exception (void **addr, void *id);
4221 @end smallexample
4222
4223 @noindent
4224 To make the debugger catch all exceptions before any stack
4225 unwinding takes place, set a breakpoint on @code{__raise_exception}
4226 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Exceptions}).
4227
4228 With a conditional breakpoint (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions})
4229 that depends on the value of @var{id}, you can stop your program when
4230 a specific exception is raised. You can use multiple conditional
4231 breakpoints to stop your program when any of a number of exceptions are
4232 raised.
4233
4234
4235 @node Delete Breaks
4236 @subsection Deleting Breakpoints
4237
4238 @cindex clearing breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4239 @cindex deleting breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4240 It is often necessary to eliminate a breakpoint, watchpoint, or
4241 catchpoint once it has done its job and you no longer want your program
4242 to stop there. This is called @dfn{deleting} the breakpoint. A
4243 breakpoint that has been deleted no longer exists; it is forgotten.
4244
4245 With the @code{clear} command you can delete breakpoints according to
4246 where they are in your program. With the @code{delete} command you can
4247 delete individual breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints by specifying
4248 their breakpoint numbers.
4249
4250 It is not necessary to delete a breakpoint to proceed past it. @value{GDBN}
4251 automatically ignores breakpoints on the first instruction to be executed
4252 when you continue execution without changing the execution address.
4253
4254 @table @code
4255 @kindex clear
4256 @item clear
4257 Delete any breakpoints at the next instruction to be executed in the
4258 selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). When
4259 the innermost frame is selected, this is a good way to delete a
4260 breakpoint where your program just stopped.
4261
4262 @item clear @var{location}
4263 Delete any breakpoints set at the specified @var{location}.
4264 @xref{Specify Location}, for the various forms of @var{location}; the
4265 most useful ones are listed below:
4266
4267 @table @code
4268 @item clear @var{function}
4269 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{function}
4270 Delete any breakpoints set at entry to the named @var{function}.
4271
4272 @item clear @var{linenum}
4273 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
4274 Delete any breakpoints set at or within the code of the specified
4275 @var{linenum} of the specified @var{filename}.
4276 @end table
4277
4278 @cindex delete breakpoints
4279 @kindex delete
4280 @kindex d @r{(@code{delete})}
4281 @item delete @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4282 Delete the breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints of the breakpoint
4283 ranges specified as arguments. If no argument is specified, delete all
4284 breakpoints (@value{GDBN} asks confirmation, unless you have @code{set
4285 confirm off}). You can abbreviate this command as @code{d}.
4286 @end table
4287
4288 @node Disabling
4289 @subsection Disabling Breakpoints
4290
4291 @cindex enable/disable a breakpoint
4292 Rather than deleting a breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint, you might
4293 prefer to @dfn{disable} it. This makes the breakpoint inoperative as if
4294 it had been deleted, but remembers the information on the breakpoint so
4295 that you can @dfn{enable} it again later.
4296
4297 You disable and enable breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints with
4298 the @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands, optionally specifying
4299 one or more breakpoint numbers as arguments. Use @code{info break} to
4300 print a list of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints if you
4301 do not know which numbers to use.
4302
4303 Disabling and enabling a breakpoint that has multiple locations
4304 affects all of its locations.
4305
4306 A breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint can have any of several
4307 different states of enablement:
4308
4309 @itemize @bullet
4310 @item
4311 Enabled. The breakpoint stops your program. A breakpoint set
4312 with the @code{break} command starts out in this state.
4313 @item
4314 Disabled. The breakpoint has no effect on your program.
4315 @item
4316 Enabled once. The breakpoint stops your program, but then becomes
4317 disabled.
4318 @item
4319 Enabled for a count. The breakpoint stops your program for the next
4320 N times, then becomes disabled.
4321 @item
4322 Enabled for deletion. The breakpoint stops your program, but
4323 immediately after it does so it is deleted permanently. A breakpoint
4324 set with the @code{tbreak} command starts out in this state.
4325 @end itemize
4326
4327 You can use the following commands to enable or disable breakpoints,
4328 watchpoints, and catchpoints:
4329
4330 @table @code
4331 @kindex disable
4332 @kindex dis @r{(@code{disable})}
4333 @item disable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4334 Disable the specified breakpoints---or all breakpoints, if none are
4335 listed. A disabled breakpoint has no effect but is not forgotten. All
4336 options such as ignore-counts, conditions and commands are remembered in
4337 case the breakpoint is enabled again later. You may abbreviate
4338 @code{disable} as @code{dis}.
4339
4340 @kindex enable
4341 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4342 Enable the specified breakpoints (or all defined breakpoints). They
4343 become effective once again in stopping your program.
4344
4345 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} once @var{range}@dots{}
4346 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} disables any
4347 of these breakpoints immediately after stopping your program.
4348
4349 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} count @var{count} @var{range}@dots{}
4350 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} records
4351 @var{count} with each of the specified breakpoints, and decrements a
4352 breakpoint's count when it is hit. When any count reaches 0,
4353 @value{GDBN} disables that breakpoint. If a breakpoint has an ignore
4354 count (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}), that will be
4355 decremented to 0 before @var{count} is affected.
4356
4357 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} delete @var{range}@dots{}
4358 Enable the specified breakpoints to work once, then die. @value{GDBN}
4359 deletes any of these breakpoints as soon as your program stops there.
4360 Breakpoints set by the @code{tbreak} command start out in this state.
4361 @end table
4362
4363 @c FIXME: I think the following ``Except for [...] @code{tbreak}'' is
4364 @c confusing: tbreak is also initially enabled.
4365 Except for a breakpoint set with @code{tbreak} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
4366 ,Setting Breakpoints}), breakpoints that you set are initially enabled;
4367 subsequently, they become disabled or enabled only when you use one of
4368 the commands above. (The command @code{until} can set and delete a
4369 breakpoint of its own, but it does not change the state of your other
4370 breakpoints; see @ref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and
4371 Stepping}.)
4372
4373 @node Conditions
4374 @subsection Break Conditions
4375 @cindex conditional breakpoints
4376 @cindex breakpoint conditions
4377
4378 @c FIXME what is scope of break condition expr? Context where wanted?
4379 @c in particular for a watchpoint?
4380 The simplest sort of breakpoint breaks every time your program reaches a
4381 specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for a
4382 breakpoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
4383 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A breakpoint with
4384 a condition evaluates the expression each time your program reaches it,
4385 and your program stops only if the condition is @emph{true}.
4386
4387 This is the converse of using assertions for program validation; in that
4388 situation, you want to stop when the assertion is violated---that is,
4389 when the condition is false. In C, if you want to test an assertion expressed
4390 by the condition @var{assert}, you should set the condition
4391 @samp{! @var{assert}} on the appropriate breakpoint.
4392
4393 Conditions are also accepted for watchpoints; you may not need them,
4394 since a watchpoint is inspecting the value of an expression anyhow---but
4395 it might be simpler, say, to just set a watchpoint on a variable name,
4396 and specify a condition that tests whether the new value is an interesting
4397 one.
4398
4399 Break conditions can have side effects, and may even call functions in
4400 your program. This can be useful, for example, to activate functions
4401 that log program progress, or to use your own print functions to
4402 format special data structures. The effects are completely predictable
4403 unless there is another enabled breakpoint at the same address. (In
4404 that case, @value{GDBN} might see the other breakpoint first and stop your
4405 program without checking the condition of this one.) Note that
4406 breakpoint commands are usually more convenient and flexible than break
4407 conditions for the
4408 purpose of performing side effects when a breakpoint is reached
4409 (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}).
4410
4411 Breakpoint conditions can also be evaluated on the target's side if
4412 the target supports it. Instead of evaluating the conditions locally,
4413 @value{GDBN} encodes the expression into an agent expression
4414 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}) suitable for execution on the target,
4415 independently of @value{GDBN}. Global variables become raw memory
4416 locations, locals become stack accesses, and so forth.
4417
4418 In this case, @value{GDBN} will only be notified of a breakpoint trigger
4419 when its condition evaluates to true. This mechanism may provide faster
4420 response times depending on the performance characteristics of the target
4421 since it does not need to keep @value{GDBN} informed about
4422 every breakpoint trigger, even those with false conditions.
4423
4424 Break conditions can be specified when a breakpoint is set, by using
4425 @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{break} command. @xref{Set
4426 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}. They can also be changed at any time
4427 with the @code{condition} command.
4428
4429 You can also use the @code{if} keyword with the @code{watch} command.
4430 The @code{catch} command does not recognize the @code{if} keyword;
4431 @code{condition} is the only way to impose a further condition on a
4432 catchpoint.
4433
4434 @table @code
4435 @kindex condition
4436 @item condition @var{bnum} @var{expression}
4437 Specify @var{expression} as the break condition for breakpoint,
4438 watchpoint, or catchpoint number @var{bnum}. After you set a condition,
4439 breakpoint @var{bnum} stops your program only if the value of
4440 @var{expression} is true (nonzero, in C). When you use
4441 @code{condition}, @value{GDBN} checks @var{expression} immediately for
4442 syntactic correctness, and to determine whether symbols in it have
4443 referents in the context of your breakpoint. If @var{expression} uses
4444 symbols not referenced in the context of the breakpoint, @value{GDBN}
4445 prints an error message:
4446
4447 @smallexample
4448 No symbol "foo" in current context.
4449 @end smallexample
4450
4451 @noindent
4452 @value{GDBN} does
4453 not actually evaluate @var{expression} at the time the @code{condition}
4454 command (or a command that sets a breakpoint with a condition, like
4455 @code{break if @dots{}}) is given, however. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
4456
4457 @item condition @var{bnum}
4458 Remove the condition from breakpoint number @var{bnum}. It becomes
4459 an ordinary unconditional breakpoint.
4460 @end table
4461
4462 @cindex ignore count (of breakpoint)
4463 A special case of a breakpoint condition is to stop only when the
4464 breakpoint has been reached a certain number of times. This is so
4465 useful that there is a special way to do it, using the @dfn{ignore
4466 count} of the breakpoint. Every breakpoint has an ignore count, which
4467 is an integer. Most of the time, the ignore count is zero, and
4468 therefore has no effect. But if your program reaches a breakpoint whose
4469 ignore count is positive, then instead of stopping, it just decrements
4470 the ignore count by one and continues. As a result, if the ignore count
4471 value is @var{n}, the breakpoint does not stop the next @var{n} times
4472 your program reaches it.
4473
4474 @table @code
4475 @kindex ignore
4476 @item ignore @var{bnum} @var{count}
4477 Set the ignore count of breakpoint number @var{bnum} to @var{count}.
4478 The next @var{count} times the breakpoint is reached, your program's
4479 execution does not stop; other than to decrement the ignore count, @value{GDBN}
4480 takes no action.
4481
4482 To make the breakpoint stop the next time it is reached, specify
4483 a count of zero.
4484
4485 When you use @code{continue} to resume execution of your program from a
4486 breakpoint, you can specify an ignore count directly as an argument to
4487 @code{continue}, rather than using @code{ignore}. @xref{Continuing and
4488 Stepping,,Continuing and Stepping}.
4489
4490 If a breakpoint has a positive ignore count and a condition, the
4491 condition is not checked. Once the ignore count reaches zero,
4492 @value{GDBN} resumes checking the condition.
4493
4494 You could achieve the effect of the ignore count with a condition such
4495 as @w{@samp{$foo-- <= 0}} using a debugger convenience variable that
4496 is decremented each time. @xref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
4497 Variables}.
4498 @end table
4499
4500 Ignore counts apply to breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints.
4501
4502
4503 @node Break Commands
4504 @subsection Breakpoint Command Lists
4505
4506 @cindex breakpoint commands
4507 You can give any breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint) a series of
4508 commands to execute when your program stops due to that breakpoint. For
4509 example, you might want to print the values of certain expressions, or
4510 enable other breakpoints.
4511
4512 @table @code
4513 @kindex commands
4514 @kindex end@r{ (breakpoint commands)}
4515 @item commands @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4516 @itemx @dots{} @var{command-list} @dots{}
4517 @itemx end
4518 Specify a list of commands for the given breakpoints. The commands
4519 themselves appear on the following lines. Type a line containing just
4520 @code{end} to terminate the commands.
4521
4522 To remove all commands from a breakpoint, type @code{commands} and
4523 follow it immediately with @code{end}; that is, give no commands.
4524
4525 With no argument, @code{commands} refers to the last breakpoint,
4526 watchpoint, or catchpoint set (not to the breakpoint most recently
4527 encountered). If the most recent breakpoints were set with a single
4528 command, then the @code{commands} will apply to all the breakpoints
4529 set by that command. This applies to breakpoints set by
4530 @code{rbreak}, and also applies when a single @code{break} command
4531 creates multiple breakpoints (@pxref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous
4532 Expressions}).
4533 @end table
4534
4535 Pressing @key{RET} as a means of repeating the last @value{GDBN} command is
4536 disabled within a @var{command-list}.
4537
4538 You can use breakpoint commands to start your program up again. Simply
4539 use the @code{continue} command, or @code{step}, or any other command
4540 that resumes execution.
4541
4542 Any other commands in the command list, after a command that resumes
4543 execution, are ignored. This is because any time you resume execution
4544 (even with a simple @code{next} or @code{step}), you may encounter
4545 another breakpoint---which could have its own command list, leading to
4546 ambiguities about which list to execute.
4547
4548 @kindex silent
4549 If the first command you specify in a command list is @code{silent}, the
4550 usual message about stopping at a breakpoint is not printed. This may
4551 be desirable for breakpoints that are to print a specific message and
4552 then continue. If none of the remaining commands print anything, you
4553 see no sign that the breakpoint was reached. @code{silent} is
4554 meaningful only at the beginning of a breakpoint command list.
4555
4556 The commands @code{echo}, @code{output}, and @code{printf} allow you to
4557 print precisely controlled output, and are often useful in silent
4558 breakpoints. @xref{Output, ,Commands for Controlled Output}.
4559
4560 For example, here is how you could use breakpoint commands to print the
4561 value of @code{x} at entry to @code{foo} whenever @code{x} is positive.
4562
4563 @smallexample
4564 break foo if x>0
4565 commands
4566 silent
4567 printf "x is %d\n",x
4568 cont
4569 end
4570 @end smallexample
4571
4572 One application for breakpoint commands is to compensate for one bug so
4573 you can test for another. Put a breakpoint just after the erroneous line
4574 of code, give it a condition to detect the case in which something
4575 erroneous has been done, and give it commands to assign correct values
4576 to any variables that need them. End with the @code{continue} command
4577 so that your program does not stop, and start with the @code{silent}
4578 command so that no output is produced. Here is an example:
4579
4580 @smallexample
4581 break 403
4582 commands
4583 silent
4584 set x = y + 4
4585 cont
4586 end
4587 @end smallexample
4588
4589 @node Save Breakpoints
4590 @subsection How to save breakpoints to a file
4591
4592 To save breakpoint definitions to a file use the @w{@code{save
4593 breakpoints}} command.
4594
4595 @table @code
4596 @kindex save breakpoints
4597 @cindex save breakpoints to a file for future sessions
4598 @item save breakpoints [@var{filename}]
4599 This command saves all current breakpoint definitions together with
4600 their commands and ignore counts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
4601 suitable for use in a later debugging session. This includes all
4602 types of breakpoints (breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints,
4603 tracepoints). To read the saved breakpoint definitions, use the
4604 @code{source} command (@pxref{Command Files}). Note that watchpoints
4605 with expressions involving local variables may fail to be recreated
4606 because it may not be possible to access the context where the
4607 watchpoint is valid anymore. Because the saved breakpoint definitions
4608 are simply a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands that recreate the
4609 breakpoints, you can edit the file in your favorite editing program,
4610 and remove the breakpoint definitions you're not interested in, or
4611 that can no longer be recreated.
4612 @end table
4613
4614 @c @ifclear BARETARGET
4615 @node Error in Breakpoints
4616 @subsection ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
4617
4618 If you request too many active hardware-assisted breakpoints and
4619 watchpoints, you will see this error message:
4620
4621 @c FIXME: the precise wording of this message may change; the relevant
4622 @c source change is not committed yet (Sep 3, 1999).
4623 @smallexample
4624 Stopped; cannot insert breakpoints.
4625 You may have requested too many hardware breakpoints and watchpoints.
4626 @end smallexample
4627
4628 @noindent
4629 This message is printed when you attempt to resume the program, since
4630 only then @value{GDBN} knows exactly how many hardware breakpoints and
4631 watchpoints it needs to insert.
4632
4633 When this message is printed, you need to disable or remove some of the
4634 hardware-assisted breakpoints and watchpoints, and then continue.
4635
4636 @node Breakpoint-related Warnings
4637 @subsection ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
4638 @cindex breakpoint address adjusted
4639
4640 Some processor architectures place constraints on the addresses at
4641 which breakpoints may be placed. For architectures thus constrained,
4642 @value{GDBN} will attempt to adjust the breakpoint's address to comply
4643 with the constraints dictated by the architecture.
4644
4645 One example of such an architecture is the Fujitsu FR-V. The FR-V is
4646 a VLIW architecture in which a number of RISC-like instructions may be
4647 bundled together for parallel execution. The FR-V architecture
4648 constrains the location of a breakpoint instruction within such a
4649 bundle to the instruction with the lowest address. @value{GDBN}
4650 honors this constraint by adjusting a breakpoint's address to the
4651 first in the bundle.
4652
4653 It is not uncommon for optimized code to have bundles which contain
4654 instructions from different source statements, thus it may happen that
4655 a breakpoint's address will be adjusted from one source statement to
4656 another. Since this adjustment may significantly alter @value{GDBN}'s
4657 breakpoint related behavior from what the user expects, a warning is
4658 printed when the breakpoint is first set and also when the breakpoint
4659 is hit.
4660
4661 A warning like the one below is printed when setting a breakpoint
4662 that's been subject to address adjustment:
4663
4664 @smallexample
4665 warning: Breakpoint address adjusted from 0x00010414 to 0x00010410.
4666 @end smallexample
4667
4668 Such warnings are printed both for user settable and @value{GDBN}'s
4669 internal breakpoints. If you see one of these warnings, you should
4670 verify that a breakpoint set at the adjusted address will have the
4671 desired affect. If not, the breakpoint in question may be removed and
4672 other breakpoints may be set which will have the desired behavior.
4673 E.g., it may be sufficient to place the breakpoint at a later
4674 instruction. A conditional breakpoint may also be useful in some
4675 cases to prevent the breakpoint from triggering too often.
4676
4677 @value{GDBN} will also issue a warning when stopping at one of these
4678 adjusted breakpoints:
4679
4680 @smallexample
4681 warning: Breakpoint 1 address previously adjusted from 0x00010414
4682 to 0x00010410.
4683 @end smallexample
4684
4685 When this warning is encountered, it may be too late to take remedial
4686 action except in cases where the breakpoint is hit earlier or more
4687 frequently than expected.
4688
4689 @node Continuing and Stepping
4690 @section Continuing and Stepping
4691
4692 @cindex stepping
4693 @cindex continuing
4694 @cindex resuming execution
4695 @dfn{Continuing} means resuming program execution until your program
4696 completes normally. In contrast, @dfn{stepping} means executing just
4697 one more ``step'' of your program, where ``step'' may mean either one
4698 line of source code, or one machine instruction (depending on what
4699 particular command you use). Either when continuing or when stepping,
4700 your program may stop even sooner, due to a breakpoint or a signal. (If
4701 it stops due to a signal, you may want to use @code{handle}, or use
4702 @samp{signal 0} to resume execution. @xref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
4703
4704 @table @code
4705 @kindex continue
4706 @kindex c @r{(@code{continue})}
4707 @kindex fg @r{(resume foreground execution)}
4708 @item continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4709 @itemx c @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4710 @itemx fg @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4711 Resume program execution, at the address where your program last stopped;
4712 any breakpoints set at that address are bypassed. The optional argument
4713 @var{ignore-count} allows you to specify a further number of times to
4714 ignore a breakpoint at this location; its effect is like that of
4715 @code{ignore} (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
4716
4717 The argument @var{ignore-count} is meaningful only when your program
4718 stopped due to a breakpoint. At other times, the argument to
4719 @code{continue} is ignored.
4720
4721 The synonyms @code{c} and @code{fg} (for @dfn{foreground}, as the
4722 debugged program is deemed to be the foreground program) are provided
4723 purely for convenience, and have exactly the same behavior as
4724 @code{continue}.
4725 @end table
4726
4727 To resume execution at a different place, you can use @code{return}
4728 (@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}) to go back to the
4729 calling function; or @code{jump} (@pxref{Jumping, ,Continuing at a
4730 Different Address}) to go to an arbitrary location in your program.
4731
4732 A typical technique for using stepping is to set a breakpoint
4733 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Catchpoints}) at the
4734 beginning of the function or the section of your program where a problem
4735 is believed to lie, run your program until it stops at that breakpoint,
4736 and then step through the suspect area, examining the variables that are
4737 interesting, until you see the problem happen.
4738
4739 @table @code
4740 @kindex step
4741 @kindex s @r{(@code{step})}
4742 @item step
4743 Continue running your program until control reaches a different source
4744 line, then stop it and return control to @value{GDBN}. This command is
4745 abbreviated @code{s}.
4746
4747 @quotation
4748 @c "without debugging information" is imprecise; actually "without line
4749 @c numbers in the debugging information". (gcc -g1 has debugging info but
4750 @c not line numbers). But it seems complex to try to make that
4751 @c distinction here.
4752 @emph{Warning:} If you use the @code{step} command while control is
4753 within a function that was compiled without debugging information,
4754 execution proceeds until control reaches a function that does have
4755 debugging information. Likewise, it will not step into a function which
4756 is compiled without debugging information. To step through functions
4757 without debugging information, use the @code{stepi} command, described
4758 below.
4759 @end quotation
4760
4761 The @code{step} command only stops at the first instruction of a source
4762 line. This prevents the multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4763 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc. @code{step} continues
4764 to stop if a function that has debugging information is called within
4765 the line. In other words, @code{step} @emph{steps inside} any functions
4766 called within the line.
4767
4768 Also, the @code{step} command only enters a function if there is line
4769 number information for the function. Otherwise it acts like the
4770 @code{next} command. This avoids problems when using @code{cc -gl}
4771 on MIPS machines. Previously, @code{step} entered subroutines if there
4772 was any debugging information about the routine.
4773
4774 @item step @var{count}
4775 Continue running as in @code{step}, but do so @var{count} times. If a
4776 breakpoint is reached, or a signal not related to stepping occurs before
4777 @var{count} steps, stepping stops right away.
4778
4779 @kindex next
4780 @kindex n @r{(@code{next})}
4781 @item next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
4782 Continue to the next source line in the current (innermost) stack frame.
4783 This is similar to @code{step}, but function calls that appear within
4784 the line of code are executed without stopping. Execution stops when
4785 control reaches a different line of code at the original stack level
4786 that was executing when you gave the @code{next} command. This command
4787 is abbreviated @code{n}.
4788
4789 An argument @var{count} is a repeat count, as for @code{step}.
4790
4791
4792 @c FIX ME!! Do we delete this, or is there a way it fits in with
4793 @c the following paragraph? --- Vctoria
4794 @c
4795 @c @code{next} within a function that lacks debugging information acts like
4796 @c @code{step}, but any function calls appearing within the code of the
4797 @c function are executed without stopping.
4798
4799 The @code{next} command only stops at the first instruction of a
4800 source line. This prevents multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4801 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc.
4802
4803 @kindex set step-mode
4804 @item set step-mode
4805 @cindex functions without line info, and stepping
4806 @cindex stepping into functions with no line info
4807 @itemx set step-mode on
4808 The @code{set step-mode on} command causes the @code{step} command to
4809 stop at the first instruction of a function which contains no debug line
4810 information rather than stepping over it.
4811
4812 This is useful in cases where you may be interested in inspecting the
4813 machine instructions of a function which has no symbolic info and do not
4814 want @value{GDBN} to automatically skip over this function.
4815
4816 @item set step-mode off
4817 Causes the @code{step} command to step over any functions which contains no
4818 debug information. This is the default.
4819
4820 @item show step-mode
4821 Show whether @value{GDBN} will stop in or step over functions without
4822 source line debug information.
4823
4824 @kindex finish
4825 @kindex fin @r{(@code{finish})}
4826 @item finish
4827 Continue running until just after function in the selected stack frame
4828 returns. Print the returned value (if any). This command can be
4829 abbreviated as @code{fin}.
4830
4831 Contrast this with the @code{return} command (@pxref{Returning,
4832 ,Returning from a Function}).
4833
4834 @kindex until
4835 @kindex u @r{(@code{until})}
4836 @cindex run until specified location
4837 @item until
4838 @itemx u
4839 Continue running until a source line past the current line, in the
4840 current stack frame, is reached. This command is used to avoid single
4841 stepping through a loop more than once. It is like the @code{next}
4842 command, except that when @code{until} encounters a jump, it
4843 automatically continues execution until the program counter is greater
4844 than the address of the jump.
4845
4846 This means that when you reach the end of a loop after single stepping
4847 though it, @code{until} makes your program continue execution until it
4848 exits the loop. In contrast, a @code{next} command at the end of a loop
4849 simply steps back to the beginning of the loop, which forces you to step
4850 through the next iteration.
4851
4852 @code{until} always stops your program if it attempts to exit the current
4853 stack frame.
4854
4855 @code{until} may produce somewhat counterintuitive results if the order
4856 of machine code does not match the order of the source lines. For
4857 example, in the following excerpt from a debugging session, the @code{f}
4858 (@code{frame}) command shows that execution is stopped at line
4859 @code{206}; yet when we use @code{until}, we get to line @code{195}:
4860
4861 @smallexample
4862 (@value{GDBP}) f
4863 #0 main (argc=4, argv=0xf7fffae8) at m4.c:206
4864 206 expand_input();
4865 (@value{GDBP}) until
4866 195 for ( ; argc > 0; NEXTARG) @{
4867 @end smallexample
4868
4869 This happened because, for execution efficiency, the compiler had
4870 generated code for the loop closure test at the end, rather than the
4871 start, of the loop---even though the test in a C @code{for}-loop is
4872 written before the body of the loop. The @code{until} command appeared
4873 to step back to the beginning of the loop when it advanced to this
4874 expression; however, it has not really gone to an earlier
4875 statement---not in terms of the actual machine code.
4876
4877 @code{until} with no argument works by means of single
4878 instruction stepping, and hence is slower than @code{until} with an
4879 argument.
4880
4881 @item until @var{location}
4882 @itemx u @var{location}
4883 Continue running your program until either the specified location is
4884 reached, or the current stack frame returns. @var{location} is any of
4885 the forms described in @ref{Specify Location}.
4886 This form of the command uses temporary breakpoints, and
4887 hence is quicker than @code{until} without an argument. The specified
4888 location is actually reached only if it is in the current frame. This
4889 implies that @code{until} can be used to skip over recursive function
4890 invocations. For instance in the code below, if the current location is
4891 line @code{96}, issuing @code{until 99} will execute the program up to
4892 line @code{99} in the same invocation of factorial, i.e., after the inner
4893 invocations have returned.
4894
4895 @smallexample
4896 94 int factorial (int value)
4897 95 @{
4898 96 if (value > 1) @{
4899 97 value *= factorial (value - 1);
4900 98 @}
4901 99 return (value);
4902 100 @}
4903 @end smallexample
4904
4905
4906 @kindex advance @var{location}
4907 @itemx advance @var{location}
4908 Continue running the program up to the given @var{location}. An argument is
4909 required, which should be of one of the forms described in
4910 @ref{Specify Location}.
4911 Execution will also stop upon exit from the current stack
4912 frame. This command is similar to @code{until}, but @code{advance} will
4913 not skip over recursive function calls, and the target location doesn't
4914 have to be in the same frame as the current one.
4915
4916
4917 @kindex stepi
4918 @kindex si @r{(@code{stepi})}
4919 @item stepi
4920 @itemx stepi @var{arg}
4921 @itemx si
4922 Execute one machine instruction, then stop and return to the debugger.
4923
4924 It is often useful to do @samp{display/i $pc} when stepping by machine
4925 instructions. This makes @value{GDBN} automatically display the next
4926 instruction to be executed, each time your program stops. @xref{Auto
4927 Display,, Automatic Display}.
4928
4929 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{step}.
4930
4931 @need 750
4932 @kindex nexti
4933 @kindex ni @r{(@code{nexti})}
4934 @item nexti
4935 @itemx nexti @var{arg}
4936 @itemx ni
4937 Execute one machine instruction, but if it is a function call,
4938 proceed until the function returns.
4939
4940 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{next}.
4941 @end table
4942
4943 @node Skipping Over Functions and Files
4944 @section Skipping Over Functions and Files
4945 @cindex skipping over functions and files
4946
4947 The program you are debugging may contain some functions which are
4948 uninteresting to debug. The @code{skip} comand lets you tell @value{GDBN} to
4949 skip a function or all functions in a file when stepping.
4950
4951 For example, consider the following C function:
4952
4953 @smallexample
4954 101 int func()
4955 102 @{
4956 103 foo(boring());
4957 104 bar(boring());
4958 105 @}
4959 @end smallexample
4960
4961 @noindent
4962 Suppose you wish to step into the functions @code{foo} and @code{bar}, but you
4963 are not interested in stepping through @code{boring}. If you run @code{step}
4964 at line 103, you'll enter @code{boring()}, but if you run @code{next}, you'll
4965 step over both @code{foo} and @code{boring}!
4966
4967 One solution is to @code{step} into @code{boring} and use the @code{finish}
4968 command to immediately exit it. But this can become tedious if @code{boring}
4969 is called from many places.
4970
4971 A more flexible solution is to execute @kbd{skip boring}. This instructs
4972 @value{GDBN} never to step into @code{boring}. Now when you execute
4973 @code{step} at line 103, you'll step over @code{boring} and directly into
4974 @code{foo}.
4975
4976 You can also instruct @value{GDBN} to skip all functions in a file, with, for
4977 example, @code{skip file boring.c}.
4978
4979 @table @code
4980 @kindex skip function
4981 @item skip @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
4982 @itemx skip function @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
4983 After running this command, the function named by @var{linespec} or the
4984 function containing the line named by @var{linespec} will be skipped over when
4985 stepping. @xref{Specify Location}.
4986
4987 If you do not specify @var{linespec}, the function you're currently debugging
4988 will be skipped.
4989
4990 (If you have a function called @code{file} that you want to skip, use
4991 @kbd{skip function file}.)
4992
4993 @kindex skip file
4994 @item skip file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
4995 After running this command, any function whose source lives in @var{filename}
4996 will be skipped over when stepping.
4997
4998 If you do not specify @var{filename}, functions whose source lives in the file
4999 you're currently debugging will be skipped.
5000 @end table
5001
5002 Skips can be listed, deleted, disabled, and enabled, much like breakpoints.
5003 These are the commands for managing your list of skips:
5004
5005 @table @code
5006 @kindex info skip
5007 @item info skip @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5008 Print details about the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified,
5009 print a table with details about all functions and files marked for skipping.
5010 @code{info skip} prints the following information about each skip:
5011
5012 @table @emph
5013 @item Identifier
5014 A number identifying this skip.
5015 @item Type
5016 The type of this skip, either @samp{function} or @samp{file}.
5017 @item Enabled or Disabled
5018 Enabled skips are marked with @samp{y}. Disabled skips are marked with @samp{n}.
5019 @item Address
5020 For function skips, this column indicates the address in memory of the function
5021 being skipped. If you've set a function skip on a function which has not yet
5022 been loaded, this field will contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Once a shared library
5023 which has the function is loaded, @code{info skip} will show the function's
5024 address here.
5025 @item What
5026 For file skips, this field contains the filename being skipped. For functions
5027 skips, this field contains the function name and its line number in the file
5028 where it is defined.
5029 @end table
5030
5031 @kindex skip delete
5032 @item skip delete @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5033 Delete the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, delete all
5034 skips.
5035
5036 @kindex skip enable
5037 @item skip enable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5038 Enable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, enable all
5039 skips.
5040
5041 @kindex skip disable
5042 @item skip disable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5043 Disable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, disable all
5044 skips.
5045
5046 @end table
5047
5048 @node Signals
5049 @section Signals
5050 @cindex signals
5051
5052 A signal is an asynchronous event that can happen in a program. The
5053 operating system defines the possible kinds of signals, and gives each
5054 kind a name and a number. For example, in Unix @code{SIGINT} is the
5055 signal a program gets when you type an interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c});
5056 @code{SIGSEGV} is the signal a program gets from referencing a place in
5057 memory far away from all the areas in use; @code{SIGALRM} occurs when
5058 the alarm clock timer goes off (which happens only if your program has
5059 requested an alarm).
5060
5061 @cindex fatal signals
5062 Some signals, including @code{SIGALRM}, are a normal part of the
5063 functioning of your program. Others, such as @code{SIGSEGV}, indicate
5064 errors; these signals are @dfn{fatal} (they kill your program immediately) if the
5065 program has not specified in advance some other way to handle the signal.
5066 @code{SIGINT} does not indicate an error in your program, but it is normally
5067 fatal so it can carry out the purpose of the interrupt: to kill the program.
5068
5069 @value{GDBN} has the ability to detect any occurrence of a signal in your
5070 program. You can tell @value{GDBN} in advance what to do for each kind of
5071 signal.
5072
5073 @cindex handling signals
5074 Normally, @value{GDBN} is set up to let the non-erroneous signals like
5075 @code{SIGALRM} be silently passed to your program
5076 (so as not to interfere with their role in the program's functioning)
5077 but to stop your program immediately whenever an error signal happens.
5078 You can change these settings with the @code{handle} command.
5079
5080 @table @code
5081 @kindex info signals
5082 @kindex info handle
5083 @item info signals
5084 @itemx info handle
5085 Print a table of all the kinds of signals and how @value{GDBN} has been told to
5086 handle each one. You can use this to see the signal numbers of all
5087 the defined types of signals.
5088
5089 @item info signals @var{sig}
5090 Similar, but print information only about the specified signal number.
5091
5092 @code{info handle} is an alias for @code{info signals}.
5093
5094 @kindex handle
5095 @item handle @var{signal} @r{[}@var{keywords}@dots{}@r{]}
5096 Change the way @value{GDBN} handles signal @var{signal}. @var{signal}
5097 can be the number of a signal or its name (with or without the
5098 @samp{SIG} at the beginning); a list of signal numbers of the form
5099 @samp{@var{low}-@var{high}}; or the word @samp{all}, meaning all the
5100 known signals. Optional arguments @var{keywords}, described below,
5101 say what change to make.
5102 @end table
5103
5104 @c @group
5105 The keywords allowed by the @code{handle} command can be abbreviated.
5106 Their full names are:
5107
5108 @table @code
5109 @item nostop
5110 @value{GDBN} should not stop your program when this signal happens. It may
5111 still print a message telling you that the signal has come in.
5112
5113 @item stop
5114 @value{GDBN} should stop your program when this signal happens. This implies
5115 the @code{print} keyword as well.
5116
5117 @item print
5118 @value{GDBN} should print a message when this signal happens.
5119
5120 @item noprint
5121 @value{GDBN} should not mention the occurrence of the signal at all. This
5122 implies the @code{nostop} keyword as well.
5123
5124 @item pass
5125 @itemx noignore
5126 @value{GDBN} should allow your program to see this signal; your program
5127 can handle the signal, or else it may terminate if the signal is fatal
5128 and not handled. @code{pass} and @code{noignore} are synonyms.
5129
5130 @item nopass
5131 @itemx ignore
5132 @value{GDBN} should not allow your program to see this signal.
5133 @code{nopass} and @code{ignore} are synonyms.
5134 @end table
5135 @c @end group
5136
5137 When a signal stops your program, the signal is not visible to the
5138 program until you
5139 continue. Your program sees the signal then, if @code{pass} is in
5140 effect for the signal in question @emph{at that time}. In other words,
5141 after @value{GDBN} reports a signal, you can use the @code{handle}
5142 command with @code{pass} or @code{nopass} to control whether your
5143 program sees that signal when you continue.
5144
5145 The default is set to @code{nostop}, @code{noprint}, @code{pass} for
5146 non-erroneous signals such as @code{SIGALRM}, @code{SIGWINCH} and
5147 @code{SIGCHLD}, and to @code{stop}, @code{print}, @code{pass} for the
5148 erroneous signals.
5149
5150 You can also use the @code{signal} command to prevent your program from
5151 seeing a signal, or cause it to see a signal it normally would not see,
5152 or to give it any signal at any time. For example, if your program stopped
5153 due to some sort of memory reference error, you might store correct
5154 values into the erroneous variables and continue, hoping to see more
5155 execution; but your program would probably terminate immediately as
5156 a result of the fatal signal once it saw the signal. To prevent this,
5157 you can continue with @samp{signal 0}. @xref{Signaling, ,Giving your
5158 Program a Signal}.
5159
5160 @cindex extra signal information
5161 @anchor{extra signal information}
5162
5163 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can inspect extra signal information
5164 associated with the intercepted signal, before it is actually
5165 delivered to the program being debugged. This information is exported
5166 by the convenience variable @code{$_siginfo}, and consists of data
5167 that is passed by the kernel to the signal handler at the time of the
5168 receipt of a signal. The data type of the information itself is
5169 target dependent. You can see the data type using the @code{ptype
5170 $_siginfo} command. On Unix systems, it typically corresponds to the
5171 standard @code{siginfo_t} type, as defined in the @file{signal.h}
5172 system header.
5173
5174 Here's an example, on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, printing the stray
5175 referenced address that raised a segmentation fault.
5176
5177 @smallexample
5178 @group
5179 (@value{GDBP}) continue
5180 Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
5181 0x0000000000400766 in main ()
5182 69 *(int *)p = 0;
5183 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo
5184 type = struct @{
5185 int si_signo;
5186 int si_errno;
5187 int si_code;
5188 union @{
5189 int _pad[28];
5190 struct @{...@} _kill;
5191 struct @{...@} _timer;
5192 struct @{...@} _rt;
5193 struct @{...@} _sigchld;
5194 struct @{...@} _sigfault;
5195 struct @{...@} _sigpoll;
5196 @} _sifields;
5197 @}
5198 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault
5199 type = struct @{
5200 void *si_addr;
5201 @}
5202 (@value{GDBP}) p $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault.si_addr
5203 $1 = (void *) 0x7ffff7ff7000
5204 @end group
5205 @end smallexample
5206
5207 Depending on target support, @code{$_siginfo} may also be writable.
5208
5209 @node Thread Stops
5210 @section Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs
5211
5212 @cindex stopped threads
5213 @cindex threads, stopped
5214
5215 @cindex continuing threads
5216 @cindex threads, continuing
5217
5218 @value{GDBN} supports debugging programs with multiple threads
5219 (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads}). There
5220 are two modes of controlling execution of your program within the
5221 debugger. In the default mode, referred to as @dfn{all-stop mode},
5222 when any thread in your program stops (for example, at a breakpoint
5223 or while being stepped), all other threads in the program are also stopped by
5224 @value{GDBN}. On some targets, @value{GDBN} also supports
5225 @dfn{non-stop mode}, in which other threads can continue to run freely while
5226 you examine the stopped thread in the debugger.
5227
5228 @menu
5229 * All-Stop Mode:: All threads stop when GDB takes control
5230 * Non-Stop Mode:: Other threads continue to execute
5231 * Background Execution:: Running your program asynchronously
5232 * Thread-Specific Breakpoints:: Controlling breakpoints
5233 * Interrupted System Calls:: GDB may interfere with system calls
5234 * Observer Mode:: GDB does not alter program behavior
5235 @end menu
5236
5237 @node All-Stop Mode
5238 @subsection All-Stop Mode
5239
5240 @cindex all-stop mode
5241
5242 In all-stop mode, whenever your program stops under @value{GDBN} for any reason,
5243 @emph{all} threads of execution stop, not just the current thread. This
5244 allows you to examine the overall state of the program, including
5245 switching between threads, without worrying that things may change
5246 underfoot.
5247
5248 Conversely, whenever you restart the program, @emph{all} threads start
5249 executing. @emph{This is true even when single-stepping} with commands
5250 like @code{step} or @code{next}.
5251
5252 In particular, @value{GDBN} cannot single-step all threads in lockstep.
5253 Since thread scheduling is up to your debugging target's operating
5254 system (not controlled by @value{GDBN}), other threads may
5255 execute more than one statement while the current thread completes a
5256 single step. Moreover, in general other threads stop in the middle of a
5257 statement, rather than at a clean statement boundary, when the program
5258 stops.
5259
5260 You might even find your program stopped in another thread after
5261 continuing or even single-stepping. This happens whenever some other
5262 thread runs into a breakpoint, a signal, or an exception before the
5263 first thread completes whatever you requested.
5264
5265 @cindex automatic thread selection
5266 @cindex switching threads automatically
5267 @cindex threads, automatic switching
5268 Whenever @value{GDBN} stops your program, due to a breakpoint or a
5269 signal, it automatically selects the thread where that breakpoint or
5270 signal happened. @value{GDBN} alerts you to the context switch with a
5271 message such as @samp{[Switching to Thread @var{n}]} to identify the
5272 thread.
5273
5274 On some OSes, you can modify @value{GDBN}'s default behavior by
5275 locking the OS scheduler to allow only a single thread to run.
5276
5277 @table @code
5278 @item set scheduler-locking @var{mode}
5279 @cindex scheduler locking mode
5280 @cindex lock scheduler
5281 Set the scheduler locking mode. If it is @code{off}, then there is no
5282 locking and any thread may run at any time. If @code{on}, then only the
5283 current thread may run when the inferior is resumed. The @code{step}
5284 mode optimizes for single-stepping; it prevents other threads
5285 from preempting the current thread while you are stepping, so that
5286 the focus of debugging does not change unexpectedly.
5287 Other threads only rarely (or never) get a chance to run
5288 when you step. They are more likely to run when you @samp{next} over a
5289 function call, and they are completely free to run when you use commands
5290 like @samp{continue}, @samp{until}, or @samp{finish}. However, unless another
5291 thread hits a breakpoint during its timeslice, @value{GDBN} does not change
5292 the current thread away from the thread that you are debugging.
5293
5294 @item show scheduler-locking
5295 Display the current scheduler locking mode.
5296 @end table
5297
5298 @cindex resume threads of multiple processes simultaneously
5299 By default, when you issue one of the execution commands such as
5300 @code{continue}, @code{next} or @code{step}, @value{GDBN} allows only
5301 threads of the current inferior to run. For example, if @value{GDBN}
5302 is attached to two inferiors, each with two threads, the
5303 @code{continue} command resumes only the two threads of the current
5304 inferior. This is useful, for example, when you debug a program that
5305 forks and you want to hold the parent stopped (so that, for instance,
5306 it doesn't run to exit), while you debug the child. In other
5307 situations, you may not be interested in inspecting the current state
5308 of any of the processes @value{GDBN} is attached to, and you may want
5309 to resume them all until some breakpoint is hit. In the latter case,
5310 you can instruct @value{GDBN} to allow all threads of all the
5311 inferiors to run with the @w{@code{set schedule-multiple}} command.
5312
5313 @table @code
5314 @kindex set schedule-multiple
5315 @item set schedule-multiple
5316 Set the mode for allowing threads of multiple processes to be resumed
5317 when an execution command is issued. When @code{on}, all threads of
5318 all processes are allowed to run. When @code{off}, only the threads
5319 of the current process are resumed. The default is @code{off}. The
5320 @code{scheduler-locking} mode takes precedence when set to @code{on},
5321 or while you are stepping and set to @code{step}.
5322
5323 @item show schedule-multiple
5324 Display the current mode for resuming the execution of threads of
5325 multiple processes.
5326 @end table
5327
5328 @node Non-Stop Mode
5329 @subsection Non-Stop Mode
5330
5331 @cindex non-stop mode
5332
5333 @c This section is really only a place-holder, and needs to be expanded
5334 @c with more details.
5335
5336 For some multi-threaded targets, @value{GDBN} supports an optional
5337 mode of operation in which you can examine stopped program threads in
5338 the debugger while other threads continue to execute freely. This
5339 minimizes intrusion when debugging live systems, such as programs
5340 where some threads have real-time constraints or must continue to
5341 respond to external events. This is referred to as @dfn{non-stop} mode.
5342
5343 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops to report a debugging event,
5344 @emph{only} that thread is stopped; @value{GDBN} does not stop other
5345 threads as well, in contrast to the all-stop mode behavior. Additionally,
5346 execution commands such as @code{continue} and @code{step} apply by default
5347 only to the current thread in non-stop mode, rather than all threads as
5348 in all-stop mode. This allows you to control threads explicitly in
5349 ways that are not possible in all-stop mode --- for example, stepping
5350 one thread while allowing others to run freely, stepping
5351 one thread while holding all others stopped, or stepping several threads
5352 independently and simultaneously.
5353
5354 To enter non-stop mode, use this sequence of commands before you run
5355 or attach to your program:
5356
5357 @smallexample
5358 # Enable the async interface.
5359 set target-async 1
5360
5361 # If using the CLI, pagination breaks non-stop.
5362 set pagination off
5363
5364 # Finally, turn it on!
5365 set non-stop on
5366 @end smallexample
5367
5368 You can use these commands to manipulate the non-stop mode setting:
5369
5370 @table @code
5371 @kindex set non-stop
5372 @item set non-stop on
5373 Enable selection of non-stop mode.
5374 @item set non-stop off
5375 Disable selection of non-stop mode.
5376 @kindex show non-stop
5377 @item show non-stop
5378 Show the current non-stop enablement setting.
5379 @end table
5380
5381 Note these commands only reflect whether non-stop mode is enabled,
5382 not whether the currently-executing program is being run in non-stop mode.
5383 In particular, the @code{set non-stop} preference is only consulted when
5384 @value{GDBN} starts or connects to the target program, and it is generally
5385 not possible to switch modes once debugging has started. Furthermore,
5386 since not all targets support non-stop mode, even when you have enabled
5387 non-stop mode, @value{GDBN} may still fall back to all-stop operation by
5388 default.
5389
5390 In non-stop mode, all execution commands apply only to the current thread
5391 by default. That is, @code{continue} only continues one thread.
5392 To continue all threads, issue @code{continue -a} or @code{c -a}.
5393
5394 You can use @value{GDBN}'s background execution commands
5395 (@pxref{Background Execution}) to run some threads in the background
5396 while you continue to examine or step others from @value{GDBN}.
5397 The MI execution commands (@pxref{GDB/MI Program Execution}) are
5398 always executed asynchronously in non-stop mode.
5399
5400 Suspending execution is done with the @code{interrupt} command when
5401 running in the background, or @kbd{Ctrl-c} during foreground execution.
5402 In all-stop mode, this stops the whole process;
5403 but in non-stop mode the interrupt applies only to the current thread.
5404 To stop the whole program, use @code{interrupt -a}.
5405
5406 Other execution commands do not currently support the @code{-a} option.
5407
5408 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops, @value{GDBN} doesn't automatically make
5409 that thread current, as it does in all-stop mode. This is because the
5410 thread stop notifications are asynchronous with respect to @value{GDBN}'s
5411 command interpreter, and it would be confusing if @value{GDBN} unexpectedly
5412 changed to a different thread just as you entered a command to operate on the
5413 previously current thread.
5414
5415 @node Background Execution
5416 @subsection Background Execution
5417
5418 @cindex foreground execution
5419 @cindex background execution
5420 @cindex asynchronous execution
5421 @cindex execution, foreground, background and asynchronous
5422
5423 @value{GDBN}'s execution commands have two variants: the normal
5424 foreground (synchronous) behavior, and a background
5425 (asynchronous) behavior. In foreground execution, @value{GDBN} waits for
5426 the program to report that some thread has stopped before prompting for
5427 another command. In background execution, @value{GDBN} immediately gives
5428 a command prompt so that you can issue other commands while your program runs.
5429
5430 You need to explicitly enable asynchronous mode before you can use
5431 background execution commands. You can use these commands to
5432 manipulate the asynchronous mode setting:
5433
5434 @table @code
5435 @kindex set target-async
5436 @item set target-async on
5437 Enable asynchronous mode.
5438 @item set target-async off
5439 Disable asynchronous mode.
5440 @kindex show target-async
5441 @item show target-async
5442 Show the current target-async setting.
5443 @end table
5444
5445 If the target doesn't support async mode, @value{GDBN} issues an error
5446 message if you attempt to use the background execution commands.
5447
5448 To specify background execution, add a @code{&} to the command. For example,
5449 the background form of the @code{continue} command is @code{continue&}, or
5450 just @code{c&}. The execution commands that accept background execution
5451 are:
5452
5453 @table @code
5454 @kindex run&
5455 @item run
5456 @xref{Starting, , Starting your Program}.
5457
5458 @item attach
5459 @kindex attach&
5460 @xref{Attach, , Debugging an Already-running Process}.
5461
5462 @item step
5463 @kindex step&
5464 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, step}.
5465
5466 @item stepi
5467 @kindex stepi&
5468 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, stepi}.
5469
5470 @item next
5471 @kindex next&
5472 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, next}.
5473
5474 @item nexti
5475 @kindex nexti&
5476 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, nexti}.
5477
5478 @item continue
5479 @kindex continue&
5480 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, continue}.
5481
5482 @item finish
5483 @kindex finish&
5484 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, finish}.
5485
5486 @item until
5487 @kindex until&
5488 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, until}.
5489
5490 @end table
5491
5492 Background execution is especially useful in conjunction with non-stop
5493 mode for debugging programs with multiple threads; see @ref{Non-Stop Mode}.
5494 However, you can also use these commands in the normal all-stop mode with
5495 the restriction that you cannot issue another execution command until the
5496 previous one finishes. Examples of commands that are valid in all-stop
5497 mode while the program is running include @code{help} and @code{info break}.
5498
5499 You can interrupt your program while it is running in the background by
5500 using the @code{interrupt} command.
5501
5502 @table @code
5503 @kindex interrupt
5504 @item interrupt
5505 @itemx interrupt -a
5506
5507 Suspend execution of the running program. In all-stop mode,
5508 @code{interrupt} stops the whole process, but in non-stop mode, it stops
5509 only the current thread. To stop the whole program in non-stop mode,
5510 use @code{interrupt -a}.
5511 @end table
5512
5513 @node Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5514 @subsection Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5515
5516 When your program has multiple threads (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging
5517 Programs with Multiple Threads}), you can choose whether to set
5518 breakpoints on all threads, or on a particular thread.
5519
5520 @table @code
5521 @cindex breakpoints and threads
5522 @cindex thread breakpoints
5523 @kindex break @dots{} thread @var{threadno}
5524 @item break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno}
5525 @itemx break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno} if @dots{}
5526 @var{linespec} specifies source lines; there are several ways of
5527 writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always to
5528 specify some source line.
5529
5530 Use the qualifier @samp{thread @var{threadno}} with a breakpoint command
5531 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
5532 particular thread reaches this breakpoint. @var{threadno} is one of the
5533 numeric thread identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
5534 column of the @samp{info threads} display.
5535
5536 If you do not specify @samp{thread @var{threadno}} when you set a
5537 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} threads of your
5538 program.
5539
5540 You can use the @code{thread} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
5541 well; in this case, place @samp{thread @var{threadno}} before or
5542 after the breakpoint condition, like this:
5543
5544 @smallexample
5545 (@value{GDBP}) break frik.c:13 thread 28 if bartab > lim
5546 @end smallexample
5547
5548 @end table
5549
5550 @node Interrupted System Calls
5551 @subsection Interrupted System Calls
5552
5553 @cindex thread breakpoints and system calls
5554 @cindex system calls and thread breakpoints
5555 @cindex premature return from system calls
5556 There is an unfortunate side effect when using @value{GDBN} to debug
5557 multi-threaded programs. If one thread stops for a
5558 breakpoint, or for some other reason, and another thread is blocked in a
5559 system call, then the system call may return prematurely. This is a
5560 consequence of the interaction between multiple threads and the signals
5561 that @value{GDBN} uses to implement breakpoints and other events that
5562 stop execution.
5563
5564 To handle this problem, your program should check the return value of
5565 each system call and react appropriately. This is good programming
5566 style anyways.
5567
5568 For example, do not write code like this:
5569
5570 @smallexample
5571 sleep (10);
5572 @end smallexample
5573
5574 The call to @code{sleep} will return early if a different thread stops
5575 at a breakpoint or for some other reason.
5576
5577 Instead, write this:
5578
5579 @smallexample
5580 int unslept = 10;
5581 while (unslept > 0)
5582 unslept = sleep (unslept);
5583 @end smallexample
5584
5585 A system call is allowed to return early, so the system is still
5586 conforming to its specification. But @value{GDBN} does cause your
5587 multi-threaded program to behave differently than it would without
5588 @value{GDBN}.
5589
5590 Also, @value{GDBN} uses internal breakpoints in the thread library to
5591 monitor certain events such as thread creation and thread destruction.
5592 When such an event happens, a system call in another thread may return
5593 prematurely, even though your program does not appear to stop.
5594
5595 @node Observer Mode
5596 @subsection Observer Mode
5597
5598 If you want to build on non-stop mode and observe program behavior
5599 without any chance of disruption by @value{GDBN}, you can set
5600 variables to disable all of the debugger's attempts to modify state,
5601 whether by writing memory, inserting breakpoints, etc. These operate
5602 at a low level, intercepting operations from all commands.
5603
5604 When all of these are set to @code{off}, then @value{GDBN} is said to
5605 be @dfn{observer mode}. As a convenience, the variable
5606 @code{observer} can be set to disable these, plus enable non-stop
5607 mode.
5608
5609 Note that @value{GDBN} will not prevent you from making nonsensical
5610 combinations of these settings. For instance, if you have enabled
5611 @code{may-insert-breakpoints} but disabled @code{may-write-memory},
5612 then breakpoints that work by writing trap instructions into the code
5613 stream will still not be able to be placed.
5614
5615 @table @code
5616
5617 @kindex observer
5618 @item set observer on
5619 @itemx set observer off
5620 When set to @code{on}, this disables all the permission variables
5621 below (except for @code{insert-fast-tracepoints}), plus enables
5622 non-stop debugging. Setting this to @code{off} switches back to
5623 normal debugging, though remaining in non-stop mode.
5624
5625 @item show observer
5626 Show whether observer mode is on or off.
5627
5628 @kindex may-write-registers
5629 @item set may-write-registers on
5630 @itemx set may-write-registers off
5631 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the values of
5632 registers, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}, or the
5633 @code{jump} command. It defaults to @code{on}.
5634
5635 @item show may-write-registers
5636 Show the current permission to write registers.
5637
5638 @kindex may-write-memory
5639 @item set may-write-memory on
5640 @itemx set may-write-memory off
5641 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the contents
5642 of memory, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}. It
5643 defaults to @code{on}.
5644
5645 @item show may-write-memory
5646 Show the current permission to write memory.
5647
5648 @kindex may-insert-breakpoints
5649 @item set may-insert-breakpoints on
5650 @itemx set may-insert-breakpoints off
5651 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert breakpoints.
5652 This affects all breakpoints, including internal breakpoints defined
5653 by @value{GDBN}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5654
5655 @item show may-insert-breakpoints
5656 Show the current permission to insert breakpoints.
5657
5658 @kindex may-insert-tracepoints
5659 @item set may-insert-tracepoints on
5660 @itemx set may-insert-tracepoints off
5661 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert (regular)
5662 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
5663 non-fast tracepoints, fast tracepoints being under the control of
5664 @code{may-insert-fast-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5665
5666 @item show may-insert-tracepoints
5667 Show the current permission to insert tracepoints.
5668
5669 @kindex may-insert-fast-tracepoints
5670 @item set may-insert-fast-tracepoints on
5671 @itemx set may-insert-fast-tracepoints off
5672 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert fast
5673 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
5674 fast tracepoints, regular (non-fast) tracepoints being under the
5675 control of @code{may-insert-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5676
5677 @item show may-insert-fast-tracepoints
5678 Show the current permission to insert fast tracepoints.
5679
5680 @kindex may-interrupt
5681 @item set may-interrupt on
5682 @itemx set may-interrupt off
5683 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to interrupt or stop
5684 program execution. When this variable is @code{off}, the
5685 @code{interrupt} command will have no effect, nor will
5686 @kbd{Ctrl-c}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5687
5688 @item show may-interrupt
5689 Show the current permission to interrupt or stop the program.
5690
5691 @end table
5692
5693 @node Reverse Execution
5694 @chapter Running programs backward
5695 @cindex reverse execution
5696 @cindex running programs backward
5697
5698 When you are debugging a program, it is not unusual to realize that
5699 you have gone too far, and some event of interest has already happened.
5700 If the target environment supports it, @value{GDBN} can allow you to
5701 ``rewind'' the program by running it backward.
5702
5703 A target environment that supports reverse execution should be able
5704 to ``undo'' the changes in machine state that have taken place as the
5705 program was executing normally. Variables, registers etc.@: should
5706 revert to their previous values. Obviously this requires a great
5707 deal of sophistication on the part of the target environment; not
5708 all target environments can support reverse execution.
5709
5710 When a program is executed in reverse, the instructions that
5711 have most recently been executed are ``un-executed'', in reverse
5712 order. The program counter runs backward, following the previous
5713 thread of execution in reverse. As each instruction is ``un-executed'',
5714 the values of memory and/or registers that were changed by that
5715 instruction are reverted to their previous states. After executing
5716 a piece of source code in reverse, all side effects of that code
5717 should be ``undone'', and all variables should be returned to their
5718 prior values@footnote{
5719 Note that some side effects are easier to undo than others. For instance,
5720 memory and registers are relatively easy, but device I/O is hard. Some
5721 targets may be able undo things like device I/O, and some may not.
5722
5723 The contract between @value{GDBN} and the reverse executing target
5724 requires only that the target do something reasonable when
5725 @value{GDBN} tells it to execute backwards, and then report the
5726 results back to @value{GDBN}. Whatever the target reports back to
5727 @value{GDBN}, @value{GDBN} will report back to the user. @value{GDBN}
5728 assumes that the memory and registers that the target reports are in a
5729 consistant state, but @value{GDBN} accepts whatever it is given.
5730 }.
5731
5732 If you are debugging in a target environment that supports
5733 reverse execution, @value{GDBN} provides the following commands.
5734
5735 @table @code
5736 @kindex reverse-continue
5737 @kindex rc @r{(@code{reverse-continue})}
5738 @item reverse-continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5739 @itemx rc @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5740 Beginning at the point where your program last stopped, start executing
5741 in reverse. Reverse execution will stop for breakpoints and synchronous
5742 exceptions (signals), just like normal execution. Behavior of
5743 asynchronous signals depends on the target environment.
5744
5745 @kindex reverse-step
5746 @kindex rs @r{(@code{step})}
5747 @item reverse-step @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5748 Run the program backward until control reaches the start of a
5749 different source line; then stop it, and return control to @value{GDBN}.
5750
5751 Like the @code{step} command, @code{reverse-step} will only stop
5752 at the beginning of a source line. It ``un-executes'' the previously
5753 executed source line. If the previous source line included calls to
5754 debuggable functions, @code{reverse-step} will step (backward) into
5755 the called function, stopping at the beginning of the @emph{last}
5756 statement in the called function (typically a return statement).
5757
5758 Also, as with the @code{step} command, if non-debuggable functions are
5759 called, @code{reverse-step} will run thru them backward without stopping.
5760
5761 @kindex reverse-stepi
5762 @kindex rsi @r{(@code{reverse-stepi})}
5763 @item reverse-stepi @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5764 Reverse-execute one machine instruction. Note that the instruction
5765 to be reverse-executed is @emph{not} the one pointed to by the program
5766 counter, but the instruction executed prior to that one. For instance,
5767 if the last instruction was a jump, @code{reverse-stepi} will take you
5768 back from the destination of the jump to the jump instruction itself.
5769
5770 @kindex reverse-next
5771 @kindex rn @r{(@code{reverse-next})}
5772 @item reverse-next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5773 Run backward to the beginning of the previous line executed in
5774 the current (innermost) stack frame. If the line contains function
5775 calls, they will be ``un-executed'' without stopping. Starting from
5776 the first line of a function, @code{reverse-next} will take you back
5777 to the caller of that function, @emph{before} the function was called,
5778 just as the normal @code{next} command would take you from the last
5779 line of a function back to its return to its caller
5780 @footnote{Unless the code is too heavily optimized.}.
5781
5782 @kindex reverse-nexti
5783 @kindex rni @r{(@code{reverse-nexti})}
5784 @item reverse-nexti @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5785 Like @code{nexti}, @code{reverse-nexti} executes a single instruction
5786 in reverse, except that called functions are ``un-executed'' atomically.
5787 That is, if the previously executed instruction was a return from
5788 another function, @code{reverse-nexti} will continue to execute
5789 in reverse until the call to that function (from the current stack
5790 frame) is reached.
5791
5792 @kindex reverse-finish
5793 @item reverse-finish
5794 Just as the @code{finish} command takes you to the point where the
5795 current function returns, @code{reverse-finish} takes you to the point
5796 where it was called. Instead of ending up at the end of the current
5797 function invocation, you end up at the beginning.
5798
5799 @kindex set exec-direction
5800 @item set exec-direction
5801 Set the direction of target execution.
5802 @itemx set exec-direction reverse
5803 @cindex execute forward or backward in time
5804 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in reverse, until the
5805 exec-direction mode is changed to ``forward''. Affected commands include
5806 @code{step, stepi, next, nexti, continue, and finish}. The @code{return}
5807 command cannot be used in reverse mode.
5808 @item set exec-direction forward
5809 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in the normal fashion.
5810 This is the default.
5811 @end table
5812
5813
5814 @node Process Record and Replay
5815 @chapter Recording Inferior's Execution and Replaying It
5816 @cindex process record and replay
5817 @cindex recording inferior's execution and replaying it
5818
5819 On some platforms, @value{GDBN} provides a special @dfn{process record
5820 and replay} target that can record a log of the process execution, and
5821 replay it later with both forward and reverse execution commands.
5822
5823 @cindex replay mode
5824 When this target is in use, if the execution log includes the record
5825 for the next instruction, @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{replay
5826 mode}. In the replay mode, the inferior does not really execute code
5827 instructions. Instead, all the events that normally happen during
5828 code execution are taken from the execution log. While code is not
5829 really executed in replay mode, the values of registers (including the
5830 program counter register) and the memory of the inferior are still
5831 changed as they normally would. Their contents are taken from the
5832 execution log.
5833
5834 @cindex record mode
5835 If the record for the next instruction is not in the execution log,
5836 @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{record mode}. In this mode, the
5837 inferior executes normally, and @value{GDBN} records the execution log
5838 for future replay.
5839
5840 The process record and replay target supports reverse execution
5841 (@pxref{Reverse Execution}), even if the platform on which the
5842 inferior runs does not. However, the reverse execution is limited in
5843 this case by the range of the instructions recorded in the execution
5844 log. In other words, reverse execution on platforms that don't
5845 support it directly can only be done in the replay mode.
5846
5847 When debugging in the reverse direction, @value{GDBN} will work in
5848 replay mode as long as the execution log includes the record for the
5849 previous instruction; otherwise, it will work in record mode, if the
5850 platform supports reverse execution, or stop if not.
5851
5852 For architecture environments that support process record and replay,
5853 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands:
5854
5855 @table @code
5856 @kindex target record
5857 @kindex record
5858 @kindex rec
5859 @item target record
5860 This command starts the process record and replay target. The process
5861 record and replay target can only debug a process that is already
5862 running. Therefore, you need first to start the process with the
5863 @kbd{run} or @kbd{start} commands, and then start the recording with
5864 the @kbd{target record} command.
5865
5866 Both @code{record} and @code{rec} are aliases of @code{target record}.
5867
5868 @cindex displaced stepping, and process record and replay
5869 Displaced stepping (@pxref{Maintenance Commands,, displaced stepping})
5870 will be automatically disabled when process record and replay target
5871 is started. That's because the process record and replay target
5872 doesn't support displaced stepping.
5873
5874 @cindex non-stop mode, and process record and replay
5875 @cindex asynchronous execution, and process record and replay
5876 If the inferior is in the non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) or in
5877 the asynchronous execution mode (@pxref{Background Execution}), the
5878 process record and replay target cannot be started because it doesn't
5879 support these two modes.
5880
5881 @kindex record stop
5882 @kindex rec s
5883 @item record stop
5884 Stop the process record and replay target. When process record and
5885 replay target stops, the entire execution log will be deleted and the
5886 inferior will either be terminated, or will remain in its final state.
5887
5888 When you stop the process record and replay target in record mode (at
5889 the end of the execution log), the inferior will be stopped at the
5890 next instruction that would have been recorded. In other words, if
5891 you record for a while and then stop recording, the inferior process
5892 will be left in the same state as if the recording never happened.
5893
5894 On the other hand, if the process record and replay target is stopped
5895 while in replay mode (that is, not at the end of the execution log,
5896 but at some earlier point), the inferior process will become ``live''
5897 at that earlier state, and it will then be possible to continue the
5898 usual ``live'' debugging of the process from that state.
5899
5900 When the inferior process exits, or @value{GDBN} detaches from it,
5901 process record and replay target will automatically stop itself.
5902
5903 @kindex record save
5904 @item record save @var{filename}
5905 Save the execution log to a file @file{@var{filename}}.
5906 Default filename is @file{gdb_record.@var{process_id}}, where
5907 @var{process_id} is the process ID of the inferior.
5908
5909 @kindex record restore
5910 @item record restore @var{filename}
5911 Restore the execution log from a file @file{@var{filename}}.
5912 File must have been created with @code{record save}.
5913
5914 @kindex set record insn-number-max
5915 @item set record insn-number-max @var{limit}
5916 Set the limit of instructions to be recorded. Default value is 200000.
5917
5918 If @var{limit} is a positive number, then @value{GDBN} will start
5919 deleting instructions from the log once the number of the record
5920 instructions becomes greater than @var{limit}. For every new recorded
5921 instruction, @value{GDBN} will delete the earliest recorded
5922 instruction to keep the number of recorded instructions at the limit.
5923 (Since deleting recorded instructions loses information, @value{GDBN}
5924 lets you control what happens when the limit is reached, by means of
5925 the @code{stop-at-limit} option, described below.)
5926
5927 If @var{limit} is zero, @value{GDBN} will never delete recorded
5928 instructions from the execution log. The number of recorded
5929 instructions is unlimited in this case.
5930
5931 @kindex show record insn-number-max
5932 @item show record insn-number-max
5933 Show the limit of instructions to be recorded.
5934
5935 @kindex set record stop-at-limit
5936 @item set record stop-at-limit
5937 Control the behavior when the number of recorded instructions reaches
5938 the limit. If ON (the default), @value{GDBN} will stop when the limit
5939 is reached for the first time and ask you whether you want to stop the
5940 inferior or continue running it and recording the execution log. If
5941 you decide to continue recording, each new recorded instruction will
5942 cause the oldest one to be deleted.
5943
5944 If this option is OFF, @value{GDBN} will automatically delete the
5945 oldest record to make room for each new one, without asking.
5946
5947 @kindex show record stop-at-limit
5948 @item show record stop-at-limit
5949 Show the current setting of @code{stop-at-limit}.
5950
5951 @kindex set record memory-query
5952 @item set record memory-query
5953 Control the behavior when @value{GDBN} is unable to record memory
5954 changes caused by an instruction. If ON, @value{GDBN} will query
5955 whether to stop the inferior in that case.
5956
5957 If this option is OFF (the default), @value{GDBN} will automatically
5958 ignore the effect of such instructions on memory. Later, when
5959 @value{GDBN} replays this execution log, it will mark the log of this
5960 instruction as not accessible, and it will not affect the replay
5961 results.
5962
5963 @kindex show record memory-query
5964 @item show record memory-query
5965 Show the current setting of @code{memory-query}.
5966
5967 @kindex info record
5968 @item info record
5969 Show various statistics about the state of process record and its
5970 in-memory execution log buffer, including:
5971
5972 @itemize @bullet
5973 @item
5974 Whether in record mode or replay mode.
5975 @item
5976 Lowest recorded instruction number (counting from when the current execution log started recording instructions).
5977 @item
5978 Highest recorded instruction number.
5979 @item
5980 Current instruction about to be replayed (if in replay mode).
5981 @item
5982 Number of instructions contained in the execution log.
5983 @item
5984 Maximum number of instructions that may be contained in the execution log.
5985 @end itemize
5986
5987 @kindex record delete
5988 @kindex rec del
5989 @item record delete
5990 When record target runs in replay mode (``in the past''), delete the
5991 subsequent execution log and begin to record a new execution log starting
5992 from the current address. This means you will abandon the previously
5993 recorded ``future'' and begin recording a new ``future''.
5994 @end table
5995
5996
5997 @node Stack
5998 @chapter Examining the Stack
5999
6000 When your program has stopped, the first thing you need to know is where it
6001 stopped and how it got there.
6002
6003 @cindex call stack
6004 Each time your program performs a function call, information about the call
6005 is generated.
6006 That information includes the location of the call in your program,
6007 the arguments of the call,
6008 and the local variables of the function being called.
6009 The information is saved in a block of data called a @dfn{stack frame}.
6010 The stack frames are allocated in a region of memory called the @dfn{call
6011 stack}.
6012
6013 When your program stops, the @value{GDBN} commands for examining the
6014 stack allow you to see all of this information.
6015
6016 @cindex selected frame
6017 One of the stack frames is @dfn{selected} by @value{GDBN} and many
6018 @value{GDBN} commands refer implicitly to the selected frame. In
6019 particular, whenever you ask @value{GDBN} for the value of a variable in
6020 your program, the value is found in the selected frame. There are
6021 special @value{GDBN} commands to select whichever frame you are
6022 interested in. @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6023
6024 When your program stops, @value{GDBN} automatically selects the
6025 currently executing frame and describes it briefly, similar to the
6026 @code{frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}).
6027
6028 @menu
6029 * Frames:: Stack frames
6030 * Backtrace:: Backtraces
6031 * Selection:: Selecting a frame
6032 * Frame Info:: Information on a frame
6033
6034 @end menu
6035
6036 @node Frames
6037 @section Stack Frames
6038
6039 @cindex frame, definition
6040 @cindex stack frame
6041 The call stack is divided up into contiguous pieces called @dfn{stack
6042 frames}, or @dfn{frames} for short; each frame is the data associated
6043 with one call to one function. The frame contains the arguments given
6044 to the function, the function's local variables, and the address at
6045 which the function is executing.
6046
6047 @cindex initial frame
6048 @cindex outermost frame
6049 @cindex innermost frame
6050 When your program is started, the stack has only one frame, that of the
6051 function @code{main}. This is called the @dfn{initial} frame or the
6052 @dfn{outermost} frame. Each time a function is called, a new frame is
6053 made. Each time a function returns, the frame for that function invocation
6054 is eliminated. If a function is recursive, there can be many frames for
6055 the same function. The frame for the function in which execution is
6056 actually occurring is called the @dfn{innermost} frame. This is the most
6057 recently created of all the stack frames that still exist.
6058
6059 @cindex frame pointer
6060 Inside your program, stack frames are identified by their addresses. A
6061 stack frame consists of many bytes, each of which has its own address; each
6062 kind of computer has a convention for choosing one byte whose
6063 address serves as the address of the frame. Usually this address is kept
6064 in a register called the @dfn{frame pointer register}
6065 (@pxref{Registers, $fp}) while execution is going on in that frame.
6066
6067 @cindex frame number
6068 @value{GDBN} assigns numbers to all existing stack frames, starting with
6069 zero for the innermost frame, one for the frame that called it,
6070 and so on upward. These numbers do not really exist in your program;
6071 they are assigned by @value{GDBN} to give you a way of designating stack
6072 frames in @value{GDBN} commands.
6073
6074 @c The -fomit-frame-pointer below perennially causes hbox overflow
6075 @c underflow problems.
6076 @cindex frameless execution
6077 Some compilers provide a way to compile functions so that they operate
6078 without stack frames. (For example, the @value{NGCC} option
6079 @smallexample
6080 @samp{-fomit-frame-pointer}
6081 @end smallexample
6082 generates functions without a frame.)
6083 This is occasionally done with heavily used library functions to save
6084 the frame setup time. @value{GDBN} has limited facilities for dealing
6085 with these function invocations. If the innermost function invocation
6086 has no stack frame, @value{GDBN} nevertheless regards it as though
6087 it had a separate frame, which is numbered zero as usual, allowing
6088 correct tracing of the function call chain. However, @value{GDBN} has
6089 no provision for frameless functions elsewhere in the stack.
6090
6091 @table @code
6092 @kindex frame@r{, command}
6093 @cindex current stack frame
6094 @item frame @var{args}
6095 The @code{frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame to another,
6096 and to print the stack frame you select. @var{args} may be either the
6097 address of the frame or the stack frame number. Without an argument,
6098 @code{frame} prints the current stack frame.
6099
6100 @kindex select-frame
6101 @cindex selecting frame silently
6102 @item select-frame
6103 The @code{select-frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame
6104 to another without printing the frame. This is the silent version of
6105 @code{frame}.
6106 @end table
6107
6108 @node Backtrace
6109 @section Backtraces
6110
6111 @cindex traceback
6112 @cindex call stack traces
6113 A backtrace is a summary of how your program got where it is. It shows one
6114 line per frame, for many frames, starting with the currently executing
6115 frame (frame zero), followed by its caller (frame one), and on up the
6116 stack.
6117
6118 @table @code
6119 @kindex backtrace
6120 @kindex bt @r{(@code{backtrace})}
6121 @item backtrace
6122 @itemx bt
6123 Print a backtrace of the entire stack: one line per frame for all
6124 frames in the stack.
6125
6126 You can stop the backtrace at any time by typing the system interrupt
6127 character, normally @kbd{Ctrl-c}.
6128
6129 @item backtrace @var{n}
6130 @itemx bt @var{n}
6131 Similar, but print only the innermost @var{n} frames.
6132
6133 @item backtrace -@var{n}
6134 @itemx bt -@var{n}
6135 Similar, but print only the outermost @var{n} frames.
6136
6137 @item backtrace full
6138 @itemx bt full
6139 @itemx bt full @var{n}
6140 @itemx bt full -@var{n}
6141 Print the values of the local variables also. @var{n} specifies the
6142 number of frames to print, as described above.
6143 @end table
6144
6145 @kindex where
6146 @kindex info stack
6147 The names @code{where} and @code{info stack} (abbreviated @code{info s})
6148 are additional aliases for @code{backtrace}.
6149
6150 @cindex multiple threads, backtrace
6151 In a multi-threaded program, @value{GDBN} by default shows the
6152 backtrace only for the current thread. To display the backtrace for
6153 several or all of the threads, use the command @code{thread apply}
6154 (@pxref{Threads, thread apply}). For example, if you type @kbd{thread
6155 apply all backtrace}, @value{GDBN} will display the backtrace for all
6156 the threads; this is handy when you debug a core dump of a
6157 multi-threaded program.
6158
6159 Each line in the backtrace shows the frame number and the function name.
6160 The program counter value is also shown---unless you use @code{set
6161 print address off}. The backtrace also shows the source file name and
6162 line number, as well as the arguments to the function. The program
6163 counter value is omitted if it is at the beginning of the code for that
6164 line number.
6165
6166 Here is an example of a backtrace. It was made with the command
6167 @samp{bt 3}, so it shows the innermost three frames.
6168
6169 @smallexample
6170 @group
6171 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
6172 at builtin.c:993
6173 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=0x2b600, data=...) at macro.c:242
6174 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=177664, td=0xf7fffb08)
6175 at macro.c:71
6176 (More stack frames follow...)
6177 @end group
6178 @end smallexample
6179
6180 @noindent
6181 The display for frame zero does not begin with a program counter
6182 value, indicating that your program has stopped at the beginning of the
6183 code for line @code{993} of @code{builtin.c}.
6184
6185 @noindent
6186 The value of parameter @code{data} in frame 1 has been replaced by
6187 @code{@dots{}}. By default, @value{GDBN} prints the value of a parameter
6188 only if it is a scalar (integer, pointer, enumeration, etc). See command
6189 @kbd{set print frame-arguments} in @ref{Print Settings} for more details
6190 on how to configure the way function parameter values are printed.
6191
6192 @cindex optimized out, in backtrace
6193 @cindex function call arguments, optimized out
6194 If your program was compiled with optimizations, some compilers will
6195 optimize away arguments passed to functions if those arguments are
6196 never used after the call. Such optimizations generate code that
6197 passes arguments through registers, but doesn't store those arguments
6198 in the stack frame. @value{GDBN} has no way of displaying such
6199 arguments in stack frames other than the innermost one. Here's what
6200 such a backtrace might look like:
6201
6202 @smallexample
6203 @group
6204 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
6205 at builtin.c:993
6206 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=<optimized out>) at macro.c:242
6207 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=<optimized out>, td=0xf7fffb08)
6208 at macro.c:71
6209 (More stack frames follow...)
6210 @end group
6211 @end smallexample
6212
6213 @noindent
6214 The values of arguments that were not saved in their stack frames are
6215 shown as @samp{<optimized out>}.
6216
6217 If you need to display the values of such optimized-out arguments,
6218 either deduce that from other variables whose values depend on the one
6219 you are interested in, or recompile without optimizations.
6220
6221 @cindex backtrace beyond @code{main} function
6222 @cindex program entry point
6223 @cindex startup code, and backtrace
6224 Most programs have a standard user entry point---a place where system
6225 libraries and startup code transition into user code. For C this is
6226 @code{main}@footnote{
6227 Note that embedded programs (the so-called ``free-standing''
6228 environment) are not required to have a @code{main} function as the
6229 entry point. They could even have multiple entry points.}.
6230 When @value{GDBN} finds the entry function in a backtrace
6231 it will terminate the backtrace, to avoid tracing into highly
6232 system-specific (and generally uninteresting) code.
6233
6234 If you need to examine the startup code, or limit the number of levels
6235 in a backtrace, you can change this behavior:
6236
6237 @table @code
6238 @item set backtrace past-main
6239 @itemx set backtrace past-main on
6240 @kindex set backtrace
6241 Backtraces will continue past the user entry point.
6242
6243 @item set backtrace past-main off
6244 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the user entry point. This is the
6245 default.
6246
6247 @item show backtrace past-main
6248 @kindex show backtrace
6249 Display the current user entry point backtrace policy.
6250
6251 @item set backtrace past-entry
6252 @itemx set backtrace past-entry on
6253 Backtraces will continue past the internal entry point of an application.
6254 This entry point is encoded by the linker when the application is built,
6255 and is likely before the user entry point @code{main} (or equivalent) is called.
6256
6257 @item set backtrace past-entry off
6258 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the internal entry point of an
6259 application. This is the default.
6260
6261 @item show backtrace past-entry
6262 Display the current internal entry point backtrace policy.
6263
6264 @item set backtrace limit @var{n}
6265 @itemx set backtrace limit 0
6266 @cindex backtrace limit
6267 Limit the backtrace to @var{n} levels. A value of zero means
6268 unlimited.
6269
6270 @item show backtrace limit
6271 Display the current limit on backtrace levels.
6272 @end table
6273
6274 @node Selection
6275 @section Selecting a Frame
6276
6277 Most commands for examining the stack and other data in your program work on
6278 whichever stack frame is selected at the moment. Here are the commands for
6279 selecting a stack frame; all of them finish by printing a brief description
6280 of the stack frame just selected.
6281
6282 @table @code
6283 @kindex frame@r{, selecting}
6284 @kindex f @r{(@code{frame})}
6285 @item frame @var{n}
6286 @itemx f @var{n}
6287 Select frame number @var{n}. Recall that frame zero is the innermost
6288 (currently executing) frame, frame one is the frame that called the
6289 innermost one, and so on. The highest-numbered frame is the one for
6290 @code{main}.
6291
6292 @item frame @var{addr}
6293 @itemx f @var{addr}
6294 Select the frame at address @var{addr}. This is useful mainly if the
6295 chaining of stack frames has been damaged by a bug, making it
6296 impossible for @value{GDBN} to assign numbers properly to all frames. In
6297 addition, this can be useful when your program has multiple stacks and
6298 switches between them.
6299
6300 On the SPARC architecture, @code{frame} needs two addresses to
6301 select an arbitrary frame: a frame pointer and a stack pointer.
6302
6303 On the MIPS and Alpha architecture, it needs two addresses: a stack
6304 pointer and a program counter.
6305
6306 On the 29k architecture, it needs three addresses: a register stack
6307 pointer, a program counter, and a memory stack pointer.
6308
6309 @kindex up
6310 @item up @var{n}
6311 Move @var{n} frames up the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
6312 advances toward the outermost frame, to higher frame numbers, to frames
6313 that have existed longer. @var{n} defaults to one.
6314
6315 @kindex down
6316 @kindex do @r{(@code{down})}
6317 @item down @var{n}
6318 Move @var{n} frames down the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
6319 advances toward the innermost frame, to lower frame numbers, to frames
6320 that were created more recently. @var{n} defaults to one. You may
6321 abbreviate @code{down} as @code{do}.
6322 @end table
6323
6324 All of these commands end by printing two lines of output describing the
6325 frame. The first line shows the frame number, the function name, the
6326 arguments, and the source file and line number of execution in that
6327 frame. The second line shows the text of that source line.
6328
6329 @need 1000
6330 For example:
6331
6332 @smallexample
6333 @group
6334 (@value{GDBP}) up
6335 #1 0x22f0 in main (argc=1, argv=0xf7fffbf4, env=0xf7fffbfc)
6336 at env.c:10
6337 10 read_input_file (argv[i]);
6338 @end group
6339 @end smallexample
6340
6341 After such a printout, the @code{list} command with no arguments
6342 prints ten lines centered on the point of execution in the frame.
6343 You can also edit the program at the point of execution with your favorite
6344 editing program by typing @code{edit}.
6345 @xref{List, ,Printing Source Lines},
6346 for details.
6347
6348 @table @code
6349 @kindex down-silently
6350 @kindex up-silently
6351 @item up-silently @var{n}
6352 @itemx down-silently @var{n}
6353 These two commands are variants of @code{up} and @code{down},
6354 respectively; they differ in that they do their work silently, without
6355 causing display of the new frame. They are intended primarily for use
6356 in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the output might be unnecessary and
6357 distracting.
6358 @end table
6359
6360 @node Frame Info
6361 @section Information About a Frame
6362
6363 There are several other commands to print information about the selected
6364 stack frame.
6365
6366 @table @code
6367 @item frame
6368 @itemx f
6369 When used without any argument, this command does not change which
6370 frame is selected, but prints a brief description of the currently
6371 selected stack frame. It can be abbreviated @code{f}. With an
6372 argument, this command is used to select a stack frame.
6373 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6374
6375 @kindex info frame
6376 @kindex info f @r{(@code{info frame})}
6377 @item info frame
6378 @itemx info f
6379 This command prints a verbose description of the selected stack frame,
6380 including:
6381
6382 @itemize @bullet
6383 @item
6384 the address of the frame
6385 @item
6386 the address of the next frame down (called by this frame)
6387 @item
6388 the address of the next frame up (caller of this frame)
6389 @item
6390 the language in which the source code corresponding to this frame is written
6391 @item
6392 the address of the frame's arguments
6393 @item
6394 the address of the frame's local variables
6395 @item
6396 the program counter saved in it (the address of execution in the caller frame)
6397 @item
6398 which registers were saved in the frame
6399 @end itemize
6400
6401 @noindent The verbose description is useful when
6402 something has gone wrong that has made the stack format fail to fit
6403 the usual conventions.
6404
6405 @item info frame @var{addr}
6406 @itemx info f @var{addr}
6407 Print a verbose description of the frame at address @var{addr}, without
6408 selecting that frame. The selected frame remains unchanged by this
6409 command. This requires the same kind of address (more than one for some
6410 architectures) that you specify in the @code{frame} command.
6411 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6412
6413 @kindex info args
6414 @item info args
6415 Print the arguments of the selected frame, each on a separate line.
6416
6417 @item info locals
6418 @kindex info locals
6419 Print the local variables of the selected frame, each on a separate
6420 line. These are all variables (declared either static or automatic)
6421 accessible at the point of execution of the selected frame.
6422
6423 @end table
6424
6425
6426 @node Source
6427 @chapter Examining Source Files
6428
6429 @value{GDBN} can print parts of your program's source, since the debugging
6430 information recorded in the program tells @value{GDBN} what source files were
6431 used to build it. When your program stops, @value{GDBN} spontaneously prints
6432 the line where it stopped. Likewise, when you select a stack frame
6433 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}), @value{GDBN} prints the line where
6434 execution in that frame has stopped. You can print other portions of
6435 source files by explicit command.
6436
6437 If you use @value{GDBN} through its @sc{gnu} Emacs interface, you may
6438 prefer to use Emacs facilities to view source; see @ref{Emacs, ,Using
6439 @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}.
6440
6441 @menu
6442 * List:: Printing source lines
6443 * Specify Location:: How to specify code locations
6444 * Edit:: Editing source files
6445 * Search:: Searching source files
6446 * Source Path:: Specifying source directories
6447 * Machine Code:: Source and machine code
6448 @end menu
6449
6450 @node List
6451 @section Printing Source Lines
6452
6453 @kindex list
6454 @kindex l @r{(@code{list})}
6455 To print lines from a source file, use the @code{list} command
6456 (abbreviated @code{l}). By default, ten lines are printed.
6457 There are several ways to specify what part of the file you want to
6458 print; see @ref{Specify Location}, for the full list.
6459
6460 Here are the forms of the @code{list} command most commonly used:
6461
6462 @table @code
6463 @item list @var{linenum}
6464 Print lines centered around line number @var{linenum} in the
6465 current source file.
6466
6467 @item list @var{function}
6468 Print lines centered around the beginning of function
6469 @var{function}.
6470
6471 @item list
6472 Print more lines. If the last lines printed were printed with a
6473 @code{list} command, this prints lines following the last lines
6474 printed; however, if the last line printed was a solitary line printed
6475 as part of displaying a stack frame (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the
6476 Stack}), this prints lines centered around that line.
6477
6478 @item list -
6479 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6480 @end table
6481
6482 @cindex @code{list}, how many lines to display
6483 By default, @value{GDBN} prints ten source lines with any of these forms of
6484 the @code{list} command. You can change this using @code{set listsize}:
6485
6486 @table @code
6487 @kindex set listsize
6488 @item set listsize @var{count}
6489 Make the @code{list} command display @var{count} source lines (unless
6490 the @code{list} argument explicitly specifies some other number).
6491
6492 @kindex show listsize
6493 @item show listsize
6494 Display the number of lines that @code{list} prints.
6495 @end table
6496
6497 Repeating a @code{list} command with @key{RET} discards the argument,
6498 so it is equivalent to typing just @code{list}. This is more useful
6499 than listing the same lines again. An exception is made for an
6500 argument of @samp{-}; that argument is preserved in repetition so that
6501 each repetition moves up in the source file.
6502
6503 In general, the @code{list} command expects you to supply zero, one or two
6504 @dfn{linespecs}. Linespecs specify source lines; there are several ways
6505 of writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always
6506 to specify some source line.
6507
6508 Here is a complete description of the possible arguments for @code{list}:
6509
6510 @table @code
6511 @item list @var{linespec}
6512 Print lines centered around the line specified by @var{linespec}.
6513
6514 @item list @var{first},@var{last}
6515 Print lines from @var{first} to @var{last}. Both arguments are
6516 linespecs. When a @code{list} command has two linespecs, and the
6517 source file of the second linespec is omitted, this refers to
6518 the same source file as the first linespec.
6519
6520 @item list ,@var{last}
6521 Print lines ending with @var{last}.
6522
6523 @item list @var{first},
6524 Print lines starting with @var{first}.
6525
6526 @item list +
6527 Print lines just after the lines last printed.
6528
6529 @item list -
6530 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6531
6532 @item list
6533 As described in the preceding table.
6534 @end table
6535
6536 @node Specify Location
6537 @section Specifying a Location
6538 @cindex specifying location
6539 @cindex linespec
6540
6541 Several @value{GDBN} commands accept arguments that specify a location
6542 of your program's code. Since @value{GDBN} is a source-level
6543 debugger, a location usually specifies some line in the source code;
6544 for that reason, locations are also known as @dfn{linespecs}.
6545
6546 Here are all the different ways of specifying a code location that
6547 @value{GDBN} understands:
6548
6549 @table @code
6550 @item @var{linenum}
6551 Specifies the line number @var{linenum} of the current source file.
6552
6553 @item -@var{offset}
6554 @itemx +@var{offset}
6555 Specifies the line @var{offset} lines before or after the @dfn{current
6556 line}. For the @code{list} command, the current line is the last one
6557 printed; for the breakpoint commands, this is the line at which
6558 execution stopped in the currently selected @dfn{stack frame}
6559 (@pxref{Frames, ,Frames}, for a description of stack frames.) When
6560 used as the second of the two linespecs in a @code{list} command,
6561 this specifies the line @var{offset} lines up or down from the first
6562 linespec.
6563
6564 @item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
6565 Specifies the line @var{linenum} in the source file @var{filename}.
6566 If @var{filename} is a relative file name, then it will match any
6567 source file name with the same trailing components. For example, if
6568 @var{filename} is @samp{gcc/expr.c}, then it will match source file
6569 name of @file{/build/trunk/gcc/expr.c}, but not
6570 @file{/build/trunk/libcpp/expr.c} or @file{/build/trunk/gcc/x-expr.c}.
6571
6572 @item @var{function}
6573 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}.
6574 For example, in C, this is the line with the open brace.
6575
6576 @item @var{function}:@var{label}
6577 Specifies the line where @var{label} appears in @var{function}.
6578
6579 @item @var{filename}:@var{function}
6580 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}
6581 in the file @var{filename}. You only need the file name with a
6582 function name to avoid ambiguity when there are identically named
6583 functions in different source files.
6584
6585 @item @var{label}
6586 Specifies the line at which the label named @var{label} appears.
6587 @value{GDBN} searches for the label in the function corresponding to
6588 the currently selected stack frame. If there is no current selected
6589 stack frame (for instance, if the inferior is not running), then
6590 @value{GDBN} will not search for a label.
6591
6592 @item *@var{address}
6593 Specifies the program address @var{address}. For line-oriented
6594 commands, such as @code{list} and @code{edit}, this specifies a source
6595 line that contains @var{address}. For @code{break} and other
6596 breakpoint oriented commands, this can be used to set breakpoints in
6597 parts of your program which do not have debugging information or
6598 source files.
6599
6600 Here @var{address} may be any expression valid in the current working
6601 language (@pxref{Languages, working language}) that specifies a code
6602 address. In addition, as a convenience, @value{GDBN} extends the
6603 semantics of expressions used in locations to cover the situations
6604 that frequently happen during debugging. Here are the various forms
6605 of @var{address}:
6606
6607 @table @code
6608 @item @var{expression}
6609 Any expression valid in the current working language.
6610
6611 @item @var{funcaddr}
6612 An address of a function or procedure derived from its name. In C,
6613 C@t{++}, Java, Objective-C, Fortran, minimal, and assembly, this is
6614 simply the function's name @var{function} (and actually a special case
6615 of a valid expression). In Pascal and Modula-2, this is
6616 @code{&@var{function}}. In Ada, this is @code{@var{function}'Address}
6617 (although the Pascal form also works).
6618
6619 This form specifies the address of the function's first instruction,
6620 before the stack frame and arguments have been set up.
6621
6622 @item '@var{filename}'::@var{funcaddr}
6623 Like @var{funcaddr} above, but also specifies the name of the source
6624 file explicitly. This is useful if the name of the function does not
6625 specify the function unambiguously, e.g., if there are several
6626 functions with identical names in different source files.
6627 @end table
6628
6629 @end table
6630
6631
6632 @node Edit
6633 @section Editing Source Files
6634 @cindex editing source files
6635
6636 @kindex edit
6637 @kindex e @r{(@code{edit})}
6638 To edit the lines in a source file, use the @code{edit} command.
6639 The editing program of your choice
6640 is invoked with the current line set to
6641 the active line in the program.
6642 Alternatively, there are several ways to specify what part of the file you
6643 want to print if you want to see other parts of the program:
6644
6645 @table @code
6646 @item edit @var{location}
6647 Edit the source file specified by @code{location}. Editing starts at
6648 that @var{location}, e.g., at the specified source line of the
6649 specified file. @xref{Specify Location}, for all the possible forms
6650 of the @var{location} argument; here are the forms of the @code{edit}
6651 command most commonly used:
6652
6653 @table @code
6654 @item edit @var{number}
6655 Edit the current source file with @var{number} as the active line number.
6656
6657 @item edit @var{function}
6658 Edit the file containing @var{function} at the beginning of its definition.
6659 @end table
6660
6661 @end table
6662
6663 @subsection Choosing your Editor
6664 You can customize @value{GDBN} to use any editor you want
6665 @footnote{
6666 The only restriction is that your editor (say @code{ex}), recognizes the
6667 following command-line syntax:
6668 @smallexample
6669 ex +@var{number} file
6670 @end smallexample
6671 The optional numeric value +@var{number} specifies the number of the line in
6672 the file where to start editing.}.
6673 By default, it is @file{@value{EDITOR}}, but you can change this
6674 by setting the environment variable @code{EDITOR} before using
6675 @value{GDBN}. For example, to configure @value{GDBN} to use the
6676 @code{vi} editor, you could use these commands with the @code{sh} shell:
6677 @smallexample
6678 EDITOR=/usr/bin/vi
6679 export EDITOR
6680 gdb @dots{}
6681 @end smallexample
6682 or in the @code{csh} shell,
6683 @smallexample
6684 setenv EDITOR /usr/bin/vi
6685 gdb @dots{}
6686 @end smallexample
6687
6688 @node Search
6689 @section Searching Source Files
6690 @cindex searching source files
6691
6692 There are two commands for searching through the current source file for a
6693 regular expression.
6694
6695 @table @code
6696 @kindex search
6697 @kindex forward-search
6698 @item forward-search @var{regexp}
6699 @itemx search @var{regexp}
6700 The command @samp{forward-search @var{regexp}} checks each line,
6701 starting with the one following the last line listed, for a match for
6702 @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can use the
6703 synonym @samp{search @var{regexp}} or abbreviate the command name as
6704 @code{fo}.
6705
6706 @kindex reverse-search
6707 @item reverse-search @var{regexp}
6708 The command @samp{reverse-search @var{regexp}} checks each line, starting
6709 with the one before the last line listed and going backward, for a match
6710 for @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can abbreviate
6711 this command as @code{rev}.
6712 @end table
6713
6714 @node Source Path
6715 @section Specifying Source Directories
6716
6717 @cindex source path
6718 @cindex directories for source files
6719 Executable programs sometimes do not record the directories of the source
6720 files from which they were compiled, just the names. Even when they do,
6721 the directories could be moved between the compilation and your debugging
6722 session. @value{GDBN} has a list of directories to search for source files;
6723 this is called the @dfn{source path}. Each time @value{GDBN} wants a source file,
6724 it tries all the directories in the list, in the order they are present
6725 in the list, until it finds a file with the desired name.
6726
6727 For example, suppose an executable references the file
6728 @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}, and our source path is
6729 @file{/mnt/cross}. The file is first looked up literally; if this
6730 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} is tried; if this
6731 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/foo.c} is opened; if this fails, an error
6732 message is printed. @value{GDBN} does not look up the parts of the
6733 source file name, such as @file{/mnt/cross/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}.
6734 Likewise, the subdirectories of the source path are not searched: if
6735 the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the binary refers to
6736 @file{foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would not find it under
6737 @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib}.
6738
6739 Plain file names, relative file names with leading directories, file
6740 names containing dots, etc.@: are all treated as described above; for
6741 instance, if the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the source file
6742 is recorded as @file{../lib/foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would first try
6743 @file{../lib/foo.c}, then @file{/mnt/cross/../lib/foo.c}, and after
6744 that---@file{/mnt/cross/foo.c}.
6745
6746 Note that the executable search path is @emph{not} used to locate the
6747 source files.
6748
6749 Whenever you reset or rearrange the source path, @value{GDBN} clears out
6750 any information it has cached about where source files are found and where
6751 each line is in the file.
6752
6753 @kindex directory
6754 @kindex dir
6755 When you start @value{GDBN}, its source path includes only @samp{cdir}
6756 and @samp{cwd}, in that order.
6757 To add other directories, use the @code{directory} command.
6758
6759 The search path is used to find both program source files and @value{GDBN}
6760 script files (read using the @samp{-command} option and @samp{source} command).
6761
6762 In addition to the source path, @value{GDBN} provides a set of commands
6763 that manage a list of source path substitution rules. A @dfn{substitution
6764 rule} specifies how to rewrite source directories stored in the program's
6765 debug information in case the sources were moved to a different
6766 directory between compilation and debugging. A rule is made of
6767 two strings, the first specifying what needs to be rewritten in
6768 the path, and the second specifying how it should be rewritten.
6769 In @ref{set substitute-path}, we name these two parts @var{from} and
6770 @var{to} respectively. @value{GDBN} does a simple string replacement
6771 of @var{from} with @var{to} at the start of the directory part of the
6772 source file name, and uses that result instead of the original file
6773 name to look up the sources.
6774
6775 Using the previous example, suppose the @file{foo-1.0} tree has been
6776 moved from @file{/usr/src} to @file{/mnt/cross}, then you can tell
6777 @value{GDBN} to replace @file{/usr/src} in all source path names with
6778 @file{/mnt/cross}. The first lookup will then be
6779 @file{/mnt/cross/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} in place of the original location
6780 of @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}. To define a source path
6781 substitution rule, use the @code{set substitute-path} command
6782 (@pxref{set substitute-path}).
6783
6784 To avoid unexpected substitution results, a rule is applied only if the
6785 @var{from} part of the directory name ends at a directory separator.
6786 For instance, a rule substituting @file{/usr/source} into
6787 @file{/mnt/cross} will be applied to @file{/usr/source/foo-1.0} but
6788 not to @file{/usr/sourceware/foo-2.0}. And because the substitution
6789 is applied only at the beginning of the directory name, this rule will
6790 not be applied to @file{/root/usr/source/baz.c} either.
6791
6792 In many cases, you can achieve the same result using the @code{directory}
6793 command. However, @code{set substitute-path} can be more efficient in
6794 the case where the sources are organized in a complex tree with multiple
6795 subdirectories. With the @code{directory} command, you need to add each
6796 subdirectory of your project. If you moved the entire tree while
6797 preserving its internal organization, then @code{set substitute-path}
6798 allows you to direct the debugger to all the sources with one single
6799 command.
6800
6801 @code{set substitute-path} is also more than just a shortcut command.
6802 The source path is only used if the file at the original location no
6803 longer exists. On the other hand, @code{set substitute-path} modifies
6804 the debugger behavior to look at the rewritten location instead. So, if
6805 for any reason a source file that is not relevant to your executable is
6806 located at the original location, a substitution rule is the only
6807 method available to point @value{GDBN} at the new location.
6808
6809 @cindex @samp{--with-relocated-sources}
6810 @cindex default source path substitution
6811 You can configure a default source path substitution rule by
6812 configuring @value{GDBN} with the
6813 @samp{--with-relocated-sources=@var{dir}} option. The @var{dir}
6814 should be the name of a directory under @value{GDBN}'s configured
6815 prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or @samp{--exec-prefix}), and
6816 directory names in debug information under @var{dir} will be adjusted
6817 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
6818 location. This is useful if @value{GDBN}, libraries or executables
6819 with debug information and corresponding source code are being moved
6820 together.
6821
6822 @table @code
6823 @item directory @var{dirname} @dots{}
6824 @item dir @var{dirname} @dots{}
6825 Add directory @var{dirname} to the front of the source path. Several
6826 directory names may be given to this command, separated by @samp{:}
6827 (@samp{;} on MS-DOS and MS-Windows, where @samp{:} usually appears as
6828 part of absolute file names) or
6829 whitespace. You may specify a directory that is already in the source
6830 path; this moves it forward, so @value{GDBN} searches it sooner.
6831
6832 @kindex cdir
6833 @kindex cwd
6834 @vindex $cdir@r{, convenience variable}
6835 @vindex $cwd@r{, convenience variable}
6836 @cindex compilation directory
6837 @cindex current directory
6838 @cindex working directory
6839 @cindex directory, current
6840 @cindex directory, compilation
6841 You can use the string @samp{$cdir} to refer to the compilation
6842 directory (if one is recorded), and @samp{$cwd} to refer to the current
6843 working directory. @samp{$cwd} is not the same as @samp{.}---the former
6844 tracks the current working directory as it changes during your @value{GDBN}
6845 session, while the latter is immediately expanded to the current
6846 directory at the time you add an entry to the source path.
6847
6848 @item directory
6849 Reset the source path to its default value (@samp{$cdir:$cwd} on Unix systems). This requires confirmation.
6850
6851 @c RET-repeat for @code{directory} is explicitly disabled, but since
6852 @c repeating it would be a no-op we do not say that. (thanks to RMS)
6853
6854 @item set directories @var{path-list}
6855 @kindex set directories
6856 Set the source path to @var{path-list}.
6857 @samp{$cdir:$cwd} are added if missing.
6858
6859 @item show directories
6860 @kindex show directories
6861 Print the source path: show which directories it contains.
6862
6863 @anchor{set substitute-path}
6864 @item set substitute-path @var{from} @var{to}
6865 @kindex set substitute-path
6866 Define a source path substitution rule, and add it at the end of the
6867 current list of existing substitution rules. If a rule with the same
6868 @var{from} was already defined, then the old rule is also deleted.
6869
6870 For example, if the file @file{/foo/bar/baz.c} was moved to
6871 @file{/mnt/cross/baz.c}, then the command
6872
6873 @smallexample
6874 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/cross
6875 @end smallexample
6876
6877 @noindent
6878 will tell @value{GDBN} to replace @samp{/usr/src} with
6879 @samp{/mnt/cross}, which will allow @value{GDBN} to find the file
6880 @file{baz.c} even though it was moved.
6881
6882 In the case when more than one substitution rule have been defined,
6883 the rules are evaluated one by one in the order where they have been
6884 defined. The first one matching, if any, is selected to perform
6885 the substitution.
6886
6887 For instance, if we had entered the following commands:
6888
6889 @smallexample
6890 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src/include /mnt/include
6891 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/src
6892 @end smallexample
6893
6894 @noindent
6895 @value{GDBN} would then rewrite @file{/usr/src/include/defs.h} into
6896 @file{/mnt/include/defs.h} by using the first rule. However, it would
6897 use the second rule to rewrite @file{/usr/src/lib/foo.c} into
6898 @file{/mnt/src/lib/foo.c}.
6899
6900
6901 @item unset substitute-path [path]
6902 @kindex unset substitute-path
6903 If a path is specified, search the current list of substitution rules
6904 for a rule that would rewrite that path. Delete that rule if found.
6905 A warning is emitted by the debugger if no rule could be found.
6906
6907 If no path is specified, then all substitution rules are deleted.
6908
6909 @item show substitute-path [path]
6910 @kindex show substitute-path
6911 If a path is specified, then print the source path substitution rule
6912 which would rewrite that path, if any.
6913
6914 If no path is specified, then print all existing source path substitution
6915 rules.
6916
6917 @end table
6918
6919 If your source path is cluttered with directories that are no longer of
6920 interest, @value{GDBN} may sometimes cause confusion by finding the wrong
6921 versions of source. You can correct the situation as follows:
6922
6923 @enumerate
6924 @item
6925 Use @code{directory} with no argument to reset the source path to its default value.
6926
6927 @item
6928 Use @code{directory} with suitable arguments to reinstall the
6929 directories you want in the source path. You can add all the
6930 directories in one command.
6931 @end enumerate
6932
6933 @node Machine Code
6934 @section Source and Machine Code
6935 @cindex source line and its code address
6936
6937 You can use the command @code{info line} to map source lines to program
6938 addresses (and vice versa), and the command @code{disassemble} to display
6939 a range of addresses as machine instructions. You can use the command
6940 @code{set disassemble-next-line} to set whether to disassemble next
6941 source line when execution stops. When run under @sc{gnu} Emacs
6942 mode, the @code{info line} command causes the arrow to point to the
6943 line specified. Also, @code{info line} prints addresses in symbolic form as
6944 well as hex.
6945
6946 @table @code
6947 @kindex info line
6948 @item info line @var{linespec}
6949 Print the starting and ending addresses of the compiled code for
6950 source line @var{linespec}. You can specify source lines in any of
6951 the ways documented in @ref{Specify Location}.
6952 @end table
6953
6954 For example, we can use @code{info line} to discover the location of
6955 the object code for the first line of function
6956 @code{m4_changequote}:
6957
6958 @c FIXME: I think this example should also show the addresses in
6959 @c symbolic form, as they usually would be displayed.
6960 @smallexample
6961 (@value{GDBP}) info line m4_changequote
6962 Line 895 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x634c and ends at 0x6350.
6963 @end smallexample
6964
6965 @noindent
6966 @cindex code address and its source line
6967 We can also inquire (using @code{*@var{addr}} as the form for
6968 @var{linespec}) what source line covers a particular address:
6969 @smallexample
6970 (@value{GDBP}) info line *0x63ff
6971 Line 926 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x63e4 and ends at 0x6404.
6972 @end smallexample
6973
6974 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info line}
6975 @cindex @code{x} command, default address
6976 @kindex x@r{(examine), and} info line
6977 After @code{info line}, the default address for the @code{x} command
6978 is changed to the starting address of the line, so that @samp{x/i} is
6979 sufficient to begin examining the machine code (@pxref{Memory,
6980 ,Examining Memory}). Also, this address is saved as the value of the
6981 convenience variable @code{$_} (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
6982 Variables}).
6983
6984 @table @code
6985 @kindex disassemble
6986 @cindex assembly instructions
6987 @cindex instructions, assembly
6988 @cindex machine instructions
6989 @cindex listing machine instructions
6990 @item disassemble
6991 @itemx disassemble /m
6992 @itemx disassemble /r
6993 This specialized command dumps a range of memory as machine
6994 instructions. It can also print mixed source+disassembly by specifying
6995 the @code{/m} modifier and print the raw instructions in hex as well as
6996 in symbolic form by specifying the @code{/r}.
6997 The default memory range is the function surrounding the
6998 program counter of the selected frame. A single argument to this
6999 command is a program counter value; @value{GDBN} dumps the function
7000 surrounding this value. When two arguments are given, they should
7001 be separated by a comma, possibly surrounded by whitespace. The
7002 arguments specify a range of addresses to dump, in one of two forms:
7003
7004 @table @code
7005 @item @var{start},@var{end}
7006 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to @var{end} (exclusive)
7007 @item @var{start},+@var{length}
7008 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to
7009 @code{@var{start}+@var{length}} (exclusive).
7010 @end table
7011
7012 @noindent
7013 When 2 arguments are specified, the name of the function is also
7014 printed (since there could be several functions in the given range).
7015
7016 The argument(s) can be any expression yielding a numeric value, such as
7017 @samp{0x32c4}, @samp{&main+10} or @samp{$pc - 8}.
7018
7019 If the range of memory being disassembled contains current program counter,
7020 the instruction at that location is shown with a @code{=>} marker.
7021 @end table
7022
7023 The following example shows the disassembly of a range of addresses of
7024 HP PA-RISC 2.0 code:
7025
7026 @smallexample
7027 (@value{GDBP}) disas 0x32c4, 0x32e4
7028 Dump of assembler code from 0x32c4 to 0x32e4:
7029 0x32c4 <main+204>: addil 0,dp
7030 0x32c8 <main+208>: ldw 0x22c(sr0,r1),r26
7031 0x32cc <main+212>: ldil 0x3000,r31
7032 0x32d0 <main+216>: ble 0x3f8(sr4,r31)
7033 0x32d4 <main+220>: ldo 0(r31),rp
7034 0x32d8 <main+224>: addil -0x800,dp
7035 0x32dc <main+228>: ldo 0x588(r1),r26
7036 0x32e0 <main+232>: ldil 0x3000,r31
7037 End of assembler dump.
7038 @end smallexample
7039
7040 Here is an example showing mixed source+assembly for Intel x86, when the
7041 program is stopped just after function prologue:
7042
7043 @smallexample
7044 (@value{GDBP}) disas /m main
7045 Dump of assembler code for function main:
7046 5 @{
7047 0x08048330 <+0>: push %ebp
7048 0x08048331 <+1>: mov %esp,%ebp
7049 0x08048333 <+3>: sub $0x8,%esp
7050 0x08048336 <+6>: and $0xfffffff0,%esp
7051 0x08048339 <+9>: sub $0x10,%esp
7052
7053 6 printf ("Hello.\n");
7054 => 0x0804833c <+12>: movl $0x8048440,(%esp)
7055 0x08048343 <+19>: call 0x8048284 <puts@@plt>
7056
7057 7 return 0;
7058 8 @}
7059 0x08048348 <+24>: mov $0x0,%eax
7060 0x0804834d <+29>: leave
7061 0x0804834e <+30>: ret
7062
7063 End of assembler dump.
7064 @end smallexample
7065
7066 Here is another example showing raw instructions in hex for AMD x86-64,
7067
7068 @smallexample
7069 (gdb) disas /r 0x400281,+10
7070 Dump of assembler code from 0x400281 to 0x40028b:
7071 0x0000000000400281: 38 36 cmp %dh,(%rsi)
7072 0x0000000000400283: 2d 36 34 2e 73 sub $0x732e3436,%eax
7073 0x0000000000400288: 6f outsl %ds:(%rsi),(%dx)
7074 0x0000000000400289: 2e 32 00 xor %cs:(%rax),%al
7075 End of assembler dump.
7076 @end smallexample
7077
7078 Some architectures have more than one commonly-used set of instruction
7079 mnemonics or other syntax.
7080
7081 For programs that were dynamically linked and use shared libraries,
7082 instructions that call functions or branch to locations in the shared
7083 libraries might show a seemingly bogus location---it's actually a
7084 location of the relocation table. On some architectures, @value{GDBN}
7085 might be able to resolve these to actual function names.
7086
7087 @table @code
7088 @kindex set disassembly-flavor
7089 @cindex Intel disassembly flavor
7090 @cindex AT&T disassembly flavor
7091 @item set disassembly-flavor @var{instruction-set}
7092 Select the instruction set to use when disassembling the
7093 program via the @code{disassemble} or @code{x/i} commands.
7094
7095 Currently this command is only defined for the Intel x86 family. You
7096 can set @var{instruction-set} to either @code{intel} or @code{att}.
7097 The default is @code{att}, the AT&T flavor used by default by Unix
7098 assemblers for x86-based targets.
7099
7100 @kindex show disassembly-flavor
7101 @item show disassembly-flavor
7102 Show the current setting of the disassembly flavor.
7103 @end table
7104
7105 @table @code
7106 @kindex set disassemble-next-line
7107 @kindex show disassemble-next-line
7108 @item set disassemble-next-line
7109 @itemx show disassemble-next-line
7110 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will disassemble the next source
7111 line or instruction when execution stops. If ON, @value{GDBN} will
7112 display disassembly of the next source line when execution of the
7113 program being debugged stops. This is @emph{in addition} to
7114 displaying the source line itself, which @value{GDBN} always does if
7115 possible. If the next source line cannot be displayed for some reason
7116 (e.g., if @value{GDBN} cannot find the source file, or there's no line
7117 info in the debug info), @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of the
7118 next @emph{instruction} instead of showing the next source line. If
7119 AUTO, @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of next instruction only
7120 if the source line cannot be displayed. This setting causes
7121 @value{GDBN} to display some feedback when you step through a function
7122 with no line info or whose source file is unavailable. The default is
7123 OFF, which means never display the disassembly of the next line or
7124 instruction.
7125 @end table
7126
7127
7128 @node Data
7129 @chapter Examining Data
7130
7131 @cindex printing data
7132 @cindex examining data
7133 @kindex print
7134 @kindex inspect
7135 @c "inspect" is not quite a synonym if you are using Epoch, which we do not
7136 @c document because it is nonstandard... Under Epoch it displays in a
7137 @c different window or something like that.
7138 The usual way to examine data in your program is with the @code{print}
7139 command (abbreviated @code{p}), or its synonym @code{inspect}. It
7140 evaluates and prints the value of an expression of the language your
7141 program is written in (@pxref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with
7142 Different Languages}). It may also print the expression using a
7143 Python-based pretty-printer (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
7144
7145 @table @code
7146 @item print @var{expr}
7147 @itemx print /@var{f} @var{expr}
7148 @var{expr} is an expression (in the source language). By default the
7149 value of @var{expr} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
7150 you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
7151 @var{f} is a letter specifying the format; see @ref{Output Formats,,Output
7152 Formats}.
7153
7154 @item print
7155 @itemx print /@var{f}
7156 @cindex reprint the last value
7157 If you omit @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} displays the last value again (from the
7158 @dfn{value history}; @pxref{Value History, ,Value History}). This allows you to
7159 conveniently inspect the same value in an alternative format.
7160 @end table
7161
7162 A more low-level way of examining data is with the @code{x} command.
7163 It examines data in memory at a specified address and prints it in a
7164 specified format. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
7165
7166 If you are interested in information about types, or about how the
7167 fields of a struct or a class are declared, use the @code{ptype @var{exp}}
7168 command rather than @code{print}. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol
7169 Table}.
7170
7171 @menu
7172 * Expressions:: Expressions
7173 * Ambiguous Expressions:: Ambiguous Expressions
7174 * Variables:: Program variables
7175 * Arrays:: Artificial arrays
7176 * Output Formats:: Output formats
7177 * Memory:: Examining memory
7178 * Auto Display:: Automatic display
7179 * Print Settings:: Print settings
7180 * Pretty Printing:: Python pretty printing
7181 * Value History:: Value history
7182 * Convenience Vars:: Convenience variables
7183 * Registers:: Registers
7184 * Floating Point Hardware:: Floating point hardware
7185 * Vector Unit:: Vector Unit
7186 * OS Information:: Auxiliary data provided by operating system
7187 * Memory Region Attributes:: Memory region attributes
7188 * Dump/Restore Files:: Copy between memory and a file
7189 * Core File Generation:: Cause a program dump its core
7190 * Character Sets:: Debugging programs that use a different
7191 character set than GDB does
7192 * Caching Remote Data:: Data caching for remote targets
7193 * Searching Memory:: Searching memory for a sequence of bytes
7194 @end menu
7195
7196 @node Expressions
7197 @section Expressions
7198
7199 @cindex expressions
7200 @code{print} and many other @value{GDBN} commands accept an expression and
7201 compute its value. Any kind of constant, variable or operator defined
7202 by the programming language you are using is valid in an expression in
7203 @value{GDBN}. This includes conditional expressions, function calls,
7204 casts, and string constants. It also includes preprocessor macros, if
7205 you compiled your program to include this information; see
7206 @ref{Compilation}.
7207
7208 @cindex arrays in expressions
7209 @value{GDBN} supports array constants in expressions input by
7210 the user. The syntax is @{@var{element}, @var{element}@dots{}@}. For example,
7211 you can use the command @code{print @{1, 2, 3@}} to create an array
7212 of three integers. If you pass an array to a function or assign it
7213 to a program variable, @value{GDBN} copies the array to memory that
7214 is @code{malloc}ed in the target program.
7215
7216 Because C is so widespread, most of the expressions shown in examples in
7217 this manual are in C. @xref{Languages, , Using @value{GDBN} with Different
7218 Languages}, for information on how to use expressions in other
7219 languages.
7220
7221 In this section, we discuss operators that you can use in @value{GDBN}
7222 expressions regardless of your programming language.
7223
7224 @cindex casts, in expressions
7225 Casts are supported in all languages, not just in C, because it is so
7226 useful to cast a number into a pointer in order to examine a structure
7227 at that address in memory.
7228 @c FIXME: casts supported---Mod2 true?
7229
7230 @value{GDBN} supports these operators, in addition to those common
7231 to programming languages:
7232
7233 @table @code
7234 @item @@
7235 @samp{@@} is a binary operator for treating parts of memory as arrays.
7236 @xref{Arrays, ,Artificial Arrays}, for more information.
7237
7238 @item ::
7239 @samp{::} allows you to specify a variable in terms of the file or
7240 function where it is defined. @xref{Variables, ,Program Variables}.
7241
7242 @cindex @{@var{type}@}
7243 @cindex type casting memory
7244 @cindex memory, viewing as typed object
7245 @cindex casts, to view memory
7246 @item @{@var{type}@} @var{addr}
7247 Refers to an object of type @var{type} stored at address @var{addr} in
7248 memory. @var{addr} may be any expression whose value is an integer or
7249 pointer (but parentheses are required around binary operators, just as in
7250 a cast). This construct is allowed regardless of what kind of data is
7251 normally supposed to reside at @var{addr}.
7252 @end table
7253
7254 @node Ambiguous Expressions
7255 @section Ambiguous Expressions
7256 @cindex ambiguous expressions
7257
7258 Expressions can sometimes contain some ambiguous elements. For instance,
7259 some programming languages (notably Ada, C@t{++} and Objective-C) permit
7260 a single function name to be defined several times, for application in
7261 different contexts. This is called @dfn{overloading}. Another example
7262 involving Ada is generics. A @dfn{generic package} is similar to C@t{++}
7263 templates and is typically instantiated several times, resulting in
7264 the same function name being defined in different contexts.
7265
7266 In some cases and depending on the language, it is possible to adjust
7267 the expression to remove the ambiguity. For instance in C@t{++}, you
7268 can specify the signature of the function you want to break on, as in
7269 @kbd{break @var{function}(@var{types})}. In Ada, using the fully
7270 qualified name of your function often makes the expression unambiguous
7271 as well.
7272
7273 When an ambiguity that needs to be resolved is detected, the debugger
7274 has the capability to display a menu of numbered choices for each
7275 possibility, and then waits for the selection with the prompt @samp{>}.
7276 The first option is always @samp{[0] cancel}, and typing @kbd{0 @key{RET}}
7277 aborts the current command. If the command in which the expression was
7278 used allows more than one choice to be selected, the next option in the
7279 menu is @samp{[1] all}, and typing @kbd{1 @key{RET}} selects all possible
7280 choices.
7281
7282 For example, the following session excerpt shows an attempt to set a
7283 breakpoint at the overloaded symbol @code{String::after}.
7284 We choose three particular definitions of that function name:
7285
7286 @c FIXME! This is likely to change to show arg type lists, at least
7287 @smallexample
7288 @group
7289 (@value{GDBP}) b String::after
7290 [0] cancel
7291 [1] all
7292 [2] file:String.cc; line number:867
7293 [3] file:String.cc; line number:860
7294 [4] file:String.cc; line number:875
7295 [5] file:String.cc; line number:853
7296 [6] file:String.cc; line number:846
7297 [7] file:String.cc; line number:735
7298 > 2 4 6
7299 Breakpoint 1 at 0xb26c: file String.cc, line 867.
7300 Breakpoint 2 at 0xb344: file String.cc, line 875.
7301 Breakpoint 3 at 0xafcc: file String.cc, line 846.
7302 Multiple breakpoints were set.
7303 Use the "delete" command to delete unwanted
7304 breakpoints.
7305 (@value{GDBP})
7306 @end group
7307 @end smallexample
7308
7309 @table @code
7310 @kindex set multiple-symbols
7311 @item set multiple-symbols @var{mode}
7312 @cindex multiple-symbols menu
7313
7314 This option allows you to adjust the debugger behavior when an expression
7315 is ambiguous.
7316
7317 By default, @var{mode} is set to @code{all}. If the command with which
7318 the expression is used allows more than one choice, then @value{GDBN}
7319 automatically selects all possible choices. For instance, inserting
7320 a breakpoint on a function using an ambiguous name results in a breakpoint
7321 inserted on each possible match. However, if a unique choice must be made,
7322 then @value{GDBN} uses the menu to help you disambiguate the expression.
7323 For instance, printing the address of an overloaded function will result
7324 in the use of the menu.
7325
7326 When @var{mode} is set to @code{ask}, the debugger always uses the menu
7327 when an ambiguity is detected.
7328
7329 Finally, when @var{mode} is set to @code{cancel}, the debugger reports
7330 an error due to the ambiguity and the command is aborted.
7331
7332 @kindex show multiple-symbols
7333 @item show multiple-symbols
7334 Show the current value of the @code{multiple-symbols} setting.
7335 @end table
7336
7337 @node Variables
7338 @section Program Variables
7339
7340 The most common kind of expression to use is the name of a variable
7341 in your program.
7342
7343 Variables in expressions are understood in the selected stack frame
7344 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}); they must be either:
7345
7346 @itemize @bullet
7347 @item
7348 global (or file-static)
7349 @end itemize
7350
7351 @noindent or
7352
7353 @itemize @bullet
7354 @item
7355 visible according to the scope rules of the
7356 programming language from the point of execution in that frame
7357 @end itemize
7358
7359 @noindent This means that in the function
7360
7361 @smallexample
7362 foo (a)
7363 int a;
7364 @{
7365 bar (a);
7366 @{
7367 int b = test ();
7368 bar (b);
7369 @}
7370 @}
7371 @end smallexample
7372
7373 @noindent
7374 you can examine and use the variable @code{a} whenever your program is
7375 executing within the function @code{foo}, but you can only use or
7376 examine the variable @code{b} while your program is executing inside
7377 the block where @code{b} is declared.
7378
7379 @cindex variable name conflict
7380 There is an exception: you can refer to a variable or function whose
7381 scope is a single source file even if the current execution point is not
7382 in this file. But it is possible to have more than one such variable or
7383 function with the same name (in different source files). If that
7384 happens, referring to that name has unpredictable effects. If you wish,
7385 you can specify a static variable in a particular function or file by
7386 using the colon-colon (@code{::}) notation:
7387
7388 @cindex colon-colon, context for variables/functions
7389 @ifnotinfo
7390 @c info cannot cope with a :: index entry, but why deprive hard copy readers?
7391 @cindex @code{::}, context for variables/functions
7392 @end ifnotinfo
7393 @smallexample
7394 @var{file}::@var{variable}
7395 @var{function}::@var{variable}
7396 @end smallexample
7397
7398 @noindent
7399 Here @var{file} or @var{function} is the name of the context for the
7400 static @var{variable}. In the case of file names, you can use quotes to
7401 make sure @value{GDBN} parses the file name as a single word---for example,
7402 to print a global value of @code{x} defined in @file{f2.c}:
7403
7404 @smallexample
7405 (@value{GDBP}) p 'f2.c'::x
7406 @end smallexample
7407
7408 The @code{::} notation is normally used for referring to
7409 static variables, since you typically disambiguate uses of local variables
7410 in functions by selecting the appropriate frame and using the
7411 simple name of the variable. However, you may also use this notation
7412 to refer to local variables in frames enclosing the selected frame:
7413
7414 @smallexample
7415 void
7416 foo (int a)
7417 @{
7418 if (a < 10)
7419 bar (a);
7420 else
7421 process (a); /* Stop here */
7422 @}
7423
7424 int
7425 bar (int a)
7426 @{
7427 foo (a + 5);
7428 @}
7429 @end smallexample
7430
7431 @noindent
7432 For example, if there is a breakpoint at the commented line,
7433 here is what you might see
7434 when the program stops after executing the call @code{bar(0)}:
7435
7436 @smallexample
7437 (@value{GDBP}) p a
7438 $1 = 10
7439 (@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
7440 $2 = 5
7441 (@value{GDBP}) up 2
7442 #2 0x080483d0 in foo (a=5) at foobar.c:12
7443 (@value{GDBP}) p a
7444 $3 = 5
7445 (@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
7446 $4 = 0
7447 @end smallexample
7448
7449 @cindex C@t{++} scope resolution
7450 These uses of @samp{::} are very rarely in conflict with the very similar
7451 use of the same notation in C@t{++}. @value{GDBN} also supports use of the C@t{++}
7452 scope resolution operator in @value{GDBN} expressions.
7453 @c FIXME: Um, so what happens in one of those rare cases where it's in
7454 @c conflict?? --mew
7455
7456 @cindex wrong values
7457 @cindex variable values, wrong
7458 @cindex function entry/exit, wrong values of variables
7459 @cindex optimized code, wrong values of variables
7460 @quotation
7461 @emph{Warning:} Occasionally, a local variable may appear to have the
7462 wrong value at certain points in a function---just after entry to a new
7463 scope, and just before exit.
7464 @end quotation
7465 You may see this problem when you are stepping by machine instructions.
7466 This is because, on most machines, it takes more than one instruction to
7467 set up a stack frame (including local variable definitions); if you are
7468 stepping by machine instructions, variables may appear to have the wrong
7469 values until the stack frame is completely built. On exit, it usually
7470 also takes more than one machine instruction to destroy a stack frame;
7471 after you begin stepping through that group of instructions, local
7472 variable definitions may be gone.
7473
7474 This may also happen when the compiler does significant optimizations.
7475 To be sure of always seeing accurate values, turn off all optimization
7476 when compiling.
7477
7478 @cindex ``No symbol "foo" in current context''
7479 Another possible effect of compiler optimizations is to optimize
7480 unused variables out of existence, or assign variables to registers (as
7481 opposed to memory addresses). Depending on the support for such cases
7482 offered by the debug info format used by the compiler, @value{GDBN}
7483 might not be able to display values for such local variables. If that
7484 happens, @value{GDBN} will print a message like this:
7485
7486 @smallexample
7487 No symbol "foo" in current context.
7488 @end smallexample
7489
7490 To solve such problems, either recompile without optimizations, or use a
7491 different debug info format, if the compiler supports several such
7492 formats. @xref{Compilation}, for more information on choosing compiler
7493 options. @xref{C, ,C and C@t{++}}, for more information about debug
7494 info formats that are best suited to C@t{++} programs.
7495
7496 If you ask to print an object whose contents are unknown to
7497 @value{GDBN}, e.g., because its data type is not completely specified
7498 by the debug information, @value{GDBN} will say @samp{<incomplete
7499 type>}. @xref{Symbols, incomplete type}, for more about this.
7500
7501 If you append @kbd{@@entry} string to a function parameter name you get its
7502 value at the time the function got called. If the value is not available an
7503 error message is printed. Entry values are available only with some compilers.
7504 Entry values are normally also printed at the function parameter list according
7505 to @ref{set print entry-values}.
7506
7507 @smallexample
7508 Breakpoint 1, d (i=30) at gdb.base/entry-value.c:29
7509 29 i++;
7510 (gdb) next
7511 30 e (i);
7512 (gdb) print i
7513 $1 = 31
7514 (gdb) print i@@entry
7515 $2 = 30
7516 @end smallexample
7517
7518 Strings are identified as arrays of @code{char} values without specified
7519 signedness. Arrays of either @code{signed char} or @code{unsigned char} get
7520 printed as arrays of 1 byte sized integers. @code{-fsigned-char} or
7521 @code{-funsigned-char} @value{NGCC} options have no effect as @value{GDBN}
7522 defines literal string type @code{"char"} as @code{char} without a sign.
7523 For program code
7524
7525 @smallexample
7526 char var0[] = "A";
7527 signed char var1[] = "A";
7528 @end smallexample
7529
7530 You get during debugging
7531 @smallexample
7532 (gdb) print var0
7533 $1 = "A"
7534 (gdb) print var1
7535 $2 = @{65 'A', 0 '\0'@}
7536 @end smallexample
7537
7538 @node Arrays
7539 @section Artificial Arrays
7540
7541 @cindex artificial array
7542 @cindex arrays
7543 @kindex @@@r{, referencing memory as an array}
7544 It is often useful to print out several successive objects of the
7545 same type in memory; a section of an array, or an array of
7546 dynamically determined size for which only a pointer exists in the
7547 program.
7548
7549 You can do this by referring to a contiguous span of memory as an
7550 @dfn{artificial array}, using the binary operator @samp{@@}. The left
7551 operand of @samp{@@} should be the first element of the desired array
7552 and be an individual object. The right operand should be the desired length
7553 of the array. The result is an array value whose elements are all of
7554 the type of the left argument. The first element is actually the left
7555 argument; the second element comes from bytes of memory immediately
7556 following those that hold the first element, and so on. Here is an
7557 example. If a program says
7558
7559 @smallexample
7560 int *array = (int *) malloc (len * sizeof (int));
7561 @end smallexample
7562
7563 @noindent
7564 you can print the contents of @code{array} with
7565
7566 @smallexample
7567 p *array@@len
7568 @end smallexample
7569
7570 The left operand of @samp{@@} must reside in memory. Array values made
7571 with @samp{@@} in this way behave just like other arrays in terms of
7572 subscripting, and are coerced to pointers when used in expressions.
7573 Artificial arrays most often appear in expressions via the value history
7574 (@pxref{Value History, ,Value History}), after printing one out.
7575
7576 Another way to create an artificial array is to use a cast.
7577 This re-interprets a value as if it were an array.
7578 The value need not be in memory:
7579 @smallexample
7580 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[2])0x12345678
7581 $1 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
7582 @end smallexample
7583
7584 As a convenience, if you leave the array length out (as in
7585 @samp{(@var{type}[])@var{value}}) @value{GDBN} calculates the size to fill
7586 the value (as @samp{sizeof(@var{value})/sizeof(@var{type})}:
7587 @smallexample
7588 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[])0x12345678
7589 $2 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
7590 @end smallexample
7591
7592 Sometimes the artificial array mechanism is not quite enough; in
7593 moderately complex data structures, the elements of interest may not
7594 actually be adjacent---for example, if you are interested in the values
7595 of pointers in an array. One useful work-around in this situation is
7596 to use a convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
7597 Variables}) as a counter in an expression that prints the first
7598 interesting value, and then repeat that expression via @key{RET}. For
7599 instance, suppose you have an array @code{dtab} of pointers to
7600 structures, and you are interested in the values of a field @code{fv}
7601 in each structure. Here is an example of what you might type:
7602
7603 @smallexample
7604 set $i = 0
7605 p dtab[$i++]->fv
7606 @key{RET}
7607 @key{RET}
7608 @dots{}
7609 @end smallexample
7610
7611 @node Output Formats
7612 @section Output Formats
7613
7614 @cindex formatted output
7615 @cindex output formats
7616 By default, @value{GDBN} prints a value according to its data type. Sometimes
7617 this is not what you want. For example, you might want to print a number
7618 in hex, or a pointer in decimal. Or you might want to view data in memory
7619 at a certain address as a character string or as an instruction. To do
7620 these things, specify an @dfn{output format} when you print a value.
7621
7622 The simplest use of output formats is to say how to print a value
7623 already computed. This is done by starting the arguments of the
7624 @code{print} command with a slash and a format letter. The format
7625 letters supported are:
7626
7627 @table @code
7628 @item x
7629 Regard the bits of the value as an integer, and print the integer in
7630 hexadecimal.
7631
7632 @item d
7633 Print as integer in signed decimal.
7634
7635 @item u
7636 Print as integer in unsigned decimal.
7637
7638 @item o
7639 Print as integer in octal.
7640
7641 @item t
7642 Print as integer in binary. The letter @samp{t} stands for ``two''.
7643 @footnote{@samp{b} cannot be used because these format letters are also
7644 used with the @code{x} command, where @samp{b} stands for ``byte'';
7645 see @ref{Memory,,Examining Memory}.}
7646
7647 @item a
7648 @cindex unknown address, locating
7649 @cindex locate address
7650 Print as an address, both absolute in hexadecimal and as an offset from
7651 the nearest preceding symbol. You can use this format used to discover
7652 where (in what function) an unknown address is located:
7653
7654 @smallexample
7655 (@value{GDBP}) p/a 0x54320
7656 $3 = 0x54320 <_initialize_vx+396>
7657 @end smallexample
7658
7659 @noindent
7660 The command @code{info symbol 0x54320} yields similar results.
7661 @xref{Symbols, info symbol}.
7662
7663 @item c
7664 Regard as an integer and print it as a character constant. This
7665 prints both the numerical value and its character representation. The
7666 character representation is replaced with the octal escape @samp{\nnn}
7667 for characters outside the 7-bit @sc{ascii} range.
7668
7669 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays @code{char},
7670 @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} data as character
7671 constants. Single-byte members of vectors are displayed as integer
7672 data.
7673
7674 @item f
7675 Regard the bits of the value as a floating point number and print
7676 using typical floating point syntax.
7677
7678 @item s
7679 @cindex printing strings
7680 @cindex printing byte arrays
7681 Regard as a string, if possible. With this format, pointers to single-byte
7682 data are displayed as null-terminated strings and arrays of single-byte data
7683 are displayed as fixed-length strings. Other values are displayed in their
7684 natural types.
7685
7686 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays pointers to and arrays of
7687 @code{char}, @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} as
7688 strings. Single-byte members of a vector are displayed as an integer
7689 array.
7690
7691 @item r
7692 @cindex raw printing
7693 Print using the @samp{raw} formatting. By default, @value{GDBN} will
7694 use a Python-based pretty-printer, if one is available (@pxref{Pretty
7695 Printing}). This typically results in a higher-level display of the
7696 value's contents. The @samp{r} format bypasses any Python
7697 pretty-printer which might exist.
7698 @end table
7699
7700 For example, to print the program counter in hex (@pxref{Registers}), type
7701
7702 @smallexample
7703 p/x $pc
7704 @end smallexample
7705
7706 @noindent
7707 Note that no space is required before the slash; this is because command
7708 names in @value{GDBN} cannot contain a slash.
7709
7710 To reprint the last value in the value history with a different format,
7711 you can use the @code{print} command with just a format and no
7712 expression. For example, @samp{p/x} reprints the last value in hex.
7713
7714 @node Memory
7715 @section Examining Memory
7716
7717 You can use the command @code{x} (for ``examine'') to examine memory in
7718 any of several formats, independently of your program's data types.
7719
7720 @cindex examining memory
7721 @table @code
7722 @kindex x @r{(examine memory)}
7723 @item x/@var{nfu} @var{addr}
7724 @itemx x @var{addr}
7725 @itemx x
7726 Use the @code{x} command to examine memory.
7727 @end table
7728
7729 @var{n}, @var{f}, and @var{u} are all optional parameters that specify how
7730 much memory to display and how to format it; @var{addr} is an
7731 expression giving the address where you want to start displaying memory.
7732 If you use defaults for @var{nfu}, you need not type the slash @samp{/}.
7733 Several commands set convenient defaults for @var{addr}.
7734
7735 @table @r
7736 @item @var{n}, the repeat count
7737 The repeat count is a decimal integer; the default is 1. It specifies
7738 how much memory (counting by units @var{u}) to display.
7739 @c This really is **decimal**; unaffected by 'set radix' as of GDB
7740 @c 4.1.2.
7741
7742 @item @var{f}, the display format
7743 The display format is one of the formats used by @code{print}
7744 (@samp{x}, @samp{d}, @samp{u}, @samp{o}, @samp{t}, @samp{a}, @samp{c},
7745 @samp{f}, @samp{s}), and in addition @samp{i} (for machine instructions).
7746 The default is @samp{x} (hexadecimal) initially. The default changes
7747 each time you use either @code{x} or @code{print}.
7748
7749 @item @var{u}, the unit size
7750 The unit size is any of
7751
7752 @table @code
7753 @item b
7754 Bytes.
7755 @item h
7756 Halfwords (two bytes).
7757 @item w
7758 Words (four bytes). This is the initial default.
7759 @item g
7760 Giant words (eight bytes).
7761 @end table
7762
7763 Each time you specify a unit size with @code{x}, that size becomes the
7764 default unit the next time you use @code{x}. For the @samp{i} format,
7765 the unit size is ignored and is normally not written. For the @samp{s} format,
7766 the unit size defaults to @samp{b}, unless it is explicitly given.
7767 Use @kbd{x /hs} to display 16-bit char strings and @kbd{x /ws} to display
7768 32-bit strings. The next use of @kbd{x /s} will again display 8-bit strings.
7769 Note that the results depend on the programming language of the
7770 current compilation unit. If the language is C, the @samp{s}
7771 modifier will use the UTF-16 encoding while @samp{w} will use
7772 UTF-32. The encoding is set by the programming language and cannot
7773 be altered.
7774
7775 @item @var{addr}, starting display address
7776 @var{addr} is the address where you want @value{GDBN} to begin displaying
7777 memory. The expression need not have a pointer value (though it may);
7778 it is always interpreted as an integer address of a byte of memory.
7779 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information on expressions. The default for
7780 @var{addr} is usually just after the last address examined---but several
7781 other commands also set the default address: @code{info breakpoints} (to
7782 the address of the last breakpoint listed), @code{info line} (to the
7783 starting address of a line), and @code{print} (if you use it to display
7784 a value from memory).
7785 @end table
7786
7787 For example, @samp{x/3uh 0x54320} is a request to display three halfwords
7788 (@code{h}) of memory, formatted as unsigned decimal integers (@samp{u}),
7789 starting at address @code{0x54320}. @samp{x/4xw $sp} prints the four
7790 words (@samp{w}) of memory above the stack pointer (here, @samp{$sp};
7791 @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}) in hexadecimal (@samp{x}).
7792
7793 Since the letters indicating unit sizes are all distinct from the
7794 letters specifying output formats, you do not have to remember whether
7795 unit size or format comes first; either order works. The output
7796 specifications @samp{4xw} and @samp{4wx} mean exactly the same thing.
7797 (However, the count @var{n} must come first; @samp{wx4} does not work.)
7798
7799 Even though the unit size @var{u} is ignored for the formats @samp{s}
7800 and @samp{i}, you might still want to use a count @var{n}; for example,
7801 @samp{3i} specifies that you want to see three machine instructions,
7802 including any operands. For convenience, especially when used with
7803 the @code{display} command, the @samp{i} format also prints branch delay
7804 slot instructions, if any, beyond the count specified, which immediately
7805 follow the last instruction that is within the count. The command
7806 @code{disassemble} gives an alternative way of inspecting machine
7807 instructions; see @ref{Machine Code,,Source and Machine Code}.
7808
7809 All the defaults for the arguments to @code{x} are designed to make it
7810 easy to continue scanning memory with minimal specifications each time
7811 you use @code{x}. For example, after you have inspected three machine
7812 instructions with @samp{x/3i @var{addr}}, you can inspect the next seven
7813 with just @samp{x/7}. If you use @key{RET} to repeat the @code{x} command,
7814 the repeat count @var{n} is used again; the other arguments default as
7815 for successive uses of @code{x}.
7816
7817 When examining machine instructions, the instruction at current program
7818 counter is shown with a @code{=>} marker. For example:
7819
7820 @smallexample
7821 (@value{GDBP}) x/5i $pc-6
7822 0x804837f <main+11>: mov %esp,%ebp
7823 0x8048381 <main+13>: push %ecx
7824 0x8048382 <main+14>: sub $0x4,%esp
7825 => 0x8048385 <main+17>: movl $0x8048460,(%esp)
7826 0x804838c <main+24>: call 0x80482d4 <puts@@plt>
7827 @end smallexample
7828
7829 @cindex @code{$_}, @code{$__}, and value history
7830 The addresses and contents printed by the @code{x} command are not saved
7831 in the value history because there is often too much of them and they
7832 would get in the way. Instead, @value{GDBN} makes these values available for
7833 subsequent use in expressions as values of the convenience variables
7834 @code{$_} and @code{$__}. After an @code{x} command, the last address
7835 examined is available for use in expressions in the convenience variable
7836 @code{$_}. The contents of that address, as examined, are available in
7837 the convenience variable @code{$__}.
7838
7839 If the @code{x} command has a repeat count, the address and contents saved
7840 are from the last memory unit printed; this is not the same as the last
7841 address printed if several units were printed on the last line of output.
7842
7843 @cindex remote memory comparison
7844 @cindex verify remote memory image
7845 When you are debugging a program running on a remote target machine
7846 (@pxref{Remote Debugging}), you may wish to verify the program's image in the
7847 remote machine's memory against the executable file you downloaded to
7848 the target. The @code{compare-sections} command is provided for such
7849 situations.
7850
7851 @table @code
7852 @kindex compare-sections
7853 @item compare-sections @r{[}@var{section-name}@r{]}
7854 Compare the data of a loadable section @var{section-name} in the
7855 executable file of the program being debugged with the same section in
7856 the remote machine's memory, and report any mismatches. With no
7857 arguments, compares all loadable sections. This command's
7858 availability depends on the target's support for the @code{"qCRC"}
7859 remote request.
7860 @end table
7861
7862 @node Auto Display
7863 @section Automatic Display
7864 @cindex automatic display
7865 @cindex display of expressions
7866
7867 If you find that you want to print the value of an expression frequently
7868 (to see how it changes), you might want to add it to the @dfn{automatic
7869 display list} so that @value{GDBN} prints its value each time your program stops.
7870 Each expression added to the list is given a number to identify it;
7871 to remove an expression from the list, you specify that number.
7872 The automatic display looks like this:
7873
7874 @smallexample
7875 2: foo = 38
7876 3: bar[5] = (struct hack *) 0x3804
7877 @end smallexample
7878
7879 @noindent
7880 This display shows item numbers, expressions and their current values. As with
7881 displays you request manually using @code{x} or @code{print}, you can
7882 specify the output format you prefer; in fact, @code{display} decides
7883 whether to use @code{print} or @code{x} depending your format
7884 specification---it uses @code{x} if you specify either the @samp{i}
7885 or @samp{s} format, or a unit size; otherwise it uses @code{print}.
7886
7887 @table @code
7888 @kindex display
7889 @item display @var{expr}
7890 Add the expression @var{expr} to the list of expressions to display
7891 each time your program stops. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
7892
7893 @code{display} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
7894
7895 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{expr}
7896 For @var{fmt} specifying only a display format and not a size or
7897 count, add the expression @var{expr} to the auto-display list but
7898 arrange to display it each time in the specified format @var{fmt}.
7899 @xref{Output Formats,,Output Formats}.
7900
7901 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{addr}
7902 For @var{fmt} @samp{i} or @samp{s}, or including a unit-size or a
7903 number of units, add the expression @var{addr} as a memory address to
7904 be examined each time your program stops. Examining means in effect
7905 doing @samp{x/@var{fmt} @var{addr}}. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
7906 @end table
7907
7908 For example, @samp{display/i $pc} can be helpful, to see the machine
7909 instruction about to be executed each time execution stops (@samp{$pc}
7910 is a common name for the program counter; @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
7911
7912 @table @code
7913 @kindex delete display
7914 @kindex undisplay
7915 @item undisplay @var{dnums}@dots{}
7916 @itemx delete display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7917 Remove items from the list of expressions to display. Specify the
7918 numbers of the displays that you want affected with the command
7919 argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one of the
7920 numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display} display;
7921 or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
7922
7923 @code{undisplay} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
7924 (Otherwise you would just get the error @samp{No display number @dots{}}.)
7925
7926 @kindex disable display
7927 @item disable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7928 Disable the display of item numbers @var{dnums}. A disabled display
7929 item is not printed automatically, but is not forgotten. It may be
7930 enabled again later. Specify the numbers of the displays that you
7931 want affected with the command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a
7932 single display number, one of the numbers shown in the first field of
7933 the @samp{info display} display; or it could be a range of display
7934 numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
7935
7936 @kindex enable display
7937 @item enable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7938 Enable display of item numbers @var{dnums}. It becomes effective once
7939 again in auto display of its expression, until you specify otherwise.
7940 Specify the numbers of the displays that you want affected with the
7941 command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one
7942 of the numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display}
7943 display; or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
7944
7945 @item display
7946 Display the current values of the expressions on the list, just as is
7947 done when your program stops.
7948
7949 @kindex info display
7950 @item info display
7951 Print the list of expressions previously set up to display
7952 automatically, each one with its item number, but without showing the
7953 values. This includes disabled expressions, which are marked as such.
7954 It also includes expressions which would not be displayed right now
7955 because they refer to automatic variables not currently available.
7956 @end table
7957
7958 @cindex display disabled out of scope
7959 If a display expression refers to local variables, then it does not make
7960 sense outside the lexical context for which it was set up. Such an
7961 expression is disabled when execution enters a context where one of its
7962 variables is not defined. For example, if you give the command
7963 @code{display last_char} while inside a function with an argument
7964 @code{last_char}, @value{GDBN} displays this argument while your program
7965 continues to stop inside that function. When it stops elsewhere---where
7966 there is no variable @code{last_char}---the display is disabled
7967 automatically. The next time your program stops where @code{last_char}
7968 is meaningful, you can enable the display expression once again.
7969
7970 @node Print Settings
7971 @section Print Settings
7972
7973 @cindex format options
7974 @cindex print settings
7975 @value{GDBN} provides the following ways to control how arrays, structures,
7976 and symbols are printed.
7977
7978 @noindent
7979 These settings are useful for debugging programs in any language:
7980
7981 @table @code
7982 @kindex set print
7983 @item set print address
7984 @itemx set print address on
7985 @cindex print/don't print memory addresses
7986 @value{GDBN} prints memory addresses showing the location of stack
7987 traces, structure values, pointer values, breakpoints, and so forth,
7988 even when it also displays the contents of those addresses. The default
7989 is @code{on}. For example, this is what a stack frame display looks like with
7990 @code{set print address on}:
7991
7992 @smallexample
7993 @group
7994 (@value{GDBP}) f
7995 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<<", rq=0x34c88 ">>")
7996 at input.c:530
7997 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
7998 @end group
7999 @end smallexample
8000
8001 @item set print address off
8002 Do not print addresses when displaying their contents. For example,
8003 this is the same stack frame displayed with @code{set print address off}:
8004
8005 @smallexample
8006 @group
8007 (@value{GDBP}) set print addr off
8008 (@value{GDBP}) f
8009 #0 set_quotes (lq="<<", rq=">>") at input.c:530
8010 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
8011 @end group
8012 @end smallexample
8013
8014 You can use @samp{set print address off} to eliminate all machine
8015 dependent displays from the @value{GDBN} interface. For example, with
8016 @code{print address off}, you should get the same text for backtraces on
8017 all machines---whether or not they involve pointer arguments.
8018
8019 @kindex show print
8020 @item show print address
8021 Show whether or not addresses are to be printed.
8022 @end table
8023
8024 When @value{GDBN} prints a symbolic address, it normally prints the
8025 closest earlier symbol plus an offset. If that symbol does not uniquely
8026 identify the address (for example, it is a name whose scope is a single
8027 source file), you may need to clarify. One way to do this is with
8028 @code{info line}, for example @samp{info line *0x4537}. Alternately,
8029 you can set @value{GDBN} to print the source file and line number when
8030 it prints a symbolic address:
8031
8032 @table @code
8033 @item set print symbol-filename on
8034 @cindex source file and line of a symbol
8035 @cindex symbol, source file and line
8036 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the source file name and line number of a
8037 symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
8038
8039 @item set print symbol-filename off
8040 Do not print source file name and line number of a symbol. This is the
8041 default.
8042
8043 @item show print symbol-filename
8044 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} will print the source file name and
8045 line number of a symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
8046 @end table
8047
8048 Another situation where it is helpful to show symbol filenames and line
8049 numbers is when disassembling code; @value{GDBN} shows you the line
8050 number and source file that corresponds to each instruction.
8051
8052 Also, you may wish to see the symbolic form only if the address being
8053 printed is reasonably close to the closest earlier symbol:
8054
8055 @table @code
8056 @item set print max-symbolic-offset @var{max-offset}
8057 @cindex maximum value for offset of closest symbol
8058 Tell @value{GDBN} to only display the symbolic form of an address if the
8059 offset between the closest earlier symbol and the address is less than
8060 @var{max-offset}. The default is 0, which tells @value{GDBN}
8061 to always print the symbolic form of an address if any symbol precedes it.
8062
8063 @item show print max-symbolic-offset
8064 Ask how large the maximum offset is that @value{GDBN} prints in a
8065 symbolic address.
8066 @end table
8067
8068 @cindex wild pointer, interpreting
8069 @cindex pointer, finding referent
8070 If you have a pointer and you are not sure where it points, try
8071 @samp{set print symbol-filename on}. Then you can determine the name
8072 and source file location of the variable where it points, using
8073 @samp{p/a @var{pointer}}. This interprets the address in symbolic form.
8074 For example, here @value{GDBN} shows that a variable @code{ptt} points
8075 at another variable @code{t}, defined in @file{hi2.c}:
8076
8077 @smallexample
8078 (@value{GDBP}) set print symbol-filename on
8079 (@value{GDBP}) p/a ptt
8080 $4 = 0xe008 <t in hi2.c>
8081 @end smallexample
8082
8083 @quotation
8084 @emph{Warning:} For pointers that point to a local variable, @samp{p/a}
8085 does not show the symbol name and filename of the referent, even with
8086 the appropriate @code{set print} options turned on.
8087 @end quotation
8088
8089 Other settings control how different kinds of objects are printed:
8090
8091 @table @code
8092 @item set print array
8093 @itemx set print array on
8094 @cindex pretty print arrays
8095 Pretty print arrays. This format is more convenient to read,
8096 but uses more space. The default is off.
8097
8098 @item set print array off
8099 Return to compressed format for arrays.
8100
8101 @item show print array
8102 Show whether compressed or pretty format is selected for displaying
8103 arrays.
8104
8105 @cindex print array indexes
8106 @item set print array-indexes
8107 @itemx set print array-indexes on
8108 Print the index of each element when displaying arrays. May be more
8109 convenient to locate a given element in the array or quickly find the
8110 index of a given element in that printed array. The default is off.
8111
8112 @item set print array-indexes off
8113 Stop printing element indexes when displaying arrays.
8114
8115 @item show print array-indexes
8116 Show whether the index of each element is printed when displaying
8117 arrays.
8118
8119 @item set print elements @var{number-of-elements}
8120 @cindex number of array elements to print
8121 @cindex limit on number of printed array elements
8122 Set a limit on how many elements of an array @value{GDBN} will print.
8123 If @value{GDBN} is printing a large array, it stops printing after it has
8124 printed the number of elements set by the @code{set print elements} command.
8125 This limit also applies to the display of strings.
8126 When @value{GDBN} starts, this limit is set to 200.
8127 Setting @var{number-of-elements} to zero means that the printing is unlimited.
8128
8129 @item show print elements
8130 Display the number of elements of a large array that @value{GDBN} will print.
8131 If the number is 0, then the printing is unlimited.
8132
8133 @item set print frame-arguments @var{value}
8134 @kindex set print frame-arguments
8135 @cindex printing frame argument values
8136 @cindex print all frame argument values
8137 @cindex print frame argument values for scalars only
8138 @cindex do not print frame argument values
8139 This command allows to control how the values of arguments are printed
8140 when the debugger prints a frame (@pxref{Frames}). The possible
8141 values are:
8142
8143 @table @code
8144 @item all
8145 The values of all arguments are printed.
8146
8147 @item scalars
8148 Print the value of an argument only if it is a scalar. The value of more
8149 complex arguments such as arrays, structures, unions, etc, is replaced
8150 by @code{@dots{}}. This is the default. Here is an example where
8151 only scalar arguments are shown:
8152
8153 @smallexample
8154 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=3, s=@dots{}, ss=0xbf8d508c, u=@dots{}, e=green)
8155 at frame-args.c:23
8156 @end smallexample
8157
8158 @item none
8159 None of the argument values are printed. Instead, the value of each argument
8160 is replaced by @code{@dots{}}. In this case, the example above now becomes:
8161
8162 @smallexample
8163 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=@dots{}, s=@dots{}, ss=@dots{}, u=@dots{}, e=@dots{})
8164 at frame-args.c:23
8165 @end smallexample
8166 @end table
8167
8168 By default, only scalar arguments are printed. This command can be used
8169 to configure the debugger to print the value of all arguments, regardless
8170 of their type. However, it is often advantageous to not print the value
8171 of more complex parameters. For instance, it reduces the amount of
8172 information printed in each frame, making the backtrace more readable.
8173 Also, it improves performance when displaying Ada frames, because
8174 the computation of large arguments can sometimes be CPU-intensive,
8175 especially in large applications. Setting @code{print frame-arguments}
8176 to @code{scalars} (the default) or @code{none} avoids this computation,
8177 thus speeding up the display of each Ada frame.
8178
8179 @item show print frame-arguments
8180 Show how the value of arguments should be displayed when printing a frame.
8181
8182 @anchor{set print entry-values}
8183 @item set print entry-values @var{value}
8184 @kindex set print entry-values
8185 Set printing of frame argument values at function entry. In some cases
8186 @value{GDBN} can determine the value of function argument which was passed by
8187 the function caller, even if the value was modified inside the called function
8188 and therefore is different. With optimized code, the current value could be
8189 unavailable, but the entry value may still be known.
8190
8191 The default value is @code{default} (see below for its description). Older
8192 @value{GDBN} behaved as with the setting @code{no}. Compilers not supporting
8193 this feature will behave in the @code{default} setting the same way as with the
8194 @code{no} setting.
8195
8196 This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
8197 the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
8198 @value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
8199 this information.
8200
8201 The @var{value} parameter can be one of the following:
8202
8203 @table @code
8204 @item no
8205 Print only actual parameter values, never print values from function entry
8206 point.
8207 @smallexample
8208 #0 equal (val=5)
8209 #0 different (val=6)
8210 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>)
8211 #0 born (val=10)
8212 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8213 @end smallexample
8214
8215 @item only
8216 Print only parameter values from function entry point. The actual parameter
8217 values are never printed.
8218 @smallexample
8219 #0 equal (val@@entry=5)
8220 #0 different (val@@entry=5)
8221 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8222 #0 born (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8223 #0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8224 @end smallexample
8225
8226 @item preferred
8227 Print only parameter values from function entry point. If value from function
8228 entry point is not known while the actual value is known, print the actual
8229 value for such parameter.
8230 @smallexample
8231 #0 equal (val@@entry=5)
8232 #0 different (val@@entry=5)
8233 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8234 #0 born (val=10)
8235 #0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8236 @end smallexample
8237
8238 @item if-needed
8239 Print actual parameter values. If actual parameter value is not known while
8240 value from function entry point is known, print the entry point value for such
8241 parameter.
8242 @smallexample
8243 #0 equal (val=5)
8244 #0 different (val=6)
8245 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8246 #0 born (val=10)
8247 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8248 @end smallexample
8249
8250 @item both
8251 Always print both the actual parameter value and its value from function entry
8252 point, even if values of one or both are not available due to compiler
8253 optimizations.
8254 @smallexample
8255 #0 equal (val=5, val@@entry=5)
8256 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
8257 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
8258 #0 born (val=10, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8259 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
8260 @end smallexample
8261
8262 @item compact
8263 Print the actual parameter value if it is known and also its value from
8264 function entry point if it is known. If neither is known, print for the actual
8265 value @code{<optimized out>}. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and if both
8266 values are known and identical, print the shortened
8267 @code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
8268 @smallexample
8269 #0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
8270 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
8271 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
8272 #0 born (val=10)
8273 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8274 @end smallexample
8275
8276 @item default
8277 Always print the actual parameter value. Print also its value from function
8278 entry point, but only if it is known. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and
8279 if both values are known and identical, print the shortened
8280 @code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
8281 @smallexample
8282 #0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
8283 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
8284 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
8285 #0 born (val=10)
8286 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
8287 @end smallexample
8288 @end table
8289
8290 For analysis messages on possible failures of frame argument values at function
8291 entry resolution see @ref{set debug entry-values}.
8292
8293 @item show print entry-values
8294 Show the method being used for printing of frame argument values at function
8295 entry.
8296
8297 @item set print repeats
8298 @cindex repeated array elements
8299 Set the threshold for suppressing display of repeated array
8300 elements. When the number of consecutive identical elements of an
8301 array exceeds the threshold, @value{GDBN} prints the string
8302 @code{"<repeats @var{n} times>"}, where @var{n} is the number of
8303 identical repetitions, instead of displaying the identical elements
8304 themselves. Setting the threshold to zero will cause all elements to
8305 be individually printed. The default threshold is 10.
8306
8307 @item show print repeats
8308 Display the current threshold for printing repeated identical
8309 elements.
8310
8311 @item set print null-stop
8312 @cindex @sc{null} elements in arrays
8313 Cause @value{GDBN} to stop printing the characters of an array when the first
8314 @sc{null} is encountered. This is useful when large arrays actually
8315 contain only short strings.
8316 The default is off.
8317
8318 @item show print null-stop
8319 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops printing an array on the first
8320 @sc{null} character.
8321
8322 @item set print pretty on
8323 @cindex print structures in indented form
8324 @cindex indentation in structure display
8325 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in an indented format with one member
8326 per line, like this:
8327
8328 @smallexample
8329 @group
8330 $1 = @{
8331 next = 0x0,
8332 flags = @{
8333 sweet = 1,
8334 sour = 1
8335 @},
8336 meat = 0x54 "Pork"
8337 @}
8338 @end group
8339 @end smallexample
8340
8341 @item set print pretty off
8342 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in a compact format, like this:
8343
8344 @smallexample
8345 @group
8346 $1 = @{next = 0x0, flags = @{sweet = 1, sour = 1@}, \
8347 meat = 0x54 "Pork"@}
8348 @end group
8349 @end smallexample
8350
8351 @noindent
8352 This is the default format.
8353
8354 @item show print pretty
8355 Show which format @value{GDBN} is using to print structures.
8356
8357 @item set print sevenbit-strings on
8358 @cindex eight-bit characters in strings
8359 @cindex octal escapes in strings
8360 Print using only seven-bit characters; if this option is set,
8361 @value{GDBN} displays any eight-bit characters (in strings or
8362 character values) using the notation @code{\}@var{nnn}. This setting is
8363 best if you are working in English (@sc{ascii}) and you use the
8364 high-order bit of characters as a marker or ``meta'' bit.
8365
8366 @item set print sevenbit-strings off
8367 Print full eight-bit characters. This allows the use of more
8368 international character sets, and is the default.
8369
8370 @item show print sevenbit-strings
8371 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} is printing only seven-bit characters.
8372
8373 @item set print union on
8374 @cindex unions in structures, printing
8375 Tell @value{GDBN} to print unions which are contained in structures
8376 and other unions. This is the default setting.
8377
8378 @item set print union off
8379 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print unions which are contained in
8380 structures and other unions. @value{GDBN} will print @code{"@{...@}"}
8381 instead.
8382
8383 @item show print union
8384 Ask @value{GDBN} whether or not it will print unions which are contained in
8385 structures and other unions.
8386
8387 For example, given the declarations
8388
8389 @smallexample
8390 typedef enum @{Tree, Bug@} Species;
8391 typedef enum @{Big_tree, Acorn, Seedling@} Tree_forms;
8392 typedef enum @{Caterpillar, Cocoon, Butterfly@}
8393 Bug_forms;
8394
8395 struct thing @{
8396 Species it;
8397 union @{
8398 Tree_forms tree;
8399 Bug_forms bug;
8400 @} form;
8401 @};
8402
8403 struct thing foo = @{Tree, @{Acorn@}@};
8404 @end smallexample
8405
8406 @noindent
8407 with @code{set print union on} in effect @samp{p foo} would print
8408
8409 @smallexample
8410 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{tree = Acorn, bug = Cocoon@}@}
8411 @end smallexample
8412
8413 @noindent
8414 and with @code{set print union off} in effect it would print
8415
8416 @smallexample
8417 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{...@}@}
8418 @end smallexample
8419
8420 @noindent
8421 @code{set print union} affects programs written in C-like languages
8422 and in Pascal.
8423 @end table
8424
8425 @need 1000
8426 @noindent
8427 These settings are of interest when debugging C@t{++} programs:
8428
8429 @table @code
8430 @cindex demangling C@t{++} names
8431 @item set print demangle
8432 @itemx set print demangle on
8433 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than in the encoded
8434 (``mangled'') form passed to the assembler and linker for type-safe
8435 linkage. The default is on.
8436
8437 @item show print demangle
8438 Show whether C@t{++} names are printed in mangled or demangled form.
8439
8440 @item set print asm-demangle
8441 @itemx set print asm-demangle on
8442 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than their mangled form, even
8443 in assembler code printouts such as instruction disassemblies.
8444 The default is off.
8445
8446 @item show print asm-demangle
8447 Show whether C@t{++} names in assembly listings are printed in mangled
8448 or demangled form.
8449
8450 @cindex C@t{++} symbol decoding style
8451 @cindex symbol decoding style, C@t{++}
8452 @kindex set demangle-style
8453 @item set demangle-style @var{style}
8454 Choose among several encoding schemes used by different compilers to
8455 represent C@t{++} names. The choices for @var{style} are currently:
8456
8457 @table @code
8458 @item auto
8459 Allow @value{GDBN} to choose a decoding style by inspecting your program.
8460
8461 @item gnu
8462 Decode based on the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler (@code{g++}) encoding algorithm.
8463 This is the default.
8464
8465 @item hp
8466 Decode based on the HP ANSI C@t{++} (@code{aCC}) encoding algorithm.
8467
8468 @item lucid
8469 Decode based on the Lucid C@t{++} compiler (@code{lcc}) encoding algorithm.
8470
8471 @item arm
8472 Decode using the algorithm in the @cite{C@t{++} Annotated Reference Manual}.
8473 @strong{Warning:} this setting alone is not sufficient to allow
8474 debugging @code{cfront}-generated executables. @value{GDBN} would
8475 require further enhancement to permit that.
8476
8477 @end table
8478 If you omit @var{style}, you will see a list of possible formats.
8479
8480 @item show demangle-style
8481 Display the encoding style currently in use for decoding C@t{++} symbols.
8482
8483 @item set print object
8484 @itemx set print object on
8485 @cindex derived type of an object, printing
8486 @cindex display derived types
8487 When displaying a pointer to an object, identify the @emph{actual}
8488 (derived) type of the object rather than the @emph{declared} type, using
8489 the virtual function table. Note that the virtual function table is
8490 required---this feature can only work for objects that have run-time
8491 type identification; a single virtual method in the object's declared
8492 type is sufficient.
8493
8494 @item set print object off
8495 Display only the declared type of objects, without reference to the
8496 virtual function table. This is the default setting.
8497
8498 @item show print object
8499 Show whether actual, or declared, object types are displayed.
8500
8501 @item set print static-members
8502 @itemx set print static-members on
8503 @cindex static members of C@t{++} objects
8504 Print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object. The default is on.
8505
8506 @item set print static-members off
8507 Do not print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object.
8508
8509 @item show print static-members
8510 Show whether C@t{++} static members are printed or not.
8511
8512 @item set print pascal_static-members
8513 @itemx set print pascal_static-members on
8514 @cindex static members of Pascal objects
8515 @cindex Pascal objects, static members display
8516 Print static members when displaying a Pascal object. The default is on.
8517
8518 @item set print pascal_static-members off
8519 Do not print static members when displaying a Pascal object.
8520
8521 @item show print pascal_static-members
8522 Show whether Pascal static members are printed or not.
8523
8524 @c These don't work with HP ANSI C++ yet.
8525 @item set print vtbl
8526 @itemx set print vtbl on
8527 @cindex pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables
8528 @cindex virtual functions (C@t{++}) display
8529 @cindex VTBL display
8530 Pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables. The default is off.
8531 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
8532 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
8533
8534 @item set print vtbl off
8535 Do not pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables.
8536
8537 @item show print vtbl
8538 Show whether C@t{++} virtual function tables are pretty printed, or not.
8539 @end table
8540
8541 @node Pretty Printing
8542 @section Pretty Printing
8543
8544 @value{GDBN} provides a mechanism to allow pretty-printing of values using
8545 Python code. It greatly simplifies the display of complex objects. This
8546 mechanism works for both MI and the CLI.
8547
8548 @menu
8549 * Pretty-Printer Introduction:: Introduction to pretty-printers
8550 * Pretty-Printer Example:: An example pretty-printer
8551 * Pretty-Printer Commands:: Pretty-printer commands
8552 @end menu
8553
8554 @node Pretty-Printer Introduction
8555 @subsection Pretty-Printer Introduction
8556
8557 When @value{GDBN} prints a value, it first sees if there is a pretty-printer
8558 registered for the value. If there is then @value{GDBN} invokes the
8559 pretty-printer to print the value. Otherwise the value is printed normally.
8560
8561 Pretty-printers are normally named. This makes them easy to manage.
8562 The @samp{info pretty-printer} command will list all the installed
8563 pretty-printers with their names.
8564 If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
8565 @dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
8566 Each such subprinter has its own name.
8567 The format of the name is @var{printer-name};@var{subprinter-name}.
8568
8569 Pretty-printers are installed by @dfn{registering} them with @value{GDBN}.
8570 Typically they are automatically loaded and registered when the corresponding
8571 debug information is loaded, thus making them available without having to
8572 do anything special.
8573
8574 There are three places where a pretty-printer can be registered.
8575
8576 @itemize @bullet
8577 @item
8578 Pretty-printers registered globally are available when debugging
8579 all inferiors.
8580
8581 @item
8582 Pretty-printers registered with a program space are available only
8583 when debugging that program.
8584 @xref{Progspaces In Python}, for more details on program spaces in Python.
8585
8586 @item
8587 Pretty-printers registered with an objfile are loaded and unloaded
8588 with the corresponding objfile (e.g., shared library).
8589 @xref{Objfiles In Python}, for more details on objfiles in Python.
8590 @end itemize
8591
8592 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for further information on how
8593 pretty-printers are selected,
8594
8595 @xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for implementing pretty printers
8596 for new types.
8597
8598 @node Pretty-Printer Example
8599 @subsection Pretty-Printer Example
8600
8601 Here is how a C@t{++} @code{std::string} looks without a pretty-printer:
8602
8603 @smallexample
8604 (@value{GDBP}) print s
8605 $1 = @{
8606 static npos = 4294967295,
8607 _M_dataplus = @{
8608 <std::allocator<char>> = @{
8609 <__gnu_cxx::new_allocator<char>> = @{
8610 <No data fields>@}, <No data fields>
8611 @},
8612 members of std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>,
8613 std::allocator<char> >::_Alloc_hider:
8614 _M_p = 0x804a014 "abcd"
8615 @}
8616 @}
8617 @end smallexample
8618
8619 With a pretty-printer for @code{std::string} only the contents are printed:
8620
8621 @smallexample
8622 (@value{GDBP}) print s
8623 $2 = "abcd"
8624 @end smallexample
8625
8626 @node Pretty-Printer Commands
8627 @subsection Pretty-Printer Commands
8628 @cindex pretty-printer commands
8629
8630 @table @code
8631 @kindex info pretty-printer
8632 @item info pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
8633 Print the list of installed pretty-printers.
8634 This includes disabled pretty-printers, which are marked as such.
8635
8636 @var{object-regexp} is a regular expression matching the objects
8637 whose pretty-printers to list.
8638 Objects can be @code{global}, the program space's file
8639 (@pxref{Progspaces In Python}),
8640 and the object files within that program space (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}).
8641 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for details on how @value{GDBN}
8642 looks up a printer from these three objects.
8643
8644 @var{name-regexp} is a regular expression matching the name of the printers
8645 to list.
8646
8647 @kindex disable pretty-printer
8648 @item disable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
8649 Disable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
8650 A disabled pretty-printer is not forgotten, it may be enabled again later.
8651
8652 @kindex enable pretty-printer
8653 @item enable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
8654 Enable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
8655 @end table
8656
8657 Example:
8658
8659 Suppose we have three pretty-printers installed: one from library1.so
8660 named @code{foo} that prints objects of type @code{foo}, and
8661 another from library2.so named @code{bar} that prints two types of objects,
8662 @code{bar1} and @code{bar2}.
8663
8664 @smallexample
8665 (gdb) info pretty-printer
8666 library1.so:
8667 foo
8668 library2.so:
8669 bar
8670 bar1
8671 bar2
8672 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
8673 library2.so:
8674 bar
8675 bar1
8676 bar2
8677 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library1
8678 1 printer disabled
8679 2 of 3 printers enabled
8680 (gdb) info pretty-printer
8681 library1.so:
8682 foo [disabled]
8683 library2.so:
8684 bar
8685 bar1
8686 bar2
8687 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar:bar1
8688 1 printer disabled
8689 1 of 3 printers enabled
8690 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
8691 library1.so:
8692 foo [disabled]
8693 library2.so:
8694 bar
8695 bar1 [disabled]
8696 bar2
8697 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar
8698 1 printer disabled
8699 0 of 3 printers enabled
8700 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
8701 library1.so:
8702 foo [disabled]
8703 library2.so:
8704 bar [disabled]
8705 bar1 [disabled]
8706 bar2
8707 @end smallexample
8708
8709 Note that for @code{bar} the entire printer can be disabled,
8710 as can each individual subprinter.
8711
8712 @node Value History
8713 @section Value History
8714
8715 @cindex value history
8716 @cindex history of values printed by @value{GDBN}
8717 Values printed by the @code{print} command are saved in the @value{GDBN}
8718 @dfn{value history}. This allows you to refer to them in other expressions.
8719 Values are kept until the symbol table is re-read or discarded
8720 (for example with the @code{file} or @code{symbol-file} commands).
8721 When the symbol table changes, the value history is discarded,
8722 since the values may contain pointers back to the types defined in the
8723 symbol table.
8724
8725 @cindex @code{$}
8726 @cindex @code{$$}
8727 @cindex history number
8728 The values printed are given @dfn{history numbers} by which you can
8729 refer to them. These are successive integers starting with one.
8730 @code{print} shows you the history number assigned to a value by
8731 printing @samp{$@var{num} = } before the value; here @var{num} is the
8732 history number.
8733
8734 To refer to any previous value, use @samp{$} followed by the value's
8735 history number. The way @code{print} labels its output is designed to
8736 remind you of this. Just @code{$} refers to the most recent value in
8737 the history, and @code{$$} refers to the value before that.
8738 @code{$$@var{n}} refers to the @var{n}th value from the end; @code{$$2}
8739 is the value just prior to @code{$$}, @code{$$1} is equivalent to
8740 @code{$$}, and @code{$$0} is equivalent to @code{$}.
8741
8742 For example, suppose you have just printed a pointer to a structure and
8743 want to see the contents of the structure. It suffices to type
8744
8745 @smallexample
8746 p *$
8747 @end smallexample
8748
8749 If you have a chain of structures where the component @code{next} points
8750 to the next one, you can print the contents of the next one with this:
8751
8752 @smallexample
8753 p *$.next
8754 @end smallexample
8755
8756 @noindent
8757 You can print successive links in the chain by repeating this
8758 command---which you can do by just typing @key{RET}.
8759
8760 Note that the history records values, not expressions. If the value of
8761 @code{x} is 4 and you type these commands:
8762
8763 @smallexample
8764 print x
8765 set x=5
8766 @end smallexample
8767
8768 @noindent
8769 then the value recorded in the value history by the @code{print} command
8770 remains 4 even though the value of @code{x} has changed.
8771
8772 @table @code
8773 @kindex show values
8774 @item show values
8775 Print the last ten values in the value history, with their item numbers.
8776 This is like @samp{p@ $$9} repeated ten times, except that @code{show
8777 values} does not change the history.
8778
8779 @item show values @var{n}
8780 Print ten history values centered on history item number @var{n}.
8781
8782 @item show values +
8783 Print ten history values just after the values last printed. If no more
8784 values are available, @code{show values +} produces no display.
8785 @end table
8786
8787 Pressing @key{RET} to repeat @code{show values @var{n}} has exactly the
8788 same effect as @samp{show values +}.
8789
8790 @node Convenience Vars
8791 @section Convenience Variables
8792
8793 @cindex convenience variables
8794 @cindex user-defined variables
8795 @value{GDBN} provides @dfn{convenience variables} that you can use within
8796 @value{GDBN} to hold on to a value and refer to it later. These variables
8797 exist entirely within @value{GDBN}; they are not part of your program, and
8798 setting a convenience variable has no direct effect on further execution
8799 of your program. That is why you can use them freely.
8800
8801 Convenience variables are prefixed with @samp{$}. Any name preceded by
8802 @samp{$} can be used for a convenience variable, unless it is one of
8803 the predefined machine-specific register names (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
8804 (Value history references, in contrast, are @emph{numbers} preceded
8805 by @samp{$}. @xref{Value History, ,Value History}.)
8806
8807 You can save a value in a convenience variable with an assignment
8808 expression, just as you would set a variable in your program.
8809 For example:
8810
8811 @smallexample
8812 set $foo = *object_ptr
8813 @end smallexample
8814
8815 @noindent
8816 would save in @code{$foo} the value contained in the object pointed to by
8817 @code{object_ptr}.
8818
8819 Using a convenience variable for the first time creates it, but its
8820 value is @code{void} until you assign a new value. You can alter the
8821 value with another assignment at any time.
8822
8823 Convenience variables have no fixed types. You can assign a convenience
8824 variable any type of value, including structures and arrays, even if
8825 that variable already has a value of a different type. The convenience
8826 variable, when used as an expression, has the type of its current value.
8827
8828 @table @code
8829 @kindex show convenience
8830 @cindex show all user variables
8831 @item show convenience
8832 Print a list of convenience variables used so far, and their values.
8833 Abbreviated @code{show conv}.
8834
8835 @kindex init-if-undefined
8836 @cindex convenience variables, initializing
8837 @item init-if-undefined $@var{variable} = @var{expression}
8838 Set a convenience variable if it has not already been set. This is useful
8839 for user-defined commands that keep some state. It is similar, in concept,
8840 to using local static variables with initializers in C (except that
8841 convenience variables are global). It can also be used to allow users to
8842 override default values used in a command script.
8843
8844 If the variable is already defined then the expression is not evaluated so
8845 any side-effects do not occur.
8846 @end table
8847
8848 One of the ways to use a convenience variable is as a counter to be
8849 incremented or a pointer to be advanced. For example, to print
8850 a field from successive elements of an array of structures:
8851
8852 @smallexample
8853 set $i = 0
8854 print bar[$i++]->contents
8855 @end smallexample
8856
8857 @noindent
8858 Repeat that command by typing @key{RET}.
8859
8860 Some convenience variables are created automatically by @value{GDBN} and given
8861 values likely to be useful.
8862
8863 @table @code
8864 @vindex $_@r{, convenience variable}
8865 @item $_
8866 The variable @code{$_} is automatically set by the @code{x} command to
8867 the last address examined (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}). Other
8868 commands which provide a default address for @code{x} to examine also
8869 set @code{$_} to that address; these commands include @code{info line}
8870 and @code{info breakpoint}. The type of @code{$_} is @code{void *}
8871 except when set by the @code{x} command, in which case it is a pointer
8872 to the type of @code{$__}.
8873
8874 @vindex $__@r{, convenience variable}
8875 @item $__
8876 The variable @code{$__} is automatically set by the @code{x} command
8877 to the value found in the last address examined. Its type is chosen
8878 to match the format in which the data was printed.
8879
8880 @item $_exitcode
8881 @vindex $_exitcode@r{, convenience variable}
8882 The variable @code{$_exitcode} is automatically set to the exit code when
8883 the program being debugged terminates.
8884
8885 @item $_sdata
8886 @vindex $_sdata@r{, inspect, convenience variable}
8887 The variable @code{$_sdata} contains extra collected static tracepoint
8888 data. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}. Note that
8889 @code{$_sdata} could be empty, if not inspecting a trace buffer, or
8890 if extra static tracepoint data has not been collected.
8891
8892 @item $_siginfo
8893 @vindex $_siginfo@r{, convenience variable}
8894 The variable @code{$_siginfo} contains extra signal information
8895 (@pxref{extra signal information}). Note that @code{$_siginfo}
8896 could be empty, if the application has not yet received any signals.
8897 For example, it will be empty before you execute the @code{run} command.
8898
8899 @item $_tlb
8900 @vindex $_tlb@r{, convenience variable}
8901 The variable @code{$_tlb} is automatically set when debugging
8902 applications running on MS-Windows in native mode or connected to
8903 gdbserver that supports the @code{qGetTIBAddr} request.
8904 @xref{General Query Packets}.
8905 This variable contains the address of the thread information block.
8906
8907 @end table
8908
8909 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
8910 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
8911 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
8912
8913 @cindex convenience functions
8914 @value{GDBN} also supplies some @dfn{convenience functions}. These
8915 have a syntax similar to convenience variables. A convenience
8916 function can be used in an expression just like an ordinary function;
8917 however, a convenience function is implemented internally to
8918 @value{GDBN}.
8919
8920 @table @code
8921 @item help function
8922 @kindex help function
8923 @cindex show all convenience functions
8924 Print a list of all convenience functions.
8925 @end table
8926
8927 @node Registers
8928 @section Registers
8929
8930 @cindex registers
8931 You can refer to machine register contents, in expressions, as variables
8932 with names starting with @samp{$}. The names of registers are different
8933 for each machine; use @code{info registers} to see the names used on
8934 your machine.
8935
8936 @table @code
8937 @kindex info registers
8938 @item info registers
8939 Print the names and values of all registers except floating-point
8940 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
8941
8942 @kindex info all-registers
8943 @cindex floating point registers
8944 @item info all-registers
8945 Print the names and values of all registers, including floating-point
8946 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
8947
8948 @item info registers @var{regname} @dots{}
8949 Print the @dfn{relativized} value of each specified register @var{regname}.
8950 As discussed in detail below, register values are normally relative to
8951 the selected stack frame. @var{regname} may be any register name valid on
8952 the machine you are using, with or without the initial @samp{$}.
8953 @end table
8954
8955 @cindex stack pointer register
8956 @cindex program counter register
8957 @cindex process status register
8958 @cindex frame pointer register
8959 @cindex standard registers
8960 @value{GDBN} has four ``standard'' register names that are available (in
8961 expressions) on most machines---whenever they do not conflict with an
8962 architecture's canonical mnemonics for registers. The register names
8963 @code{$pc} and @code{$sp} are used for the program counter register and
8964 the stack pointer. @code{$fp} is used for a register that contains a
8965 pointer to the current stack frame, and @code{$ps} is used for a
8966 register that contains the processor status. For example,
8967 you could print the program counter in hex with
8968
8969 @smallexample
8970 p/x $pc
8971 @end smallexample
8972
8973 @noindent
8974 or print the instruction to be executed next with
8975
8976 @smallexample
8977 x/i $pc
8978 @end smallexample
8979
8980 @noindent
8981 or add four to the stack pointer@footnote{This is a way of removing
8982 one word from the stack, on machines where stacks grow downward in
8983 memory (most machines, nowadays). This assumes that the innermost
8984 stack frame is selected; setting @code{$sp} is not allowed when other
8985 stack frames are selected. To pop entire frames off the stack,
8986 regardless of machine architecture, use @code{return};
8987 see @ref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}.} with
8988
8989 @smallexample
8990 set $sp += 4
8991 @end smallexample
8992
8993 Whenever possible, these four standard register names are available on
8994 your machine even though the machine has different canonical mnemonics,
8995 so long as there is no conflict. The @code{info registers} command
8996 shows the canonical names. For example, on the SPARC, @code{info
8997 registers} displays the processor status register as @code{$psr} but you
8998 can also refer to it as @code{$ps}; and on x86-based machines @code{$ps}
8999 is an alias for the @sc{eflags} register.
9000
9001 @value{GDBN} always considers the contents of an ordinary register as an
9002 integer when the register is examined in this way. Some machines have
9003 special registers which can hold nothing but floating point; these
9004 registers are considered to have floating point values. There is no way
9005 to refer to the contents of an ordinary register as floating point value
9006 (although you can @emph{print} it as a floating point value with
9007 @samp{print/f $@var{regname}}).
9008
9009 Some registers have distinct ``raw'' and ``virtual'' data formats. This
9010 means that the data format in which the register contents are saved by
9011 the operating system is not the same one that your program normally
9012 sees. For example, the registers of the 68881 floating point
9013 coprocessor are always saved in ``extended'' (raw) format, but all C
9014 programs expect to work with ``double'' (virtual) format. In such
9015 cases, @value{GDBN} normally works with the virtual format only (the format
9016 that makes sense for your program), but the @code{info registers} command
9017 prints the data in both formats.
9018
9019 @cindex SSE registers (x86)
9020 @cindex MMX registers (x86)
9021 Some machines have special registers whose contents can be interpreted
9022 in several different ways. For example, modern x86-based machines
9023 have SSE and MMX registers that can hold several values packed
9024 together in several different formats. @value{GDBN} refers to such
9025 registers in @code{struct} notation:
9026
9027 @smallexample
9028 (@value{GDBP}) print $xmm1
9029 $1 = @{
9030 v4_float = @{0, 3.43859137e-038, 1.54142831e-044, 1.821688e-044@},
9031 v2_double = @{9.92129282474342e-303, 2.7585945287983262e-313@},
9032 v16_int8 = "\000\000\000\000\3706;\001\v\000\000\000\r\000\000",
9033 v8_int16 = @{0, 0, 14072, 315, 11, 0, 13, 0@},
9034 v4_int32 = @{0, 20657912, 11, 13@},
9035 v2_int64 = @{88725056443645952, 55834574859@},
9036 uint128 = 0x0000000d0000000b013b36f800000000
9037 @}
9038 @end smallexample
9039
9040 @noindent
9041 To set values of such registers, you need to tell @value{GDBN} which
9042 view of the register you wish to change, as if you were assigning
9043 value to a @code{struct} member:
9044
9045 @smallexample
9046 (@value{GDBP}) set $xmm1.uint128 = 0x000000000000000000000000FFFFFFFF
9047 @end smallexample
9048
9049 Normally, register values are relative to the selected stack frame
9050 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). This means that you get the
9051 value that the register would contain if all stack frames farther in
9052 were exited and their saved registers restored. In order to see the
9053 true contents of hardware registers, you must select the innermost
9054 frame (with @samp{frame 0}).
9055
9056 However, @value{GDBN} must deduce where registers are saved, from the machine
9057 code generated by your compiler. If some registers are not saved, or if
9058 @value{GDBN} is unable to locate the saved registers, the selected stack
9059 frame makes no difference.
9060
9061 @node Floating Point Hardware
9062 @section Floating Point Hardware
9063 @cindex floating point
9064
9065 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give
9066 you more information about the status of the floating point hardware.
9067
9068 @table @code
9069 @kindex info float
9070 @item info float
9071 Display hardware-dependent information about the floating
9072 point unit. The exact contents and layout vary depending on the
9073 floating point chip. Currently, @samp{info float} is supported on
9074 the ARM and x86 machines.
9075 @end table
9076
9077 @node Vector Unit
9078 @section Vector Unit
9079 @cindex vector unit
9080
9081 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give you
9082 more information about the status of the vector unit.
9083
9084 @table @code
9085 @kindex info vector
9086 @item info vector
9087 Display information about the vector unit. The exact contents and
9088 layout vary depending on the hardware.
9089 @end table
9090
9091 @node OS Information
9092 @section Operating System Auxiliary Information
9093 @cindex OS information
9094
9095 @value{GDBN} provides interfaces to useful OS facilities that can help
9096 you debug your program.
9097
9098 @cindex @code{ptrace} system call
9099 @cindex @code{struct user} contents
9100 When @value{GDBN} runs on a @dfn{Posix system} (such as GNU or Unix
9101 machines), it interfaces with the inferior via the @code{ptrace}
9102 system call. The operating system creates a special sata structure,
9103 called @code{struct user}, for this interface. You can use the
9104 command @code{info udot} to display the contents of this data
9105 structure.
9106
9107 @table @code
9108 @item info udot
9109 @kindex info udot
9110 Display the contents of the @code{struct user} maintained by the OS
9111 kernel for the program being debugged. @value{GDBN} displays the
9112 contents of @code{struct user} as a list of hex numbers, similar to
9113 the @code{examine} command.
9114 @end table
9115
9116 @cindex auxiliary vector
9117 @cindex vector, auxiliary
9118 Some operating systems supply an @dfn{auxiliary vector} to programs at
9119 startup. This is akin to the arguments and environment that you
9120 specify for a program, but contains a system-dependent variety of
9121 binary values that tell system libraries important details about the
9122 hardware, operating system, and process. Each value's purpose is
9123 identified by an integer tag; the meanings are well-known but system-specific.
9124 Depending on the configuration and operating system facilities,
9125 @value{GDBN} may be able to show you this information. For remote
9126 targets, this functionality may further depend on the remote stub's
9127 support of the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet, see
9128 @ref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}.
9129
9130 @table @code
9131 @kindex info auxv
9132 @item info auxv
9133 Display the auxiliary vector of the inferior, which can be either a
9134 live process or a core dump file. @value{GDBN} prints each tag value
9135 numerically, and also shows names and text descriptions for recognized
9136 tags. Some values in the vector are numbers, some bit masks, and some
9137 pointers to strings or other data. @value{GDBN} displays each value in the
9138 most appropriate form for a recognized tag, and in hexadecimal for
9139 an unrecognized tag.
9140 @end table
9141
9142 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can access operating-system-specific information
9143 and display it to user, without interpretation. For remote targets,
9144 this functionality depends on the remote stub's support of the
9145 @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet, see @ref{qXfer osdata read}.
9146
9147 @table @code
9148 @kindex info os
9149 @item info os
9150 List the types of OS information available for the target. If the
9151 target does not return a list of possible types, this command will
9152 report an error.
9153
9154 @kindex info os processes
9155 @item info os processes
9156 Display the list of processes on the target. For each process,
9157 @value{GDBN} prints the process identifier, the name of the user, and
9158 the command corresponding to the process.
9159 @end table
9160
9161 @node Memory Region Attributes
9162 @section Memory Region Attributes
9163 @cindex memory region attributes
9164
9165 @dfn{Memory region attributes} allow you to describe special handling
9166 required by regions of your target's memory. @value{GDBN} uses
9167 attributes to determine whether to allow certain types of memory
9168 accesses; whether to use specific width accesses; and whether to cache
9169 target memory. By default the description of memory regions is
9170 fetched from the target (if the current target supports this), but the
9171 user can override the fetched regions.
9172
9173 Defined memory regions can be individually enabled and disabled. When a
9174 memory region is disabled, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when
9175 accessing memory in that region. Similarly, if no memory regions have
9176 been defined, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when accessing
9177 all memory.
9178
9179 When a memory region is defined, it is given a number to identify it;
9180 to enable, disable, or remove a memory region, you specify that number.
9181
9182 @table @code
9183 @kindex mem
9184 @item mem @var{lower} @var{upper} @var{attributes}@dots{}
9185 Define a memory region bounded by @var{lower} and @var{upper} with
9186 attributes @var{attributes}@dots{}, and add it to the list of regions
9187 monitored by @value{GDBN}. Note that @var{upper} == 0 is a special
9188 case: it is treated as the target's maximum memory address.
9189 (0xffff on 16 bit targets, 0xffffffff on 32 bit targets, etc.)
9190
9191 @item mem auto
9192 Discard any user changes to the memory regions and use target-supplied
9193 regions, if available, or no regions if the target does not support.
9194
9195 @kindex delete mem
9196 @item delete mem @var{nums}@dots{}
9197 Remove memory regions @var{nums}@dots{} from the list of regions
9198 monitored by @value{GDBN}.
9199
9200 @kindex disable mem
9201 @item disable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
9202 Disable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
9203 A disabled memory region is not forgotten.
9204 It may be enabled again later.
9205
9206 @kindex enable mem
9207 @item enable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
9208 Enable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
9209
9210 @kindex info mem
9211 @item info mem
9212 Print a table of all defined memory regions, with the following columns
9213 for each region:
9214
9215 @table @emph
9216 @item Memory Region Number
9217 @item Enabled or Disabled.
9218 Enabled memory regions are marked with @samp{y}.
9219 Disabled memory regions are marked with @samp{n}.
9220
9221 @item Lo Address
9222 The address defining the inclusive lower bound of the memory region.
9223
9224 @item Hi Address
9225 The address defining the exclusive upper bound of the memory region.
9226
9227 @item Attributes
9228 The list of attributes set for this memory region.
9229 @end table
9230 @end table
9231
9232
9233 @subsection Attributes
9234
9235 @subsubsection Memory Access Mode
9236 The access mode attributes set whether @value{GDBN} may make read or
9237 write accesses to a memory region.
9238
9239 While these attributes prevent @value{GDBN} from performing invalid
9240 memory accesses, they do nothing to prevent the target system, I/O DMA,
9241 etc.@: from accessing memory.
9242
9243 @table @code
9244 @item ro
9245 Memory is read only.
9246 @item wo
9247 Memory is write only.
9248 @item rw
9249 Memory is read/write. This is the default.
9250 @end table
9251
9252 @subsubsection Memory Access Size
9253 The access size attribute tells @value{GDBN} to use specific sized
9254 accesses in the memory region. Often memory mapped device registers
9255 require specific sized accesses. If no access size attribute is
9256 specified, @value{GDBN} may use accesses of any size.
9257
9258 @table @code
9259 @item 8
9260 Use 8 bit memory accesses.
9261 @item 16
9262 Use 16 bit memory accesses.
9263 @item 32
9264 Use 32 bit memory accesses.
9265 @item 64
9266 Use 64 bit memory accesses.
9267 @end table
9268
9269 @c @subsubsection Hardware/Software Breakpoints
9270 @c The hardware/software breakpoint attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
9271 @c will use hardware or software breakpoints for the internal breakpoints
9272 @c used by the step, next, finish, until, etc. commands.
9273 @c
9274 @c @table @code
9275 @c @item hwbreak
9276 @c Always use hardware breakpoints
9277 @c @item swbreak (default)
9278 @c @end table
9279
9280 @subsubsection Data Cache
9281 The data cache attributes set whether @value{GDBN} will cache target
9282 memory. While this generally improves performance by reducing debug
9283 protocol overhead, it can lead to incorrect results because @value{GDBN}
9284 does not know about volatile variables or memory mapped device
9285 registers.
9286
9287 @table @code
9288 @item cache
9289 Enable @value{GDBN} to cache target memory.
9290 @item nocache
9291 Disable @value{GDBN} from caching target memory. This is the default.
9292 @end table
9293
9294 @subsection Memory Access Checking
9295 @value{GDBN} can be instructed to refuse accesses to memory that is
9296 not explicitly described. This can be useful if accessing such
9297 regions has undesired effects for a specific target, or to provide
9298 better error checking. The following commands control this behaviour.
9299
9300 @table @code
9301 @kindex set mem inaccessible-by-default
9302 @item set mem inaccessible-by-default [on|off]
9303 If @code{on} is specified, make @value{GDBN} treat memory not
9304 explicitly described by the memory ranges as non-existent and refuse accesses
9305 to such memory. The checks are only performed if there's at least one
9306 memory range defined. If @code{off} is specified, make @value{GDBN}
9307 treat the memory not explicitly described by the memory ranges as RAM.
9308 The default value is @code{on}.
9309 @kindex show mem inaccessible-by-default
9310 @item show mem inaccessible-by-default
9311 Show the current handling of accesses to unknown memory.
9312 @end table
9313
9314
9315 @c @subsubsection Memory Write Verification
9316 @c The memory write verification attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
9317 @c will re-reads data after each write to verify the write was successful.
9318 @c
9319 @c @table @code
9320 @c @item verify
9321 @c @item noverify (default)
9322 @c @end table
9323
9324 @node Dump/Restore Files
9325 @section Copy Between Memory and a File
9326 @cindex dump/restore files
9327 @cindex append data to a file
9328 @cindex dump data to a file
9329 @cindex restore data from a file
9330
9331 You can use the commands @code{dump}, @code{append}, and
9332 @code{restore} to copy data between target memory and a file. The
9333 @code{dump} and @code{append} commands write data to a file, and the
9334 @code{restore} command reads data from a file back into the inferior's
9335 memory. Files may be in binary, Motorola S-record, Intel hex, or
9336 Tektronix Hex format; however, @value{GDBN} can only append to binary
9337 files.
9338
9339 @table @code
9340
9341 @kindex dump
9342 @item dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
9343 @itemx dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
9344 Dump the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
9345 or the value of @var{expr}, to @var{filename} in the given format.
9346
9347 The @var{format} parameter may be any one of:
9348 @table @code
9349 @item binary
9350 Raw binary form.
9351 @item ihex
9352 Intel hex format.
9353 @item srec
9354 Motorola S-record format.
9355 @item tekhex
9356 Tektronix Hex format.
9357 @end table
9358
9359 @value{GDBN} uses the same definitions of these formats as the
9360 @sc{gnu} binary utilities, like @samp{objdump} and @samp{objcopy}. If
9361 @var{format} is omitted, @value{GDBN} dumps the data in raw binary
9362 form.
9363
9364 @kindex append
9365 @item append @r{[}binary@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
9366 @itemx append @r{[}binary@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
9367 Append the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
9368 or the value of @var{expr}, to the file @var{filename}, in raw binary form.
9369 (@value{GDBN} can only append data to files in raw binary form.)
9370
9371 @kindex restore
9372 @item restore @var{filename} @r{[}binary@r{]} @var{bias} @var{start} @var{end}
9373 Restore the contents of file @var{filename} into memory. The
9374 @code{restore} command can automatically recognize any known @sc{bfd}
9375 file format, except for raw binary. To restore a raw binary file you
9376 must specify the optional keyword @code{binary} after the filename.
9377
9378 If @var{bias} is non-zero, its value will be added to the addresses
9379 contained in the file. Binary files always start at address zero, so
9380 they will be restored at address @var{bias}. Other bfd files have
9381 a built-in location; they will be restored at offset @var{bias}
9382 from that location.
9383
9384 If @var{start} and/or @var{end} are non-zero, then only data between
9385 file offset @var{start} and file offset @var{end} will be restored.
9386 These offsets are relative to the addresses in the file, before
9387 the @var{bias} argument is applied.
9388
9389 @end table
9390
9391 @node Core File Generation
9392 @section How to Produce a Core File from Your Program
9393 @cindex dump core from inferior
9394
9395 A @dfn{core file} or @dfn{core dump} is a file that records the memory
9396 image of a running process and its process status (register values
9397 etc.). Its primary use is post-mortem debugging of a program that
9398 crashed while it ran outside a debugger. A program that crashes
9399 automatically produces a core file, unless this feature is disabled by
9400 the user. @xref{Files}, for information on invoking @value{GDBN} in
9401 the post-mortem debugging mode.
9402
9403 Occasionally, you may wish to produce a core file of the program you
9404 are debugging in order to preserve a snapshot of its state.
9405 @value{GDBN} has a special command for that.
9406
9407 @table @code
9408 @kindex gcore
9409 @kindex generate-core-file
9410 @item generate-core-file [@var{file}]
9411 @itemx gcore [@var{file}]
9412 Produce a core dump of the inferior process. The optional argument
9413 @var{file} specifies the file name where to put the core dump. If not
9414 specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}}, where
9415 @var{pid} is the inferior process ID.
9416
9417 Note that this command is implemented only for some systems (as of
9418 this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, Unixware, and S390).
9419 @end table
9420
9421 @node Character Sets
9422 @section Character Sets
9423 @cindex character sets
9424 @cindex charset
9425 @cindex translating between character sets
9426 @cindex host character set
9427 @cindex target character set
9428
9429 If the program you are debugging uses a different character set to
9430 represent characters and strings than the one @value{GDBN} uses itself,
9431 @value{GDBN} can automatically translate between the character sets for
9432 you. The character set @value{GDBN} uses we call the @dfn{host
9433 character set}; the one the inferior program uses we call the
9434 @dfn{target character set}.
9435
9436 For example, if you are running @value{GDBN} on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, which
9437 uses the ISO Latin 1 character set, but you are using @value{GDBN}'s
9438 remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Debugging}) to debug a program
9439 running on an IBM mainframe, which uses the @sc{ebcdic} character set,
9440 then the host character set is Latin-1, and the target character set is
9441 @sc{ebcdic}. If you give @value{GDBN} the command @code{set
9442 target-charset EBCDIC-US}, then @value{GDBN} translates between
9443 @sc{ebcdic} and Latin 1 as you print character or string values, or use
9444 character and string literals in expressions.
9445
9446 @value{GDBN} has no way to automatically recognize which character set
9447 the inferior program uses; you must tell it, using the @code{set
9448 target-charset} command, described below.
9449
9450 Here are the commands for controlling @value{GDBN}'s character set
9451 support:
9452
9453 @table @code
9454 @item set target-charset @var{charset}
9455 @kindex set target-charset
9456 Set the current target character set to @var{charset}. To display the
9457 list of supported target character sets, type
9458 @kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
9459
9460 @item set host-charset @var{charset}
9461 @kindex set host-charset
9462 Set the current host character set to @var{charset}.
9463
9464 By default, @value{GDBN} uses a host character set appropriate to the
9465 system it is running on; you can override that default using the
9466 @code{set host-charset} command. On some systems, @value{GDBN} cannot
9467 automatically determine the appropriate host character set. In this
9468 case, @value{GDBN} uses @samp{UTF-8}.
9469
9470 @value{GDBN} can only use certain character sets as its host character
9471 set. If you type @kbd{@w{set host-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
9472 @value{GDBN} will list the host character sets it supports.
9473
9474 @item set charset @var{charset}
9475 @kindex set charset
9476 Set the current host and target character sets to @var{charset}. As
9477 above, if you type @kbd{@w{set charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
9478 @value{GDBN} will list the names of the character sets that can be used
9479 for both host and target.
9480
9481 @item show charset
9482 @kindex show charset
9483 Show the names of the current host and target character sets.
9484
9485 @item show host-charset
9486 @kindex show host-charset
9487 Show the name of the current host character set.
9488
9489 @item show target-charset
9490 @kindex show target-charset
9491 Show the name of the current target character set.
9492
9493 @item set target-wide-charset @var{charset}
9494 @kindex set target-wide-charset
9495 Set the current target's wide character set to @var{charset}. This is
9496 the character set used by the target's @code{wchar_t} type. To
9497 display the list of supported wide character sets, type
9498 @kbd{@w{set target-wide-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
9499
9500 @item show target-wide-charset
9501 @kindex show target-wide-charset
9502 Show the name of the current target's wide character set.
9503 @end table
9504
9505 Here is an example of @value{GDBN}'s character set support in action.
9506 Assume that the following source code has been placed in the file
9507 @file{charset-test.c}:
9508
9509 @smallexample
9510 #include <stdio.h>
9511
9512 char ascii_hello[]
9513 = @{72, 101, 108, 108, 111, 44, 32, 119,
9514 111, 114, 108, 100, 33, 10, 0@};
9515 char ibm1047_hello[]
9516 = @{200, 133, 147, 147, 150, 107, 64, 166,
9517 150, 153, 147, 132, 90, 37, 0@};
9518
9519 main ()
9520 @{
9521 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
9522 @}
9523 @end smallexample
9524
9525 In this program, @code{ascii_hello} and @code{ibm1047_hello} are arrays
9526 containing the string @samp{Hello, world!} followed by a newline,
9527 encoded in the @sc{ascii} and @sc{ibm1047} character sets.
9528
9529 We compile the program, and invoke the debugger on it:
9530
9531 @smallexample
9532 $ gcc -g charset-test.c -o charset-test
9533 $ gdb -nw charset-test
9534 GNU gdb 2001-12-19-cvs
9535 Copyright 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
9536 @dots{}
9537 (@value{GDBP})
9538 @end smallexample
9539
9540 We can use the @code{show charset} command to see what character sets
9541 @value{GDBN} is currently using to interpret and display characters and
9542 strings:
9543
9544 @smallexample
9545 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
9546 The current host and target character set is `ISO-8859-1'.
9547 (@value{GDBP})
9548 @end smallexample
9549
9550 For the sake of printing this manual, let's use @sc{ascii} as our
9551 initial character set:
9552 @smallexample
9553 (@value{GDBP}) set charset ASCII
9554 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
9555 The current host and target character set is `ASCII'.
9556 (@value{GDBP})
9557 @end smallexample
9558
9559 Let's assume that @sc{ascii} is indeed the correct character set for our
9560 host system --- in other words, let's assume that if @value{GDBN} prints
9561 characters using the @sc{ascii} character set, our terminal will display
9562 them properly. Since our current target character set is also
9563 @sc{ascii}, the contents of @code{ascii_hello} print legibly:
9564
9565 @smallexample
9566 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
9567 $1 = 0x401698 "Hello, world!\n"
9568 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
9569 $2 = 72 'H'
9570 (@value{GDBP})
9571 @end smallexample
9572
9573 @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and string
9574 literals you use in expressions:
9575
9576 @smallexample
9577 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
9578 $3 = 43 '+'
9579 (@value{GDBP})
9580 @end smallexample
9581
9582 The @sc{ascii} character set uses the number 43 to encode the @samp{+}
9583 character.
9584
9585 @value{GDBN} relies on the user to tell it which character set the
9586 target program uses. If we print @code{ibm1047_hello} while our target
9587 character set is still @sc{ascii}, we get jibberish:
9588
9589 @smallexample
9590 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
9591 $4 = 0x4016a8 "\310\205\223\223\226k@@\246\226\231\223\204Z%"
9592 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
9593 $5 = 200 '\310'
9594 (@value{GDBP})
9595 @end smallexample
9596
9597 If we invoke the @code{set target-charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB},
9598 @value{GDBN} tells us the character sets it supports:
9599
9600 @smallexample
9601 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
9602 ASCII EBCDIC-US IBM1047 ISO-8859-1
9603 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
9604 @end smallexample
9605
9606 We can select @sc{ibm1047} as our target character set, and examine the
9607 program's strings again. Now the @sc{ascii} string is wrong, but
9608 @value{GDBN} translates the contents of @code{ibm1047_hello} from the
9609 target character set, @sc{ibm1047}, to the host character set,
9610 @sc{ascii}, and they display correctly:
9611
9612 @smallexample
9613 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset IBM1047
9614 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
9615 The current host character set is `ASCII'.
9616 The current target character set is `IBM1047'.
9617 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
9618 $6 = 0x401698 "\110\145%%?\054\040\167?\162%\144\041\012"
9619 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
9620 $7 = 72 '\110'
9621 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
9622 $8 = 0x4016a8 "Hello, world!\n"
9623 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
9624 $9 = 200 'H'
9625 (@value{GDBP})
9626 @end smallexample
9627
9628 As above, @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and
9629 string literals you use in expressions:
9630
9631 @smallexample
9632 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
9633 $10 = 78 '+'
9634 (@value{GDBP})
9635 @end smallexample
9636
9637 The @sc{ibm1047} character set uses the number 78 to encode the @samp{+}
9638 character.
9639
9640 @node Caching Remote Data
9641 @section Caching Data of Remote Targets
9642 @cindex caching data of remote targets
9643
9644 @value{GDBN} caches data exchanged between the debugger and a
9645 remote target (@pxref{Remote Debugging}). Such caching generally improves
9646 performance, because it reduces the overhead of the remote protocol by
9647 bundling memory reads and writes into large chunks. Unfortunately, simply
9648 caching everything would lead to incorrect results, since @value{GDBN}
9649 does not necessarily know anything about volatile values, memory-mapped I/O
9650 addresses, etc. Furthermore, in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode})
9651 memory can be changed @emph{while} a gdb command is executing.
9652 Therefore, by default, @value{GDBN} only caches data
9653 known to be on the stack@footnote{In non-stop mode, it is moderately
9654 rare for a running thread to modify the stack of a stopped thread
9655 in a way that would interfere with a backtrace, and caching of
9656 stack reads provides a significant speed up of remote backtraces.}.
9657 Other regions of memory can be explicitly marked as
9658 cacheable; see @pxref{Memory Region Attributes}.
9659
9660 @table @code
9661 @kindex set remotecache
9662 @item set remotecache on
9663 @itemx set remotecache off
9664 This option no longer does anything; it exists for compatibility
9665 with old scripts.
9666
9667 @kindex show remotecache
9668 @item show remotecache
9669 Show the current state of the obsolete remotecache flag.
9670
9671 @kindex set stack-cache
9672 @item set stack-cache on
9673 @itemx set stack-cache off
9674 Enable or disable caching of stack accesses. When @code{ON}, use
9675 caching. By default, this option is @code{ON}.
9676
9677 @kindex show stack-cache
9678 @item show stack-cache
9679 Show the current state of data caching for memory accesses.
9680
9681 @kindex info dcache
9682 @item info dcache @r{[}line@r{]}
9683 Print the information about the data cache performance. The
9684 information displayed includes the dcache width and depth, and for
9685 each cache line, its number, address, and how many times it was
9686 referenced. This command is useful for debugging the data cache
9687 operation.
9688
9689 If a line number is specified, the contents of that line will be
9690 printed in hex.
9691
9692 @item set dcache size @var{size}
9693 @cindex dcache size
9694 @kindex set dcache size
9695 Set maximum number of entries in dcache (dcache depth above).
9696
9697 @item set dcache line-size @var{line-size}
9698 @cindex dcache line-size
9699 @kindex set dcache line-size
9700 Set number of bytes each dcache entry caches (dcache width above).
9701 Must be a power of 2.
9702
9703 @item show dcache size
9704 @kindex show dcache size
9705 Show maximum number of dcache entries. See also @ref{Caching Remote Data, info dcache}.
9706
9707 @item show dcache line-size
9708 @kindex show dcache line-size
9709 Show default size of dcache lines. See also @ref{Caching Remote Data, info dcache}.
9710
9711 @end table
9712
9713 @node Searching Memory
9714 @section Search Memory
9715 @cindex searching memory
9716
9717 Memory can be searched for a particular sequence of bytes with the
9718 @code{find} command.
9719
9720 @table @code
9721 @kindex find
9722 @item find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, +@var{len}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
9723 @itemx find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, @var{end_addr}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
9724 Search memory for the sequence of bytes specified by @var{val1}, @var{val2},
9725 etc. The search begins at address @var{start_addr} and continues for either
9726 @var{len} bytes or through to @var{end_addr} inclusive.
9727 @end table
9728
9729 @var{s} and @var{n} are optional parameters.
9730 They may be specified in either order, apart or together.
9731
9732 @table @r
9733 @item @var{s}, search query size
9734 The size of each search query value.
9735
9736 @table @code
9737 @item b
9738 bytes
9739 @item h
9740 halfwords (two bytes)
9741 @item w
9742 words (four bytes)
9743 @item g
9744 giant words (eight bytes)
9745 @end table
9746
9747 All values are interpreted in the current language.
9748 This means, for example, that if the current source language is C/C@t{++}
9749 then searching for the string ``hello'' includes the trailing '\0'.
9750
9751 If the value size is not specified, it is taken from the
9752 value's type in the current language.
9753 This is useful when one wants to specify the search
9754 pattern as a mixture of types.
9755 Note that this means, for example, that in the case of C-like languages
9756 a search for an untyped 0x42 will search for @samp{(int) 0x42}
9757 which is typically four bytes.
9758
9759 @item @var{n}, maximum number of finds
9760 The maximum number of matches to print. The default is to print all finds.
9761 @end table
9762
9763 You can use strings as search values. Quote them with double-quotes
9764 (@code{"}).
9765 The string value is copied into the search pattern byte by byte,
9766 regardless of the endianness of the target and the size specification.
9767
9768 The address of each match found is printed as well as a count of the
9769 number of matches found.
9770
9771 The address of the last value found is stored in convenience variable
9772 @samp{$_}.
9773 A count of the number of matches is stored in @samp{$numfound}.
9774
9775 For example, if stopped at the @code{printf} in this function:
9776
9777 @smallexample
9778 void
9779 hello ()
9780 @{
9781 static char hello[] = "hello-hello";
9782 static struct @{ char c; short s; int i; @}
9783 __attribute__ ((packed)) mixed
9784 = @{ 'c', 0x1234, 0x87654321 @};
9785 printf ("%s\n", hello);
9786 @}
9787 @end smallexample
9788
9789 @noindent
9790 you get during debugging:
9791
9792 @smallexample
9793 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), "hello"
9794 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
9795 1 pattern found
9796 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'
9797 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
9798 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
9799 2 patterns found
9800 (gdb) find /b1 &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 0x65, 'l'
9801 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
9802 1 pattern found
9803 (gdb) find &mixed, +sizeof(mixed), (char) 'c', (short) 0x1234, (int) 0x87654321
9804 0x8049560 <mixed.1625>
9805 1 pattern found
9806 (gdb) print $numfound
9807 $1 = 1
9808 (gdb) print $_
9809 $2 = (void *) 0x8049560
9810 @end smallexample
9811
9812 @node Optimized Code
9813 @chapter Debugging Optimized Code
9814 @cindex optimized code, debugging
9815 @cindex debugging optimized code
9816
9817 Almost all compilers support optimization. With optimization
9818 disabled, the compiler generates assembly code that corresponds
9819 directly to your source code, in a simplistic way. As the compiler
9820 applies more powerful optimizations, the generated assembly code
9821 diverges from your original source code. With help from debugging
9822 information generated by the compiler, @value{GDBN} can map from
9823 the running program back to constructs from your original source.
9824
9825 @value{GDBN} is more accurate with optimization disabled. If you
9826 can recompile without optimization, it is easier to follow the
9827 progress of your program during debugging. But, there are many cases
9828 where you may need to debug an optimized version.
9829
9830 When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
9831 optimizer has rearranged your code; the debugger shows you what is
9832 really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
9833 exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
9834 variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
9835 variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
9836
9837 Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
9838 @samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
9839 doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
9840 please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
9841 @xref{Variables}, for more information about debugging optimized code.
9842
9843 @menu
9844 * Inline Functions:: How @value{GDBN} presents inlining
9845 * Tail Call Frames:: @value{GDBN} analysis of jumps to functions
9846 @end menu
9847
9848 @node Inline Functions
9849 @section Inline Functions
9850 @cindex inline functions, debugging
9851
9852 @dfn{Inlining} is an optimization that inserts a copy of the function
9853 body directly at each call site, instead of jumping to a shared
9854 routine. @value{GDBN} displays inlined functions just like
9855 non-inlined functions. They appear in backtraces. You can view their
9856 arguments and local variables, step into them with @code{step}, skip
9857 them with @code{next}, and escape from them with @code{finish}.
9858 You can check whether a function was inlined by using the
9859 @code{info frame} command.
9860
9861 For @value{GDBN} to support inlined functions, the compiler must
9862 record information about inlining in the debug information ---
9863 @value{NGCC} using the @sc{dwarf 2} format does this, and several
9864 other compilers do also. @value{GDBN} only supports inlined functions
9865 when using @sc{dwarf 2}. Versions of @value{NGCC} before 4.1
9866 do not emit two required attributes (@samp{DW_AT_call_file} and
9867 @samp{DW_AT_call_line}); @value{GDBN} does not display inlined
9868 function calls with earlier versions of @value{NGCC}. It instead
9869 displays the arguments and local variables of inlined functions as
9870 local variables in the caller.
9871
9872 The body of an inlined function is directly included at its call site;
9873 unlike a non-inlined function, there are no instructions devoted to
9874 the call. @value{GDBN} still pretends that the call site and the
9875 start of the inlined function are different instructions. Stepping to
9876 the call site shows the call site, and then stepping again shows
9877 the first line of the inlined function, even though no additional
9878 instructions are executed.
9879
9880 This makes source-level debugging much clearer; you can see both the
9881 context of the call and then the effect of the call. Only stepping by
9882 a single instruction using @code{stepi} or @code{nexti} does not do
9883 this; single instruction steps always show the inlined body.
9884
9885 There are some ways that @value{GDBN} does not pretend that inlined
9886 function calls are the same as normal calls:
9887
9888 @itemize @bullet
9889 @item
9890 You cannot set breakpoints on inlined functions. @value{GDBN}
9891 either reports that there is no symbol with that name, or else sets the
9892 breakpoint only on non-inlined copies of the function. This limitation
9893 will be removed in a future version of @value{GDBN}; until then,
9894 set a breakpoint by line number on the first line of the inlined
9895 function instead.
9896
9897 @item
9898 Setting breakpoints at the call site of an inlined function may not
9899 work, because the call site does not contain any code. @value{GDBN}
9900 may incorrectly move the breakpoint to the next line of the enclosing
9901 function, after the call. This limitation will be removed in a future
9902 version of @value{GDBN}; until then, set a breakpoint on an earlier line
9903 or inside the inlined function instead.
9904
9905 @item
9906 @value{GDBN} cannot locate the return value of inlined calls after
9907 using the @code{finish} command. This is a limitation of compiler-generated
9908 debugging information; after @code{finish}, you can step to the next line
9909 and print a variable where your program stored the return value.
9910
9911 @end itemize
9912
9913 @node Tail Call Frames
9914 @section Tail Call Frames
9915 @cindex tail call frames, debugging
9916
9917 Function @code{B} can call function @code{C} in its very last statement. In
9918 unoptimized compilation the call of @code{C} is immediately followed by return
9919 instruction at the end of @code{B} code. Optimizing compiler may replace the
9920 call and return in function @code{B} into one jump to function @code{C}
9921 instead. Such use of a jump instruction is called @dfn{tail call}.
9922
9923 During execution of function @code{C}, there will be no indication in the
9924 function call stack frames that it was tail-called from @code{B}. If function
9925 @code{A} regularly calls function @code{B} which tail-calls function @code{C},
9926 then @value{GDBN} will see @code{A} as the caller of @code{C}. However, in
9927 some cases @value{GDBN} can determine that @code{C} was tail-called from
9928 @code{B}, and it will then create fictitious call frame for that, with the
9929 return address set up as if @code{B} called @code{C} normally.
9930
9931 This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
9932 the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
9933 @value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
9934 this information.
9935
9936 @kbd{info frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info}) will indicate the tail call frame
9937 kind by text @code{tail call frame} such as in this sample @value{GDBN} output:
9938
9939 @smallexample
9940 (gdb) x/i $pc - 2
9941 0x40066b <b(int, double)+11>: jmp 0x400640 <c(int, double)>
9942 (gdb) info frame
9943 Stack level 1, frame at 0x7fffffffda30:
9944 rip = 0x40066d in b (amd64-entry-value.cc:59); saved rip 0x4004c5
9945 tail call frame, caller of frame at 0x7fffffffda30
9946 source language c++.
9947 Arglist at unknown address.
9948 Locals at unknown address, Previous frame's sp is 0x7fffffffda30
9949 @end smallexample
9950
9951 The detection of all the possible code path executions can find them ambiguous.
9952 There is no execution history stored (possible @ref{Reverse Execution} is never
9953 used for this purpose) and the last known caller could have reached the known
9954 callee by multiple different jump sequences. In such case @value{GDBN} still
9955 tries to show at least all the unambiguous top tail callers and all the
9956 unambiguous bottom tail calees, if any.
9957
9958 @table @code
9959 @anchor{set debug entry-values}
9960 @item set debug entry-values
9961 @kindex set debug entry-values
9962 When set to on, enables printing of analysis messages for both frame argument
9963 values at function entry and tail calls. It will show all the possible valid
9964 tail calls code paths it has considered. It will also print the intersection
9965 of them with the final unambiguous (possibly partial or even empty) code path
9966 result.
9967
9968 @item show debug entry-values
9969 @kindex show debug entry-values
9970 Show the current state of analysis messages printing for both frame argument
9971 values at function entry and tail calls.
9972 @end table
9973
9974 The analysis messages for tail calls can for example show why the virtual tail
9975 call frame for function @code{c} has not been recognized (due to the indirect
9976 reference by variable @code{x}):
9977
9978 @smallexample
9979 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void);
9980 void (*x) (void) = c;
9981 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
9982 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ a (); @}
9983 int main (void) @{ x (); return 0; @}
9984
9985 Breakpoint 1, DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving cannot find
9986 DW_TAG_GNU_call_site 0x40039a in main
9987 a () at t.c:3
9988 3 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
9989 (gdb) bt
9990 #0 a () at t.c:3
9991 #1 0x000000000040039a in main () at t.c:5
9992 @end smallexample
9993
9994 Another possibility is an ambiguous virtual tail call frames resolution:
9995
9996 @smallexample
9997 int i;
9998 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) f (void) @{ i++; @}
9999 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) e (void) @{ f (); @}
10000 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) d (void) @{ f (); @}
10001 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ d (); @}
10002 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (void)
10003 @{ if (i) c (); else e (); @}
10004 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ b (); @}
10005 int main (void) @{ a (); return 0; @}
10006
10007 tailcall: initial: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004ce(b) 0x4004b2(c) 0x4004a2(d)
10008 tailcall: compare: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004cc(b) 0x400492(e)
10009 tailcall: reduced: 0x4004d2(a) |
10010 (gdb) bt
10011 #0 f () at t.c:2
10012 #1 0x00000000004004d2 in a () at t.c:8
10013 #2 0x0000000000400395 in main () at t.c:9
10014 @end smallexample
10015
10016 @set CALLSEQ1A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}c@value{ARROW}d@value{ARROW}f}
10017 @set CALLSEQ2A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}e@value{ARROW}f}
10018
10019 @c Convert CALLSEQ#A to CALLSEQ#B depending on HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK.
10020 @ifset HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
10021 @set ARROW @click{}
10022 @set CALLSEQ1B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ1A}}
10023 @set CALLSEQ2B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ2A}}
10024 @end ifset
10025 @ifclear HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
10026 @set ARROW ->
10027 @set CALLSEQ1B @value{CALLSEQ1A}
10028 @set CALLSEQ2B @value{CALLSEQ2A}
10029 @end ifclear
10030
10031 Frames #0 and #2 are real, #1 is a virtual tail call frame.
10032 The code can have possible execution paths @value{CALLSEQ1B} or
10033 @value{CALLSEQ2B}, @value{GDBN} cannot find which one from the inferior state.
10034
10035 @code{initial:} state shows some random possible calling sequence @value{GDBN}
10036 has found. It then finds another possible calling sequcen - that one is
10037 prefixed by @code{compare:}. The non-ambiguous intersection of these two is
10038 printed as the @code{reduced:} calling sequence. That one could have many
10039 futher @code{compare:} and @code{reduced:} statements as long as there remain
10040 any non-ambiguous sequence entries.
10041
10042 For the frame of function @code{b} in both cases there are different possible
10043 @code{$pc} values (@code{0x4004cc} or @code{0x4004ce}), therefore this frame is
10044 also ambigous. The only non-ambiguous frame is the one for function @code{a},
10045 therefore this one is displayed to the user while the ambiguous frames are
10046 omitted.
10047
10048 There can be also reasons why printing of frame argument values at function
10049 entry may fail:
10050
10051 @smallexample
10052 int v;
10053 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (int i) @{ v++; @}
10054 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i);
10055 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (int i) @{ a (i); @}
10056 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i)
10057 @{ if (i) b (i - 1); else c (0); @}
10058 int main (void) @{ a (5); return 0; @}
10059
10060 (gdb) bt
10061 #0 c (i=i@@entry=0) at t.c:2
10062 #1 0x0000000000400428 in a (DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving has found
10063 function "a" at 0x400420 can call itself via tail calls
10064 i=<optimized out>) at t.c:6
10065 #2 0x000000000040036e in main () at t.c:7
10066 @end smallexample
10067
10068 @value{GDBN} cannot find out from the inferior state if and how many times did
10069 function @code{a} call itself (via function @code{b}) as these calls would be
10070 tail calls. Such tail calls would modify thue @code{i} variable, therefore
10071 @value{GDBN} cannot be sure the value it knows would be right - @value{GDBN}
10072 prints @code{<optimized out>} instead.
10073
10074 @node Macros
10075 @chapter C Preprocessor Macros
10076
10077 Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, provide a way to define and invoke
10078 ``preprocessor macros'' which expand into strings of tokens.
10079 @value{GDBN} can evaluate expressions containing macro invocations, show
10080 the result of macro expansion, and show a macro's definition, including
10081 where it was defined.
10082
10083 You may need to compile your program specially to provide @value{GDBN}
10084 with information about preprocessor macros. Most compilers do not
10085 include macros in their debugging information, even when you compile
10086 with the @option{-g} flag. @xref{Compilation}.
10087
10088 A program may define a macro at one point, remove that definition later,
10089 and then provide a different definition after that. Thus, at different
10090 points in the program, a macro may have different definitions, or have
10091 no definition at all. If there is a current stack frame, @value{GDBN}
10092 uses the macros in scope at that frame's source code line. Otherwise,
10093 @value{GDBN} uses the macros in scope at the current listing location;
10094 see @ref{List}.
10095
10096 Whenever @value{GDBN} evaluates an expression, it always expands any
10097 macro invocations present in the expression. @value{GDBN} also provides
10098 the following commands for working with macros explicitly.
10099
10100 @table @code
10101
10102 @kindex macro expand
10103 @cindex macro expansion, showing the results of preprocessor
10104 @cindex preprocessor macro expansion, showing the results of
10105 @cindex expanding preprocessor macros
10106 @item macro expand @var{expression}
10107 @itemx macro exp @var{expression}
10108 Show the results of expanding all preprocessor macro invocations in
10109 @var{expression}. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does
10110 not parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression;
10111 it can be any string of tokens.
10112
10113 @kindex macro exp1
10114 @item macro expand-once @var{expression}
10115 @itemx macro exp1 @var{expression}
10116 @cindex expand macro once
10117 @i{(This command is not yet implemented.)} Show the results of
10118 expanding those preprocessor macro invocations that appear explicitly in
10119 @var{expression}. Macro invocations appearing in that expansion are
10120 left unchanged. This command allows you to see the effect of a
10121 particular macro more clearly, without being confused by further
10122 expansions. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does not
10123 parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression; it
10124 can be any string of tokens.
10125
10126 @kindex info macro
10127 @cindex macro definition, showing
10128 @cindex definition of a macro, showing
10129 @cindex macros, from debug info
10130 @item info macro [-a|-all] [--] @var{macro}
10131 Show the current definition or all definitions of the named @var{macro},
10132 and describe the source location or compiler command-line where that
10133 definition was established. The optional double dash is to signify the end of
10134 argument processing and the beginning of @var{macro} for non C-like macros where
10135 the macro may begin with a hyphen.
10136
10137 @kindex info macros
10138 @item info macros @var{linespec}
10139 Show all macro definitions that are in effect at the location specified
10140 by @var{linespec}, and describe the source location or compiler
10141 command-line where those definitions were established.
10142
10143 @kindex macro define
10144 @cindex user-defined macros
10145 @cindex defining macros interactively
10146 @cindex macros, user-defined
10147 @item macro define @var{macro} @var{replacement-list}
10148 @itemx macro define @var{macro}(@var{arglist}) @var{replacement-list}
10149 Introduce a definition for a preprocessor macro named @var{macro},
10150 invocations of which are replaced by the tokens given in
10151 @var{replacement-list}. The first form of this command defines an
10152 ``object-like'' macro, which takes no arguments; the second form
10153 defines a ``function-like'' macro, which takes the arguments given in
10154 @var{arglist}.
10155
10156 A definition introduced by this command is in scope in every
10157 expression evaluated in @value{GDBN}, until it is removed with the
10158 @code{macro undef} command, described below. The definition overrides
10159 all definitions for @var{macro} present in the program being debugged,
10160 as well as any previous user-supplied definition.
10161
10162 @kindex macro undef
10163 @item macro undef @var{macro}
10164 Remove any user-supplied definition for the macro named @var{macro}.
10165 This command only affects definitions provided with the @code{macro
10166 define} command, described above; it cannot remove definitions present
10167 in the program being debugged.
10168
10169 @kindex macro list
10170 @item macro list
10171 List all the macros defined using the @code{macro define} command.
10172 @end table
10173
10174 @cindex macros, example of debugging with
10175 Here is a transcript showing the above commands in action. First, we
10176 show our source files:
10177
10178 @smallexample
10179 $ cat sample.c
10180 #include <stdio.h>
10181 #include "sample.h"
10182
10183 #define M 42
10184 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
10185
10186 main ()
10187 @{
10188 #define N 28
10189 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10190 #undef N
10191 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
10192 #define N 1729
10193 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
10194 @}
10195 $ cat sample.h
10196 #define Q <
10197 $
10198 @end smallexample
10199
10200 Now, we compile the program using the @sc{gnu} C compiler,
10201 @value{NGCC}. We pass the @option{-gdwarf-2}@footnote{This is the
10202 minimum. Recent versions of @value{NGCC} support @option{-gdwarf-3}
10203 and @option{-gdwarf-4}; we recommend always choosing the most recent
10204 version of DWARF.} @emph{and} @option{-g3} flags to ensure the compiler
10205 includes information about preprocessor macros in the debugging
10206 information.
10207
10208 @smallexample
10209 $ gcc -gdwarf-2 -g3 sample.c -o sample
10210 $
10211 @end smallexample
10212
10213 Now, we start @value{GDBN} on our sample program:
10214
10215 @smallexample
10216 $ gdb -nw sample
10217 GNU gdb 2002-05-06-cvs
10218 Copyright 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
10219 GDB is free software, @dots{}
10220 (@value{GDBP})
10221 @end smallexample
10222
10223 We can expand macros and examine their definitions, even when the
10224 program is not running. @value{GDBN} uses the current listing position
10225 to decide which macro definitions are in scope:
10226
10227 @smallexample
10228 (@value{GDBP}) list main
10229 3
10230 4 #define M 42
10231 5 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
10232 6
10233 7 main ()
10234 8 @{
10235 9 #define N 28
10236 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10237 11 #undef N
10238 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
10239 (@value{GDBP}) info macro ADD
10240 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:5
10241 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
10242 (@value{GDBP}) info macro Q
10243 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.h:1
10244 included at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:2
10245 #define Q <
10246 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand ADD(1)
10247 expands to: (42 + 1)
10248 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand-once ADD(1)
10249 expands to: once (M + 1)
10250 (@value{GDBP})
10251 @end smallexample
10252
10253 In the example above, note that @code{macro expand-once} expands only
10254 the macro invocation explicit in the original text --- the invocation of
10255 @code{ADD} --- but does not expand the invocation of the macro @code{M},
10256 which was introduced by @code{ADD}.
10257
10258 Once the program is running, @value{GDBN} uses the macro definitions in
10259 force at the source line of the current stack frame:
10260
10261 @smallexample
10262 (@value{GDBP}) break main
10263 Breakpoint 1 at 0x8048370: file sample.c, line 10.
10264 (@value{GDBP}) run
10265 Starting program: /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample
10266
10267 Breakpoint 1, main () at sample.c:10
10268 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
10269 (@value{GDBP})
10270 @end smallexample
10271
10272 At line 10, the definition of the macro @code{N} at line 9 is in force:
10273
10274 @smallexample
10275 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
10276 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:9
10277 #define N 28
10278 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
10279 expands to: 28 < 42
10280 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
10281 $1 = 1
10282 (@value{GDBP})
10283 @end smallexample
10284
10285 As we step over directives that remove @code{N}'s definition, and then
10286 give it a new definition, @value{GDBN} finds the definition (or lack
10287 thereof) in force at each point:
10288
10289 @smallexample
10290 (@value{GDBP}) next
10291 Hello, world!
10292 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
10293 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
10294 The symbol `N' has no definition as a C/C++ preprocessor macro
10295 at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:12
10296 (@value{GDBP}) next
10297 We're so creative.
10298 14 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
10299 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
10300 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:13
10301 #define N 1729
10302 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
10303 expands to: 1729 < 42
10304 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
10305 $2 = 0
10306 (@value{GDBP})
10307 @end smallexample
10308
10309 In addition to source files, macros can be defined on the compilation command
10310 line using the @option{-D@var{name}=@var{value}} syntax. For macros defined in
10311 such a way, @value{GDBN} displays the location of their definition as line zero
10312 of the source file submitted to the compiler.
10313
10314 @smallexample
10315 (@value{GDBP}) info macro __STDC__
10316 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:0
10317 -D__STDC__=1
10318 (@value{GDBP})
10319 @end smallexample
10320
10321
10322 @node Tracepoints
10323 @chapter Tracepoints
10324 @c This chapter is based on the documentation written by Michael
10325 @c Snyder, David Taylor, Jim Blandy, and Elena Zannoni.
10326
10327 @cindex tracepoints
10328 In some applications, it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt
10329 the program's execution long enough for the developer to learn
10330 anything helpful about its behavior. If the program's correctness
10331 depends on its real-time behavior, delays introduced by a debugger
10332 might cause the program to change its behavior drastically, or perhaps
10333 fail, even when the code itself is correct. It is useful to be able
10334 to observe the program's behavior without interrupting it.
10335
10336 Using @value{GDBN}'s @code{trace} and @code{collect} commands, you can
10337 specify locations in the program, called @dfn{tracepoints}, and
10338 arbitrary expressions to evaluate when those tracepoints are reached.
10339 Later, using the @code{tfind} command, you can examine the values
10340 those expressions had when the program hit the tracepoints. The
10341 expressions may also denote objects in memory---structures or arrays,
10342 for example---whose values @value{GDBN} should record; while visiting
10343 a particular tracepoint, you may inspect those objects as if they were
10344 in memory at that moment. However, because @value{GDBN} records these
10345 values without interacting with you, it can do so quickly and
10346 unobtrusively, hopefully not disturbing the program's behavior.
10347
10348 The tracepoint facility is currently available only for remote
10349 targets. @xref{Targets}. In addition, your remote target must know
10350 how to collect trace data. This functionality is implemented in the
10351 remote stub; however, none of the stubs distributed with @value{GDBN}
10352 support tracepoints as of this writing. The format of the remote
10353 packets used to implement tracepoints are described in @ref{Tracepoint
10354 Packets}.
10355
10356 It is also possible to get trace data from a file, in a manner reminiscent
10357 of corefiles; you specify the filename, and use @code{tfind} to search
10358 through the file. @xref{Trace Files}, for more details.
10359
10360 This chapter describes the tracepoint commands and features.
10361
10362 @menu
10363 * Set Tracepoints::
10364 * Analyze Collected Data::
10365 * Tracepoint Variables::
10366 * Trace Files::
10367 @end menu
10368
10369 @node Set Tracepoints
10370 @section Commands to Set Tracepoints
10371
10372 Before running such a @dfn{trace experiment}, an arbitrary number of
10373 tracepoints can be set. A tracepoint is actually a special type of
10374 breakpoint (@pxref{Set Breaks}), so you can manipulate it using
10375 standard breakpoint commands. For instance, as with breakpoints,
10376 tracepoint numbers are successive integers starting from one, and many
10377 of the commands associated with tracepoints take the tracepoint number
10378 as their argument, to identify which tracepoint to work on.
10379
10380 For each tracepoint, you can specify, in advance, some arbitrary set
10381 of data that you want the target to collect in the trace buffer when
10382 it hits that tracepoint. The collected data can include registers,
10383 local variables, or global data. Later, you can use @value{GDBN}
10384 commands to examine the values these data had at the time the
10385 tracepoint was hit.
10386
10387 Tracepoints do not support every breakpoint feature. Ignore counts on
10388 tracepoints have no effect, and tracepoints cannot run @value{GDBN}
10389 commands when they are hit. Tracepoints may not be thread-specific
10390 either.
10391
10392 @cindex fast tracepoints
10393 Some targets may support @dfn{fast tracepoints}, which are inserted in
10394 a different way (such as with a jump instead of a trap), that is
10395 faster but possibly restricted in where they may be installed.
10396
10397 @cindex static tracepoints
10398 @cindex markers, static tracepoints
10399 @cindex probing markers, static tracepoints
10400 Regular and fast tracepoints are dynamic tracing facilities, meaning
10401 that they can be used to insert tracepoints at (almost) any location
10402 in the target. Some targets may also support controlling @dfn{static
10403 tracepoints} from @value{GDBN}. With static tracing, a set of
10404 instrumentation points, also known as @dfn{markers}, are embedded in
10405 the target program, and can be activated or deactivated by name or
10406 address. These are usually placed at locations which facilitate
10407 investigating what the target is actually doing. @value{GDBN}'s
10408 support for static tracing includes being able to list instrumentation
10409 points, and attach them with @value{GDBN} defined high level
10410 tracepoints that expose the whole range of convenience of
10411 @value{GDBN}'s tracepoints support. Namely, support for collecting
10412 registers values and values of global or local (to the instrumentation
10413 point) variables; tracepoint conditions and trace state variables.
10414 The act of installing a @value{GDBN} static tracepoint on an
10415 instrumentation point, or marker, is referred to as @dfn{probing} a
10416 static tracepoint marker.
10417
10418 @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints on some target systems.
10419 @xref{Server,,Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}}.
10420
10421 This section describes commands to set tracepoints and associated
10422 conditions and actions.
10423
10424 @menu
10425 * Create and Delete Tracepoints::
10426 * Enable and Disable Tracepoints::
10427 * Tracepoint Passcounts::
10428 * Tracepoint Conditions::
10429 * Trace State Variables::
10430 * Tracepoint Actions::
10431 * Listing Tracepoints::
10432 * Listing Static Tracepoint Markers::
10433 * Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments::
10434 * Tracepoint Restrictions::
10435 @end menu
10436
10437 @node Create and Delete Tracepoints
10438 @subsection Create and Delete Tracepoints
10439
10440 @table @code
10441 @cindex set tracepoint
10442 @kindex trace
10443 @item trace @var{location}
10444 The @code{trace} command is very similar to the @code{break} command.
10445 Its argument @var{location} can be a source line, a function name, or
10446 an address in the target program. @xref{Specify Location}. The
10447 @code{trace} command defines a tracepoint, which is a point in the
10448 target program where the debugger will briefly stop, collect some
10449 data, and then allow the program to continue. Setting a tracepoint or
10450 changing its actions takes effect immediately if the remote stub
10451 supports the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature (@pxref{install tracepoint
10452 in tracing}).
10453 If remote stub doesn't support the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature, all
10454 these changes don't take effect until the next @code{tstart}
10455 command, and once a trace experiment is running, further changes will
10456 not have any effect until the next trace experiment starts. In addition,
10457 @value{GDBN} supports @dfn{pending tracepoints}---tracepoints whose
10458 address is not yet resolved. (This is similar to pending breakpoints.)
10459 Pending tracepoints are not downloaded to the target and not installed
10460 until they are resolved. The resolution of pending tracepoints requires
10461 @value{GDBN} support---when debugging with the remote target, and
10462 @value{GDBN} disconnects from the remote stub (@pxref{disconnected
10463 tracing}), pending tracepoints can not be resolved (and downloaded to
10464 the remote stub) while @value{GDBN} is disconnected.
10465
10466 Here are some examples of using the @code{trace} command:
10467
10468 @smallexample
10469 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo.c:121} // a source file and line number
10470
10471 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace +2} // 2 lines forward
10472
10473 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace my_function} // first source line of function
10474
10475 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *my_function} // EXACT start address of function
10476
10477 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *0x2117c4} // an address
10478 @end smallexample
10479
10480 @noindent
10481 You can abbreviate @code{trace} as @code{tr}.
10482
10483 @item trace @var{location} if @var{cond}
10484 Set a tracepoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
10485 @var{cond} each time the tracepoint is reached, and collect data only
10486 if the value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
10487 @xref{Tracepoint Conditions, ,Tracepoint Conditions}, for more
10488 information on tracepoint conditions.
10489
10490 @item ftrace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
10491 @cindex set fast tracepoint
10492 @cindex fast tracepoints, setting
10493 @kindex ftrace
10494 The @code{ftrace} command sets a fast tracepoint. For targets that
10495 support them, fast tracepoints will use a more efficient but possibly
10496 less general technique to trigger data collection, such as a jump
10497 instruction instead of a trap, or some sort of hardware support. It
10498 may not be possible to create a fast tracepoint at the desired
10499 location, in which case the command will exit with an explanatory
10500 message.
10501
10502 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{ftrace} exactly as for
10503 @code{trace}.
10504
10505 On 32-bit x86-architecture systems, fast tracepoints normally need to
10506 be placed at an instruction that is 5 bytes or longer, but can be
10507 placed at 4-byte instructions if the low 64K of memory of the target
10508 program is available to install trampolines. Some Unix-type systems,
10509 such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, exclude low addresses from the program's
10510 address space; but for instance with the Linux kernel it is possible
10511 to let @value{GDBN} use this area by doing a @command{sysctl} command
10512 to set the @code{mmap_min_addr} kernel parameter, as in
10513
10514 @example
10515 sudo sysctl -w vm.mmap_min_addr=32768
10516 @end example
10517
10518 @noindent
10519 which sets the low address to 32K, which leaves plenty of room for
10520 trampolines. The minimum address should be set to a page boundary.
10521
10522 @item strace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
10523 @cindex set static tracepoint
10524 @cindex static tracepoints, setting
10525 @cindex probe static tracepoint marker
10526 @kindex strace
10527 The @code{strace} command sets a static tracepoint. For targets that
10528 support it, setting a static tracepoint probes a static
10529 instrumentation point, or marker, found at @var{location}. It may not
10530 be possible to set a static tracepoint at the desired location, in
10531 which case the command will exit with an explanatory message.
10532
10533 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{strace} exactly as for
10534 @code{trace}, with the addition that the user can also specify
10535 @code{-m @var{marker}} as @var{location}. This probes the marker
10536 identified by the @var{marker} string identifier. This identifier
10537 depends on the static tracepoint backend library your program is
10538 using. You can find all the marker identifiers in the @samp{ID} field
10539 of the @code{info static-tracepoint-markers} command output.
10540 @xref{Listing Static Tracepoint Markers,,Listing Static Tracepoint
10541 Markers}. For example, in the following small program using the UST
10542 tracing engine:
10543
10544 @smallexample
10545 main ()
10546 @{
10547 trace_mark(ust, bar33, "str %s", "FOOBAZ");
10548 @}
10549 @end smallexample
10550
10551 @noindent
10552 the marker id is composed of joining the first two arguments to the
10553 @code{trace_mark} call with a slash, which translates to:
10554
10555 @smallexample
10556 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
10557 Cnt Enb ID Address What
10558 1 n ust/bar33 0x0000000000400ddc in main at stexample.c:22
10559 Data: "str %s"
10560 [etc...]
10561 @end smallexample
10562
10563 @noindent
10564 so you may probe the marker above with:
10565
10566 @smallexample
10567 (@value{GDBP}) strace -m ust/bar33
10568 @end smallexample
10569
10570 Static tracepoints accept an extra collect action --- @code{collect
10571 $_sdata}. This collects arbitrary user data passed in the probe point
10572 call to the tracing library. In the UST example above, you'll see
10573 that the third argument to @code{trace_mark} is a printf-like format
10574 string. The user data is then the result of running that formating
10575 string against the following arguments. Note that @code{info
10576 static-tracepoint-markers} command output lists that format string in
10577 the @samp{Data:} field.
10578
10579 You can inspect this data when analyzing the trace buffer, by printing
10580 the $_sdata variable like any other variable available to
10581 @value{GDBN}. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}.
10582
10583 @vindex $tpnum
10584 @cindex last tracepoint number
10585 @cindex recent tracepoint number
10586 @cindex tracepoint number
10587 The convenience variable @code{$tpnum} records the tracepoint number
10588 of the most recently set tracepoint.
10589
10590 @kindex delete tracepoint
10591 @cindex tracepoint deletion
10592 @item delete tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
10593 Permanently delete one or more tracepoints. With no argument, the
10594 default is to delete all tracepoints. Note that the regular
10595 @code{delete} command can remove tracepoints also.
10596
10597 Examples:
10598
10599 @smallexample
10600 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace 1 2 3} // remove three tracepoints
10601
10602 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace} // remove all tracepoints
10603 @end smallexample
10604
10605 @noindent
10606 You can abbreviate this command as @code{del tr}.
10607 @end table
10608
10609 @node Enable and Disable Tracepoints
10610 @subsection Enable and Disable Tracepoints
10611
10612 These commands are deprecated; they are equivalent to plain @code{disable} and @code{enable}.
10613
10614 @table @code
10615 @kindex disable tracepoint
10616 @item disable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
10617 Disable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints if no argument
10618 @var{num} is given. A disabled tracepoint will have no effect during
10619 a trace experiment, but it is not forgotten. You can re-enable
10620 a disabled tracepoint using the @code{enable tracepoint} command.
10621 If the command is issued during a trace experiment and the debug target
10622 has support for disabling tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the
10623 change will be effective immediately. Otherwise, it will be applied to the
10624 next trace experiment.
10625
10626 @kindex enable tracepoint
10627 @item enable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
10628 Enable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints. If this command is
10629 issued during a trace experiment and the debug target supports enabling
10630 tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the enabled tracepoints will
10631 become effective immediately. Otherwise, they will become effective the
10632 next time a trace experiment is run.
10633 @end table
10634
10635 @node Tracepoint Passcounts
10636 @subsection Tracepoint Passcounts
10637
10638 @table @code
10639 @kindex passcount
10640 @cindex tracepoint pass count
10641 @item passcount @r{[}@var{n} @r{[}@var{num}@r{]]}
10642 Set the @dfn{passcount} of a tracepoint. The passcount is a way to
10643 automatically stop a trace experiment. If a tracepoint's passcount is
10644 @var{n}, then the trace experiment will be automatically stopped on
10645 the @var{n}'th time that tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number
10646 @var{num} is not specified, the @code{passcount} command sets the
10647 passcount of the most recently defined tracepoint. If no passcount is
10648 given, the trace experiment will run until stopped explicitly by the
10649 user.
10650
10651 Examples:
10652
10653 @smallexample
10654 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 5 2} // Stop on the 5th execution of
10655 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// tracepoint 2}
10656
10657 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 12} // Stop on the 12th execution of the
10658 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// most recently defined tracepoint.}
10659 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
10660 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 3}
10661 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace bar}
10662 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 2}
10663 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace baz}
10664 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 1} // Stop tracing when foo has been
10665 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// executed 3 times OR when bar has}
10666 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// been executed 2 times}
10667 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// OR when baz has been executed 1 time.}
10668 @end smallexample
10669 @end table
10670
10671 @node Tracepoint Conditions
10672 @subsection Tracepoint Conditions
10673 @cindex conditional tracepoints
10674 @cindex tracepoint conditions
10675
10676 The simplest sort of tracepoint collects data every time your program
10677 reaches a specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for
10678 a tracepoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
10679 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A
10680 tracepoint with a condition evaluates the expression each time your
10681 program reaches it, and data collection happens only if the condition
10682 is true.
10683
10684 Tracepoint conditions can be specified when a tracepoint is set, by
10685 using @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{trace} command.
10686 @xref{Create and Delete Tracepoints, ,Setting Tracepoints}. They can
10687 also be set or changed at any time with the @code{condition} command,
10688 just as with breakpoints.
10689
10690 Unlike breakpoint conditions, @value{GDBN} does not actually evaluate
10691 the conditional expression itself. Instead, @value{GDBN} encodes the
10692 expression into an agent expression (@pxref{Agent Expressions})
10693 suitable for execution on the target, independently of @value{GDBN}.
10694 Global variables become raw memory locations, locals become stack
10695 accesses, and so forth.
10696
10697 For instance, suppose you have a function that is usually called
10698 frequently, but should not be called after an error has occurred. You
10699 could use the following tracepoint command to collect data about calls
10700 of that function that happen while the error code is propagating
10701 through the program; an unconditional tracepoint could end up
10702 collecting thousands of useless trace frames that you would have to
10703 search through.
10704
10705 @smallexample
10706 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{trace normal_operation if errcode > 0}
10707 @end smallexample
10708
10709 @node Trace State Variables
10710 @subsection Trace State Variables
10711 @cindex trace state variables
10712
10713 A @dfn{trace state variable} is a special type of variable that is
10714 created and managed by target-side code. The syntax is the same as
10715 that for GDB's convenience variables (a string prefixed with ``$''),
10716 but they are stored on the target. They must be created explicitly,
10717 using a @code{tvariable} command. They are always 64-bit signed
10718 integers.
10719
10720 Trace state variables are remembered by @value{GDBN}, and downloaded
10721 to the target along with tracepoint information when the trace
10722 experiment starts. There are no intrinsic limits on the number of
10723 trace state variables, beyond memory limitations of the target.
10724
10725 @cindex convenience variables, and trace state variables
10726 Although trace state variables are managed by the target, you can use
10727 them in print commands and expressions as if they were convenience
10728 variables; @value{GDBN} will get the current value from the target
10729 while the trace experiment is running. Trace state variables share
10730 the same namespace as other ``$'' variables, which means that you
10731 cannot have trace state variables with names like @code{$23} or
10732 @code{$pc}, nor can you have a trace state variable and a convenience
10733 variable with the same name.
10734
10735 @table @code
10736
10737 @item tvariable $@var{name} [ = @var{expression} ]
10738 @kindex tvariable
10739 The @code{tvariable} command creates a new trace state variable named
10740 @code{$@var{name}}, and optionally gives it an initial value of
10741 @var{expression}. @var{expression} is evaluated when this command is
10742 entered; the result will be converted to an integer if possible,
10743 otherwise @value{GDBN} will report an error. A subsequent
10744 @code{tvariable} command specifying the same name does not create a
10745 variable, but instead assigns the supplied initial value to the
10746 existing variable of that name, overwriting any previous initial
10747 value. The default initial value is 0.
10748
10749 @item info tvariables
10750 @kindex info tvariables
10751 List all the trace state variables along with their initial values.
10752 Their current values may also be displayed, if the trace experiment is
10753 currently running.
10754
10755 @item delete tvariable @r{[} $@var{name} @dots{} @r{]}
10756 @kindex delete tvariable
10757 Delete the given trace state variables, or all of them if no arguments
10758 are specified.
10759
10760 @end table
10761
10762 @node Tracepoint Actions
10763 @subsection Tracepoint Action Lists
10764
10765 @table @code
10766 @kindex actions
10767 @cindex tracepoint actions
10768 @item actions @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
10769 This command will prompt for a list of actions to be taken when the
10770 tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number @var{num} is not
10771 specified, this command sets the actions for the one that was most
10772 recently defined (so that you can define a tracepoint and then say
10773 @code{actions} without bothering about its number). You specify the
10774 actions themselves on the following lines, one action at a time, and
10775 terminate the actions list with a line containing just @code{end}. So
10776 far, the only defined actions are @code{collect}, @code{teval}, and
10777 @code{while-stepping}.
10778
10779 @code{actions} is actually equivalent to @code{commands} (@pxref{Break
10780 Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}), except that only the defined
10781 actions are allowed; any other @value{GDBN} command is rejected.
10782
10783 @cindex remove actions from a tracepoint
10784 To remove all actions from a tracepoint, type @samp{actions @var{num}}
10785 and follow it immediately with @samp{end}.
10786
10787 @smallexample
10788 (@value{GDBP}) @b{collect @var{data}} // collect some data
10789
10790 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while-stepping 5} // single-step 5 times, collect data
10791
10792 (@value{GDBP}) @b{end} // signals the end of actions.
10793 @end smallexample
10794
10795 In the following example, the action list begins with @code{collect}
10796 commands indicating the things to be collected when the tracepoint is
10797 hit. Then, in order to single-step and collect additional data
10798 following the tracepoint, a @code{while-stepping} command is used,
10799 followed by the list of things to be collected after each step in a
10800 sequence of single steps. The @code{while-stepping} command is
10801 terminated by its own separate @code{end} command. Lastly, the action
10802 list is terminated by an @code{end} command.
10803
10804 @smallexample
10805 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
10806 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
10807 Enter actions for tracepoint 1, one per line:
10808 > collect bar,baz
10809 > collect $regs
10810 > while-stepping 12
10811 > collect $pc, arr[i]
10812 > end
10813 end
10814 @end smallexample
10815
10816 @kindex collect @r{(tracepoints)}
10817 @item collect@r{[}/@var{mods}@r{]} @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
10818 Collect values of the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit.
10819 This command accepts a comma-separated list of any valid expressions.
10820 In addition to global, static, or local variables, the following
10821 special arguments are supported:
10822
10823 @table @code
10824 @item $regs
10825 Collect all registers.
10826
10827 @item $args
10828 Collect all function arguments.
10829
10830 @item $locals
10831 Collect all local variables.
10832
10833 @item $_ret
10834 Collect the return address. This is helpful if you want to see more
10835 of a backtrace.
10836
10837 @item $_sdata
10838 @vindex $_sdata@r{, collect}
10839 Collect static tracepoint marker specific data. Only available for
10840 static tracepoints. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action
10841 Lists}. On the UST static tracepoints library backend, an
10842 instrumentation point resembles a @code{printf} function call. The
10843 tracing library is able to collect user specified data formatted to a
10844 character string using the format provided by the programmer that
10845 instrumented the program. Other backends have similar mechanisms.
10846 Here's an example of a UST marker call:
10847
10848 @smallexample
10849 const char master_name[] = "$your_name";
10850 trace_mark(channel1, marker1, "hello %s", master_name)
10851 @end smallexample
10852
10853 In this case, collecting @code{$_sdata} collects the string
10854 @samp{hello $yourname}. When analyzing the trace buffer, you can
10855 inspect @samp{$_sdata} like any other variable available to
10856 @value{GDBN}.
10857 @end table
10858
10859 You can give several consecutive @code{collect} commands, each one
10860 with a single argument, or one @code{collect} command with several
10861 arguments separated by commas; the effect is the same.
10862
10863 The optional @var{mods} changes the usual handling of the arguments.
10864 @code{s} requests that pointers to chars be handled as strings, in
10865 particular collecting the contents of the memory being pointed at, up
10866 to the first zero. The upper bound is by default the value of the
10867 @code{print elements} variable; if @code{s} is followed by a decimal
10868 number, that is the upper bound instead. So for instance
10869 @samp{collect/s25 mystr} collects as many as 25 characters at
10870 @samp{mystr}.
10871
10872 The command @code{info scope} (@pxref{Symbols, info scope}) is
10873 particularly useful for figuring out what data to collect.
10874
10875 @kindex teval @r{(tracepoints)}
10876 @item teval @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
10877 Evaluate the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit. This
10878 command accepts a comma-separated list of expressions. The results
10879 are discarded, so this is mainly useful for assigning values to trace
10880 state variables (@pxref{Trace State Variables}) without adding those
10881 values to the trace buffer, as would be the case if the @code{collect}
10882 action were used.
10883
10884 @kindex while-stepping @r{(tracepoints)}
10885 @item while-stepping @var{n}
10886 Perform @var{n} single-step instruction traces after the tracepoint,
10887 collecting new data after each step. The @code{while-stepping}
10888 command is followed by the list of what to collect while stepping
10889 (followed by its own @code{end} command):
10890
10891 @smallexample
10892 > while-stepping 12
10893 > collect $regs, myglobal
10894 > end
10895 >
10896 @end smallexample
10897
10898 @noindent
10899 Note that @code{$pc} is not automatically collected by
10900 @code{while-stepping}; you need to explicitly collect that register if
10901 you need it. You may abbreviate @code{while-stepping} as @code{ws} or
10902 @code{stepping}.
10903
10904 @item set default-collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
10905 @kindex set default-collect
10906 @cindex default collection action
10907 This variable is a list of expressions to collect at each tracepoint
10908 hit. It is effectively an additional @code{collect} action prepended
10909 to every tracepoint action list. The expressions are parsed
10910 individually for each tracepoint, so for instance a variable named
10911 @code{xyz} may be interpreted as a global for one tracepoint, and a
10912 local for another, as appropriate to the tracepoint's location.
10913
10914 @item show default-collect
10915 @kindex show default-collect
10916 Show the list of expressions that are collected by default at each
10917 tracepoint hit.
10918
10919 @end table
10920
10921 @node Listing Tracepoints
10922 @subsection Listing Tracepoints
10923
10924 @table @code
10925 @kindex info tracepoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
10926 @kindex info tp @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
10927 @cindex information about tracepoints
10928 @item info tracepoints @r{[}@var{num}@dots{}@r{]}
10929 Display information about the tracepoint @var{num}. If you don't
10930 specify a tracepoint number, displays information about all the
10931 tracepoints defined so far. The format is similar to that used for
10932 @code{info breakpoints}; in fact, @code{info tracepoints} is the same
10933 command, simply restricting itself to tracepoints.
10934
10935 A tracepoint's listing may include additional information specific to
10936 tracing:
10937
10938 @itemize @bullet
10939 @item
10940 its passcount as given by the @code{passcount @var{n}} command
10941 @end itemize
10942
10943 @smallexample
10944 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info trace}
10945 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
10946 1 tracepoint keep y 0x0804ab57 in foo() at main.cxx:7
10947 while-stepping 20
10948 collect globfoo, $regs
10949 end
10950 collect globfoo2
10951 end
10952 pass count 1200
10953 (@value{GDBP})
10954 @end smallexample
10955
10956 @noindent
10957 This command can be abbreviated @code{info tp}.
10958 @end table
10959
10960 @node Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
10961 @subsection Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
10962
10963 @table @code
10964 @kindex info static-tracepoint-markers
10965 @cindex information about static tracepoint markers
10966 @item info static-tracepoint-markers
10967 Display information about all static tracepoint markers defined in the
10968 program.
10969
10970 For each marker, the following columns are printed:
10971
10972 @table @emph
10973 @item Count
10974 An incrementing counter, output to help readability. This is not a
10975 stable identifier.
10976 @item ID
10977 The marker ID, as reported by the target.
10978 @item Enabled or Disabled
10979 Probed markers are tagged with @samp{y}. @samp{n} identifies marks
10980 that are not enabled.
10981 @item Address
10982 Where the marker is in your program, as a memory address.
10983 @item What
10984 Where the marker is in the source for your program, as a file and line
10985 number. If the debug information included in the program does not
10986 allow @value{GDBN} to locate the source of the marker, this column
10987 will be left blank.
10988 @end table
10989
10990 @noindent
10991 In addition, the following information may be printed for each marker:
10992
10993 @table @emph
10994 @item Data
10995 User data passed to the tracing library by the marker call. In the
10996 UST backend, this is the format string passed as argument to the
10997 marker call.
10998 @item Static tracepoints probing the marker
10999 The list of static tracepoints attached to the marker.
11000 @end table
11001
11002 @smallexample
11003 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
11004 Cnt ID Enb Address What
11005 1 ust/bar2 y 0x0000000000400e1a in main at stexample.c:25
11006 Data: number1 %d number2 %d
11007 Probed by static tracepoints: #2
11008 2 ust/bar33 n 0x0000000000400c87 in main at stexample.c:24
11009 Data: str %s
11010 (@value{GDBP})
11011 @end smallexample
11012 @end table
11013
11014 @node Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
11015 @subsection Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
11016
11017 @table @code
11018 @kindex tstart [ @var{notes} ]
11019 @cindex start a new trace experiment
11020 @cindex collected data discarded
11021 @item tstart
11022 This command starts the trace experiment, and begins collecting data.
11023 It has the side effect of discarding all the data collected in the
11024 trace buffer during the previous trace experiment. If any arguments
11025 are supplied, they are taken as a note and stored with the trace
11026 experiment's state. The notes may be arbitrary text, and are
11027 especially useful with disconnected tracing in a multi-user context;
11028 the notes can explain what the trace is doing, supply user contact
11029 information, and so forth.
11030
11031 @kindex tstop [ @var{notes} ]
11032 @cindex stop a running trace experiment
11033 @item tstop
11034 This command stops the trace experiment. If any arguments are
11035 supplied, they are recorded with the experiment as a note. This is
11036 useful if you are stopping a trace started by someone else, for
11037 instance if the trace is interfering with the system's behavior and
11038 needs to be stopped quickly.
11039
11040 @strong{Note}: a trace experiment and data collection may stop
11041 automatically if any tracepoint's passcount is reached
11042 (@pxref{Tracepoint Passcounts}), or if the trace buffer becomes full.
11043
11044 @kindex tstatus
11045 @cindex status of trace data collection
11046 @cindex trace experiment, status of
11047 @item tstatus
11048 This command displays the status of the current trace data
11049 collection.
11050 @end table
11051
11052 Here is an example of the commands we described so far:
11053
11054 @smallexample
11055 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace gdb_c_test}
11056 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
11057 Enter actions for tracepoint #1, one per line.
11058 > collect $regs,$locals,$args
11059 > while-stepping 11
11060 > collect $regs
11061 > end
11062 > end
11063 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
11064 [time passes @dots{}]
11065 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstop}
11066 @end smallexample
11067
11068 @anchor{disconnected tracing}
11069 @cindex disconnected tracing
11070 You can choose to continue running the trace experiment even if
11071 @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target, voluntarily or
11072 involuntarily. For commands such as @code{detach}, the debugger will
11073 ask what you want to do with the trace. But for unexpected
11074 terminations (@value{GDBN} crash, network outage), it would be
11075 unfortunate to lose hard-won trace data, so the variable
11076 @code{disconnected-tracing} lets you decide whether the trace should
11077 continue running without @value{GDBN}.
11078
11079 @table @code
11080 @item set disconnected-tracing on
11081 @itemx set disconnected-tracing off
11082 @kindex set disconnected-tracing
11083 Choose whether a tracing run should continue to run if @value{GDBN}
11084 has disconnected from the target. Note that @code{detach} or
11085 @code{quit} will ask you directly what to do about a running trace no
11086 matter what this variable's setting, so the variable is mainly useful
11087 for handling unexpected situations, such as loss of the network.
11088
11089 @item show disconnected-tracing
11090 @kindex show disconnected-tracing
11091 Show the current choice for disconnected tracing.
11092
11093 @end table
11094
11095 When you reconnect to the target, the trace experiment may or may not
11096 still be running; it might have filled the trace buffer in the
11097 meantime, or stopped for one of the other reasons. If it is running,
11098 it will continue after reconnection.
11099
11100 Upon reconnection, the target will upload information about the
11101 tracepoints in effect. @value{GDBN} will then compare that
11102 information to the set of tracepoints currently defined, and attempt
11103 to match them up, allowing for the possibility that the numbers may
11104 have changed due to creation and deletion in the meantime. If one of
11105 the target's tracepoints does not match any in @value{GDBN}, the
11106 debugger will create a new tracepoint, so that you have a number with
11107 which to specify that tracepoint. This matching-up process is
11108 necessarily heuristic, and it may result in useless tracepoints being
11109 created; you may simply delete them if they are of no use.
11110
11111 @cindex circular trace buffer
11112 If your target agent supports a @dfn{circular trace buffer}, then you
11113 can run a trace experiment indefinitely without filling the trace
11114 buffer; when space runs out, the agent deletes already-collected trace
11115 frames, oldest first, until there is enough room to continue
11116 collecting. This is especially useful if your tracepoints are being
11117 hit too often, and your trace gets terminated prematurely because the
11118 buffer is full. To ask for a circular trace buffer, simply set
11119 @samp{circular-trace-buffer} to on. You can set this at any time,
11120 including during tracing; if the agent can do it, it will change
11121 buffer handling on the fly, otherwise it will not take effect until
11122 the next run.
11123
11124 @table @code
11125 @item set circular-trace-buffer on
11126 @itemx set circular-trace-buffer off
11127 @kindex set circular-trace-buffer
11128 Choose whether a tracing run should use a linear or circular buffer
11129 for trace data. A linear buffer will not lose any trace data, but may
11130 fill up prematurely, while a circular buffer will discard old trace
11131 data, but it will have always room for the latest tracepoint hits.
11132
11133 @item show circular-trace-buffer
11134 @kindex show circular-trace-buffer
11135 Show the current choice for the trace buffer. Note that this may not
11136 match the agent's current buffer handling, nor is it guaranteed to
11137 match the setting that might have been in effect during a past run,
11138 for instance if you are looking at frames from a trace file.
11139
11140 @end table
11141
11142 @table @code
11143 @item set trace-user @var{text}
11144 @kindex set trace-user
11145
11146 @item show trace-user
11147 @kindex show trace-user
11148
11149 @item set trace-notes @var{text}
11150 @kindex set trace-notes
11151 Set the trace run's notes.
11152
11153 @item show trace-notes
11154 @kindex show trace-notes
11155 Show the trace run's notes.
11156
11157 @item set trace-stop-notes @var{text}
11158 @kindex set trace-stop-notes
11159 Set the trace run's stop notes. The handling of the note is as for
11160 @code{tstop} arguments; the set command is convenient way to fix a
11161 stop note that is mistaken or incomplete.
11162
11163 @item show trace-stop-notes
11164 @kindex show trace-stop-notes
11165 Show the trace run's stop notes.
11166
11167 @end table
11168
11169 @node Tracepoint Restrictions
11170 @subsection Tracepoint Restrictions
11171
11172 @cindex tracepoint restrictions
11173 There are a number of restrictions on the use of tracepoints. As
11174 described above, tracepoint data gathering occurs on the target
11175 without interaction from @value{GDBN}. Thus the full capabilities of
11176 the debugger are not available during data gathering, and then at data
11177 examination time, you will be limited by only having what was
11178 collected. The following items describe some common problems, but it
11179 is not exhaustive, and you may run into additional difficulties not
11180 mentioned here.
11181
11182 @itemize @bullet
11183
11184 @item
11185 Tracepoint expressions are intended to gather objects (lvalues). Thus
11186 the full flexibility of GDB's expression evaluator is not available.
11187 You cannot call functions, cast objects to aggregate types, access
11188 convenience variables or modify values (except by assignment to trace
11189 state variables). Some language features may implicitly call
11190 functions (for instance Objective-C fields with accessors), and therefore
11191 cannot be collected either.
11192
11193 @item
11194 Collection of local variables, either individually or in bulk with
11195 @code{$locals} or @code{$args}, during @code{while-stepping} may
11196 behave erratically. The stepping action may enter a new scope (for
11197 instance by stepping into a function), or the location of the variable
11198 may change (for instance it is loaded into a register). The
11199 tracepoint data recorded uses the location information for the
11200 variables that is correct for the tracepoint location. When the
11201 tracepoint is created, it is not possible, in general, to determine
11202 where the steps of a @code{while-stepping} sequence will advance the
11203 program---particularly if a conditional branch is stepped.
11204
11205 @item
11206 Collection of an incompletely-initialized or partially-destroyed object
11207 may result in something that @value{GDBN} cannot display, or displays
11208 in a misleading way.
11209
11210 @item
11211 When @value{GDBN} displays a pointer to character it automatically
11212 dereferences the pointer to also display characters of the string
11213 being pointed to. However, collecting the pointer during tracing does
11214 not automatically collect the string. You need to explicitly
11215 dereference the pointer and provide size information if you want to
11216 collect not only the pointer, but the memory pointed to. For example,
11217 @code{*ptr@@50} can be used to collect the 50 element array pointed to
11218 by @code{ptr}.
11219
11220 @item
11221 It is not possible to collect a complete stack backtrace at a
11222 tracepoint. Instead, you may collect the registers and a few hundred
11223 bytes from the stack pointer with something like @code{*(unsigned char *)$esp@@300}
11224 (adjust to use the name of the actual stack pointer register on your
11225 target architecture, and the amount of stack you wish to capture).
11226 Then the @code{backtrace} command will show a partial backtrace when
11227 using a trace frame. The number of stack frames that can be examined
11228 depends on the sizes of the frames in the collected stack. Note that
11229 if you ask for a block so large that it goes past the bottom of the
11230 stack, the target agent may report an error trying to read from an
11231 invalid address.
11232
11233 @item
11234 If you do not collect registers at a tracepoint, @value{GDBN} can
11235 infer that the value of @code{$pc} must be the same as the address of
11236 the tracepoint and use that when you are looking at a trace frame
11237 for that tracepoint. However, this cannot work if the tracepoint has
11238 multiple locations (for instance if it was set in a function that was
11239 inlined), or if it has a @code{while-stepping} loop. In those cases
11240 @value{GDBN} will warn you that it can't infer @code{$pc}, and default
11241 it to zero.
11242
11243 @end itemize
11244
11245 @node Analyze Collected Data
11246 @section Using the Collected Data
11247
11248 After the tracepoint experiment ends, you use @value{GDBN} commands
11249 for examining the trace data. The basic idea is that each tracepoint
11250 collects a trace @dfn{snapshot} every time it is hit and another
11251 snapshot every time it single-steps. All these snapshots are
11252 consecutively numbered from zero and go into a buffer, and you can
11253 examine them later. The way you examine them is to @dfn{focus} on a
11254 specific trace snapshot. When the remote stub is focused on a trace
11255 snapshot, it will respond to all @value{GDBN} requests for memory and
11256 registers by reading from the buffer which belongs to that snapshot,
11257 rather than from @emph{real} memory or registers of the program being
11258 debugged. This means that @strong{all} @value{GDBN} commands
11259 (@code{print}, @code{info registers}, @code{backtrace}, etc.) will
11260 behave as if we were currently debugging the program state as it was
11261 when the tracepoint occurred. Any requests for data that are not in
11262 the buffer will fail.
11263
11264 @menu
11265 * tfind:: How to select a trace snapshot
11266 * tdump:: How to display all data for a snapshot
11267 * save tracepoints:: How to save tracepoints for a future run
11268 @end menu
11269
11270 @node tfind
11271 @subsection @code{tfind @var{n}}
11272
11273 @kindex tfind
11274 @cindex select trace snapshot
11275 @cindex find trace snapshot
11276 The basic command for selecting a trace snapshot from the buffer is
11277 @code{tfind @var{n}}, which finds trace snapshot number @var{n},
11278 counting from zero. If no argument @var{n} is given, the next
11279 snapshot is selected.
11280
11281 Here are the various forms of using the @code{tfind} command.
11282
11283 @table @code
11284 @item tfind start
11285 Find the first snapshot in the buffer. This is a synonym for
11286 @code{tfind 0} (since 0 is the number of the first snapshot).
11287
11288 @item tfind none
11289 Stop debugging trace snapshots, resume @emph{live} debugging.
11290
11291 @item tfind end
11292 Same as @samp{tfind none}.
11293
11294 @item tfind
11295 No argument means find the next trace snapshot.
11296
11297 @item tfind -
11298 Find the previous trace snapshot before the current one. This permits
11299 retracing earlier steps.
11300
11301 @item tfind tracepoint @var{num}
11302 Find the next snapshot associated with tracepoint @var{num}. Search
11303 proceeds forward from the last examined trace snapshot. If no
11304 argument @var{num} is given, it means find the next snapshot collected
11305 for the same tracepoint as the current snapshot.
11306
11307 @item tfind pc @var{addr}
11308 Find the next snapshot associated with the value @var{addr} of the
11309 program counter. Search proceeds forward from the last examined trace
11310 snapshot. If no argument @var{addr} is given, it means find the next
11311 snapshot with the same value of PC as the current snapshot.
11312
11313 @item tfind outside @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
11314 Find the next snapshot whose PC is outside the given range of
11315 addresses (exclusive).
11316
11317 @item tfind range @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
11318 Find the next snapshot whose PC is between @var{addr1} and
11319 @var{addr2} (inclusive).
11320
11321 @item tfind line @r{[}@var{file}:@r{]}@var{n}
11322 Find the next snapshot associated with the source line @var{n}. If
11323 the optional argument @var{file} is given, refer to line @var{n} in
11324 that source file. Search proceeds forward from the last examined
11325 trace snapshot. If no argument @var{n} is given, it means find the
11326 next line other than the one currently being examined; thus saying
11327 @code{tfind line} repeatedly can appear to have the same effect as
11328 stepping from line to line in a @emph{live} debugging session.
11329 @end table
11330
11331 The default arguments for the @code{tfind} commands are specifically
11332 designed to make it easy to scan through the trace buffer. For
11333 instance, @code{tfind} with no argument selects the next trace
11334 snapshot, and @code{tfind -} with no argument selects the previous
11335 trace snapshot. So, by giving one @code{tfind} command, and then
11336 simply hitting @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine all the trace
11337 snapshots in order. Or, by saying @code{tfind -} and then hitting
11338 @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine the snapshots in reverse order.
11339 The @code{tfind line} command with no argument selects the snapshot
11340 for the next source line executed. The @code{tfind pc} command with
11341 no argument selects the next snapshot with the same program counter
11342 (PC) as the current frame. The @code{tfind tracepoint} command with
11343 no argument selects the next trace snapshot collected by the same
11344 tracepoint as the current one.
11345
11346 In addition to letting you scan through the trace buffer manually,
11347 these commands make it easy to construct @value{GDBN} scripts that
11348 scan through the trace buffer and print out whatever collected data
11349 you are interested in. Thus, if we want to examine the PC, FP, and SP
11350 registers from each trace frame in the buffer, we can say this:
11351
11352 @smallexample
11353 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
11354 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
11355 > printf "Frame %d, PC = %08X, SP = %08X, FP = %08X\n", \
11356 $trace_frame, $pc, $sp, $fp
11357 > tfind
11358 > end
11359
11360 Frame 0, PC = 0020DC64, SP = 0030BF3C, FP = 0030BF44
11361 Frame 1, PC = 0020DC6C, SP = 0030BF38, FP = 0030BF44
11362 Frame 2, PC = 0020DC70, SP = 0030BF34, FP = 0030BF44
11363 Frame 3, PC = 0020DC74, SP = 0030BF30, FP = 0030BF44
11364 Frame 4, PC = 0020DC78, SP = 0030BF2C, FP = 0030BF44
11365 Frame 5, PC = 0020DC7C, SP = 0030BF28, FP = 0030BF44
11366 Frame 6, PC = 0020DC80, SP = 0030BF24, FP = 0030BF44
11367 Frame 7, PC = 0020DC84, SP = 0030BF20, FP = 0030BF44
11368 Frame 8, PC = 0020DC88, SP = 0030BF1C, FP = 0030BF44
11369 Frame 9, PC = 0020DC8E, SP = 0030BF18, FP = 0030BF44
11370 Frame 10, PC = 00203F6C, SP = 0030BE3C, FP = 0030BF14
11371 @end smallexample
11372
11373 Or, if we want to examine the variable @code{X} at each source line in
11374 the buffer:
11375
11376 @smallexample
11377 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
11378 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
11379 > printf "Frame %d, X == %d\n", $trace_frame, X
11380 > tfind line
11381 > end
11382
11383 Frame 0, X = 1
11384 Frame 7, X = 2
11385 Frame 13, X = 255
11386 @end smallexample
11387
11388 @node tdump
11389 @subsection @code{tdump}
11390 @kindex tdump
11391 @cindex dump all data collected at tracepoint
11392 @cindex tracepoint data, display
11393
11394 This command takes no arguments. It prints all the data collected at
11395 the current trace snapshot.
11396
11397 @smallexample
11398 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace 444}
11399 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
11400 Enter actions for tracepoint #2, one per line:
11401 > collect $regs, $locals, $args, gdb_long_test
11402 > end
11403
11404 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
11405
11406 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind line 444}
11407 #0 gdb_test (p1=0x11, p2=0x22, p3=0x33, p4=0x44, p5=0x55, p6=0x66)
11408 at gdb_test.c:444
11409 444 printp( "%s: arguments = 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X\n", )
11410
11411 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tdump}
11412 Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 1:
11413 d0 0xc4aa0085 -995491707
11414 d1 0x18 24
11415 d2 0x80 128
11416 d3 0x33 51
11417 d4 0x71aea3d 119204413
11418 d5 0x22 34
11419 d6 0xe0 224
11420 d7 0x380035 3670069
11421 a0 0x19e24a 1696330
11422 a1 0x3000668 50333288
11423 a2 0x100 256
11424 a3 0x322000 3284992
11425 a4 0x3000698 50333336
11426 a5 0x1ad3cc 1758156
11427 fp 0x30bf3c 0x30bf3c
11428 sp 0x30bf34 0x30bf34
11429 ps 0x0 0
11430 pc 0x20b2c8 0x20b2c8
11431 fpcontrol 0x0 0
11432 fpstatus 0x0 0
11433 fpiaddr 0x0 0
11434 p = 0x20e5b4 "gdb-test"
11435 p1 = (void *) 0x11
11436 p2 = (void *) 0x22
11437 p3 = (void *) 0x33
11438 p4 = (void *) 0x44
11439 p5 = (void *) 0x55
11440 p6 = (void *) 0x66
11441 gdb_long_test = 17 '\021'
11442
11443 (@value{GDBP})
11444 @end smallexample
11445
11446 @code{tdump} works by scanning the tracepoint's current collection
11447 actions and printing the value of each expression listed. So
11448 @code{tdump} can fail, if after a run, you change the tracepoint's
11449 actions to mention variables that were not collected during the run.
11450
11451 Also, for tracepoints with @code{while-stepping} loops, @code{tdump}
11452 uses the collected value of @code{$pc} to distinguish between trace
11453 frames that were collected at the tracepoint hit, and frames that were
11454 collected while stepping. This allows it to correctly choose whether
11455 to display the basic list of collections, or the collections from the
11456 body of the while-stepping loop. However, if @code{$pc} was not collected,
11457 then @code{tdump} will always attempt to dump using the basic collection
11458 list, and may fail if a while-stepping frame does not include all the
11459 same data that is collected at the tracepoint hit.
11460 @c This is getting pretty arcane, example would be good.
11461
11462 @node save tracepoints
11463 @subsection @code{save tracepoints @var{filename}}
11464 @kindex save tracepoints
11465 @kindex save-tracepoints
11466 @cindex save tracepoints for future sessions
11467
11468 This command saves all current tracepoint definitions together with
11469 their actions and passcounts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
11470 suitable for use in a later debugging session. To read the saved
11471 tracepoint definitions, use the @code{source} command (@pxref{Command
11472 Files}). The @w{@code{save-tracepoints}} command is a deprecated
11473 alias for @w{@code{save tracepoints}}
11474
11475 @node Tracepoint Variables
11476 @section Convenience Variables for Tracepoints
11477 @cindex tracepoint variables
11478 @cindex convenience variables for tracepoints
11479
11480 @table @code
11481 @vindex $trace_frame
11482 @item (int) $trace_frame
11483 The current trace snapshot (a.k.a.@: @dfn{frame}) number, or -1 if no
11484 snapshot is selected.
11485
11486 @vindex $tracepoint
11487 @item (int) $tracepoint
11488 The tracepoint for the current trace snapshot.
11489
11490 @vindex $trace_line
11491 @item (int) $trace_line
11492 The line number for the current trace snapshot.
11493
11494 @vindex $trace_file
11495 @item (char []) $trace_file
11496 The source file for the current trace snapshot.
11497
11498 @vindex $trace_func
11499 @item (char []) $trace_func
11500 The name of the function containing @code{$tracepoint}.
11501 @end table
11502
11503 Note: @code{$trace_file} is not suitable for use in @code{printf},
11504 use @code{output} instead.
11505
11506 Here's a simple example of using these convenience variables for
11507 stepping through all the trace snapshots and printing some of their
11508 data. Note that these are not the same as trace state variables,
11509 which are managed by the target.
11510
11511 @smallexample
11512 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
11513
11514 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while $trace_frame != -1}
11515 > output $trace_file
11516 > printf ", line %d (tracepoint #%d)\n", $trace_line, $tracepoint
11517 > tfind
11518 > end
11519 @end smallexample
11520
11521 @node Trace Files
11522 @section Using Trace Files
11523 @cindex trace files
11524
11525 In some situations, the target running a trace experiment may no
11526 longer be available; perhaps it crashed, or the hardware was needed
11527 for a different activity. To handle these cases, you can arrange to
11528 dump the trace data into a file, and later use that file as a source
11529 of trace data, via the @code{target tfile} command.
11530
11531 @table @code
11532
11533 @kindex tsave
11534 @item tsave [ -r ] @var{filename}
11535 Save the trace data to @var{filename}. By default, this command
11536 assumes that @var{filename} refers to the host filesystem, so if
11537 necessary @value{GDBN} will copy raw trace data up from the target and
11538 then save it. If the target supports it, you can also supply the
11539 optional argument @code{-r} (``remote'') to direct the target to save
11540 the data directly into @var{filename} in its own filesystem, which may be
11541 more efficient if the trace buffer is very large. (Note, however, that
11542 @code{target tfile} can only read from files accessible to the host.)
11543
11544 @kindex target tfile
11545 @kindex tfile
11546 @item target tfile @var{filename}
11547 Use the file named @var{filename} as a source of trace data. Commands
11548 that examine data work as they do with a live target, but it is not
11549 possible to run any new trace experiments. @code{tstatus} will report
11550 the state of the trace run at the moment the data was saved, as well
11551 as the current trace frame you are examining. @var{filename} must be
11552 on a filesystem accessible to the host.
11553
11554 @end table
11555
11556 @node Overlays
11557 @chapter Debugging Programs That Use Overlays
11558 @cindex overlays
11559
11560 If your program is too large to fit completely in your target system's
11561 memory, you can sometimes use @dfn{overlays} to work around this
11562 problem. @value{GDBN} provides some support for debugging programs that
11563 use overlays.
11564
11565 @menu
11566 * How Overlays Work:: A general explanation of overlays.
11567 * Overlay Commands:: Managing overlays in @value{GDBN}.
11568 * Automatic Overlay Debugging:: @value{GDBN} can find out which overlays are
11569 mapped by asking the inferior.
11570 * Overlay Sample Program:: A sample program using overlays.
11571 @end menu
11572
11573 @node How Overlays Work
11574 @section How Overlays Work
11575 @cindex mapped overlays
11576 @cindex unmapped overlays
11577 @cindex load address, overlay's
11578 @cindex mapped address
11579 @cindex overlay area
11580
11581 Suppose you have a computer whose instruction address space is only 64
11582 kilobytes long, but which has much more memory which can be accessed by
11583 other means: special instructions, segment registers, or memory
11584 management hardware, for example. Suppose further that you want to
11585 adapt a program which is larger than 64 kilobytes to run on this system.
11586
11587 One solution is to identify modules of your program which are relatively
11588 independent, and need not call each other directly; call these modules
11589 @dfn{overlays}. Separate the overlays from the main program, and place
11590 their machine code in the larger memory. Place your main program in
11591 instruction memory, but leave at least enough space there to hold the
11592 largest overlay as well.
11593
11594 Now, to call a function located in an overlay, you must first copy that
11595 overlay's machine code from the large memory into the space set aside
11596 for it in the instruction memory, and then jump to its entry point
11597 there.
11598
11599 @c NB: In the below the mapped area's size is greater or equal to the
11600 @c size of all overlays. This is intentional to remind the developer
11601 @c that overlays don't necessarily need to be the same size.
11602
11603 @smallexample
11604 @group
11605 Data Instruction Larger
11606 Address Space Address Space Address Space
11607 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+
11608 | | | | | |
11609 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+<-- overlay 1
11610 | program | | main | .----| overlay 1 | load address
11611 | variables | | program | | +-----------+
11612 | and heap | | | | | |
11613 +-----------+ | | | +-----------+<-- overlay 2
11614 | | +-----------+ | | | load address
11615 +-----------+ | | | .-| overlay 2 |
11616 | | | | | |
11617 mapped --->+-----------+ | | +-----------+
11618 address | | | | | |
11619 | overlay | <-' | | |
11620 | area | <---' +-----------+<-- overlay 3
11621 | | <---. | | load address
11622 +-----------+ `--| overlay 3 |
11623 | | | |
11624 +-----------+ | |
11625 +-----------+
11626 | |
11627 +-----------+
11628
11629 @anchor{A code overlay}A code overlay
11630 @end group
11631 @end smallexample
11632
11633 The diagram (@pxref{A code overlay}) shows a system with separate data
11634 and instruction address spaces. To map an overlay, the program copies
11635 its code from the larger address space to the instruction address space.
11636 Since the overlays shown here all use the same mapped address, only one
11637 may be mapped at a time. For a system with a single address space for
11638 data and instructions, the diagram would be similar, except that the
11639 program variables and heap would share an address space with the main
11640 program and the overlay area.
11641
11642 An overlay loaded into instruction memory and ready for use is called a
11643 @dfn{mapped} overlay; its @dfn{mapped address} is its address in the
11644 instruction memory. An overlay not present (or only partially present)
11645 in instruction memory is called @dfn{unmapped}; its @dfn{load address}
11646 is its address in the larger memory. The mapped address is also called
11647 the @dfn{virtual memory address}, or @dfn{VMA}; the load address is also
11648 called the @dfn{load memory address}, or @dfn{LMA}.
11649
11650 Unfortunately, overlays are not a completely transparent way to adapt a
11651 program to limited instruction memory. They introduce a new set of
11652 global constraints you must keep in mind as you design your program:
11653
11654 @itemize @bullet
11655
11656 @item
11657 Before calling or returning to a function in an overlay, your program
11658 must make sure that overlay is actually mapped. Otherwise, the call or
11659 return will transfer control to the right address, but in the wrong
11660 overlay, and your program will probably crash.
11661
11662 @item
11663 If the process of mapping an overlay is expensive on your system, you
11664 will need to choose your overlays carefully to minimize their effect on
11665 your program's performance.
11666
11667 @item
11668 The executable file you load onto your system must contain each
11669 overlay's instructions, appearing at the overlay's load address, not its
11670 mapped address. However, each overlay's instructions must be relocated
11671 and its symbols defined as if the overlay were at its mapped address.
11672 You can use GNU linker scripts to specify different load and relocation
11673 addresses for pieces of your program; see @ref{Overlay Description,,,
11674 ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}.
11675
11676 @item
11677 The procedure for loading executable files onto your system must be able
11678 to load their contents into the larger address space as well as the
11679 instruction and data spaces.
11680
11681 @end itemize
11682
11683 The overlay system described above is rather simple, and could be
11684 improved in many ways:
11685
11686 @itemize @bullet
11687
11688 @item
11689 If your system has suitable bank switch registers or memory management
11690 hardware, you could use those facilities to make an overlay's load area
11691 contents simply appear at their mapped address in instruction space.
11692 This would probably be faster than copying the overlay to its mapped
11693 area in the usual way.
11694
11695 @item
11696 If your overlays are small enough, you could set aside more than one
11697 overlay area, and have more than one overlay mapped at a time.
11698
11699 @item
11700 You can use overlays to manage data, as well as instructions. In
11701 general, data overlays are even less transparent to your design than
11702 code overlays: whereas code overlays only require care when you call or
11703 return to functions, data overlays require care every time you access
11704 the data. Also, if you change the contents of a data overlay, you
11705 must copy its contents back out to its load address before you can copy a
11706 different data overlay into the same mapped area.
11707
11708 @end itemize
11709
11710
11711 @node Overlay Commands
11712 @section Overlay Commands
11713
11714 To use @value{GDBN}'s overlay support, each overlay in your program must
11715 correspond to a separate section of the executable file. The section's
11716 virtual memory address and load memory address must be the overlay's
11717 mapped and load addresses. Identifying overlays with sections allows
11718 @value{GDBN} to determine the appropriate address of a function or
11719 variable, depending on whether the overlay is mapped or not.
11720
11721 @value{GDBN}'s overlay commands all start with the word @code{overlay};
11722 you can abbreviate this as @code{ov} or @code{ovly}. The commands are:
11723
11724 @table @code
11725 @item overlay off
11726 @kindex overlay
11727 Disable @value{GDBN}'s overlay support. When overlay support is
11728 disabled, @value{GDBN} assumes that all functions and variables are
11729 always present at their mapped addresses. By default, @value{GDBN}'s
11730 overlay support is disabled.
11731
11732 @item overlay manual
11733 @cindex manual overlay debugging
11734 Enable @dfn{manual} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
11735 relies on you to tell it which overlays are mapped, and which are not,
11736 using the @code{overlay map-overlay} and @code{overlay unmap-overlay}
11737 commands described below.
11738
11739 @item overlay map-overlay @var{overlay}
11740 @itemx overlay map @var{overlay}
11741 @cindex map an overlay
11742 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is now mapped; @var{overlay} must
11743 be the name of the object file section containing the overlay. When an
11744 overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the overlay's
11745 functions and variables at their mapped addresses. @value{GDBN} assumes
11746 that any other overlays whose mapped ranges overlap that of
11747 @var{overlay} are now unmapped.
11748
11749 @item overlay unmap-overlay @var{overlay}
11750 @itemx overlay unmap @var{overlay}
11751 @cindex unmap an overlay
11752 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is no longer mapped; @var{overlay}
11753 must be the name of the object file section containing the overlay.
11754 When an overlay is unmapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the
11755 overlay's functions and variables at their load addresses.
11756
11757 @item overlay auto
11758 Enable @dfn{automatic} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
11759 consults a data structure the overlay manager maintains in the inferior
11760 to see which overlays are mapped. For details, see @ref{Automatic
11761 Overlay Debugging}.
11762
11763 @item overlay load-target
11764 @itemx overlay load
11765 @cindex reloading the overlay table
11766 Re-read the overlay table from the inferior. Normally, @value{GDBN}
11767 re-reads the table @value{GDBN} automatically each time the inferior
11768 stops, so this command should only be necessary if you have changed the
11769 overlay mapping yourself using @value{GDBN}. This command is only
11770 useful when using automatic overlay debugging.
11771
11772 @item overlay list-overlays
11773 @itemx overlay list
11774 @cindex listing mapped overlays
11775 Display a list of the overlays currently mapped, along with their mapped
11776 addresses, load addresses, and sizes.
11777
11778 @end table
11779
11780 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a code address, it includes the name
11781 of the function the address falls in:
11782
11783 @smallexample
11784 (@value{GDBP}) print main
11785 $3 = @{int ()@} 0x11a0 <main>
11786 @end smallexample
11787 @noindent
11788 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} recognizes code in
11789 unmapped overlays, and prints the names of unmapped functions with
11790 asterisks around them. For example, if @code{foo} is a function in an
11791 unmapped overlay, @value{GDBN} prints it this way:
11792
11793 @smallexample
11794 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
11795 No sections are mapped.
11796 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
11797 $5 = @{int (int)@} 0x100000 <*foo*>
11798 @end smallexample
11799 @noindent
11800 When @code{foo}'s overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} prints the function's
11801 name normally:
11802
11803 @smallexample
11804 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
11805 Section .ov.foo.text, loaded at 0x100000 - 0x100034,
11806 mapped at 0x1016 - 0x104a
11807 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
11808 $6 = @{int (int)@} 0x1016 <foo>
11809 @end smallexample
11810
11811 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} can find the correct
11812 address for functions and variables in an overlay, whether or not the
11813 overlay is mapped. This allows most @value{GDBN} commands, like
11814 @code{break} and @code{disassemble}, to work normally, even on unmapped
11815 code. However, @value{GDBN}'s breakpoint support has some limitations:
11816
11817 @itemize @bullet
11818 @item
11819 @cindex breakpoints in overlays
11820 @cindex overlays, setting breakpoints in
11821 You can set breakpoints in functions in unmapped overlays, as long as
11822 @value{GDBN} can write to the overlay at its load address.
11823 @item
11824 @value{GDBN} can not set hardware or simulator-based breakpoints in
11825 unmapped overlays. However, if you set a breakpoint at the end of your
11826 overlay manager (and tell @value{GDBN} which overlays are now mapped, if
11827 you are using manual overlay management), @value{GDBN} will re-set its
11828 breakpoints properly.
11829 @end itemize
11830
11831
11832 @node Automatic Overlay Debugging
11833 @section Automatic Overlay Debugging
11834 @cindex automatic overlay debugging
11835
11836 @value{GDBN} can automatically track which overlays are mapped and which
11837 are not, given some simple co-operation from the overlay manager in the
11838 inferior. If you enable automatic overlay debugging with the
11839 @code{overlay auto} command (@pxref{Overlay Commands}), @value{GDBN}
11840 looks in the inferior's memory for certain variables describing the
11841 current state of the overlays.
11842
11843 Here are the variables your overlay manager must define to support
11844 @value{GDBN}'s automatic overlay debugging:
11845
11846 @table @asis
11847
11848 @item @code{_ovly_table}:
11849 This variable must be an array of the following structures:
11850
11851 @smallexample
11852 struct
11853 @{
11854 /* The overlay's mapped address. */
11855 unsigned long vma;
11856
11857 /* The size of the overlay, in bytes. */
11858 unsigned long size;
11859
11860 /* The overlay's load address. */
11861 unsigned long lma;
11862
11863 /* Non-zero if the overlay is currently mapped;
11864 zero otherwise. */
11865 unsigned long mapped;
11866 @}
11867 @end smallexample
11868
11869 @item @code{_novlys}:
11870 This variable must be a four-byte signed integer, holding the total
11871 number of elements in @code{_ovly_table}.
11872
11873 @end table
11874
11875 To decide whether a particular overlay is mapped or not, @value{GDBN}
11876 looks for an entry in @w{@code{_ovly_table}} whose @code{vma} and
11877 @code{lma} members equal the VMA and LMA of the overlay's section in the
11878 executable file. When @value{GDBN} finds a matching entry, it consults
11879 the entry's @code{mapped} member to determine whether the overlay is
11880 currently mapped.
11881
11882 In addition, your overlay manager may define a function called
11883 @code{_ovly_debug_event}. If this function is defined, @value{GDBN}
11884 will silently set a breakpoint there. If the overlay manager then
11885 calls this function whenever it has changed the overlay table, this
11886 will enable @value{GDBN} to accurately keep track of which overlays
11887 are in program memory, and update any breakpoints that may be set
11888 in overlays. This will allow breakpoints to work even if the
11889 overlays are kept in ROM or other non-writable memory while they
11890 are not being executed.
11891
11892 @node Overlay Sample Program
11893 @section Overlay Sample Program
11894 @cindex overlay example program
11895
11896 When linking a program which uses overlays, you must place the overlays
11897 at their load addresses, while relocating them to run at their mapped
11898 addresses. To do this, you must write a linker script (@pxref{Overlay
11899 Description,,, ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}). Unfortunately,
11900 since linker scripts are specific to a particular host system, target
11901 architecture, and target memory layout, this manual cannot provide
11902 portable sample code demonstrating @value{GDBN}'s overlay support.
11903
11904 However, the @value{GDBN} source distribution does contain an overlaid
11905 program, with linker scripts for a few systems, as part of its test
11906 suite. The program consists of the following files from
11907 @file{gdb/testsuite/gdb.base}:
11908
11909 @table @file
11910 @item overlays.c
11911 The main program file.
11912 @item ovlymgr.c
11913 A simple overlay manager, used by @file{overlays.c}.
11914 @item foo.c
11915 @itemx bar.c
11916 @itemx baz.c
11917 @itemx grbx.c
11918 Overlay modules, loaded and used by @file{overlays.c}.
11919 @item d10v.ld
11920 @itemx m32r.ld
11921 Linker scripts for linking the test program on the @code{d10v-elf}
11922 and @code{m32r-elf} targets.
11923 @end table
11924
11925 You can build the test program using the @code{d10v-elf} GCC
11926 cross-compiler like this:
11927
11928 @smallexample
11929 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c overlays.c
11930 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c ovlymgr.c
11931 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c foo.c
11932 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c bar.c
11933 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c baz.c
11934 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c grbx.c
11935 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g overlays.o ovlymgr.o foo.o bar.o \
11936 baz.o grbx.o -Wl,-Td10v.ld -o overlays
11937 @end smallexample
11938
11939 The build process is identical for any other architecture, except that
11940 you must substitute the appropriate compiler and linker script for the
11941 target system for @code{d10v-elf-gcc} and @code{d10v.ld}.
11942
11943
11944 @node Languages
11945 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages
11946 @cindex languages
11947
11948 Although programming languages generally have common aspects, they are
11949 rarely expressed in the same manner. For instance, in ANSI C,
11950 dereferencing a pointer @code{p} is accomplished by @code{*p}, but in
11951 Modula-2, it is accomplished by @code{p^}. Values can also be
11952 represented (and displayed) differently. Hex numbers in C appear as
11953 @samp{0x1ae}, while in Modula-2 they appear as @samp{1AEH}.
11954
11955 @cindex working language
11956 Language-specific information is built into @value{GDBN} for some languages,
11957 allowing you to express operations like the above in your program's
11958 native language, and allowing @value{GDBN} to output values in a manner
11959 consistent with the syntax of your program's native language. The
11960 language you use to build expressions is called the @dfn{working
11961 language}.
11962
11963 @menu
11964 * Setting:: Switching between source languages
11965 * Show:: Displaying the language
11966 * Checks:: Type and range checks
11967 * Supported Languages:: Supported languages
11968 * Unsupported Languages:: Unsupported languages
11969 @end menu
11970
11971 @node Setting
11972 @section Switching Between Source Languages
11973
11974 There are two ways to control the working language---either have @value{GDBN}
11975 set it automatically, or select it manually yourself. You can use the
11976 @code{set language} command for either purpose. On startup, @value{GDBN}
11977 defaults to setting the language automatically. The working language is
11978 used to determine how expressions you type are interpreted, how values
11979 are printed, etc.
11980
11981 In addition to the working language, every source file that
11982 @value{GDBN} knows about has its own working language. For some object
11983 file formats, the compiler might indicate which language a particular
11984 source file is in. However, most of the time @value{GDBN} infers the
11985 language from the name of the file. The language of a source file
11986 controls whether C@t{++} names are demangled---this way @code{backtrace} can
11987 show each frame appropriately for its own language. There is no way to
11988 set the language of a source file from within @value{GDBN}, but you can
11989 set the language associated with a filename extension. @xref{Show, ,
11990 Displaying the Language}.
11991
11992 This is most commonly a problem when you use a program, such
11993 as @code{cfront} or @code{f2c}, that generates C but is written in
11994 another language. In that case, make the
11995 program use @code{#line} directives in its C output; that way
11996 @value{GDBN} will know the correct language of the source code of the original
11997 program, and will display that source code, not the generated C code.
11998
11999 @menu
12000 * Filenames:: Filename extensions and languages.
12001 * Manually:: Setting the working language manually
12002 * Automatically:: Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
12003 @end menu
12004
12005 @node Filenames
12006 @subsection List of Filename Extensions and Languages
12007
12008 If a source file name ends in one of the following extensions, then
12009 @value{GDBN} infers that its language is the one indicated.
12010
12011 @table @file
12012 @item .ada
12013 @itemx .ads
12014 @itemx .adb
12015 @itemx .a
12016 Ada source file.
12017
12018 @item .c
12019 C source file
12020
12021 @item .C
12022 @itemx .cc
12023 @itemx .cp
12024 @itemx .cpp
12025 @itemx .cxx
12026 @itemx .c++
12027 C@t{++} source file
12028
12029 @item .d
12030 D source file
12031
12032 @item .m
12033 Objective-C source file
12034
12035 @item .f
12036 @itemx .F
12037 Fortran source file
12038
12039 @item .mod
12040 Modula-2 source file
12041
12042 @item .s
12043 @itemx .S
12044 Assembler source file. This actually behaves almost like C, but
12045 @value{GDBN} does not skip over function prologues when stepping.
12046 @end table
12047
12048 In addition, you may set the language associated with a filename
12049 extension. @xref{Show, , Displaying the Language}.
12050
12051 @node Manually
12052 @subsection Setting the Working Language
12053
12054 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically,
12055 expressions are interpreted the same way in your debugging session and
12056 your program.
12057
12058 @kindex set language
12059 If you wish, you may set the language manually. To do this, issue the
12060 command @samp{set language @var{lang}}, where @var{lang} is the name of
12061 a language, such as
12062 @code{c} or @code{modula-2}.
12063 For a list of the supported languages, type @samp{set language}.
12064
12065 Setting the language manually prevents @value{GDBN} from updating the working
12066 language automatically. This can lead to confusion if you try
12067 to debug a program when the working language is not the same as the
12068 source language, when an expression is acceptable to both
12069 languages---but means different things. For instance, if the current
12070 source file were written in C, and @value{GDBN} was parsing Modula-2, a
12071 command such as:
12072
12073 @smallexample
12074 print a = b + c
12075 @end smallexample
12076
12077 @noindent
12078 might not have the effect you intended. In C, this means to add
12079 @code{b} and @code{c} and place the result in @code{a}. The result
12080 printed would be the value of @code{a}. In Modula-2, this means to compare
12081 @code{a} to the result of @code{b+c}, yielding a @code{BOOLEAN} value.
12082
12083 @node Automatically
12084 @subsection Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language
12085
12086 To have @value{GDBN} set the working language automatically, use
12087 @samp{set language local} or @samp{set language auto}. @value{GDBN}
12088 then infers the working language. That is, when your program stops in a
12089 frame (usually by encountering a breakpoint), @value{GDBN} sets the
12090 working language to the language recorded for the function in that
12091 frame. If the language for a frame is unknown (that is, if the function
12092 or block corresponding to the frame was defined in a source file that
12093 does not have a recognized extension), the current working language is
12094 not changed, and @value{GDBN} issues a warning.
12095
12096 This may not seem necessary for most programs, which are written
12097 entirely in one source language. However, program modules and libraries
12098 written in one source language can be used by a main program written in
12099 a different source language. Using @samp{set language auto} in this
12100 case frees you from having to set the working language manually.
12101
12102 @node Show
12103 @section Displaying the Language
12104
12105 The following commands help you find out which language is the
12106 working language, and also what language source files were written in.
12107
12108 @table @code
12109 @item show language
12110 @kindex show language
12111 Display the current working language. This is the
12112 language you can use with commands such as @code{print} to
12113 build and compute expressions that may involve variables in your program.
12114
12115 @item info frame
12116 @kindex info frame@r{, show the source language}
12117 Display the source language for this frame. This language becomes the
12118 working language if you use an identifier from this frame.
12119 @xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}, to identify the other
12120 information listed here.
12121
12122 @item info source
12123 @kindex info source@r{, show the source language}
12124 Display the source language of this source file.
12125 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, to identify the other
12126 information listed here.
12127 @end table
12128
12129 In unusual circumstances, you may have source files with extensions
12130 not in the standard list. You can then set the extension associated
12131 with a language explicitly:
12132
12133 @table @code
12134 @item set extension-language @var{ext} @var{language}
12135 @kindex set extension-language
12136 Tell @value{GDBN} that source files with extension @var{ext} are to be
12137 assumed as written in the source language @var{language}.
12138
12139 @item info extensions
12140 @kindex info extensions
12141 List all the filename extensions and the associated languages.
12142 @end table
12143
12144 @node Checks
12145 @section Type and Range Checking
12146
12147 @quotation
12148 @emph{Warning:} In this release, the @value{GDBN} commands for type and range
12149 checking are included, but they do not yet have any effect. This
12150 section documents the intended facilities.
12151 @end quotation
12152 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range code added
12153
12154 Some languages are designed to guard you against making seemingly common
12155 errors through a series of compile- and run-time checks. These include
12156 checking the type of arguments to functions and operators, and making
12157 sure mathematical overflows are caught at run time. Checks such as
12158 these help to ensure a program's correctness once it has been compiled
12159 by eliminating type mismatches, and providing active checks for range
12160 errors when your program is running.
12161
12162 @value{GDBN} can check for conditions like the above if you wish.
12163 Although @value{GDBN} does not check the statements in your program,
12164 it can check expressions entered directly into @value{GDBN} for
12165 evaluation via the @code{print} command, for example. As with the
12166 working language, @value{GDBN} can also decide whether or not to check
12167 automatically based on your program's source language.
12168 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default
12169 settings of supported languages.
12170
12171 @menu
12172 * Type Checking:: An overview of type checking
12173 * Range Checking:: An overview of range checking
12174 @end menu
12175
12176 @cindex type checking
12177 @cindex checks, type
12178 @node Type Checking
12179 @subsection An Overview of Type Checking
12180
12181 Some languages, such as Modula-2, are strongly typed, meaning that the
12182 arguments to operators and functions have to be of the correct type,
12183 otherwise an error occurs. These checks prevent type mismatch
12184 errors from ever causing any run-time problems. For example,
12185
12186 @smallexample
12187 1 + 2 @result{} 3
12188 @exdent but
12189 @error{} 1 + 2.3
12190 @end smallexample
12191
12192 The second example fails because the @code{CARDINAL} 1 is not
12193 type-compatible with the @code{REAL} 2.3.
12194
12195 For the expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell the
12196 @value{GDBN} type checker to skip checking;
12197 to treat any mismatches as errors and abandon the expression;
12198 or to only issue warnings when type mismatches occur,
12199 but evaluate the expression anyway. When you choose the last of
12200 these, @value{GDBN} evaluates expressions like the second example above, but
12201 also issues a warning.
12202
12203 Even if you turn type checking off, there may be other reasons
12204 related to type that prevent @value{GDBN} from evaluating an expression.
12205 For instance, @value{GDBN} does not know how to add an @code{int} and
12206 a @code{struct foo}. These particular type errors have nothing to do
12207 with the language in use, and usually arise from expressions, such as
12208 the one described above, which make little sense to evaluate anyway.
12209
12210 Each language defines to what degree it is strict about type. For
12211 instance, both Modula-2 and C require the arguments to arithmetical
12212 operators to be numbers. In C, enumerated types and pointers can be
12213 represented as numbers, so that they are valid arguments to mathematical
12214 operators. @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for further
12215 details on specific languages.
12216
12217 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the type checker:
12218
12219 @kindex set check type
12220 @kindex show check type
12221 @table @code
12222 @item set check type auto
12223 Set type checking on or off based on the current working language.
12224 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
12225 each language.
12226
12227 @item set check type on
12228 @itemx set check type off
12229 Set type checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
12230 current working language. Issue a warning if the setting does not
12231 match the language default. If any type mismatches occur in
12232 evaluating an expression while type checking is on, @value{GDBN} prints a
12233 message and aborts evaluation of the expression.
12234
12235 @item set check type warn
12236 Cause the type checker to issue warnings, but to always attempt to
12237 evaluate the expression. Evaluating the expression may still
12238 be impossible for other reasons. For example, @value{GDBN} cannot add
12239 numbers and structures.
12240
12241 @item show type
12242 Show the current setting of the type checker, and whether or not @value{GDBN}
12243 is setting it automatically.
12244 @end table
12245
12246 @cindex range checking
12247 @cindex checks, range
12248 @node Range Checking
12249 @subsection An Overview of Range Checking
12250
12251 In some languages (such as Modula-2), it is an error to exceed the
12252 bounds of a type; this is enforced with run-time checks. Such range
12253 checking is meant to ensure program correctness by making sure
12254 computations do not overflow, or indices on an array element access do
12255 not exceed the bounds of the array.
12256
12257 For expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
12258 @value{GDBN} to treat range errors in one of three ways: ignore them,
12259 always treat them as errors and abandon the expression, or issue
12260 warnings but evaluate the expression anyway.
12261
12262 A range error can result from numerical overflow, from exceeding an
12263 array index bound, or when you type a constant that is not a member
12264 of any type. Some languages, however, do not treat overflows as an
12265 error. In many implementations of C, mathematical overflow causes the
12266 result to ``wrap around'' to lower values---for example, if @var{m} is
12267 the largest integer value, and @var{s} is the smallest, then
12268
12269 @smallexample
12270 @var{m} + 1 @result{} @var{s}
12271 @end smallexample
12272
12273 This, too, is specific to individual languages, and in some cases
12274 specific to individual compilers or machines. @xref{Supported Languages, ,
12275 Supported Languages}, for further details on specific languages.
12276
12277 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the range checker:
12278
12279 @kindex set check range
12280 @kindex show check range
12281 @table @code
12282 @item set check range auto
12283 Set range checking on or off based on the current working language.
12284 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
12285 each language.
12286
12287 @item set check range on
12288 @itemx set check range off
12289 Set range checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
12290 current working language. A warning is issued if the setting does not
12291 match the language default. If a range error occurs and range checking is on,
12292 then a message is printed and evaluation of the expression is aborted.
12293
12294 @item set check range warn
12295 Output messages when the @value{GDBN} range checker detects a range error,
12296 but attempt to evaluate the expression anyway. Evaluating the
12297 expression may still be impossible for other reasons, such as accessing
12298 memory that the process does not own (a typical example from many Unix
12299 systems).
12300
12301 @item show range
12302 Show the current setting of the range checker, and whether or not it is
12303 being set automatically by @value{GDBN}.
12304 @end table
12305
12306 @node Supported Languages
12307 @section Supported Languages
12308
12309 @value{GDBN} supports C, C@t{++}, D, Objective-C, Fortran, Java, OpenCL C, Pascal,
12310 assembly, Modula-2, and Ada.
12311 @c This is false ...
12312 Some @value{GDBN} features may be used in expressions regardless of the
12313 language you use: the @value{GDBN} @code{@@} and @code{::} operators,
12314 and the @samp{@{type@}addr} construct (@pxref{Expressions,
12315 ,Expressions}) can be used with the constructs of any supported
12316 language.
12317
12318 The following sections detail to what degree each source language is
12319 supported by @value{GDBN}. These sections are not meant to be language
12320 tutorials or references, but serve only as a reference guide to what the
12321 @value{GDBN} expression parser accepts, and what input and output
12322 formats should look like for different languages. There are many good
12323 books written on each of these languages; please look to these for a
12324 language reference or tutorial.
12325
12326 @menu
12327 * C:: C and C@t{++}
12328 * D:: D
12329 * Objective-C:: Objective-C
12330 * OpenCL C:: OpenCL C
12331 * Fortran:: Fortran
12332 * Pascal:: Pascal
12333 * Modula-2:: Modula-2
12334 * Ada:: Ada
12335 @end menu
12336
12337 @node C
12338 @subsection C and C@t{++}
12339
12340 @cindex C and C@t{++}
12341 @cindex expressions in C or C@t{++}
12342
12343 Since C and C@t{++} are so closely related, many features of @value{GDBN} apply
12344 to both languages. Whenever this is the case, we discuss those languages
12345 together.
12346
12347 @cindex C@t{++}
12348 @cindex @code{g++}, @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler
12349 @cindex @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
12350 The C@t{++} debugging facilities are jointly implemented by the C@t{++}
12351 compiler and @value{GDBN}. Therefore, to debug your C@t{++} code
12352 effectively, you must compile your C@t{++} programs with a supported
12353 C@t{++} compiler, such as @sc{gnu} @code{g++}, or the HP ANSI C@t{++}
12354 compiler (@code{aCC}).
12355
12356 @menu
12357 * C Operators:: C and C@t{++} operators
12358 * C Constants:: C and C@t{++} constants
12359 * C Plus Plus Expressions:: C@t{++} expressions
12360 * C Defaults:: Default settings for C and C@t{++}
12361 * C Checks:: C and C@t{++} type and range checks
12362 * Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
12363 * Debugging C Plus Plus:: @value{GDBN} features for C@t{++}
12364 * Decimal Floating Point:: Numbers in Decimal Floating Point format
12365 @end menu
12366
12367 @node C Operators
12368 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Operators
12369
12370 @cindex C and C@t{++} operators
12371
12372 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
12373 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
12374 often defined on groups of types.
12375
12376 For the purposes of C and C@t{++}, the following definitions hold:
12377
12378 @itemize @bullet
12379
12380 @item
12381 @emph{Integral types} include @code{int} with any of its storage-class
12382 specifiers; @code{char}; @code{enum}; and, for C@t{++}, @code{bool}.
12383
12384 @item
12385 @emph{Floating-point types} include @code{float}, @code{double}, and
12386 @code{long double} (if supported by the target platform).
12387
12388 @item
12389 @emph{Pointer types} include all types defined as @code{(@var{type} *)}.
12390
12391 @item
12392 @emph{Scalar types} include all of the above.
12393
12394 @end itemize
12395
12396 @noindent
12397 The following operators are supported. They are listed here
12398 in order of increasing precedence:
12399
12400 @table @code
12401 @item ,
12402 The comma or sequencing operator. Expressions in a comma-separated list
12403 are evaluated from left to right, with the result of the entire
12404 expression being the last expression evaluated.
12405
12406 @item =
12407 Assignment. The value of an assignment expression is the value
12408 assigned. Defined on scalar types.
12409
12410 @item @var{op}=
12411 Used in an expression of the form @w{@code{@var{a} @var{op}= @var{b}}},
12412 and translated to @w{@code{@var{a} = @var{a op b}}}.
12413 @w{@code{@var{op}=}} and @code{=} have the same precedence.
12414 @var{op} is any one of the operators @code{|}, @code{^}, @code{&},
12415 @code{<<}, @code{>>}, @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{%}.
12416
12417 @item ?:
12418 The ternary operator. @code{@var{a} ? @var{b} : @var{c}} can be thought
12419 of as: if @var{a} then @var{b} else @var{c}. @var{a} should be of an
12420 integral type.
12421
12422 @item ||
12423 Logical @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
12424
12425 @item &&
12426 Logical @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
12427
12428 @item |
12429 Bitwise @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
12430
12431 @item ^
12432 Bitwise exclusive-@sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
12433
12434 @item &
12435 Bitwise @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
12436
12437 @item ==@r{, }!=
12438 Equality and inequality. Defined on scalar types. The value of these
12439 expressions is 0 for false and non-zero for true.
12440
12441 @item <@r{, }>@r{, }<=@r{, }>=
12442 Less than, greater than, less than or equal, greater than or equal.
12443 Defined on scalar types. The value of these expressions is 0 for false
12444 and non-zero for true.
12445
12446 @item <<@r{, }>>
12447 left shift, and right shift. Defined on integral types.
12448
12449 @item @@
12450 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
12451
12452 @item +@r{, }-
12453 Addition and subtraction. Defined on integral types, floating-point types and
12454 pointer types.
12455
12456 @item *@r{, }/@r{, }%
12457 Multiplication, division, and modulus. Multiplication and division are
12458 defined on integral and floating-point types. Modulus is defined on
12459 integral types.
12460
12461 @item ++@r{, }--
12462 Increment and decrement. When appearing before a variable, the
12463 operation is performed before the variable is used in an expression;
12464 when appearing after it, the variable's value is used before the
12465 operation takes place.
12466
12467 @item *
12468 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types. Same precedence as
12469 @code{++}.
12470
12471 @item &
12472 Address operator. Defined on variables. Same precedence as @code{++}.
12473
12474 For debugging C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} implements a use of @samp{&} beyond what is
12475 allowed in the C@t{++} language itself: you can use @samp{&(&@var{ref})}
12476 to examine the address
12477 where a C@t{++} reference variable (declared with @samp{&@var{ref}}) is
12478 stored.
12479
12480 @item -
12481 Negative. Defined on integral and floating-point types. Same
12482 precedence as @code{++}.
12483
12484 @item !
12485 Logical negation. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
12486 @code{++}.
12487
12488 @item ~
12489 Bitwise complement operator. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
12490 @code{++}.
12491
12492
12493 @item .@r{, }->
12494 Structure member, and pointer-to-structure member. For convenience,
12495 @value{GDBN} regards the two as equivalent, choosing whether to dereference a
12496 pointer based on the stored type information.
12497 Defined on @code{struct} and @code{union} data.
12498
12499 @item .*@r{, }->*
12500 Dereferences of pointers to members.
12501
12502 @item []
12503 Array indexing. @code{@var{a}[@var{i}]} is defined as
12504 @code{*(@var{a}+@var{i})}. Same precedence as @code{->}.
12505
12506 @item ()
12507 Function parameter list. Same precedence as @code{->}.
12508
12509 @item ::
12510 C@t{++} scope resolution operator. Defined on @code{struct}, @code{union},
12511 and @code{class} types.
12512
12513 @item ::
12514 Doubled colons also represent the @value{GDBN} scope operator
12515 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). Same precedence as @code{::},
12516 above.
12517 @end table
12518
12519 If an operator is redefined in the user code, @value{GDBN} usually
12520 attempts to invoke the redefined version instead of using the operator's
12521 predefined meaning.
12522
12523 @node C Constants
12524 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Constants
12525
12526 @cindex C and C@t{++} constants
12527
12528 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C and C@t{++} in the
12529 following ways:
12530
12531 @itemize @bullet
12532 @item
12533 Integer constants are a sequence of digits. Octal constants are
12534 specified by a leading @samp{0} (i.e.@: zero), and hexadecimal constants
12535 by a leading @samp{0x} or @samp{0X}. Constants may also end with a letter
12536 @samp{l}, specifying that the constant should be treated as a
12537 @code{long} value.
12538
12539 @item
12540 Floating point constants are a sequence of digits, followed by a decimal
12541 point, followed by a sequence of digits, and optionally followed by an
12542 exponent. An exponent is of the form:
12543 @samp{@w{e@r{[[}+@r{]|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}}, where @var{nnn} is another
12544 sequence of digits. The @samp{+} is optional for positive exponents.
12545 A floating-point constant may also end with a letter @samp{f} or
12546 @samp{F}, specifying that the constant should be treated as being of
12547 the @code{float} (as opposed to the default @code{double}) type; or with
12548 a letter @samp{l} or @samp{L}, which specifies a @code{long double}
12549 constant.
12550
12551 @item
12552 Enumerated constants consist of enumerated identifiers, or their
12553 integral equivalents.
12554
12555 @item
12556 Character constants are a single character surrounded by single quotes
12557 (@code{'}), or a number---the ordinal value of the corresponding character
12558 (usually its @sc{ascii} value). Within quotes, the single character may
12559 be represented by a letter or by @dfn{escape sequences}, which are of
12560 the form @samp{\@var{nnn}}, where @var{nnn} is the octal representation
12561 of the character's ordinal value; or of the form @samp{\@var{x}}, where
12562 @samp{@var{x}} is a predefined special character---for example,
12563 @samp{\n} for newline.
12564
12565 Wide character constants can be written by prefixing a character
12566 constant with @samp{L}, as in C. For example, @samp{L'x'} is the wide
12567 form of @samp{x}. The target wide character set is used when
12568 computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
12569
12570 @item
12571 String constants are a sequence of character constants surrounded by
12572 double quotes (@code{"}). Any valid character constant (as described
12573 above) may appear. Double quotes within the string must be preceded by
12574 a backslash, so for instance @samp{"a\"b'c"} is a string of five
12575 characters.
12576
12577 Wide string constants can be written by prefixing a string constant
12578 with @samp{L}, as in C. The target wide character set is used when
12579 computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
12580
12581 @item
12582 Pointer constants are an integral value. You can also write pointers
12583 to constants using the C operator @samp{&}.
12584
12585 @item
12586 Array constants are comma-separated lists surrounded by braces @samp{@{}
12587 and @samp{@}}; for example, @samp{@{1,2,3@}} is a three-element array of
12588 integers, @samp{@{@{1,2@}, @{3,4@}, @{5,6@}@}} is a three-by-two array,
12589 and @samp{@{&"hi", &"there", &"fred"@}} is a three-element array of pointers.
12590 @end itemize
12591
12592 @node C Plus Plus Expressions
12593 @subsubsection C@t{++} Expressions
12594
12595 @cindex expressions in C@t{++}
12596 @value{GDBN} expression handling can interpret most C@t{++} expressions.
12597
12598 @cindex debugging C@t{++} programs
12599 @cindex C@t{++} compilers
12600 @cindex debug formats and C@t{++}
12601 @cindex @value{NGCC} and C@t{++}
12602 @quotation
12603 @emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} can only debug C@t{++} code if you use
12604 the proper compiler and the proper debug format. Currently,
12605 @value{GDBN} works best when debugging C@t{++} code that is compiled
12606 with the most recent version of @value{NGCC} possible. The DWARF
12607 debugging format is preferred; @value{NGCC} defaults to this on most
12608 popular platforms. Other compilers and/or debug formats are likely to
12609 work badly or not at all when using @value{GDBN} to debug C@t{++}
12610 code. @xref{Compilation}.
12611 @end quotation
12612
12613 @enumerate
12614
12615 @cindex member functions
12616 @item
12617 Member function calls are allowed; you can use expressions like
12618
12619 @smallexample
12620 count = aml->GetOriginal(x, y)
12621 @end smallexample
12622
12623 @vindex this@r{, inside C@t{++} member functions}
12624 @cindex namespace in C@t{++}
12625 @item
12626 While a member function is active (in the selected stack frame), your
12627 expressions have the same namespace available as the member function;
12628 that is, @value{GDBN} allows implicit references to the class instance
12629 pointer @code{this} following the same rules as C@t{++}. @code{using}
12630 declarations in the current scope are also respected by @value{GDBN}.
12631
12632 @cindex call overloaded functions
12633 @cindex overloaded functions, calling
12634 @cindex type conversions in C@t{++}
12635 @item
12636 You can call overloaded functions; @value{GDBN} resolves the function
12637 call to the right definition, with some restrictions. @value{GDBN} does not
12638 perform overload resolution involving user-defined type conversions,
12639 calls to constructors, or instantiations of templates that do not exist
12640 in the program. It also cannot handle ellipsis argument lists or
12641 default arguments.
12642
12643 It does perform integral conversions and promotions, floating-point
12644 promotions, arithmetic conversions, pointer conversions, conversions of
12645 class objects to base classes, and standard conversions such as those of
12646 functions or arrays to pointers; it requires an exact match on the
12647 number of function arguments.
12648
12649 Overload resolution is always performed, unless you have specified
12650 @code{set overload-resolution off}. @xref{Debugging C Plus Plus,
12651 ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
12652
12653 You must specify @code{set overload-resolution off} in order to use an
12654 explicit function signature to call an overloaded function, as in
12655 @smallexample
12656 p 'foo(char,int)'('x', 13)
12657 @end smallexample
12658
12659 The @value{GDBN} command-completion facility can simplify this;
12660 see @ref{Completion, ,Command Completion}.
12661
12662 @cindex reference declarations
12663 @item
12664 @value{GDBN} understands variables declared as C@t{++} references; you can use
12665 them in expressions just as you do in C@t{++} source---they are automatically
12666 dereferenced.
12667
12668 In the parameter list shown when @value{GDBN} displays a frame, the values of
12669 reference variables are not displayed (unlike other variables); this
12670 avoids clutter, since references are often used for large structures.
12671 The @emph{address} of a reference variable is always shown, unless
12672 you have specified @samp{set print address off}.
12673
12674 @item
12675 @value{GDBN} supports the C@t{++} name resolution operator @code{::}---your
12676 expressions can use it just as expressions in your program do. Since
12677 one scope may be defined in another, you can use @code{::} repeatedly if
12678 necessary, for example in an expression like
12679 @samp{@var{scope1}::@var{scope2}::@var{name}}. @value{GDBN} also allows
12680 resolving name scope by reference to source files, in both C and C@t{++}
12681 debugging (@pxref{Variables, ,Program Variables}).
12682
12683 @item
12684 @value{GDBN} performs argument-dependent lookup, following the C@t{++}
12685 specification.
12686 @end enumerate
12687
12688 @node C Defaults
12689 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Defaults
12690
12691 @cindex C and C@t{++} defaults
12692
12693 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set type and range checking automatically, they
12694 both default to @code{off} whenever the working language changes to
12695 C or C@t{++}. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
12696 selects the working language.
12697
12698 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, it
12699 recognizes source files whose names end with @file{.c}, @file{.C}, or
12700 @file{.cc}, etc, and when @value{GDBN} enters code compiled from one of
12701 these files, it sets the working language to C or C@t{++}.
12702 @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language},
12703 for further details.
12704
12705 @c Type checking is (a) primarily motivated by Modula-2, and (b)
12706 @c unimplemented. If (b) changes, it might make sense to let this node
12707 @c appear even if Mod-2 does not, but meanwhile ignore it. roland 16jul93.
12708
12709 @node C Checks
12710 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Type and Range Checks
12711
12712 @cindex C and C@t{++} checks
12713
12714 By default, when @value{GDBN} parses C or C@t{++} expressions, type checking
12715 is not used. However, if you turn type checking on, @value{GDBN}
12716 considers two variables type equivalent if:
12717
12718 @itemize @bullet
12719 @item
12720 The two variables are structured and have the same structure, union, or
12721 enumerated tag.
12722
12723 @item
12724 The two variables have the same type name, or types that have been
12725 declared equivalent through @code{typedef}.
12726
12727 @ignore
12728 @c leaving this out because neither J Gilmore nor R Pesch understand it.
12729 @c FIXME--beers?
12730 @item
12731 The two @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} variables are
12732 declared in the same declaration. (Note: this may not be true for all C
12733 compilers.)
12734 @end ignore
12735 @end itemize
12736
12737 Range checking, if turned on, is done on mathematical operations. Array
12738 indices are not checked, since they are often used to index a pointer
12739 that is not itself an array.
12740
12741 @node Debugging C
12742 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and C
12743
12744 The @code{set print union} and @code{show print union} commands apply to
12745 the @code{union} type. When set to @samp{on}, any @code{union} that is
12746 inside a @code{struct} or @code{class} is also printed. Otherwise, it
12747 appears as @samp{@{...@}}.
12748
12749 The @code{@@} operator aids in the debugging of dynamic arrays, formed
12750 with pointers and a memory allocation function. @xref{Expressions,
12751 ,Expressions}.
12752
12753 @node Debugging C Plus Plus
12754 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}
12755
12756 @cindex commands for C@t{++}
12757
12758 Some @value{GDBN} commands are particularly useful with C@t{++}, and some are
12759 designed specifically for use with C@t{++}. Here is a summary:
12760
12761 @table @code
12762 @cindex break in overloaded functions
12763 @item @r{breakpoint menus}
12764 When you want a breakpoint in a function whose name is overloaded,
12765 @value{GDBN} has the capability to display a menu of possible breakpoint
12766 locations to help you specify which function definition you want.
12767 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}.
12768
12769 @cindex overloading in C@t{++}
12770 @item rbreak @var{regex}
12771 Setting breakpoints using regular expressions is helpful for setting
12772 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
12773 classes.
12774 @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
12775
12776 @cindex C@t{++} exception handling
12777 @item catch throw
12778 @itemx catch catch
12779 Debug C@t{++} exception handling using these commands. @xref{Set
12780 Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
12781
12782 @cindex inheritance
12783 @item ptype @var{typename}
12784 Print inheritance relationships as well as other information for type
12785 @var{typename}.
12786 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
12787
12788 @cindex C@t{++} symbol display
12789 @item set print demangle
12790 @itemx show print demangle
12791 @itemx set print asm-demangle
12792 @itemx show print asm-demangle
12793 Control whether C@t{++} symbols display in their source form, both when
12794 displaying code as C@t{++} source and when displaying disassemblies.
12795 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
12796
12797 @item set print object
12798 @itemx show print object
12799 Choose whether to print derived (actual) or declared types of objects.
12800 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
12801
12802 @item set print vtbl
12803 @itemx show print vtbl
12804 Control the format for printing virtual function tables.
12805 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
12806 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
12807 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
12808
12809 @kindex set overload-resolution
12810 @cindex overloaded functions, overload resolution
12811 @item set overload-resolution on
12812 Enable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. The default
12813 is on. For overloaded functions, @value{GDBN} evaluates the arguments
12814 and searches for a function whose signature matches the argument types,
12815 using the standard C@t{++} conversion rules (see @ref{C Plus Plus
12816 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}, for details).
12817 If it cannot find a match, it emits a message.
12818
12819 @item set overload-resolution off
12820 Disable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. For
12821 overloaded functions that are not class member functions, @value{GDBN}
12822 chooses the first function of the specified name that it finds in the
12823 symbol table, whether or not its arguments are of the correct type. For
12824 overloaded functions that are class member functions, @value{GDBN}
12825 searches for a function whose signature @emph{exactly} matches the
12826 argument types.
12827
12828 @kindex show overload-resolution
12829 @item show overload-resolution
12830 Show the current setting of overload resolution.
12831
12832 @item @r{Overloaded symbol names}
12833 You can specify a particular definition of an overloaded symbol, using
12834 the same notation that is used to declare such symbols in C@t{++}: type
12835 @code{@var{symbol}(@var{types})} rather than just @var{symbol}. You can
12836 also use the @value{GDBN} command-line word completion facilities to list the
12837 available choices, or to finish the type list for you.
12838 @xref{Completion,, Command Completion}, for details on how to do this.
12839 @end table
12840
12841 @node Decimal Floating Point
12842 @subsubsection Decimal Floating Point format
12843 @cindex decimal floating point format
12844
12845 @value{GDBN} can examine, set and perform computations with numbers in
12846 decimal floating point format, which in the C language correspond to the
12847 @code{_Decimal32}, @code{_Decimal64} and @code{_Decimal128} types as
12848 specified by the extension to support decimal floating-point arithmetic.
12849
12850 There are two encodings in use, depending on the architecture: BID (Binary
12851 Integer Decimal) for x86 and x86-64, and DPD (Densely Packed Decimal) for
12852 PowerPC. @value{GDBN} will use the appropriate encoding for the configured
12853 target.
12854
12855 Because of a limitation in @file{libdecnumber}, the library used by @value{GDBN}
12856 to manipulate decimal floating point numbers, it is not possible to convert
12857 (using a cast, for example) integers wider than 32-bit to decimal float.
12858
12859 In addition, in order to imitate @value{GDBN}'s behaviour with binary floating
12860 point computations, error checking in decimal float operations ignores
12861 underflow, overflow and divide by zero exceptions.
12862
12863 In the PowerPC architecture, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers
12864 to inspect @code{_Decimal128} values stored in floating point registers.
12865 See @ref{PowerPC,,PowerPC} for more details.
12866
12867 @node D
12868 @subsection D
12869
12870 @cindex D
12871 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in D and compiled with
12872 GDC, LDC or DMD compilers. Currently @value{GDBN} supports only one D
12873 specific feature --- dynamic arrays.
12874
12875 @node Objective-C
12876 @subsection Objective-C
12877
12878 @cindex Objective-C
12879 This section provides information about some commands and command
12880 options that are useful for debugging Objective-C code. See also
12881 @ref{Symbols, info classes}, and @ref{Symbols, info selectors}, for a
12882 few more commands specific to Objective-C support.
12883
12884 @menu
12885 * Method Names in Commands::
12886 * The Print Command with Objective-C::
12887 @end menu
12888
12889 @node Method Names in Commands
12890 @subsubsection Method Names in Commands
12891
12892 The following commands have been extended to accept Objective-C method
12893 names as line specifications:
12894
12895 @kindex clear@r{, and Objective-C}
12896 @kindex break@r{, and Objective-C}
12897 @kindex info line@r{, and Objective-C}
12898 @kindex jump@r{, and Objective-C}
12899 @kindex list@r{, and Objective-C}
12900 @itemize
12901 @item @code{clear}
12902 @item @code{break}
12903 @item @code{info line}
12904 @item @code{jump}
12905 @item @code{list}
12906 @end itemize
12907
12908 A fully qualified Objective-C method name is specified as
12909
12910 @smallexample
12911 -[@var{Class} @var{methodName}]
12912 @end smallexample
12913
12914 where the minus sign is used to indicate an instance method and a
12915 plus sign (not shown) is used to indicate a class method. The class
12916 name @var{Class} and method name @var{methodName} are enclosed in
12917 brackets, similar to the way messages are specified in Objective-C
12918 source code. For example, to set a breakpoint at the @code{create}
12919 instance method of class @code{Fruit} in the program currently being
12920 debugged, enter:
12921
12922 @smallexample
12923 break -[Fruit create]
12924 @end smallexample
12925
12926 To list ten program lines around the @code{initialize} class method,
12927 enter:
12928
12929 @smallexample
12930 list +[NSText initialize]
12931 @end smallexample
12932
12933 In the current version of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus sign is
12934 required. In future versions of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus
12935 sign will be optional, but you can use it to narrow the search. It
12936 is also possible to specify just a method name:
12937
12938 @smallexample
12939 break create
12940 @end smallexample
12941
12942 You must specify the complete method name, including any colons. If
12943 your program's source files contain more than one @code{create} method,
12944 you'll be presented with a numbered list of classes that implement that
12945 method. Indicate your choice by number, or type @samp{0} to exit if
12946 none apply.
12947
12948 As another example, to clear a breakpoint established at the
12949 @code{makeKeyAndOrderFront:} method of the @code{NSWindow} class, enter:
12950
12951 @smallexample
12952 clear -[NSWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront:]
12953 @end smallexample
12954
12955 @node The Print Command with Objective-C
12956 @subsubsection The Print Command With Objective-C
12957 @cindex Objective-C, print objects
12958 @kindex print-object
12959 @kindex po @r{(@code{print-object})}
12960
12961 The print command has also been extended to accept methods. For example:
12962
12963 @smallexample
12964 print -[@var{object} hash]
12965 @end smallexample
12966
12967 @cindex print an Objective-C object description
12968 @cindex @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, and printing Objective-C objects
12969 @noindent
12970 will tell @value{GDBN} to send the @code{hash} message to @var{object}
12971 and print the result. Also, an additional command has been added,
12972 @code{print-object} or @code{po} for short, which is meant to print
12973 the description of an object. However, this command may only work
12974 with certain Objective-C libraries that have a particular hook
12975 function, @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, defined.
12976
12977 @node OpenCL C
12978 @subsection OpenCL C
12979
12980 @cindex OpenCL C
12981 This section provides information about @value{GDBN}s OpenCL C support.
12982
12983 @menu
12984 * OpenCL C Datatypes::
12985 * OpenCL C Expressions::
12986 * OpenCL C Operators::
12987 @end menu
12988
12989 @node OpenCL C Datatypes
12990 @subsubsection OpenCL C Datatypes
12991
12992 @cindex OpenCL C Datatypes
12993 @value{GDBN} supports the builtin scalar and vector datatypes specified
12994 by OpenCL 1.1. In addition the half- and double-precision floating point
12995 data types of the @code{cl_khr_fp16} and @code{cl_khr_fp64} OpenCL
12996 extensions are also known to @value{GDBN}.
12997
12998 @node OpenCL C Expressions
12999 @subsubsection OpenCL C Expressions
13000
13001 @cindex OpenCL C Expressions
13002 @value{GDBN} supports accesses to vector components including the access as
13003 lvalue where possible. Since OpenCL C is based on C99 most C expressions
13004 supported by @value{GDBN} can be used as well.
13005
13006 @node OpenCL C Operators
13007 @subsubsection OpenCL C Operators
13008
13009 @cindex OpenCL C Operators
13010 @value{GDBN} supports the operators specified by OpenCL 1.1 for scalar and
13011 vector data types.
13012
13013 @node Fortran
13014 @subsection Fortran
13015 @cindex Fortran-specific support in @value{GDBN}
13016
13017 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, but it
13018 currently supports only the features of Fortran 77 language.
13019
13020 @cindex trailing underscore, in Fortran symbols
13021 Some Fortran compilers (@sc{gnu} Fortran 77 and Fortran 95 compilers
13022 among them) append an underscore to the names of variables and
13023 functions. When you debug programs compiled by those compilers, you
13024 will need to refer to variables and functions with a trailing
13025 underscore.
13026
13027 @menu
13028 * Fortran Operators:: Fortran operators and expressions
13029 * Fortran Defaults:: Default settings for Fortran
13030 * Special Fortran Commands:: Special @value{GDBN} commands for Fortran
13031 @end menu
13032
13033 @node Fortran Operators
13034 @subsubsection Fortran Operators and Expressions
13035
13036 @cindex Fortran operators and expressions
13037
13038 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
13039 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on characters or other non-
13040 arithmetic types. Operators are often defined on groups of types.
13041
13042 @table @code
13043 @item **
13044 The exponentiation operator. It raises the first operand to the power
13045 of the second one.
13046
13047 @item :
13048 The range operator. Normally used in the form of array(low:high) to
13049 represent a section of array.
13050
13051 @item %
13052 The access component operator. Normally used to access elements in derived
13053 types. Also suitable for unions. As unions aren't part of regular Fortran,
13054 this can only happen when accessing a register that uses a gdbarch-defined
13055 union type.
13056 @end table
13057
13058 @node Fortran Defaults
13059 @subsubsection Fortran Defaults
13060
13061 @cindex Fortran Defaults
13062
13063 Fortran symbols are usually case-insensitive, so @value{GDBN} by
13064 default uses case-insensitive matches for Fortran symbols. You can
13065 change that with the @samp{set case-insensitive} command, see
13066 @ref{Symbols}, for the details.
13067
13068 @node Special Fortran Commands
13069 @subsubsection Special Fortran Commands
13070
13071 @cindex Special Fortran commands
13072
13073 @value{GDBN} has some commands to support Fortran-specific features,
13074 such as displaying common blocks.
13075
13076 @table @code
13077 @cindex @code{COMMON} blocks, Fortran
13078 @kindex info common
13079 @item info common @r{[}@var{common-name}@r{]}
13080 This command prints the values contained in the Fortran @code{COMMON}
13081 block whose name is @var{common-name}. With no argument, the names of
13082 all @code{COMMON} blocks visible at the current program location are
13083 printed.
13084 @end table
13085
13086 @node Pascal
13087 @subsection Pascal
13088
13089 @cindex Pascal support in @value{GDBN}, limitations
13090 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
13091 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
13092 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
13093 syntax.
13094
13095 The Pascal-specific command @code{set print pascal_static-members}
13096 controls whether static members of Pascal objects are displayed.
13097 @xref{Print Settings, pascal_static-members}.
13098
13099 @node Modula-2
13100 @subsection Modula-2
13101
13102 @cindex Modula-2, @value{GDBN} support
13103
13104 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} to support Modula-2 only support
13105 output from the @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler (which is currently being
13106 developed). Other Modula-2 compilers are not currently supported, and
13107 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
13108 to give an error as @value{GDBN} reads in the executable's symbol
13109 table.
13110
13111 @cindex expressions in Modula-2
13112 @menu
13113 * M2 Operators:: Built-in operators
13114 * Built-In Func/Proc:: Built-in functions and procedures
13115 * M2 Constants:: Modula-2 constants
13116 * M2 Types:: Modula-2 types
13117 * M2 Defaults:: Default settings for Modula-2
13118 * Deviations:: Deviations from standard Modula-2
13119 * M2 Checks:: Modula-2 type and range checks
13120 * M2 Scope:: The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
13121 * GDB/M2:: @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
13122 @end menu
13123
13124 @node M2 Operators
13125 @subsubsection Operators
13126 @cindex Modula-2 operators
13127
13128 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
13129 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
13130 often defined on groups of types. For the purposes of Modula-2, the
13131 following definitions hold:
13132
13133 @itemize @bullet
13134
13135 @item
13136 @emph{Integral types} consist of @code{INTEGER}, @code{CARDINAL}, and
13137 their subranges.
13138
13139 @item
13140 @emph{Character types} consist of @code{CHAR} and its subranges.
13141
13142 @item
13143 @emph{Floating-point types} consist of @code{REAL}.
13144
13145 @item
13146 @emph{Pointer types} consist of anything declared as @code{POINTER TO
13147 @var{type}}.
13148
13149 @item
13150 @emph{Scalar types} consist of all of the above.
13151
13152 @item
13153 @emph{Set types} consist of @code{SET} and @code{BITSET} types.
13154
13155 @item
13156 @emph{Boolean types} consist of @code{BOOLEAN}.
13157 @end itemize
13158
13159 @noindent
13160 The following operators are supported, and appear in order of
13161 increasing precedence:
13162
13163 @table @code
13164 @item ,
13165 Function argument or array index separator.
13166
13167 @item :=
13168 Assignment. The value of @var{var} @code{:=} @var{value} is
13169 @var{value}.
13170
13171 @item <@r{, }>
13172 Less than, greater than on integral, floating-point, or enumerated
13173 types.
13174
13175 @item <=@r{, }>=
13176 Less than or equal to, greater than or equal to
13177 on integral, floating-point and enumerated types, or set inclusion on
13178 set types. Same precedence as @code{<}.
13179
13180 @item =@r{, }<>@r{, }#
13181 Equality and two ways of expressing inequality, valid on scalar types.
13182 Same precedence as @code{<}. In @value{GDBN} scripts, only @code{<>} is
13183 available for inequality, since @code{#} conflicts with the script
13184 comment character.
13185
13186 @item IN
13187 Set membership. Defined on set types and the types of their members.
13188 Same precedence as @code{<}.
13189
13190 @item OR
13191 Boolean disjunction. Defined on boolean types.
13192
13193 @item AND@r{, }&
13194 Boolean conjunction. Defined on boolean types.
13195
13196 @item @@
13197 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
13198
13199 @item +@r{, }-
13200 Addition and subtraction on integral and floating-point types, or union
13201 and difference on set types.
13202
13203 @item *
13204 Multiplication on integral and floating-point types, or set intersection
13205 on set types.
13206
13207 @item /
13208 Division on floating-point types, or symmetric set difference on set
13209 types. Same precedence as @code{*}.
13210
13211 @item DIV@r{, }MOD
13212 Integer division and remainder. Defined on integral types. Same
13213 precedence as @code{*}.
13214
13215 @item -
13216 Negative. Defined on @code{INTEGER} and @code{REAL} data.
13217
13218 @item ^
13219 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types.
13220
13221 @item NOT
13222 Boolean negation. Defined on boolean types. Same precedence as
13223 @code{^}.
13224
13225 @item .
13226 @code{RECORD} field selector. Defined on @code{RECORD} data. Same
13227 precedence as @code{^}.
13228
13229 @item []
13230 Array indexing. Defined on @code{ARRAY} data. Same precedence as @code{^}.
13231
13232 @item ()
13233 Procedure argument list. Defined on @code{PROCEDURE} objects. Same precedence
13234 as @code{^}.
13235
13236 @item ::@r{, }.
13237 @value{GDBN} and Modula-2 scope operators.
13238 @end table
13239
13240 @quotation
13241 @emph{Warning:} Set expressions and their operations are not yet supported, so @value{GDBN}
13242 treats the use of the operator @code{IN}, or the use of operators
13243 @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{=}, , @code{<>}, @code{#},
13244 @code{<=}, and @code{>=} on sets as an error.
13245 @end quotation
13246
13247
13248 @node Built-In Func/Proc
13249 @subsubsection Built-in Functions and Procedures
13250 @cindex Modula-2 built-ins
13251
13252 Modula-2 also makes available several built-in procedures and functions.
13253 In describing these, the following metavariables are used:
13254
13255 @table @var
13256
13257 @item a
13258 represents an @code{ARRAY} variable.
13259
13260 @item c
13261 represents a @code{CHAR} constant or variable.
13262
13263 @item i
13264 represents a variable or constant of integral type.
13265
13266 @item m
13267 represents an identifier that belongs to a set. Generally used in the
13268 same function with the metavariable @var{s}. The type of @var{s} should
13269 be @code{SET OF @var{mtype}} (where @var{mtype} is the type of @var{m}).
13270
13271 @item n
13272 represents a variable or constant of integral or floating-point type.
13273
13274 @item r
13275 represents a variable or constant of floating-point type.
13276
13277 @item t
13278 represents a type.
13279
13280 @item v
13281 represents a variable.
13282
13283 @item x
13284 represents a variable or constant of one of many types. See the
13285 explanation of the function for details.
13286 @end table
13287
13288 All Modula-2 built-in procedures also return a result, described below.
13289
13290 @table @code
13291 @item ABS(@var{n})
13292 Returns the absolute value of @var{n}.
13293
13294 @item CAP(@var{c})
13295 If @var{c} is a lower case letter, it returns its upper case
13296 equivalent, otherwise it returns its argument.
13297
13298 @item CHR(@var{i})
13299 Returns the character whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
13300
13301 @item DEC(@var{v})
13302 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
13303
13304 @item DEC(@var{v},@var{i})
13305 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
13306 new value.
13307
13308 @item EXCL(@var{m},@var{s})
13309 Removes the element @var{m} from the set @var{s}. Returns the new
13310 set.
13311
13312 @item FLOAT(@var{i})
13313 Returns the floating point equivalent of the integer @var{i}.
13314
13315 @item HIGH(@var{a})
13316 Returns the index of the last member of @var{a}.
13317
13318 @item INC(@var{v})
13319 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
13320
13321 @item INC(@var{v},@var{i})
13322 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
13323 new value.
13324
13325 @item INCL(@var{m},@var{s})
13326 Adds the element @var{m} to the set @var{s} if it is not already
13327 there. Returns the new set.
13328
13329 @item MAX(@var{t})
13330 Returns the maximum value of the type @var{t}.
13331
13332 @item MIN(@var{t})
13333 Returns the minimum value of the type @var{t}.
13334
13335 @item ODD(@var{i})
13336 Returns boolean TRUE if @var{i} is an odd number.
13337
13338 @item ORD(@var{x})
13339 Returns the ordinal value of its argument. For example, the ordinal
13340 value of a character is its @sc{ascii} value (on machines supporting the
13341 @sc{ascii} character set). @var{x} must be of an ordered type, which include
13342 integral, character and enumerated types.
13343
13344 @item SIZE(@var{x})
13345 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
13346
13347 @item TRUNC(@var{r})
13348 Returns the integral part of @var{r}.
13349
13350 @item TSIZE(@var{x})
13351 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
13352
13353 @item VAL(@var{t},@var{i})
13354 Returns the member of the type @var{t} whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
13355 @end table
13356
13357 @quotation
13358 @emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so
13359 @value{GDBN} treats the use of procedures @code{INCL} and @code{EXCL} as
13360 an error.
13361 @end quotation
13362
13363 @cindex Modula-2 constants
13364 @node M2 Constants
13365 @subsubsection Constants
13366
13367 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of Modula-2 in the following
13368 ways:
13369
13370 @itemize @bullet
13371
13372 @item
13373 Integer constants are simply a sequence of digits. When used in an
13374 expression, a constant is interpreted to be type-compatible with the
13375 rest of the expression. Hexadecimal integers are specified by a
13376 trailing @samp{H}, and octal integers by a trailing @samp{B}.
13377
13378 @item
13379 Floating point constants appear as a sequence of digits, followed by a
13380 decimal point and another sequence of digits. An optional exponent can
13381 then be specified, in the form @samp{E@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}, where
13382 @samp{@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}} is the desired exponent. All of the
13383 digits of the floating point constant must be valid decimal (base 10)
13384 digits.
13385
13386 @item
13387 Character constants consist of a single character enclosed by a pair of
13388 like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}). They may
13389 also be expressed by their ordinal value (their @sc{ascii} value, usually)
13390 followed by a @samp{C}.
13391
13392 @item
13393 String constants consist of a sequence of characters enclosed by a
13394 pair of like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}).
13395 Escape sequences in the style of C are also allowed. @xref{C
13396 Constants, ,C and C@t{++} Constants}, for a brief explanation of escape
13397 sequences.
13398
13399 @item
13400 Enumerated constants consist of an enumerated identifier.
13401
13402 @item
13403 Boolean constants consist of the identifiers @code{TRUE} and
13404 @code{FALSE}.
13405
13406 @item
13407 Pointer constants consist of integral values only.
13408
13409 @item
13410 Set constants are not yet supported.
13411 @end itemize
13412
13413 @node M2 Types
13414 @subsubsection Modula-2 Types
13415 @cindex Modula-2 types
13416
13417 Currently @value{GDBN} can print the following data types in Modula-2
13418 syntax: array types, record types, set types, pointer types, procedure
13419 types, enumerated types, subrange types and base types. You can also
13420 print the contents of variables declared using these type.
13421 This section gives a number of simple source code examples together with
13422 sample @value{GDBN} sessions.
13423
13424 The first example contains the following section of code:
13425
13426 @smallexample
13427 VAR
13428 s: SET OF CHAR ;
13429 r: [20..40] ;
13430 @end smallexample
13431
13432 @noindent
13433 and you can request @value{GDBN} to interrogate the type and value of
13434 @code{r} and @code{s}.
13435
13436 @smallexample
13437 (@value{GDBP}) print s
13438 @{'A'..'C', 'Z'@}
13439 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
13440 SET OF CHAR
13441 (@value{GDBP}) print r
13442 21
13443 (@value{GDBP}) ptype r
13444 [20..40]
13445 @end smallexample
13446
13447 @noindent
13448 Likewise if your source code declares @code{s} as:
13449
13450 @smallexample
13451 VAR
13452 s: SET ['A'..'Z'] ;
13453 @end smallexample
13454
13455 @noindent
13456 then you may query the type of @code{s} by:
13457
13458 @smallexample
13459 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
13460 type = SET ['A'..'Z']
13461 @end smallexample
13462
13463 @noindent
13464 Note that at present you cannot interactively manipulate set
13465 expressions using the debugger.
13466
13467 The following example shows how you might declare an array in Modula-2
13468 and how you can interact with @value{GDBN} to print its type and contents:
13469
13470 @smallexample
13471 VAR
13472 s: ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR ;
13473 @end smallexample
13474
13475 @smallexample
13476 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
13477 ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR
13478 @end smallexample
13479
13480 Note that the array handling is not yet complete and although the type
13481 is printed correctly, expression handling still assumes that all
13482 arrays have a lower bound of zero and not @code{-10} as in the example
13483 above.
13484
13485 Here are some more type related Modula-2 examples:
13486
13487 @smallexample
13488 TYPE
13489 colour = (blue, red, yellow, green) ;
13490 t = [blue..yellow] ;
13491 VAR
13492 s: t ;
13493 BEGIN
13494 s := blue ;
13495 @end smallexample
13496
13497 @noindent
13498 The @value{GDBN} interaction shows how you can query the data type
13499 and value of a variable.
13500
13501 @smallexample
13502 (@value{GDBP}) print s
13503 $1 = blue
13504 (@value{GDBP}) ptype t
13505 type = [blue..yellow]
13506 @end smallexample
13507
13508 @noindent
13509 In this example a Modula-2 array is declared and its contents
13510 displayed. Observe that the contents are written in the same way as
13511 their @code{C} counterparts.
13512
13513 @smallexample
13514 VAR
13515 s: ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
13516 BEGIN
13517 s[1] := 1 ;
13518 @end smallexample
13519
13520 @smallexample
13521 (@value{GDBP}) print s
13522 $1 = @{1, 0, 0, 0, 0@}
13523 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
13524 type = ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
13525 @end smallexample
13526
13527 The Modula-2 language interface to @value{GDBN} also understands
13528 pointer types as shown in this example:
13529
13530 @smallexample
13531 VAR
13532 s: POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
13533 BEGIN
13534 NEW(s) ;
13535 s^[1] := 1 ;
13536 @end smallexample
13537
13538 @noindent
13539 and you can request that @value{GDBN} describes the type of @code{s}.
13540
13541 @smallexample
13542 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
13543 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
13544 @end smallexample
13545
13546 @value{GDBN} handles compound types as we can see in this example.
13547 Here we combine array types, record types, pointer types and subrange
13548 types:
13549
13550 @smallexample
13551 TYPE
13552 foo = RECORD
13553 f1: CARDINAL ;
13554 f2: CHAR ;
13555 f3: myarray ;
13556 END ;
13557
13558 myarray = ARRAY myrange OF CARDINAL ;
13559 myrange = [-2..2] ;
13560 VAR
13561 s: POINTER TO ARRAY myrange OF foo ;
13562 @end smallexample
13563
13564 @noindent
13565 and you can ask @value{GDBN} to describe the type of @code{s} as shown
13566 below.
13567
13568 @smallexample
13569 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
13570 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [-2..2] OF foo = RECORD
13571 f1 : CARDINAL;
13572 f2 : CHAR;
13573 f3 : ARRAY [-2..2] OF CARDINAL;
13574 END
13575 @end smallexample
13576
13577 @node M2 Defaults
13578 @subsubsection Modula-2 Defaults
13579 @cindex Modula-2 defaults
13580
13581 If type and range checking are set automatically by @value{GDBN}, they
13582 both default to @code{on} whenever the working language changes to
13583 Modula-2. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
13584 selected the working language.
13585
13586 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, then entering
13587 code compiled from a file whose name ends with @file{.mod} sets the
13588 working language to Modula-2. @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN}
13589 Infer the Source Language}, for further details.
13590
13591 @node Deviations
13592 @subsubsection Deviations from Standard Modula-2
13593 @cindex Modula-2, deviations from
13594
13595 A few changes have been made to make Modula-2 programs easier to debug.
13596 This is done primarily via loosening its type strictness:
13597
13598 @itemize @bullet
13599 @item
13600 Unlike in standard Modula-2, pointer constants can be formed by
13601 integers. This allows you to modify pointer variables during
13602 debugging. (In standard Modula-2, the actual address contained in a
13603 pointer variable is hidden from you; it can only be modified
13604 through direct assignment to another pointer variable or expression that
13605 returned a pointer.)
13606
13607 @item
13608 C escape sequences can be used in strings and characters to represent
13609 non-printable characters. @value{GDBN} prints out strings with these
13610 escape sequences embedded. Single non-printable characters are
13611 printed using the @samp{CHR(@var{nnn})} format.
13612
13613 @item
13614 The assignment operator (@code{:=}) returns the value of its right-hand
13615 argument.
13616
13617 @item
13618 All built-in procedures both modify @emph{and} return their argument.
13619 @end itemize
13620
13621 @node M2 Checks
13622 @subsubsection Modula-2 Type and Range Checks
13623 @cindex Modula-2 checks
13624
13625 @quotation
13626 @emph{Warning:} in this release, @value{GDBN} does not yet perform type or
13627 range checking.
13628 @end quotation
13629 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range checks added
13630
13631 @value{GDBN} considers two Modula-2 variables type equivalent if:
13632
13633 @itemize @bullet
13634 @item
13635 They are of types that have been declared equivalent via a @code{TYPE
13636 @var{t1} = @var{t2}} statement
13637
13638 @item
13639 They have been declared on the same line. (Note: This is true of the
13640 @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler, but it may not be true of other compilers.)
13641 @end itemize
13642
13643 As long as type checking is enabled, any attempt to combine variables
13644 whose types are not equivalent is an error.
13645
13646 Range checking is done on all mathematical operations, assignment, array
13647 index bounds, and all built-in functions and procedures.
13648
13649 @node M2 Scope
13650 @subsubsection The Scope Operators @code{::} and @code{.}
13651 @cindex scope
13652 @cindex @code{.}, Modula-2 scope operator
13653 @cindex colon, doubled as scope operator
13654 @ifinfo
13655 @vindex colon-colon@r{, in Modula-2}
13656 @c Info cannot handle :: but TeX can.
13657 @end ifinfo
13658 @ifnotinfo
13659 @vindex ::@r{, in Modula-2}
13660 @end ifnotinfo
13661
13662 There are a few subtle differences between the Modula-2 scope operator
13663 (@code{.}) and the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@code{::}). The two have
13664 similar syntax:
13665
13666 @smallexample
13667
13668 @var{module} . @var{id}
13669 @var{scope} :: @var{id}
13670 @end smallexample
13671
13672 @noindent
13673 where @var{scope} is the name of a module or a procedure,
13674 @var{module} the name of a module, and @var{id} is any declared
13675 identifier within your program, except another module.
13676
13677 Using the @code{::} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the scope
13678 specified by @var{scope} for the identifier @var{id}. If it is not
13679 found in the specified scope, then @value{GDBN} searches all scopes
13680 enclosing the one specified by @var{scope}.
13681
13682 Using the @code{.} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the current scope for
13683 the identifier specified by @var{id} that was imported from the
13684 definition module specified by @var{module}. With this operator, it is
13685 an error if the identifier @var{id} was not imported from definition
13686 module @var{module}, or if @var{id} is not an identifier in
13687 @var{module}.
13688
13689 @node GDB/M2
13690 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
13691
13692 Some @value{GDBN} commands have little use when debugging Modula-2 programs.
13693 Five subcommands of @code{set print} and @code{show print} apply
13694 specifically to C and C@t{++}: @samp{vtbl}, @samp{demangle},
13695 @samp{asm-demangle}, @samp{object}, and @samp{union}. The first four
13696 apply to C@t{++}, and the last to the C @code{union} type, which has no direct
13697 analogue in Modula-2.
13698
13699 The @code{@@} operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), while available
13700 with any language, is not useful with Modula-2. Its
13701 intent is to aid the debugging of @dfn{dynamic arrays}, which cannot be
13702 created in Modula-2 as they can in C or C@t{++}. However, because an
13703 address can be specified by an integral constant, the construct
13704 @samp{@{@var{type}@}@var{adrexp}} is still useful.
13705
13706 @cindex @code{#} in Modula-2
13707 In @value{GDBN} scripts, the Modula-2 inequality operator @code{#} is
13708 interpreted as the beginning of a comment. Use @code{<>} instead.
13709
13710 @node Ada
13711 @subsection Ada
13712 @cindex Ada
13713
13714 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} for Ada only support
13715 output from the @sc{gnu} Ada (GNAT) compiler.
13716 Other Ada compilers are not currently supported, and
13717 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
13718 to be difficult.
13719
13720
13721 @cindex expressions in Ada
13722 @menu
13723 * Ada Mode Intro:: General remarks on the Ada syntax
13724 and semantics supported by Ada mode
13725 in @value{GDBN}.
13726 * Omissions from Ada:: Restrictions on the Ada expression syntax.
13727 * Additions to Ada:: Extensions of the Ada expression syntax.
13728 * Stopping Before Main Program:: Debugging the program during elaboration.
13729 * Ada Tasks:: Listing and setting breakpoints in tasks.
13730 * Ada Tasks and Core Files:: Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
13731 * Ravenscar Profile:: Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar
13732 Profile
13733 * Ada Glitches:: Known peculiarities of Ada mode.
13734 @end menu
13735
13736 @node Ada Mode Intro
13737 @subsubsection Introduction
13738 @cindex Ada mode, general
13739
13740 The Ada mode of @value{GDBN} supports a fairly large subset of Ada expression
13741 syntax, with some extensions.
13742 The philosophy behind the design of this subset is
13743
13744 @itemize @bullet
13745 @item
13746 That @value{GDBN} should provide basic literals and access to operations for
13747 arithmetic, dereferencing, field selection, indexing, and subprogram calls,
13748 leaving more sophisticated computations to subprograms written into the
13749 program (which therefore may be called from @value{GDBN}).
13750
13751 @item
13752 That type safety and strict adherence to Ada language restrictions
13753 are not particularly important to the @value{GDBN} user.
13754
13755 @item
13756 That brevity is important to the @value{GDBN} user.
13757 @end itemize
13758
13759 Thus, for brevity, the debugger acts as if all names declared in
13760 user-written packages are directly visible, even if they are not visible
13761 according to Ada rules, thus making it unnecessary to fully qualify most
13762 names with their packages, regardless of context. Where this causes
13763 ambiguity, @value{GDBN} asks the user's intent.
13764
13765 The debugger will start in Ada mode if it detects an Ada main program.
13766 As for other languages, it will enter Ada mode when stopped in a program that
13767 was translated from an Ada source file.
13768
13769 While in Ada mode, you may use `@t{--}' for comments. This is useful
13770 mostly for documenting command files. The standard @value{GDBN} comment
13771 (@samp{#}) still works at the beginning of a line in Ada mode, but not in the
13772 middle (to allow based literals).
13773
13774 The debugger supports limited overloading. Given a subprogram call in which
13775 the function symbol has multiple definitions, it will use the number of
13776 actual parameters and some information about their types to attempt to narrow
13777 the set of definitions. It also makes very limited use of context, preferring
13778 procedures to functions in the context of the @code{call} command, and
13779 functions to procedures elsewhere.
13780
13781 @node Omissions from Ada
13782 @subsubsection Omissions from Ada
13783 @cindex Ada, omissions from
13784
13785 Here are the notable omissions from the subset:
13786
13787 @itemize @bullet
13788 @item
13789 Only a subset of the attributes are supported:
13790
13791 @itemize @minus
13792 @item
13793 @t{'First}, @t{'Last}, and @t{'Length}
13794 on array objects (not on types and subtypes).
13795
13796 @item
13797 @t{'Min} and @t{'Max}.
13798
13799 @item
13800 @t{'Pos} and @t{'Val}.
13801
13802 @item
13803 @t{'Tag}.
13804
13805 @item
13806 @t{'Range} on array objects (not subtypes), but only as the right
13807 operand of the membership (@code{in}) operator.
13808
13809 @item
13810 @t{'Access}, @t{'Unchecked_Access}, and
13811 @t{'Unrestricted_Access} (a GNAT extension).
13812
13813 @item
13814 @t{'Address}.
13815 @end itemize
13816
13817 @item
13818 The names in
13819 @code{Characters.Latin_1} are not available and
13820 concatenation is not implemented. Thus, escape characters in strings are
13821 not currently available.
13822
13823 @item
13824 Equality tests (@samp{=} and @samp{/=}) on arrays test for bitwise
13825 equality of representations. They will generally work correctly
13826 for strings and arrays whose elements have integer or enumeration types.
13827 They may not work correctly for arrays whose element
13828 types have user-defined equality, for arrays of real values
13829 (in particular, IEEE-conformant floating point, because of negative
13830 zeroes and NaNs), and for arrays whose elements contain unused bits with
13831 indeterminate values.
13832
13833 @item
13834 The other component-by-component array operations (@code{and}, @code{or},
13835 @code{xor}, @code{not}, and relational tests other than equality)
13836 are not implemented.
13837
13838 @item
13839 @cindex array aggregates (Ada)
13840 @cindex record aggregates (Ada)
13841 @cindex aggregates (Ada)
13842 There is limited support for array and record aggregates. They are
13843 permitted only on the right sides of assignments, as in these examples:
13844
13845 @smallexample
13846 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
13847 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, others => 0)
13848 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (0|4 => 1, 1..3 => 2, 5 => 6)
13849 (@value{GDBP}) set A_2D_Array := ((1, 2, 3), (4, 5, 6), (7, 8, 9))
13850 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (1, "Peter", True);
13851 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (Name => "Peter", Id => 1, Alive => True)
13852 @end smallexample
13853
13854 Changing a
13855 discriminant's value by assigning an aggregate has an
13856 undefined effect if that discriminant is used within the record.
13857 However, you can first modify discriminants by directly assigning to
13858 them (which normally would not be allowed in Ada), and then performing an
13859 aggregate assignment. For example, given a variable @code{A_Rec}
13860 declared to have a type such as:
13861
13862 @smallexample
13863 type Rec (Len : Small_Integer := 0) is record
13864 Id : Integer;
13865 Vals : IntArray (1 .. Len);
13866 end record;
13867 @end smallexample
13868
13869 you can assign a value with a different size of @code{Vals} with two
13870 assignments:
13871
13872 @smallexample
13873 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec.Len := 4
13874 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec := (Id => 42, Vals => (1, 2, 3, 4))
13875 @end smallexample
13876
13877 As this example also illustrates, @value{GDBN} is very loose about the usual
13878 rules concerning aggregates. You may leave out some of the
13879 components of an array or record aggregate (such as the @code{Len}
13880 component in the assignment to @code{A_Rec} above); they will retain their
13881 original values upon assignment. You may freely use dynamic values as
13882 indices in component associations. You may even use overlapping or
13883 redundant component associations, although which component values are
13884 assigned in such cases is not defined.
13885
13886 @item
13887 Calls to dispatching subprograms are not implemented.
13888
13889 @item
13890 The overloading algorithm is much more limited (i.e., less selective)
13891 than that of real Ada. It makes only limited use of the context in
13892 which a subexpression appears to resolve its meaning, and it is much
13893 looser in its rules for allowing type matches. As a result, some
13894 function calls will be ambiguous, and the user will be asked to choose
13895 the proper resolution.
13896
13897 @item
13898 The @code{new} operator is not implemented.
13899
13900 @item
13901 Entry calls are not implemented.
13902
13903 @item
13904 Aside from printing, arithmetic operations on the native VAX floating-point
13905 formats are not supported.
13906
13907 @item
13908 It is not possible to slice a packed array.
13909
13910 @item
13911 The names @code{True} and @code{False}, when not part of a qualified name,
13912 are interpreted as if implicitly prefixed by @code{Standard}, regardless of
13913 context.
13914 Should your program
13915 redefine these names in a package or procedure (at best a dubious practice),
13916 you will have to use fully qualified names to access their new definitions.
13917 @end itemize
13918
13919 @node Additions to Ada
13920 @subsubsection Additions to Ada
13921 @cindex Ada, deviations from
13922
13923 As it does for other languages, @value{GDBN} makes certain generic
13924 extensions to Ada (@pxref{Expressions}):
13925
13926 @itemize @bullet
13927 @item
13928 If the expression @var{E} is a variable residing in memory (typically
13929 a local variable or array element) and @var{N} is a positive integer,
13930 then @code{@var{E}@@@var{N}} displays the values of @var{E} and the
13931 @var{N}-1 adjacent variables following it in memory as an array. In
13932 Ada, this operator is generally not necessary, since its prime use is
13933 in displaying parts of an array, and slicing will usually do this in
13934 Ada. However, there are occasional uses when debugging programs in
13935 which certain debugging information has been optimized away.
13936
13937 @item
13938 @code{@var{B}::@var{var}} means ``the variable named @var{var} that
13939 appears in function or file @var{B}.'' When @var{B} is a file name,
13940 you must typically surround it in single quotes.
13941
13942 @item
13943 The expression @code{@{@var{type}@} @var{addr}} means ``the variable of type
13944 @var{type} that appears at address @var{addr}.''
13945
13946 @item
13947 A name starting with @samp{$} is a convenience variable
13948 (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) or a machine register (@pxref{Registers}).
13949 @end itemize
13950
13951 In addition, @value{GDBN} provides a few other shortcuts and outright
13952 additions specific to Ada:
13953
13954 @itemize @bullet
13955 @item
13956 The assignment statement is allowed as an expression, returning
13957 its right-hand operand as its value. Thus, you may enter
13958
13959 @smallexample
13960 (@value{GDBP}) set x := y + 3
13961 (@value{GDBP}) print A(tmp := y + 1)
13962 @end smallexample
13963
13964 @item
13965 The semicolon is allowed as an ``operator,'' returning as its value
13966 the value of its right-hand operand.
13967 This allows, for example,
13968 complex conditional breaks:
13969
13970 @smallexample
13971 (@value{GDBP}) break f
13972 (@value{GDBP}) condition 1 (report(i); k += 1; A(k) > 100)
13973 @end smallexample
13974
13975 @item
13976 Rather than use catenation and symbolic character names to introduce special
13977 characters into strings, one may instead use a special bracket notation,
13978 which is also used to print strings. A sequence of characters of the form
13979 @samp{["@var{XX}"]} within a string or character literal denotes the
13980 (single) character whose numeric encoding is @var{XX} in hexadecimal. The
13981 sequence of characters @samp{["""]} also denotes a single quotation mark
13982 in strings. For example,
13983 @smallexample
13984 "One line.["0a"]Next line.["0a"]"
13985 @end smallexample
13986 @noindent
13987 contains an ASCII newline character (@code{Ada.Characters.Latin_1.LF})
13988 after each period.
13989
13990 @item
13991 The subtype used as a prefix for the attributes @t{'Pos}, @t{'Min}, and
13992 @t{'Max} is optional (and is ignored in any case). For example, it is valid
13993 to write
13994
13995 @smallexample
13996 (@value{GDBP}) print 'max(x, y)
13997 @end smallexample
13998
13999 @item
14000 When printing arrays, @value{GDBN} uses positional notation when the
14001 array has a lower bound of 1, and uses a modified named notation otherwise.
14002 For example, a one-dimensional array of three integers with a lower bound
14003 of 3 might print as
14004
14005 @smallexample
14006 (3 => 10, 17, 1)
14007 @end smallexample
14008
14009 @noindent
14010 That is, in contrast to valid Ada, only the first component has a @code{=>}
14011 clause.
14012
14013 @item
14014 You may abbreviate attributes in expressions with any unique,
14015 multi-character subsequence of
14016 their names (an exact match gets preference).
14017 For example, you may use @t{a'len}, @t{a'gth}, or @t{a'lh}
14018 in place of @t{a'length}.
14019
14020 @item
14021 @cindex quoting Ada internal identifiers
14022 Since Ada is case-insensitive, the debugger normally maps identifiers you type
14023 to lower case. The GNAT compiler uses upper-case characters for
14024 some of its internal identifiers, which are normally of no interest to users.
14025 For the rare occasions when you actually have to look at them,
14026 enclose them in angle brackets to avoid the lower-case mapping.
14027 For example,
14028 @smallexample
14029 (@value{GDBP}) print <JMPBUF_SAVE>[0]
14030 @end smallexample
14031
14032 @item
14033 Printing an object of class-wide type or dereferencing an
14034 access-to-class-wide value will display all the components of the object's
14035 specific type (as indicated by its run-time tag). Likewise, component
14036 selection on such a value will operate on the specific type of the
14037 object.
14038
14039 @end itemize
14040
14041 @node Stopping Before Main Program
14042 @subsubsection Stopping at the Very Beginning
14043
14044 @cindex breakpointing Ada elaboration code
14045 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration, and
14046 before reaching the main procedure.
14047 As defined in the Ada Reference
14048 Manual, the elaboration code is invoked from a procedure called
14049 @code{adainit}. To run your program up to the beginning of
14050 elaboration, simply use the following two commands:
14051 @code{tbreak adainit} and @code{run}.
14052
14053 @node Ada Tasks
14054 @subsubsection Extensions for Ada Tasks
14055 @cindex Ada, tasking
14056
14057 Support for Ada tasks is analogous to that for threads (@pxref{Threads}).
14058 @value{GDBN} provides the following task-related commands:
14059
14060 @table @code
14061 @kindex info tasks
14062 @item info tasks
14063 This command shows a list of current Ada tasks, as in the following example:
14064
14065
14066 @smallexample
14067 @iftex
14068 @leftskip=0.5cm
14069 @end iftex
14070 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14071 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14072 1 8088000 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14073 2 80a4000 1 15 Accept Statement b
14074 3 809a800 1 15 Child Activation Wait a
14075 * 4 80ae800 3 15 Runnable c
14076
14077 @end smallexample
14078
14079 @noindent
14080 In this listing, the asterisk before the last task indicates it to be the
14081 task currently being inspected.
14082
14083 @table @asis
14084 @item ID
14085 Represents @value{GDBN}'s internal task number.
14086
14087 @item TID
14088 The Ada task ID.
14089
14090 @item P-ID
14091 The parent's task ID (@value{GDBN}'s internal task number).
14092
14093 @item Pri
14094 The base priority of the task.
14095
14096 @item State
14097 Current state of the task.
14098
14099 @table @code
14100 @item Unactivated
14101 The task has been created but has not been activated. It cannot be
14102 executing.
14103
14104 @item Runnable
14105 The task is not blocked for any reason known to Ada. (It may be waiting
14106 for a mutex, though.) It is conceptually "executing" in normal mode.
14107
14108 @item Terminated
14109 The task is terminated, in the sense of ARM 9.3 (5). Any dependents
14110 that were waiting on terminate alternatives have been awakened and have
14111 terminated themselves.
14112
14113 @item Child Activation Wait
14114 The task is waiting for created tasks to complete activation.
14115
14116 @item Accept Statement
14117 The task is waiting on an accept or selective wait statement.
14118
14119 @item Waiting on entry call
14120 The task is waiting on an entry call.
14121
14122 @item Async Select Wait
14123 The task is waiting to start the abortable part of an asynchronous
14124 select statement.
14125
14126 @item Delay Sleep
14127 The task is waiting on a select statement with only a delay
14128 alternative open.
14129
14130 @item Child Termination Wait
14131 The task is sleeping having completed a master within itself, and is
14132 waiting for the tasks dependent on that master to become terminated or
14133 waiting on a terminate Phase.
14134
14135 @item Wait Child in Term Alt
14136 The task is sleeping waiting for tasks on terminate alternatives to
14137 finish terminating.
14138
14139 @item Accepting RV with @var{taskno}
14140 The task is accepting a rendez-vous with the task @var{taskno}.
14141 @end table
14142
14143 @item Name
14144 Name of the task in the program.
14145
14146 @end table
14147
14148 @kindex info task @var{taskno}
14149 @item info task @var{taskno}
14150 This command shows detailled informations on the specified task, as in
14151 the following example:
14152 @smallexample
14153 @iftex
14154 @leftskip=0.5cm
14155 @end iftex
14156 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14157 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14158 1 8077880 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14159 * 2 807c468 1 15 Runnable task_1
14160 (@value{GDBP}) info task 2
14161 Ada Task: 0x807c468
14162 Name: task_1
14163 Thread: 0x807f378
14164 Parent: 1 (main_task)
14165 Base Priority: 15
14166 State: Runnable
14167 @end smallexample
14168
14169 @item task
14170 @kindex task@r{ (Ada)}
14171 @cindex current Ada task ID
14172 This command prints the ID of the current task.
14173
14174 @smallexample
14175 @iftex
14176 @leftskip=0.5cm
14177 @end iftex
14178 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14179 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14180 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14181 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
14182 (@value{GDBP}) task
14183 [Current task is 2]
14184 @end smallexample
14185
14186 @item task @var{taskno}
14187 @cindex Ada task switching
14188 This command is like the @code{thread @var{threadno}}
14189 command (@pxref{Threads}). It switches the context of debugging
14190 from the current task to the given task.
14191
14192 @smallexample
14193 @iftex
14194 @leftskip=0.5cm
14195 @end iftex
14196 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14197 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14198 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14199 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
14200 (@value{GDBP}) task 1
14201 [Switching to task 1]
14202 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
14203 (@value{GDBP}) bt
14204 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
14205 #1 0x8056714 in system.os_interface.pthread_cond_wait ()
14206 #2 0x805cb63 in system.task_primitives.operations.sleep ()
14207 #3 0x806153e in system.tasking.stages.activate_tasks ()
14208 #4 0x804aacc in un () at un.adb:5
14209 @end smallexample
14210
14211 @item break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno}
14212 @itemx break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno} if @dots{}
14213 @cindex breakpoints and tasks, in Ada
14214 @cindex task breakpoints, in Ada
14215 @kindex break @dots{} task @var{taskno}@r{ (Ada)}
14216 These commands are like the @code{break @dots{} thread @dots{}}
14217 command (@pxref{Thread Stops}).
14218 @var{linespec} specifies source lines, as described
14219 in @ref{Specify Location}.
14220
14221 Use the qualifier @samp{task @var{taskno}} with a breakpoint command
14222 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
14223 particular Ada task reaches this breakpoint. @var{taskno} is one of the
14224 numeric task identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
14225 column of the @samp{info tasks} display.
14226
14227 If you do not specify @samp{task @var{taskno}} when you set a
14228 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} tasks of your
14229 program.
14230
14231 You can use the @code{task} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
14232 well; in this case, place @samp{task @var{taskno}} before the
14233 breakpoint condition (before the @code{if}).
14234
14235 For example,
14236
14237 @smallexample
14238 @iftex
14239 @leftskip=0.5cm
14240 @end iftex
14241 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14242 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14243 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14244 2 140045060 1 15 Accept/Select Wait t2
14245 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
14246 * 4 140056040 1 15 Runnable t3
14247 (@value{GDBP}) b 15 task 2
14248 Breakpoint 5 at 0x120044cb0: file test_task_debug.adb, line 15.
14249 (@value{GDBP}) cont
14250 Continuing.
14251 task # 1 running
14252 task # 2 running
14253
14254 Breakpoint 5, test_task_debug () at test_task_debug.adb:15
14255 15 flush;
14256 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
14257 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
14258 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
14259 * 2 140045060 1 15 Runnable t2
14260 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
14261 4 140056040 1 15 Delay Sleep t3
14262 @end smallexample
14263 @end table
14264
14265 @node Ada Tasks and Core Files
14266 @subsubsection Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
14267 @cindex Ada tasking and core file debugging
14268
14269 When inspecting a core file, as opposed to debugging a live program,
14270 tasking support may be limited or even unavailable, depending on
14271 the platform being used.
14272 For instance, on x86-linux, the list of tasks is available, but task
14273 switching is not supported. On Tru64, however, task switching will work
14274 as usual.
14275
14276 On certain platforms, including Tru64, the debugger needs to perform some
14277 memory writes in order to provide Ada tasking support. When inspecting
14278 a core file, this means that the core file must be opened with read-write
14279 privileges, using the command @samp{"set write on"} (@pxref{Patching}).
14280 Under these circumstances, you should make a backup copy of the core
14281 file before inspecting it with @value{GDBN}.
14282
14283 @node Ravenscar Profile
14284 @subsubsection Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar Profile
14285 @cindex Ravenscar Profile
14286
14287 The @dfn{Ravenscar Profile} is a subset of the Ada tasking features,
14288 specifically designed for systems with safety-critical real-time
14289 requirements.
14290
14291 @table @code
14292 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching on
14293 @cindex task switching with program using Ravenscar Profile
14294 @item set ravenscar task-switching on
14295 Allows task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
14296 Profile. This is the default.
14297
14298 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching off
14299 @item set ravenscar task-switching off
14300 Turn off task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
14301 Profile. This is mostly intended to disable the code that adds support
14302 for the Ravenscar Profile, in case a bug in either @value{GDBN} or in
14303 the Ravenscar runtime is preventing @value{GDBN} from working properly.
14304 To be effective, this command should be run before the program is started.
14305
14306 @kindex show ravenscar task-switching
14307 @item show ravenscar task-switching
14308 Show whether it is possible to switch from task to task in a program
14309 using the Ravenscar Profile.
14310
14311 @end table
14312
14313 @node Ada Glitches
14314 @subsubsection Known Peculiarities of Ada Mode
14315 @cindex Ada, problems
14316
14317 Besides the omissions listed previously (@pxref{Omissions from Ada}),
14318 we know of several problems with and limitations of Ada mode in
14319 @value{GDBN},
14320 some of which will be fixed with planned future releases of the debugger
14321 and the GNU Ada compiler.
14322
14323 @itemize @bullet
14324 @item
14325 Static constants that the compiler chooses not to materialize as objects in
14326 storage are invisible to the debugger.
14327
14328 @item
14329 Named parameter associations in function argument lists are ignored (the
14330 argument lists are treated as positional).
14331
14332 @item
14333 Many useful library packages are currently invisible to the debugger.
14334
14335 @item
14336 Fixed-point arithmetic, conversions, input, and output is carried out using
14337 floating-point arithmetic, and may give results that only approximate those on
14338 the host machine.
14339
14340 @item
14341 The GNAT compiler never generates the prefix @code{Standard} for any of
14342 the standard symbols defined by the Ada language. @value{GDBN} knows about
14343 this: it will strip the prefix from names when you use it, and will never
14344 look for a name you have so qualified among local symbols, nor match against
14345 symbols in other packages or subprograms. If you have
14346 defined entities anywhere in your program other than parameters and
14347 local variables whose simple names match names in @code{Standard},
14348 GNAT's lack of qualification here can cause confusion. When this happens,
14349 you can usually resolve the confusion
14350 by qualifying the problematic names with package
14351 @code{Standard} explicitly.
14352 @end itemize
14353
14354 Older versions of the compiler sometimes generate erroneous debugging
14355 information, resulting in the debugger incorrectly printing the value
14356 of affected entities. In some cases, the debugger is able to work
14357 around an issue automatically. In other cases, the debugger is able
14358 to work around the issue, but the work-around has to be specifically
14359 enabled.
14360
14361 @kindex set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
14362 @kindex show ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
14363 @table @code
14364
14365 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS on
14366 Configure GDB to strictly follow the GNAT encoding when computing the
14367 value of Ada entities, particularly when @code{PAD} and @code{PAD___XVS}
14368 types are involved (see @code{ada/exp_dbug.ads} in the GCC sources for
14369 a complete description of the encoding used by the GNAT compiler).
14370 This is the default.
14371
14372 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS off
14373 This is related to the encoding using by the GNAT compiler. If @value{GDBN}
14374 sometimes prints the wrong value for certain entities, changing @code{ada
14375 trust-PAD-over-XVS} to @code{off} activates a work-around which may fix
14376 the issue. It is always safe to set @code{ada trust-PAD-over-XVS} to
14377 @code{off}, but this incurs a slight performance penalty, so it is
14378 recommended to leave this setting to @code{on} unless necessary.
14379
14380 @end table
14381
14382 @node Unsupported Languages
14383 @section Unsupported Languages
14384
14385 @cindex unsupported languages
14386 @cindex minimal language
14387 In addition to the other fully-supported programming languages,
14388 @value{GDBN} also provides a pseudo-language, called @code{minimal}.
14389 It does not represent a real programming language, but provides a set
14390 of capabilities close to what the C or assembly languages provide.
14391 This should allow most simple operations to be performed while debugging
14392 an application that uses a language currently not supported by @value{GDBN}.
14393
14394 If the language is set to @code{auto}, @value{GDBN} will automatically
14395 select this language if the current frame corresponds to an unsupported
14396 language.
14397
14398 @node Symbols
14399 @chapter Examining the Symbol Table
14400
14401 The commands described in this chapter allow you to inquire about the
14402 symbols (names of variables, functions and types) defined in your
14403 program. This information is inherent in the text of your program and
14404 does not change as your program executes. @value{GDBN} finds it in your
14405 program's symbol table, in the file indicated when you started @value{GDBN}
14406 (@pxref{File Options, ,Choosing Files}), or by one of the
14407 file-management commands (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
14408
14409 @cindex symbol names
14410 @cindex names of symbols
14411 @cindex quoting names
14412 Occasionally, you may need to refer to symbols that contain unusual
14413 characters, which @value{GDBN} ordinarily treats as word delimiters. The
14414 most frequent case is in referring to static variables in other
14415 source files (@pxref{Variables,,Program Variables}). File names
14416 are recorded in object files as debugging symbols, but @value{GDBN} would
14417 ordinarily parse a typical file name, like @file{foo.c}, as the three words
14418 @samp{foo} @samp{.} @samp{c}. To allow @value{GDBN} to recognize
14419 @samp{foo.c} as a single symbol, enclose it in single quotes; for example,
14420
14421 @smallexample
14422 p 'foo.c'::x
14423 @end smallexample
14424
14425 @noindent
14426 looks up the value of @code{x} in the scope of the file @file{foo.c}.
14427
14428 @table @code
14429 @cindex case-insensitive symbol names
14430 @cindex case sensitivity in symbol names
14431 @kindex set case-sensitive
14432 @item set case-sensitive on
14433 @itemx set case-sensitive off
14434 @itemx set case-sensitive auto
14435 Normally, when @value{GDBN} looks up symbols, it matches their names
14436 with case sensitivity determined by the current source language.
14437 Occasionally, you may wish to control that. The command @code{set
14438 case-sensitive} lets you do that by specifying @code{on} for
14439 case-sensitive matches or @code{off} for case-insensitive ones. If
14440 you specify @code{auto}, case sensitivity is reset to the default
14441 suitable for the source language. The default is case-sensitive
14442 matches for all languages except for Fortran, for which the default is
14443 case-insensitive matches.
14444
14445 @kindex show case-sensitive
14446 @item show case-sensitive
14447 This command shows the current setting of case sensitivity for symbols
14448 lookups.
14449
14450 @kindex info address
14451 @cindex address of a symbol
14452 @item info address @var{symbol}
14453 Describe where the data for @var{symbol} is stored. For a register
14454 variable, this says which register it is kept in. For a non-register
14455 local variable, this prints the stack-frame offset at which the variable
14456 is always stored.
14457
14458 Note the contrast with @samp{print &@var{symbol}}, which does not work
14459 at all for a register variable, and for a stack local variable prints
14460 the exact address of the current instantiation of the variable.
14461
14462 @kindex info symbol
14463 @cindex symbol from address
14464 @cindex closest symbol and offset for an address
14465 @item info symbol @var{addr}
14466 Print the name of a symbol which is stored at the address @var{addr}.
14467 If no symbol is stored exactly at @var{addr}, @value{GDBN} prints the
14468 nearest symbol and an offset from it:
14469
14470 @smallexample
14471 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x54320
14472 _initialize_vx + 396 in section .text
14473 @end smallexample
14474
14475 @noindent
14476 This is the opposite of the @code{info address} command. You can use
14477 it to find out the name of a variable or a function given its address.
14478
14479 For dynamically linked executables, the name of executable or shared
14480 library containing the symbol is also printed:
14481
14482 @smallexample
14483 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x400225
14484 _start + 5 in section .text of /tmp/a.out
14485 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x2aaaac2811cf
14486 __read_nocancel + 6 in section .text of /usr/lib64/libc.so.6
14487 @end smallexample
14488
14489 @kindex whatis
14490 @item whatis [@var{arg}]
14491 Print the data type of @var{arg}, which can be either an expression
14492 or a name of a data type. With no argument, print the data type of
14493 @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
14494
14495 If @var{arg} is an expression (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), it
14496 is not actually evaluated, and any side-effecting operations (such as
14497 assignments or function calls) inside it do not take place.
14498
14499 If @var{arg} is a variable or an expression, @code{whatis} prints its
14500 literal type as it is used in the source code. If the type was
14501 defined using a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will @emph{not} print
14502 the data type underlying the @code{typedef}. If the type of the
14503 variable or the expression is a compound data type, such as
14504 @code{struct} or @code{class}, @code{whatis} never prints their
14505 fields or methods. It just prints the @code{struct}/@code{class}
14506 name (a.k.a.@: its @dfn{tag}). If you want to see the members of
14507 such a compound data type, use @code{ptype}.
14508
14509 If @var{arg} is a type name that was defined using @code{typedef},
14510 @code{whatis} @dfn{unrolls} only one level of that @code{typedef}.
14511 Unrolling means that @code{whatis} will show the underlying type used
14512 in the @code{typedef} declaration of @var{arg}. However, if that
14513 underlying type is also a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will not
14514 unroll it.
14515
14516 For C code, the type names may also have the form @samp{class
14517 @var{class-name}}, @samp{struct @var{struct-tag}}, @samp{union
14518 @var{union-tag}} or @samp{enum @var{enum-tag}}.
14519
14520 @kindex ptype
14521 @item ptype [@var{arg}]
14522 @code{ptype} accepts the same arguments as @code{whatis}, but prints a
14523 detailed description of the type, instead of just the name of the type.
14524 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
14525
14526 Contrary to @code{whatis}, @code{ptype} always unrolls any
14527 @code{typedef}s in its argument declaration, whether the argument is
14528 a variable, expression, or a data type. This means that @code{ptype}
14529 of a variable or an expression will not print literally its type as
14530 present in the source code---use @code{whatis} for that. @code{typedef}s at
14531 the pointer or reference targets are also unrolled. Only @code{typedef}s of
14532 fields, methods and inner @code{class typedef}s of @code{struct}s,
14533 @code{class}es and @code{union}s are not unrolled even with @code{ptype}.
14534
14535 For example, for this variable declaration:
14536
14537 @smallexample
14538 typedef double real_t;
14539 struct complex @{ real_t real; double imag; @};
14540 typedef struct complex complex_t;
14541 complex_t var;
14542 real_t *real_pointer_var;
14543 @end smallexample
14544
14545 @noindent
14546 the two commands give this output:
14547
14548 @smallexample
14549 @group
14550 (@value{GDBP}) whatis var
14551 type = complex_t
14552 (@value{GDBP}) ptype var
14553 type = struct complex @{
14554 real_t real;
14555 double imag;
14556 @}
14557 (@value{GDBP}) whatis complex_t
14558 type = struct complex
14559 (@value{GDBP}) whatis struct complex
14560 type = struct complex
14561 (@value{GDBP}) ptype struct complex
14562 type = struct complex @{
14563 real_t real;
14564 double imag;
14565 @}
14566 (@value{GDBP}) whatis real_pointer_var
14567 type = real_t *
14568 (@value{GDBP}) ptype real_pointer_var
14569 type = double *
14570 @end group
14571 @end smallexample
14572
14573 @noindent
14574 As with @code{whatis}, using @code{ptype} without an argument refers to
14575 the type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
14576
14577 @cindex incomplete type
14578 Sometimes, programs use opaque data types or incomplete specifications
14579 of complex data structure. If the debug information included in the
14580 program does not allow @value{GDBN} to display a full declaration of
14581 the data type, it will say @samp{<incomplete type>}. For example,
14582 given these declarations:
14583
14584 @smallexample
14585 struct foo;
14586 struct foo *fooptr;
14587 @end smallexample
14588
14589 @noindent
14590 but no definition for @code{struct foo} itself, @value{GDBN} will say:
14591
14592 @smallexample
14593 (@value{GDBP}) ptype foo
14594 $1 = <incomplete type>
14595 @end smallexample
14596
14597 @noindent
14598 ``Incomplete type'' is C terminology for data types that are not
14599 completely specified.
14600
14601 @kindex info types
14602 @item info types @var{regexp}
14603 @itemx info types
14604 Print a brief description of all types whose names match the regular
14605 expression @var{regexp} (or all types in your program, if you supply
14606 no argument). Each complete typename is matched as though it were a
14607 complete line; thus, @samp{i type value} gives information on all
14608 types in your program whose names include the string @code{value}, but
14609 @samp{i type ^value$} gives information only on types whose complete
14610 name is @code{value}.
14611
14612 This command differs from @code{ptype} in two ways: first, like
14613 @code{whatis}, it does not print a detailed description; second, it
14614 lists all source files where a type is defined.
14615
14616 @kindex info scope
14617 @cindex local variables
14618 @item info scope @var{location}
14619 List all the variables local to a particular scope. This command
14620 accepts a @var{location} argument---a function name, a source line, or
14621 an address preceded by a @samp{*}, and prints all the variables local
14622 to the scope defined by that location. (@xref{Specify Location}, for
14623 details about supported forms of @var{location}.) For example:
14624
14625 @smallexample
14626 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info scope command_line_handler}
14627 Scope for command_line_handler:
14628 Symbol rl is an argument at stack/frame offset 8, length 4.
14629 Symbol linebuffer is in static storage at address 0x150a18, length 4.
14630 Symbol linelength is in static storage at address 0x150a1c, length 4.
14631 Symbol p is a local variable in register $esi, length 4.
14632 Symbol p1 is a local variable in register $ebx, length 4.
14633 Symbol nline is a local variable in register $edx, length 4.
14634 Symbol repeat is a local variable at frame offset -8, length 4.
14635 @end smallexample
14636
14637 @noindent
14638 This command is especially useful for determining what data to collect
14639 during a @dfn{trace experiment}, see @ref{Tracepoint Actions,
14640 collect}.
14641
14642 @kindex info source
14643 @item info source
14644 Show information about the current source file---that is, the source file for
14645 the function containing the current point of execution:
14646 @itemize @bullet
14647 @item
14648 the name of the source file, and the directory containing it,
14649 @item
14650 the directory it was compiled in,
14651 @item
14652 its length, in lines,
14653 @item
14654 which programming language it is written in,
14655 @item
14656 whether the executable includes debugging information for that file, and
14657 if so, what format the information is in (e.g., STABS, Dwarf 2, etc.), and
14658 @item
14659 whether the debugging information includes information about
14660 preprocessor macros.
14661 @end itemize
14662
14663
14664 @kindex info sources
14665 @item info sources
14666 Print the names of all source files in your program for which there is
14667 debugging information, organized into two lists: files whose symbols
14668 have already been read, and files whose symbols will be read when needed.
14669
14670 @kindex info functions
14671 @item info functions
14672 Print the names and data types of all defined functions.
14673
14674 @item info functions @var{regexp}
14675 Print the names and data types of all defined functions
14676 whose names contain a match for regular expression @var{regexp}.
14677 Thus, @samp{info fun step} finds all functions whose names
14678 include @code{step}; @samp{info fun ^step} finds those whose names
14679 start with @code{step}. If a function name contains characters
14680 that conflict with the regular expression language (e.g.@:
14681 @samp{operator*()}), they may be quoted with a backslash.
14682
14683 @kindex info variables
14684 @item info variables
14685 Print the names and data types of all variables that are defined
14686 outside of functions (i.e.@: excluding local variables).
14687
14688 @item info variables @var{regexp}
14689 Print the names and data types of all variables (except for local
14690 variables) whose names contain a match for regular expression
14691 @var{regexp}.
14692
14693 @kindex info classes
14694 @cindex Objective-C, classes and selectors
14695 @item info classes
14696 @itemx info classes @var{regexp}
14697 Display all Objective-C classes in your program, or
14698 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
14699 expression.
14700
14701 @kindex info selectors
14702 @item info selectors
14703 @itemx info selectors @var{regexp}
14704 Display all Objective-C selectors in your program, or
14705 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
14706 expression.
14707
14708 @ignore
14709 This was never implemented.
14710 @kindex info methods
14711 @item info methods
14712 @itemx info methods @var{regexp}
14713 The @code{info methods} command permits the user to examine all defined
14714 methods within C@t{++} program, or (with the @var{regexp} argument) a
14715 specific set of methods found in the various C@t{++} classes. Many
14716 C@t{++} classes provide a large number of methods. Thus, the output
14717 from the @code{ptype} command can be overwhelming and hard to use. The
14718 @code{info-methods} command filters the methods, printing only those
14719 which match the regular-expression @var{regexp}.
14720 @end ignore
14721
14722 @cindex reloading symbols
14723 Some systems allow individual object files that make up your program to
14724 be replaced without stopping and restarting your program. For example,
14725 in VxWorks you can simply recompile a defective object file and keep on
14726 running. If you are running on one of these systems, you can allow
14727 @value{GDBN} to reload the symbols for automatically relinked modules:
14728
14729 @table @code
14730 @kindex set symbol-reloading
14731 @item set symbol-reloading on
14732 Replace symbol definitions for the corresponding source file when an
14733 object file with a particular name is seen again.
14734
14735 @item set symbol-reloading off
14736 Do not replace symbol definitions when encountering object files of the
14737 same name more than once. This is the default state; if you are not
14738 running on a system that permits automatic relinking of modules, you
14739 should leave @code{symbol-reloading} off, since otherwise @value{GDBN}
14740 may discard symbols when linking large programs, that may contain
14741 several modules (from different directories or libraries) with the same
14742 name.
14743
14744 @kindex show symbol-reloading
14745 @item show symbol-reloading
14746 Show the current @code{on} or @code{off} setting.
14747 @end table
14748
14749 @cindex opaque data types
14750 @kindex set opaque-type-resolution
14751 @item set opaque-type-resolution on
14752 Tell @value{GDBN} to resolve opaque types. An opaque type is a type
14753 declared as a pointer to a @code{struct}, @code{class}, or
14754 @code{union}---for example, @code{struct MyType *}---that is used in one
14755 source file although the full declaration of @code{struct MyType} is in
14756 another source file. The default is on.
14757
14758 A change in the setting of this subcommand will not take effect until
14759 the next time symbols for a file are loaded.
14760
14761 @item set opaque-type-resolution off
14762 Tell @value{GDBN} not to resolve opaque types. In this case, the type
14763 is printed as follows:
14764 @smallexample
14765 @{<no data fields>@}
14766 @end smallexample
14767
14768 @kindex show opaque-type-resolution
14769 @item show opaque-type-resolution
14770 Show whether opaque types are resolved or not.
14771
14772 @kindex maint print symbols
14773 @cindex symbol dump
14774 @kindex maint print psymbols
14775 @cindex partial symbol dump
14776 @item maint print symbols @var{filename}
14777 @itemx maint print psymbols @var{filename}
14778 @itemx maint print msymbols @var{filename}
14779 Write a dump of debugging symbol data into the file @var{filename}.
14780 These commands are used to debug the @value{GDBN} symbol-reading code. Only
14781 symbols with debugging data are included. If you use @samp{maint print
14782 symbols}, @value{GDBN} includes all the symbols for which it has already
14783 collected full details: that is, @var{filename} reflects symbols for
14784 only those files whose symbols @value{GDBN} has read. You can use the
14785 command @code{info sources} to find out which files these are. If you
14786 use @samp{maint print psymbols} instead, the dump shows information about
14787 symbols that @value{GDBN} only knows partially---that is, symbols defined in
14788 files that @value{GDBN} has skimmed, but not yet read completely. Finally,
14789 @samp{maint print msymbols} dumps just the minimal symbol information
14790 required for each object file from which @value{GDBN} has read some symbols.
14791 @xref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}, for a discussion of how
14792 @value{GDBN} reads symbols (in the description of @code{symbol-file}).
14793
14794 @kindex maint info symtabs
14795 @kindex maint info psymtabs
14796 @cindex listing @value{GDBN}'s internal symbol tables
14797 @cindex symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
14798 @cindex full symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
14799 @cindex partial symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
14800 @item maint info symtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
14801 @itemx maint info psymtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
14802
14803 List the @code{struct symtab} or @code{struct partial_symtab}
14804 structures whose names match @var{regexp}. If @var{regexp} is not
14805 given, list them all. The output includes expressions which you can
14806 copy into a @value{GDBN} debugging this one to examine a particular
14807 structure in more detail. For example:
14808
14809 @smallexample
14810 (@value{GDBP}) maint info psymtabs dwarf2read
14811 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
14812 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
14813 @{ psymtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
14814 ((struct partial_symtab *) 0x8474b10)
14815 readin no
14816 fullname (null)
14817 text addresses 0x814d3c8 -- 0x8158074
14818 globals (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x8507a08 @@ 9)
14819 statics (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x40e95b78 @@ 2882)
14820 dependencies (none)
14821 @}
14822 @}
14823 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
14824 (@value{GDBP})
14825 @end smallexample
14826 @noindent
14827 We see that there is one partial symbol table whose filename contains
14828 the string @samp{dwarf2read}, belonging to the @samp{gdb} executable;
14829 and we see that @value{GDBN} has not read in any symtabs yet at all.
14830 If we set a breakpoint on a function, that will cause @value{GDBN} to
14831 read the symtab for the compilation unit containing that function:
14832
14833 @smallexample
14834 (@value{GDBP}) break dwarf2_psymtab_to_symtab
14835 Breakpoint 1 at 0x814e5da: file /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c,
14836 line 1574.
14837 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
14838 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
14839 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
14840 @{ symtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
14841 ((struct symtab *) 0x86c1f38)
14842 dirname (null)
14843 fullname (null)
14844 blockvector ((struct blockvector *) 0x86c1bd0) (primary)
14845 linetable ((struct linetable *) 0x8370fa0)
14846 debugformat DWARF 2
14847 @}
14848 @}
14849 (@value{GDBP})
14850 @end smallexample
14851 @end table
14852
14853
14854 @node Altering
14855 @chapter Altering Execution
14856
14857 Once you think you have found an error in your program, you might want to
14858 find out for certain whether correcting the apparent error would lead to
14859 correct results in the rest of the run. You can find the answer by
14860 experiment, using the @value{GDBN} features for altering execution of the
14861 program.
14862
14863 For example, you can store new values into variables or memory
14864 locations, give your program a signal, restart it at a different
14865 address, or even return prematurely from a function.
14866
14867 @menu
14868 * Assignment:: Assignment to variables
14869 * Jumping:: Continuing at a different address
14870 * Signaling:: Giving your program a signal
14871 * Returning:: Returning from a function
14872 * Calling:: Calling your program's functions
14873 * Patching:: Patching your program
14874 @end menu
14875
14876 @node Assignment
14877 @section Assignment to Variables
14878
14879 @cindex assignment
14880 @cindex setting variables
14881 To alter the value of a variable, evaluate an assignment expression.
14882 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}. For example,
14883
14884 @smallexample
14885 print x=4
14886 @end smallexample
14887
14888 @noindent
14889 stores the value 4 into the variable @code{x}, and then prints the
14890 value of the assignment expression (which is 4).
14891 @xref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages}, for more
14892 information on operators in supported languages.
14893
14894 @kindex set variable
14895 @cindex variables, setting
14896 If you are not interested in seeing the value of the assignment, use the
14897 @code{set} command instead of the @code{print} command. @code{set} is
14898 really the same as @code{print} except that the expression's value is
14899 not printed and is not put in the value history (@pxref{Value History,
14900 ,Value History}). The expression is evaluated only for its effects.
14901
14902 If the beginning of the argument string of the @code{set} command
14903 appears identical to a @code{set} subcommand, use the @code{set
14904 variable} command instead of just @code{set}. This command is identical
14905 to @code{set} except for its lack of subcommands. For example, if your
14906 program has a variable @code{width}, you get an error if you try to set
14907 a new value with just @samp{set width=13}, because @value{GDBN} has the
14908 command @code{set width}:
14909
14910 @smallexample
14911 (@value{GDBP}) whatis width
14912 type = double
14913 (@value{GDBP}) p width
14914 $4 = 13
14915 (@value{GDBP}) set width=47
14916 Invalid syntax in expression.
14917 @end smallexample
14918
14919 @noindent
14920 The invalid expression, of course, is @samp{=47}. In
14921 order to actually set the program's variable @code{width}, use
14922
14923 @smallexample
14924 (@value{GDBP}) set var width=47
14925 @end smallexample
14926
14927 Because the @code{set} command has many subcommands that can conflict
14928 with the names of program variables, it is a good idea to use the
14929 @code{set variable} command instead of just @code{set}. For example, if
14930 your program has a variable @code{g}, you run into problems if you try
14931 to set a new value with just @samp{set g=4}, because @value{GDBN} has
14932 the command @code{set gnutarget}, abbreviated @code{set g}:
14933
14934 @smallexample
14935 @group
14936 (@value{GDBP}) whatis g
14937 type = double
14938 (@value{GDBP}) p g
14939 $1 = 1
14940 (@value{GDBP}) set g=4
14941 (@value{GDBP}) p g
14942 $2 = 1
14943 (@value{GDBP}) r
14944 The program being debugged has been started already.
14945 Start it from the beginning? (y or n) y
14946 Starting program: /home/smith/cc_progs/a.out
14947 "/home/smith/cc_progs/a.out": can't open to read symbols:
14948 Invalid bfd target.
14949 (@value{GDBP}) show g
14950 The current BFD target is "=4".
14951 @end group
14952 @end smallexample
14953
14954 @noindent
14955 The program variable @code{g} did not change, and you silently set the
14956 @code{gnutarget} to an invalid value. In order to set the variable
14957 @code{g}, use
14958
14959 @smallexample
14960 (@value{GDBP}) set var g=4
14961 @end smallexample
14962
14963 @value{GDBN} allows more implicit conversions in assignments than C; you can
14964 freely store an integer value into a pointer variable or vice versa,
14965 and you can convert any structure to any other structure that is the
14966 same length or shorter.
14967 @comment FIXME: how do structs align/pad in these conversions?
14968 @comment /doc@cygnus.com 18dec1990
14969
14970 To store values into arbitrary places in memory, use the @samp{@{@dots{}@}}
14971 construct to generate a value of specified type at a specified address
14972 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). For example, @code{@{int@}0x83040} refers
14973 to memory location @code{0x83040} as an integer (which implies a certain size
14974 and representation in memory), and
14975
14976 @smallexample
14977 set @{int@}0x83040 = 4
14978 @end smallexample
14979
14980 @noindent
14981 stores the value 4 into that memory location.
14982
14983 @node Jumping
14984 @section Continuing at a Different Address
14985
14986 Ordinarily, when you continue your program, you do so at the place where
14987 it stopped, with the @code{continue} command. You can instead continue at
14988 an address of your own choosing, with the following commands:
14989
14990 @table @code
14991 @kindex jump
14992 @item jump @var{linespec}
14993 @itemx jump @var{location}
14994 Resume execution at line @var{linespec} or at address given by
14995 @var{location}. Execution stops again immediately if there is a
14996 breakpoint there. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
14997 different forms of @var{linespec} and @var{location}. It is common
14998 practice to use the @code{tbreak} command in conjunction with
14999 @code{jump}. @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
15000
15001 The @code{jump} command does not change the current stack frame, or
15002 the stack pointer, or the contents of any memory location or any
15003 register other than the program counter. If line @var{linespec} is in
15004 a different function from the one currently executing, the results may
15005 be bizarre if the two functions expect different patterns of arguments or
15006 of local variables. For this reason, the @code{jump} command requests
15007 confirmation if the specified line is not in the function currently
15008 executing. However, even bizarre results are predictable if you are
15009 well acquainted with the machine-language code of your program.
15010 @end table
15011
15012 @c Doesn't work on HP-UX; have to set $pcoqh and $pcoqt.
15013 On many systems, you can get much the same effect as the @code{jump}
15014 command by storing a new value into the register @code{$pc}. The
15015 difference is that this does not start your program running; it only
15016 changes the address of where it @emph{will} run when you continue. For
15017 example,
15018
15019 @smallexample
15020 set $pc = 0x485
15021 @end smallexample
15022
15023 @noindent
15024 makes the next @code{continue} command or stepping command execute at
15025 address @code{0x485}, rather than at the address where your program stopped.
15026 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}.
15027
15028 The most common occasion to use the @code{jump} command is to back
15029 up---perhaps with more breakpoints set---over a portion of a program
15030 that has already executed, in order to examine its execution in more
15031 detail.
15032
15033 @c @group
15034 @node Signaling
15035 @section Giving your Program a Signal
15036 @cindex deliver a signal to a program
15037
15038 @table @code
15039 @kindex signal
15040 @item signal @var{signal}
15041 Resume execution where your program stopped, but immediately give it the
15042 signal @var{signal}. @var{signal} can be the name or the number of a
15043 signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and @code{signal
15044 SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
15045
15046 Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, continue execution without
15047 giving a signal. This is useful when your program stopped on account of
15048 a signal and would ordinary see the signal when resumed with the
15049 @code{continue} command; @samp{signal 0} causes it to resume without a
15050 signal.
15051
15052 @code{signal} does not repeat when you press @key{RET} a second time
15053 after executing the command.
15054 @end table
15055 @c @end group
15056
15057 Invoking the @code{signal} command is not the same as invoking the
15058 @code{kill} utility from the shell. Sending a signal with @code{kill}
15059 causes @value{GDBN} to decide what to do with the signal depending on
15060 the signal handling tables (@pxref{Signals}). The @code{signal} command
15061 passes the signal directly to your program.
15062
15063
15064 @node Returning
15065 @section Returning from a Function
15066
15067 @table @code
15068 @cindex returning from a function
15069 @kindex return
15070 @item return
15071 @itemx return @var{expression}
15072 You can cancel execution of a function call with the @code{return}
15073 command. If you give an
15074 @var{expression} argument, its value is used as the function's return
15075 value.
15076 @end table
15077
15078 When you use @code{return}, @value{GDBN} discards the selected stack frame
15079 (and all frames within it). You can think of this as making the
15080 discarded frame return prematurely. If you wish to specify a value to
15081 be returned, give that value as the argument to @code{return}.
15082
15083 This pops the selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a
15084 Frame}), and any other frames inside of it, leaving its caller as the
15085 innermost remaining frame. That frame becomes selected. The
15086 specified value is stored in the registers used for returning values
15087 of functions.
15088
15089 The @code{return} command does not resume execution; it leaves the
15090 program stopped in the state that would exist if the function had just
15091 returned. In contrast, the @code{finish} command (@pxref{Continuing
15092 and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}) resumes execution until the
15093 selected stack frame returns naturally.
15094
15095 @value{GDBN} needs to know how the @var{expression} argument should be set for
15096 the inferior. The concrete registers assignment depends on the OS ABI and the
15097 type being returned by the selected stack frame. For example it is common for
15098 OS ABI to return floating point values in FPU registers while integer values in
15099 CPU registers. Still some ABIs return even floating point values in CPU
15100 registers. Larger integer widths (such as @code{long long int}) also have
15101 specific placement rules. @value{GDBN} already knows the OS ABI from its
15102 current target so it needs to find out also the type being returned to make the
15103 assignment into the right register(s).
15104
15105 Normally, the selected stack frame has debug info. @value{GDBN} will always
15106 use the debug info instead of the implicit type of @var{expression} when the
15107 debug info is available. For example, if you type @kbd{return -1}, and the
15108 function in the current stack frame is declared to return a @code{long long
15109 int}, @value{GDBN} transparently converts the implicit @code{int} value of -1
15110 into a @code{long long int}:
15111
15112 @smallexample
15113 Breakpoint 1, func () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:29
15114 29 return 31;
15115 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
15116 Make func return now? (y or n) y
15117 #0 0x004004f6 in main () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:43
15118 43 printf ("result=%lld\n", func ());
15119 (@value{GDBP})
15120 @end smallexample
15121
15122 However, if the selected stack frame does not have a debug info, e.g., if the
15123 function was compiled without debug info, @value{GDBN} has to find out the type
15124 to return from user. Specifying a different type by mistake may set the value
15125 in different inferior registers than the caller code expects. For example,
15126 typing @kbd{return -1} with its implicit type @code{int} would set only a part
15127 of a @code{long long int} result for a debug info less function (on 32-bit
15128 architectures). Therefore the user is required to specify the return type by
15129 an appropriate cast explicitly:
15130
15131 @smallexample
15132 Breakpoint 2, 0x0040050b in func ()
15133 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
15134 Return value type not available for selected stack frame.
15135 Please use an explicit cast of the value to return.
15136 (@value{GDBP}) return (long long int) -1
15137 Make selected stack frame return now? (y or n) y
15138 #0 0x00400526 in main ()
15139 (@value{GDBP})
15140 @end smallexample
15141
15142 @node Calling
15143 @section Calling Program Functions
15144
15145 @table @code
15146 @cindex calling functions
15147 @cindex inferior functions, calling
15148 @item print @var{expr}
15149 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} and display the resulting value.
15150 @var{expr} may include calls to functions in the program being
15151 debugged.
15152
15153 @kindex call
15154 @item call @var{expr}
15155 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} without displaying @code{void}
15156 returned values.
15157
15158 You can use this variant of the @code{print} command if you want to
15159 execute a function from your program that does not return anything
15160 (a.k.a.@: @dfn{a void function}), but without cluttering the output
15161 with @code{void} returned values that @value{GDBN} will otherwise
15162 print. If the result is not void, it is printed and saved in the
15163 value history.
15164 @end table
15165
15166 It is possible for the function you call via the @code{print} or
15167 @code{call} command to generate a signal (e.g., if there's a bug in
15168 the function, or if you passed it incorrect arguments). What happens
15169 in that case is controlled by the @code{set unwindonsignal} command.
15170
15171 Similarly, with a C@t{++} program it is possible for the function you
15172 call via the @code{print} or @code{call} command to generate an
15173 exception that is not handled due to the constraints of the dummy
15174 frame. In this case, any exception that is raised in the frame, but has
15175 an out-of-frame exception handler will not be found. GDB builds a
15176 dummy-frame for the inferior function call, and the unwinder cannot
15177 seek for exception handlers outside of this dummy-frame. What happens
15178 in that case is controlled by the
15179 @code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception} command.
15180
15181 @table @code
15182 @item set unwindonsignal
15183 @kindex set unwindonsignal
15184 @cindex unwind stack in called functions
15185 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding
15186 Set unwinding of the stack if a signal is received while in a function
15187 that @value{GDBN} called in the program being debugged. If set to on,
15188 @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack it created for the call and restores
15189 the context to what it was before the call. If set to off (the
15190 default), @value{GDBN} stops in the frame where the signal was
15191 received.
15192
15193 @item show unwindonsignal
15194 @kindex show unwindonsignal
15195 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
15196 @value{GDBN}.
15197
15198 @item set unwind-on-terminating-exception
15199 @kindex set unwind-on-terminating-exception
15200 @cindex unwind stack in called functions with unhandled exceptions
15201 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding on unhandled exception.
15202 Set unwinding of the stack if a C@t{++} exception is raised, but left
15203 unhandled while in a function that @value{GDBN} called in the program being
15204 debugged. If set to on (the default), @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack
15205 it created for the call and restores the context to what it was before
15206 the call. If set to off, @value{GDBN} the exception is delivered to
15207 the default C@t{++} exception handler and the inferior terminated.
15208
15209 @item show unwind-on-terminating-exception
15210 @kindex show unwind-on-terminating-exception
15211 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
15212 @value{GDBN}.
15213
15214 @end table
15215
15216 @cindex weak alias functions
15217 Sometimes, a function you wish to call is actually a @dfn{weak alias}
15218 for another function. In such case, @value{GDBN} might not pick up
15219 the type information, including the types of the function arguments,
15220 which causes @value{GDBN} to call the inferior function incorrectly.
15221 As a result, the called function will function erroneously and may
15222 even crash. A solution to that is to use the name of the aliased
15223 function instead.
15224
15225 @node Patching
15226 @section Patching Programs
15227
15228 @cindex patching binaries
15229 @cindex writing into executables
15230 @cindex writing into corefiles
15231
15232 By default, @value{GDBN} opens the file containing your program's
15233 executable code (or the corefile) read-only. This prevents accidental
15234 alterations to machine code; but it also prevents you from intentionally
15235 patching your program's binary.
15236
15237 If you'd like to be able to patch the binary, you can specify that
15238 explicitly with the @code{set write} command. For example, you might
15239 want to turn on internal debugging flags, or even to make emergency
15240 repairs.
15241
15242 @table @code
15243 @kindex set write
15244 @item set write on
15245 @itemx set write off
15246 If you specify @samp{set write on}, @value{GDBN} opens executable and
15247 core files for both reading and writing; if you specify @kbd{set write
15248 off} (the default), @value{GDBN} opens them read-only.
15249
15250 If you have already loaded a file, you must load it again (using the
15251 @code{exec-file} or @code{core-file} command) after changing @code{set
15252 write}, for your new setting to take effect.
15253
15254 @item show write
15255 @kindex show write
15256 Display whether executable files and core files are opened for writing
15257 as well as reading.
15258 @end table
15259
15260 @node GDB Files
15261 @chapter @value{GDBN} Files
15262
15263 @value{GDBN} needs to know the file name of the program to be debugged,
15264 both in order to read its symbol table and in order to start your
15265 program. To debug a core dump of a previous run, you must also tell
15266 @value{GDBN} the name of the core dump file.
15267
15268 @menu
15269 * Files:: Commands to specify files
15270 * Separate Debug Files:: Debugging information in separate files
15271 * Index Files:: Index files speed up GDB
15272 * Symbol Errors:: Errors reading symbol files
15273 * Data Files:: GDB data files
15274 @end menu
15275
15276 @node Files
15277 @section Commands to Specify Files
15278
15279 @cindex symbol table
15280 @cindex core dump file
15281
15282 You may want to specify executable and core dump file names. The usual
15283 way to do this is at start-up time, using the arguments to
15284 @value{GDBN}'s start-up commands (@pxref{Invocation, , Getting In and
15285 Out of @value{GDBN}}).
15286
15287 Occasionally it is necessary to change to a different file during a
15288 @value{GDBN} session. Or you may run @value{GDBN} and forget to
15289 specify a file you want to use. Or you are debugging a remote target
15290 via @code{gdbserver} (@pxref{Server, file, Using the @code{gdbserver}
15291 Program}). In these situations the @value{GDBN} commands to specify
15292 new files are useful.
15293
15294 @table @code
15295 @cindex executable file
15296 @kindex file
15297 @item file @var{filename}
15298 Use @var{filename} as the program to be debugged. It is read for its
15299 symbols and for the contents of pure memory. It is also the program
15300 executed when you use the @code{run} command. If you do not specify a
15301 directory and the file is not found in the @value{GDBN} working directory,
15302 @value{GDBN} uses the environment variable @code{PATH} as a list of
15303 directories to search, just as the shell does when looking for a program
15304 to run. You can change the value of this variable, for both @value{GDBN}
15305 and your program, using the @code{path} command.
15306
15307 @cindex unlinked object files
15308 @cindex patching object files
15309 You can load unlinked object @file{.o} files into @value{GDBN} using
15310 the @code{file} command. You will not be able to ``run'' an object
15311 file, but you can disassemble functions and inspect variables. Also,
15312 if the underlying BFD functionality supports it, you could use
15313 @kbd{gdb -write} to patch object files using this technique. Note
15314 that @value{GDBN} can neither interpret nor modify relocations in this
15315 case, so branches and some initialized variables will appear to go to
15316 the wrong place. But this feature is still handy from time to time.
15317
15318 @item file
15319 @code{file} with no argument makes @value{GDBN} discard any information it
15320 has on both executable file and the symbol table.
15321
15322 @kindex exec-file
15323 @item exec-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
15324 Specify that the program to be run (but not the symbol table) is found
15325 in @var{filename}. @value{GDBN} searches the environment variable @code{PATH}
15326 if necessary to locate your program. Omitting @var{filename} means to
15327 discard information on the executable file.
15328
15329 @kindex symbol-file
15330 @item symbol-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
15331 Read symbol table information from file @var{filename}. @code{PATH} is
15332 searched when necessary. Use the @code{file} command to get both symbol
15333 table and program to run from the same file.
15334
15335 @code{symbol-file} with no argument clears out @value{GDBN} information on your
15336 program's symbol table.
15337
15338 The @code{symbol-file} command causes @value{GDBN} to forget the contents of
15339 some breakpoints and auto-display expressions. This is because they may
15340 contain pointers to the internal data recording symbols and data types,
15341 which are part of the old symbol table data being discarded inside
15342 @value{GDBN}.
15343
15344 @code{symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
15345 executing it once.
15346
15347 When @value{GDBN} is configured for a particular environment, it
15348 understands debugging information in whatever format is the standard
15349 generated for that environment; you may use either a @sc{gnu} compiler, or
15350 other compilers that adhere to the local conventions.
15351 Best results are usually obtained from @sc{gnu} compilers; for example,
15352 using @code{@value{NGCC}} you can generate debugging information for
15353 optimized code.
15354
15355 For most kinds of object files, with the exception of old SVR3 systems
15356 using COFF, the @code{symbol-file} command does not normally read the
15357 symbol table in full right away. Instead, it scans the symbol table
15358 quickly to find which source files and which symbols are present. The
15359 details are read later, one source file at a time, as they are needed.
15360
15361 The purpose of this two-stage reading strategy is to make @value{GDBN}
15362 start up faster. For the most part, it is invisible except for
15363 occasional pauses while the symbol table details for a particular source
15364 file are being read. (The @code{set verbose} command can turn these
15365 pauses into messages if desired. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional
15366 Warnings and Messages}.)
15367
15368 We have not implemented the two-stage strategy for COFF yet. When the
15369 symbol table is stored in COFF format, @code{symbol-file} reads the
15370 symbol table data in full right away. Note that ``stabs-in-COFF''
15371 still does the two-stage strategy, since the debug info is actually
15372 in stabs format.
15373
15374 @kindex readnow
15375 @cindex reading symbols immediately
15376 @cindex symbols, reading immediately
15377 @item symbol-file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
15378 @itemx file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
15379 You can override the @value{GDBN} two-stage strategy for reading symbol
15380 tables by using the @samp{-readnow} option with any of the commands that
15381 load symbol table information, if you want to be sure @value{GDBN} has the
15382 entire symbol table available.
15383
15384 @c FIXME: for now no mention of directories, since this seems to be in
15385 @c flux. 13mar1992 status is that in theory GDB would look either in
15386 @c current dir or in same dir as myprog; but issues like competing
15387 @c GDB's, or clutter in system dirs, mean that in practice right now
15388 @c only current dir is used. FFish says maybe a special GDB hierarchy
15389 @c (eg rooted in val of env var GDBSYMS) could exist for mappable symbol
15390 @c files.
15391
15392 @kindex core-file
15393 @item core-file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
15394 @itemx core
15395 Specify the whereabouts of a core dump file to be used as the ``contents
15396 of memory''. Traditionally, core files contain only some parts of the
15397 address space of the process that generated them; @value{GDBN} can access the
15398 executable file itself for other parts.
15399
15400 @code{core-file} with no argument specifies that no core file is
15401 to be used.
15402
15403 Note that the core file is ignored when your program is actually running
15404 under @value{GDBN}. So, if you have been running your program and you
15405 wish to debug a core file instead, you must kill the subprocess in which
15406 the program is running. To do this, use the @code{kill} command
15407 (@pxref{Kill Process, ,Killing the Child Process}).
15408
15409 @kindex add-symbol-file
15410 @cindex dynamic linking
15411 @item add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address}
15412 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
15413 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} -s @var{section} @var{address} @dots{}
15414 The @code{add-symbol-file} command reads additional symbol table
15415 information from the file @var{filename}. You would use this command
15416 when @var{filename} has been dynamically loaded (by some other means)
15417 into the program that is running. @var{address} should be the memory
15418 address at which the file has been loaded; @value{GDBN} cannot figure
15419 this out for itself. You can additionally specify an arbitrary number
15420 of @samp{-s @var{section} @var{address}} pairs, to give an explicit
15421 section name and base address for that section. You can specify any
15422 @var{address} as an expression.
15423
15424 The symbol table of the file @var{filename} is added to the symbol table
15425 originally read with the @code{symbol-file} command. You can use the
15426 @code{add-symbol-file} command any number of times; the new symbol data
15427 thus read keeps adding to the old. To discard all old symbol data
15428 instead, use the @code{symbol-file} command without any arguments.
15429
15430 @cindex relocatable object files, reading symbols from
15431 @cindex object files, relocatable, reading symbols from
15432 @cindex reading symbols from relocatable object files
15433 @cindex symbols, reading from relocatable object files
15434 @cindex @file{.o} files, reading symbols from
15435 Although @var{filename} is typically a shared library file, an
15436 executable file, or some other object file which has been fully
15437 relocated for loading into a process, you can also load symbolic
15438 information from relocatable @file{.o} files, as long as:
15439
15440 @itemize @bullet
15441 @item
15442 the file's symbolic information refers only to linker symbols defined in
15443 that file, not to symbols defined by other object files,
15444 @item
15445 every section the file's symbolic information refers to has actually
15446 been loaded into the inferior, as it appears in the file, and
15447 @item
15448 you can determine the address at which every section was loaded, and
15449 provide these to the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
15450 @end itemize
15451
15452 @noindent
15453 Some embedded operating systems, like Sun Chorus and VxWorks, can load
15454 relocatable files into an already running program; such systems
15455 typically make the requirements above easy to meet. However, it's
15456 important to recognize that many native systems use complex link
15457 procedures (@code{.linkonce} section factoring and C@t{++} constructor table
15458 assembly, for example) that make the requirements difficult to meet. In
15459 general, one cannot assume that using @code{add-symbol-file} to read a
15460 relocatable object file's symbolic information will have the same effect
15461 as linking the relocatable object file into the program in the normal
15462 way.
15463
15464 @code{add-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
15465
15466 @kindex add-symbol-file-from-memory
15467 @cindex @code{syscall DSO}
15468 @cindex load symbols from memory
15469 @item add-symbol-file-from-memory @var{address}
15470 Load symbols from the given @var{address} in a dynamically loaded
15471 object file whose image is mapped directly into the inferior's memory.
15472 For example, the Linux kernel maps a @code{syscall DSO} into each
15473 process's address space; this DSO provides kernel-specific code for
15474 some system calls. The argument can be any expression whose
15475 evaluation yields the address of the file's shared object file header.
15476 For this command to work, you must have used @code{symbol-file} or
15477 @code{exec-file} commands in advance.
15478
15479 @kindex add-shared-symbol-files
15480 @kindex assf
15481 @item add-shared-symbol-files @var{library-file}
15482 @itemx assf @var{library-file}
15483 The @code{add-shared-symbol-files} command can currently be used only
15484 in the Cygwin build of @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows OS, where it is an
15485 alias for the @code{dll-symbols} command (@pxref{Cygwin Native}).
15486 @value{GDBN} automatically looks for shared libraries, however if
15487 @value{GDBN} does not find yours, you can invoke
15488 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}. It takes one argument: the shared
15489 library's file name. @code{assf} is a shorthand alias for
15490 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}.
15491
15492 @kindex section
15493 @item section @var{section} @var{addr}
15494 The @code{section} command changes the base address of the named
15495 @var{section} of the exec file to @var{addr}. This can be used if the
15496 exec file does not contain section addresses, (such as in the
15497 @code{a.out} format), or when the addresses specified in the file
15498 itself are wrong. Each section must be changed separately. The
15499 @code{info files} command, described below, lists all the sections and
15500 their addresses.
15501
15502 @kindex info files
15503 @kindex info target
15504 @item info files
15505 @itemx info target
15506 @code{info files} and @code{info target} are synonymous; both print the
15507 current target (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}),
15508 including the names of the executable and core dump files currently in
15509 use by @value{GDBN}, and the files from which symbols were loaded. The
15510 command @code{help target} lists all possible targets rather than
15511 current ones.
15512
15513 @kindex maint info sections
15514 @item maint info sections
15515 Another command that can give you extra information about program sections
15516 is @code{maint info sections}. In addition to the section information
15517 displayed by @code{info files}, this command displays the flags and file
15518 offset of each section in the executable and core dump files. In addition,
15519 @code{maint info sections} provides the following command options (which
15520 may be arbitrarily combined):
15521
15522 @table @code
15523 @item ALLOBJ
15524 Display sections for all loaded object files, including shared libraries.
15525 @item @var{sections}
15526 Display info only for named @var{sections}.
15527 @item @var{section-flags}
15528 Display info only for sections for which @var{section-flags} are true.
15529 The section flags that @value{GDBN} currently knows about are:
15530 @table @code
15531 @item ALLOC
15532 Section will have space allocated in the process when loaded.
15533 Set for all sections except those containing debug information.
15534 @item LOAD
15535 Section will be loaded from the file into the child process memory.
15536 Set for pre-initialized code and data, clear for @code{.bss} sections.
15537 @item RELOC
15538 Section needs to be relocated before loading.
15539 @item READONLY
15540 Section cannot be modified by the child process.
15541 @item CODE
15542 Section contains executable code only.
15543 @item DATA
15544 Section contains data only (no executable code).
15545 @item ROM
15546 Section will reside in ROM.
15547 @item CONSTRUCTOR
15548 Section contains data for constructor/destructor lists.
15549 @item HAS_CONTENTS
15550 Section is not empty.
15551 @item NEVER_LOAD
15552 An instruction to the linker to not output the section.
15553 @item COFF_SHARED_LIBRARY
15554 A notification to the linker that the section contains
15555 COFF shared library information.
15556 @item IS_COMMON
15557 Section contains common symbols.
15558 @end table
15559 @end table
15560 @kindex set trust-readonly-sections
15561 @cindex read-only sections
15562 @item set trust-readonly-sections on
15563 Tell @value{GDBN} that readonly sections in your object file
15564 really are read-only (i.e.@: that their contents will not change).
15565 In that case, @value{GDBN} can fetch values from these sections
15566 out of the object file, rather than from the target program.
15567 For some targets (notably embedded ones), this can be a significant
15568 enhancement to debugging performance.
15569
15570 The default is off.
15571
15572 @item set trust-readonly-sections off
15573 Tell @value{GDBN} not to trust readonly sections. This means that
15574 the contents of the section might change while the program is running,
15575 and must therefore be fetched from the target when needed.
15576
15577 @item show trust-readonly-sections
15578 Show the current setting of trusting readonly sections.
15579 @end table
15580
15581 All file-specifying commands allow both absolute and relative file names
15582 as arguments. @value{GDBN} always converts the file name to an absolute file
15583 name and remembers it that way.
15584
15585 @cindex shared libraries
15586 @anchor{Shared Libraries}
15587 @value{GDBN} supports @sc{gnu}/Linux, MS-Windows, HP-UX, SunOS, SVr4, Irix,
15588 and IBM RS/6000 AIX shared libraries.
15589
15590 On MS-Windows @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support
15591 shared libraries. @xref{Expat}.
15592
15593 @value{GDBN} automatically loads symbol definitions from shared libraries
15594 when you use the @code{run} command, or when you examine a core file.
15595 (Before you issue the @code{run} command, @value{GDBN} does not understand
15596 references to a function in a shared library, however---unless you are
15597 debugging a core file).
15598
15599 On HP-UX, if the program loads a library explicitly, @value{GDBN}
15600 automatically loads the symbols at the time of the @code{shl_load} call.
15601
15602 @c FIXME: some @value{GDBN} release may permit some refs to undef
15603 @c FIXME...symbols---eg in a break cmd---assuming they are from a shared
15604 @c FIXME...lib; check this from time to time when updating manual
15605
15606 There are times, however, when you may wish to not automatically load
15607 symbol definitions from shared libraries, such as when they are
15608 particularly large or there are many of them.
15609
15610 To control the automatic loading of shared library symbols, use the
15611 commands:
15612
15613 @table @code
15614 @kindex set auto-solib-add
15615 @item set auto-solib-add @var{mode}
15616 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, symbols from all shared object libraries
15617 will be loaded automatically when the inferior begins execution, you
15618 attach to an independently started inferior, or when the dynamic linker
15619 informs @value{GDBN} that a new library has been loaded. If @var{mode}
15620 is @code{off}, symbols must be loaded manually, using the
15621 @code{sharedlibrary} command. The default value is @code{on}.
15622
15623 @cindex memory used for symbol tables
15624 If your program uses lots of shared libraries with debug info that
15625 takes large amounts of memory, you can decrease the @value{GDBN}
15626 memory footprint by preventing it from automatically loading the
15627 symbols from shared libraries. To that end, type @kbd{set
15628 auto-solib-add off} before running the inferior, then load each
15629 library whose debug symbols you do need with @kbd{sharedlibrary
15630 @var{regexp}}, where @var{regexp} is a regular expression that matches
15631 the libraries whose symbols you want to be loaded.
15632
15633 @kindex show auto-solib-add
15634 @item show auto-solib-add
15635 Display the current autoloading mode.
15636 @end table
15637
15638 @cindex load shared library
15639 To explicitly load shared library symbols, use the @code{sharedlibrary}
15640 command:
15641
15642 @table @code
15643 @kindex info sharedlibrary
15644 @kindex info share
15645 @item info share @var{regex}
15646 @itemx info sharedlibrary @var{regex}
15647 Print the names of the shared libraries which are currently loaded
15648 that match @var{regex}. If @var{regex} is omitted then print
15649 all shared libraries that are loaded.
15650
15651 @kindex sharedlibrary
15652 @kindex share
15653 @item sharedlibrary @var{regex}
15654 @itemx share @var{regex}
15655 Load shared object library symbols for files matching a
15656 Unix regular expression.
15657 As with files loaded automatically, it only loads shared libraries
15658 required by your program for a core file or after typing @code{run}. If
15659 @var{regex} is omitted all shared libraries required by your program are
15660 loaded.
15661
15662 @item nosharedlibrary
15663 @kindex nosharedlibrary
15664 @cindex unload symbols from shared libraries
15665 Unload all shared object library symbols. This discards all symbols
15666 that have been loaded from all shared libraries. Symbols from shared
15667 libraries that were loaded by explicit user requests are not
15668 discarded.
15669 @end table
15670
15671 Sometimes you may wish that @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control
15672 when any of shared library events happen. The best way to do this is
15673 to use @code{catch load} and @code{catch unload} (@pxref{Set
15674 Catchpoints}).
15675
15676 @value{GDBN} also supports the the @code{set stop-on-solib-events}
15677 command for this. This command exists for historical reasons. It is
15678 less useful than setting a catchpoint, because it does not allow for
15679 conditions or commands as a catchpoint does.
15680
15681 @table @code
15682 @item set stop-on-solib-events
15683 @kindex set stop-on-solib-events
15684 This command controls whether @value{GDBN} should give you control
15685 when the dynamic linker notifies it about some shared library event.
15686 The most common event of interest is loading or unloading of a new
15687 shared library.
15688
15689 @item show stop-on-solib-events
15690 @kindex show stop-on-solib-events
15691 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control when shared
15692 library events happen.
15693 @end table
15694
15695 Shared libraries are also supported in many cross or remote debugging
15696 configurations. @value{GDBN} needs to have access to the target's libraries;
15697 this can be accomplished either by providing copies of the libraries
15698 on the host system, or by asking @value{GDBN} to automatically retrieve the
15699 libraries from the target. If copies of the target libraries are
15700 provided, they need to be the same as the target libraries, although the
15701 copies on the target can be stripped as long as the copies on the host are
15702 not.
15703
15704 @cindex where to look for shared libraries
15705 For remote debugging, you need to tell @value{GDBN} where the target
15706 libraries are, so that it can load the correct copies---otherwise, it
15707 may try to load the host's libraries. @value{GDBN} has two variables
15708 to specify the search directories for target libraries.
15709
15710 @table @code
15711 @cindex prefix for shared library file names
15712 @cindex system root, alternate
15713 @kindex set solib-absolute-prefix
15714 @kindex set sysroot
15715 @item set sysroot @var{path}
15716 Use @var{path} as the system root for the program being debugged. Any
15717 absolute shared library paths will be prefixed with @var{path}; many
15718 runtime loaders store the absolute paths to the shared library in the
15719 target program's memory. If you use @code{set sysroot} to find shared
15720 libraries, they need to be laid out in the same way that they are on
15721 the target, with e.g.@: a @file{/lib} and @file{/usr/lib} hierarchy
15722 under @var{path}.
15723
15724 If @var{path} starts with the sequence @file{remote:}, @value{GDBN} will
15725 retrieve the target libraries from the remote system. This is only
15726 supported when using a remote target that supports the @code{remote get}
15727 command (@pxref{File Transfer,,Sending files to a remote system}).
15728 The part of @var{path} following the initial @file{remote:}
15729 (if present) is used as system root prefix on the remote file system.
15730 @footnote{If you want to specify a local system root using a directory
15731 that happens to be named @file{remote:}, you need to use some equivalent
15732 variant of the name like @file{./remote:}.}
15733
15734 For targets with an MS-DOS based filesystem, such as MS-Windows and
15735 SymbianOS, @value{GDBN} tries prefixing a few variants of the target
15736 absolute file name with @var{path}. But first, on Unix hosts,
15737 @value{GDBN} converts all backslash directory separators into forward
15738 slashes, because the backslash is not a directory separator on Unix:
15739
15740 @smallexample
15741 c:\foo\bar.dll @result{} c:/foo/bar.dll
15742 @end smallexample
15743
15744 Then, @value{GDBN} attempts prefixing the target file name with
15745 @var{path}, and looks for the resulting file name in the host file
15746 system:
15747
15748 @smallexample
15749 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c:/foo/bar.dll
15750 @end smallexample
15751
15752 If that does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries removing
15753 the @samp{:} character from the drive spec, both for convenience, and,
15754 for the case of the host file system not supporting file names with
15755 colons:
15756
15757 @smallexample
15758 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c/foo/bar.dll
15759 @end smallexample
15760
15761 This makes it possible to have a system root that mirrors a target
15762 with more than one drive. E.g., you may want to setup your local
15763 copies of the target system shared libraries like so (note @samp{c} vs
15764 @samp{z}):
15765
15766 @smallexample
15767 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/foo.dll}
15768 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/bar.dll}
15769 @file{/path/to/sysroot/z/sys/bin/bar.dll}
15770 @end smallexample
15771
15772 @noindent
15773 and point the system root at @file{/path/to/sysroot}, so that
15774 @value{GDBN} can find the correct copies of both
15775 @file{c:\sys\bin\foo.dll}, and @file{z:\sys\bin\bar.dll}.
15776
15777 If that still does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries
15778 removing the whole drive spec from the target file name:
15779
15780 @smallexample
15781 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/foo/bar.dll
15782 @end smallexample
15783
15784 This last lookup makes it possible to not care about the drive name,
15785 if you don't want or need to.
15786
15787 The @code{set solib-absolute-prefix} command is an alias for @code{set
15788 sysroot}.
15789
15790 @cindex default system root
15791 @cindex @samp{--with-sysroot}
15792 You can set the default system root by using the configure-time
15793 @samp{--with-sysroot} option. If the system root is inside
15794 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
15795 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default system root will be updated
15796 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
15797 location.
15798
15799 @kindex show sysroot
15800 @item show sysroot
15801 Display the current shared library prefix.
15802
15803 @kindex set solib-search-path
15804 @item set solib-search-path @var{path}
15805 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
15806 directories to search for shared libraries. @samp{solib-search-path}
15807 is used after @samp{sysroot} fails to locate the library, or if the
15808 path to the library is relative instead of absolute. If you want to
15809 use @samp{solib-search-path} instead of @samp{sysroot}, be sure to set
15810 @samp{sysroot} to a nonexistent directory to prevent @value{GDBN} from
15811 finding your host's libraries. @samp{sysroot} is preferred; setting
15812 it to a nonexistent directory may interfere with automatic loading
15813 of shared library symbols.
15814
15815 @kindex show solib-search-path
15816 @item show solib-search-path
15817 Display the current shared library search path.
15818
15819 @cindex DOS file-name semantics of file names.
15820 @kindex set target-file-system-kind (unix|dos-based|auto)
15821 @kindex show target-file-system-kind
15822 @item set target-file-system-kind @var{kind}
15823 Set assumed file system kind for target reported file names.
15824
15825 Shared library file names as reported by the target system may not
15826 make sense as is on the system @value{GDBN} is running on. For
15827 example, when remote debugging a target that has MS-DOS based file
15828 system semantics, from a Unix host, the target may be reporting to
15829 @value{GDBN} a list of loaded shared libraries with file names such as
15830 @file{c:\Windows\kernel32.dll}. On Unix hosts, there's no concept of
15831 drive letters, so the @samp{c:\} prefix is not normally understood as
15832 indicating an absolute file name, and neither is the backslash
15833 normally considered a directory separator character. In that case,
15834 the native file system would interpret this whole absolute file name
15835 as a relative file name with no directory components. This would make
15836 it impossible to point @value{GDBN} at a copy of the remote target's
15837 shared libraries on the host using @code{set sysroot}, and impractical
15838 with @code{set solib-search-path}. Setting
15839 @code{target-file-system-kind} to @code{dos-based} tells @value{GDBN}
15840 to interpret such file names similarly to how the target would, and to
15841 map them to file names valid on @value{GDBN}'s native file system
15842 semantics. The value of @var{kind} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition
15843 to one of the supported file system kinds. In that case, @value{GDBN}
15844 tries to determine the appropriate file system variant based on the
15845 current target's operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the
15846 Current ABI}). The supported file system settings are:
15847
15848 @table @code
15849 @item unix
15850 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is of Unix
15851 kind. Only file names starting the forward slash (@samp{/}) character
15852 are considered absolute, and the directory separator character is also
15853 the forward slash.
15854
15855 @item dos-based
15856 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is DOS based.
15857 File names starting with either a forward slash, or a drive letter
15858 followed by a colon (e.g., @samp{c:}), are considered absolute, and
15859 both the slash (@samp{/}) and the backslash (@samp{\\}) characters are
15860 considered directory separators.
15861
15862 @item auto
15863 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the file system kind associated with the
15864 target operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
15865 This is the default.
15866 @end table
15867 @end table
15868
15869 @cindex file name canonicalization
15870 @cindex base name differences
15871 When processing file names provided by the user, @value{GDBN}
15872 frequently needs to compare them to the file names recorded in the
15873 program's debug info. Normally, @value{GDBN} compares just the
15874 @dfn{base names} of the files as strings, which is reasonably fast
15875 even for very large programs. (The base name of a file is the last
15876 portion of its name, after stripping all the leading directories.)
15877 This shortcut in comparison is based upon the assumption that files
15878 cannot have more than one base name. This is usually true, but
15879 references to files that use symlinks or similar filesystem
15880 facilities violate that assumption. If your program records files
15881 using such facilities, or if you provide file names to @value{GDBN}
15882 using symlinks etc., you can set @code{basenames-may-differ} to
15883 @code{true} to instruct @value{GDBN} to completely canonicalize each
15884 pair of file names it needs to compare. This will make file-name
15885 comparisons accurate, but at a price of a significant slowdown.
15886
15887 @table @code
15888 @item set basenames-may-differ
15889 @kindex set basenames-may-differ
15890 Set whether a source file may have multiple base names.
15891
15892 @item show basenames-may-differ
15893 @kindex show basenames-may-differ
15894 Show whether a source file may have multiple base names.
15895 @end table
15896
15897 @node Separate Debug Files
15898 @section Debugging Information in Separate Files
15899 @cindex separate debugging information files
15900 @cindex debugging information in separate files
15901 @cindex @file{.debug} subdirectories
15902 @cindex debugging information directory, global
15903 @cindex global debugging information directory
15904 @cindex build ID, and separate debugging files
15905 @cindex @file{.build-id} directory
15906
15907 @value{GDBN} allows you to put a program's debugging information in a
15908 file separate from the executable itself, in a way that allows
15909 @value{GDBN} to find and load the debugging information automatically.
15910 Since debugging information can be very large---sometimes larger
15911 than the executable code itself---some systems distribute debugging
15912 information for their executables in separate files, which users can
15913 install only when they need to debug a problem.
15914
15915 @value{GDBN} supports two ways of specifying the separate debug info
15916 file:
15917
15918 @itemize @bullet
15919 @item
15920 The executable contains a @dfn{debug link} that specifies the name of
15921 the separate debug info file. The separate debug file's name is
15922 usually @file{@var{executable}.debug}, where @var{executable} is the
15923 name of the corresponding executable file without leading directories
15924 (e.g., @file{ls.debug} for @file{/usr/bin/ls}). In addition, the
15925 debug link specifies a 32-bit @dfn{Cyclic Redundancy Check} (CRC)
15926 checksum for the debug file, which @value{GDBN} uses to validate that
15927 the executable and the debug file came from the same build.
15928
15929 @item
15930 The executable contains a @dfn{build ID}, a unique bit string that is
15931 also present in the corresponding debug info file. (This is supported
15932 only on some operating systems, notably those which use the ELF format
15933 for binary files and the @sc{gnu} Binutils.) For more details about
15934 this feature, see the description of the @option{--build-id}
15935 command-line option in @ref{Options, , Command Line Options, ld.info,
15936 The GNU Linker}. The debug info file's name is not specified
15937 explicitly by the build ID, but can be computed from the build ID, see
15938 below.
15939 @end itemize
15940
15941 Depending on the way the debug info file is specified, @value{GDBN}
15942 uses two different methods of looking for the debug file:
15943
15944 @itemize @bullet
15945 @item
15946 For the ``debug link'' method, @value{GDBN} looks up the named file in
15947 the directory of the executable file, then in a subdirectory of that
15948 directory named @file{.debug}, and finally under the global debug
15949 directory, in a subdirectory whose name is identical to the leading
15950 directories of the executable's absolute file name.
15951
15952 @item
15953 For the ``build ID'' method, @value{GDBN} looks in the
15954 @file{.build-id} subdirectory of the global debug directory for a file
15955 named @file{@var{nn}/@var{nnnnnnnn}.debug}, where @var{nn} are the
15956 first 2 hex characters of the build ID bit string, and @var{nnnnnnnn}
15957 are the rest of the bit string. (Real build ID strings are 32 or more
15958 hex characters, not 10.)
15959 @end itemize
15960
15961 So, for example, suppose you ask @value{GDBN} to debug
15962 @file{/usr/bin/ls}, which has a debug link that specifies the
15963 file @file{ls.debug}, and a build ID whose value in hex is
15964 @code{abcdef1234}. If the global debug directory is
15965 @file{/usr/lib/debug}, then @value{GDBN} will look for the following
15966 debug information files, in the indicated order:
15967
15968 @itemize @minus
15969 @item
15970 @file{/usr/lib/debug/.build-id/ab/cdef1234.debug}
15971 @item
15972 @file{/usr/bin/ls.debug}
15973 @item
15974 @file{/usr/bin/.debug/ls.debug}
15975 @item
15976 @file{/usr/lib/debug/usr/bin/ls.debug}.
15977 @end itemize
15978
15979 You can set the global debugging info directory's name, and view the
15980 name @value{GDBN} is currently using.
15981
15982 @table @code
15983
15984 @kindex set debug-file-directory
15985 @item set debug-file-directory @var{directories}
15986 Set the directories which @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
15987 information files to @var{directory}. Multiple directory components can be set
15988 concatenating them by a directory separator.
15989
15990 @kindex show debug-file-directory
15991 @item show debug-file-directory
15992 Show the directories @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
15993 information files.
15994
15995 @end table
15996
15997 @cindex @code{.gnu_debuglink} sections
15998 @cindex debug link sections
15999 A debug link is a special section of the executable file named
16000 @code{.gnu_debuglink}. The section must contain:
16001
16002 @itemize
16003 @item
16004 A filename, with any leading directory components removed, followed by
16005 a zero byte,
16006 @item
16007 zero to three bytes of padding, as needed to reach the next four-byte
16008 boundary within the section, and
16009 @item
16010 a four-byte CRC checksum, stored in the same endianness used for the
16011 executable file itself. The checksum is computed on the debugging
16012 information file's full contents by the function given below, passing
16013 zero as the @var{crc} argument.
16014 @end itemize
16015
16016 Any executable file format can carry a debug link, as long as it can
16017 contain a section named @code{.gnu_debuglink} with the contents
16018 described above.
16019
16020 @cindex @code{.note.gnu.build-id} sections
16021 @cindex build ID sections
16022 The build ID is a special section in the executable file (and in other
16023 ELF binary files that @value{GDBN} may consider). This section is
16024 often named @code{.note.gnu.build-id}, but that name is not mandatory.
16025 It contains unique identification for the built files---the ID remains
16026 the same across multiple builds of the same build tree. The default
16027 algorithm SHA1 produces 160 bits (40 hexadecimal characters) of the
16028 content for the build ID string. The same section with an identical
16029 value is present in the original built binary with symbols, in its
16030 stripped variant, and in the separate debugging information file.
16031
16032 The debugging information file itself should be an ordinary
16033 executable, containing a full set of linker symbols, sections, and
16034 debugging information. The sections of the debugging information file
16035 should have the same names, addresses, and sizes as the original file,
16036 but they need not contain any data---much like a @code{.bss} section
16037 in an ordinary executable.
16038
16039 The @sc{gnu} binary utilities (Binutils) package includes the
16040 @samp{objcopy} utility that can produce
16041 the separated executable / debugging information file pairs using the
16042 following commands:
16043
16044 @smallexample
16045 @kbd{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.debug}
16046 @kbd{strip -g foo}
16047 @end smallexample
16048
16049 @noindent
16050 These commands remove the debugging
16051 information from the executable file @file{foo} and place it in the file
16052 @file{foo.debug}. You can use the first, second or both methods to link the
16053 two files:
16054
16055 @itemize @bullet
16056 @item
16057 The debug link method needs the following additional command to also leave
16058 behind a debug link in @file{foo}:
16059
16060 @smallexample
16061 @kbd{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.debug foo}
16062 @end smallexample
16063
16064 Ulrich Drepper's @file{elfutils} package, starting with version 0.53, contains
16065 a version of the @code{strip} command such that the command @kbd{strip foo -f
16066 foo.debug} has the same functionality as the two @code{objcopy} commands and
16067 the @code{ln -s} command above, together.
16068
16069 @item
16070 Build ID gets embedded into the main executable using @code{ld --build-id} or
16071 the @value{NGCC} counterpart @code{gcc -Wl,--build-id}. Build ID support plus
16072 compatibility fixes for debug files separation are present in @sc{gnu} binary
16073 utilities (Binutils) package since version 2.18.
16074 @end itemize
16075
16076 @noindent
16077
16078 @cindex CRC algorithm definition
16079 The CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink} is the CRC-32 defined in
16080 IEEE 802.3 using the polynomial:
16081
16082 @c TexInfo requires naked braces for multi-digit exponents for Tex
16083 @c output, but this causes HTML output to barf. HTML has to be set using
16084 @c raw commands. So we end up having to specify this equation in 2
16085 @c different ways!
16086 @ifhtml
16087 @display
16088 @html
16089 <em>x</em><sup>32</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>26</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>23</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>22</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>16</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>12</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>11</sup>
16090 + <em>x</em><sup>10</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>8</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>7</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>5</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>4</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>2</sup> + <em>x</em> + 1
16091 @end html
16092 @end display
16093 @end ifhtml
16094 @ifnothtml
16095 @display
16096 @math{x^{32} + x^{26} + x^{23} + x^{22} + x^{16} + x^{12} + x^{11}}
16097 @math{+ x^{10} + x^8 + x^7 + x^5 + x^4 + x^2 + x + 1}
16098 @end display
16099 @end ifnothtml
16100
16101 The function is computed byte at a time, taking the least
16102 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern
16103 @code{0xffffffff} is used, to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC and
16104 the final result is inverted to ensure trailing zeros also affect the
16105 CRC.
16106
16107 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC polynomial as used in handling the
16108 @dfn{Remote Serial Protocol} @code{qCRC} packet (@pxref{Remote Protocol,
16109 , @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol}). However in the
16110 case of the Remote Serial Protocol, the CRC is computed @emph{most}
16111 significant bit first, and the result is not inverted, so trailing
16112 zeros have no effect on the CRC value.
16113
16114 To complete the description, we show below the code of the function
16115 which produces the CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink}. Inverting the
16116 initially supplied @code{crc} argument means that an initial call to
16117 this function passing in zero will start computing the CRC using
16118 @code{0xffffffff}.
16119
16120 @kindex gnu_debuglink_crc32
16121 @smallexample
16122 unsigned long
16123 gnu_debuglink_crc32 (unsigned long crc,
16124 unsigned char *buf, size_t len)
16125 @{
16126 static const unsigned long crc32_table[256] =
16127 @{
16128 0x00000000, 0x77073096, 0xee0e612c, 0x990951ba, 0x076dc419,
16129 0x706af48f, 0xe963a535, 0x9e6495a3, 0x0edb8832, 0x79dcb8a4,
16130 0xe0d5e91e, 0x97d2d988, 0x09b64c2b, 0x7eb17cbd, 0xe7b82d07,
16131 0x90bf1d91, 0x1db71064, 0x6ab020f2, 0xf3b97148, 0x84be41de,
16132 0x1adad47d, 0x6ddde4eb, 0xf4d4b551, 0x83d385c7, 0x136c9856,
16133 0x646ba8c0, 0xfd62f97a, 0x8a65c9ec, 0x14015c4f, 0x63066cd9,
16134 0xfa0f3d63, 0x8d080df5, 0x3b6e20c8, 0x4c69105e, 0xd56041e4,
16135 0xa2677172, 0x3c03e4d1, 0x4b04d447, 0xd20d85fd, 0xa50ab56b,
16136 0x35b5a8fa, 0x42b2986c, 0xdbbbc9d6, 0xacbcf940, 0x32d86ce3,
16137 0x45df5c75, 0xdcd60dcf, 0xabd13d59, 0x26d930ac, 0x51de003a,
16138 0xc8d75180, 0xbfd06116, 0x21b4f4b5, 0x56b3c423, 0xcfba9599,
16139 0xb8bda50f, 0x2802b89e, 0x5f058808, 0xc60cd9b2, 0xb10be924,
16140 0x2f6f7c87, 0x58684c11, 0xc1611dab, 0xb6662d3d, 0x76dc4190,
16141 0x01db7106, 0x98d220bc, 0xefd5102a, 0x71b18589, 0x06b6b51f,
16142 0x9fbfe4a5, 0xe8b8d433, 0x7807c9a2, 0x0f00f934, 0x9609a88e,
16143 0xe10e9818, 0x7f6a0dbb, 0x086d3d2d, 0x91646c97, 0xe6635c01,
16144 0x6b6b51f4, 0x1c6c6162, 0x856530d8, 0xf262004e, 0x6c0695ed,
16145 0x1b01a57b, 0x8208f4c1, 0xf50fc457, 0x65b0d9c6, 0x12b7e950,
16146 0x8bbeb8ea, 0xfcb9887c, 0x62dd1ddf, 0x15da2d49, 0x8cd37cf3,
16147 0xfbd44c65, 0x4db26158, 0x3ab551ce, 0xa3bc0074, 0xd4bb30e2,
16148 0x4adfa541, 0x3dd895d7, 0xa4d1c46d, 0xd3d6f4fb, 0x4369e96a,
16149 0x346ed9fc, 0xad678846, 0xda60b8d0, 0x44042d73, 0x33031de5,
16150 0xaa0a4c5f, 0xdd0d7cc9, 0x5005713c, 0x270241aa, 0xbe0b1010,
16151 0xc90c2086, 0x5768b525, 0x206f85b3, 0xb966d409, 0xce61e49f,
16152 0x5edef90e, 0x29d9c998, 0xb0d09822, 0xc7d7a8b4, 0x59b33d17,
16153 0x2eb40d81, 0xb7bd5c3b, 0xc0ba6cad, 0xedb88320, 0x9abfb3b6,
16154 0x03b6e20c, 0x74b1d29a, 0xead54739, 0x9dd277af, 0x04db2615,
16155 0x73dc1683, 0xe3630b12, 0x94643b84, 0x0d6d6a3e, 0x7a6a5aa8,
16156 0xe40ecf0b, 0x9309ff9d, 0x0a00ae27, 0x7d079eb1, 0xf00f9344,
16157 0x8708a3d2, 0x1e01f268, 0x6906c2fe, 0xf762575d, 0x806567cb,
16158 0x196c3671, 0x6e6b06e7, 0xfed41b76, 0x89d32be0, 0x10da7a5a,
16159 0x67dd4acc, 0xf9b9df6f, 0x8ebeeff9, 0x17b7be43, 0x60b08ed5,
16160 0xd6d6a3e8, 0xa1d1937e, 0x38d8c2c4, 0x4fdff252, 0xd1bb67f1,
16161 0xa6bc5767, 0x3fb506dd, 0x48b2364b, 0xd80d2bda, 0xaf0a1b4c,
16162 0x36034af6, 0x41047a60, 0xdf60efc3, 0xa867df55, 0x316e8eef,
16163 0x4669be79, 0xcb61b38c, 0xbc66831a, 0x256fd2a0, 0x5268e236,
16164 0xcc0c7795, 0xbb0b4703, 0x220216b9, 0x5505262f, 0xc5ba3bbe,
16165 0xb2bd0b28, 0x2bb45a92, 0x5cb36a04, 0xc2d7ffa7, 0xb5d0cf31,
16166 0x2cd99e8b, 0x5bdeae1d, 0x9b64c2b0, 0xec63f226, 0x756aa39c,
16167 0x026d930a, 0x9c0906a9, 0xeb0e363f, 0x72076785, 0x05005713,
16168 0x95bf4a82, 0xe2b87a14, 0x7bb12bae, 0x0cb61b38, 0x92d28e9b,
16169 0xe5d5be0d, 0x7cdcefb7, 0x0bdbdf21, 0x86d3d2d4, 0xf1d4e242,
16170 0x68ddb3f8, 0x1fda836e, 0x81be16cd, 0xf6b9265b, 0x6fb077e1,
16171 0x18b74777, 0x88085ae6, 0xff0f6a70, 0x66063bca, 0x11010b5c,
16172 0x8f659eff, 0xf862ae69, 0x616bffd3, 0x166ccf45, 0xa00ae278,
16173 0xd70dd2ee, 0x4e048354, 0x3903b3c2, 0xa7672661, 0xd06016f7,
16174 0x4969474d, 0x3e6e77db, 0xaed16a4a, 0xd9d65adc, 0x40df0b66,
16175 0x37d83bf0, 0xa9bcae53, 0xdebb9ec5, 0x47b2cf7f, 0x30b5ffe9,
16176 0xbdbdf21c, 0xcabac28a, 0x53b39330, 0x24b4a3a6, 0xbad03605,
16177 0xcdd70693, 0x54de5729, 0x23d967bf, 0xb3667a2e, 0xc4614ab8,
16178 0x5d681b02, 0x2a6f2b94, 0xb40bbe37, 0xc30c8ea1, 0x5a05df1b,
16179 0x2d02ef8d
16180 @};
16181 unsigned char *end;
16182
16183 crc = ~crc & 0xffffffff;
16184 for (end = buf + len; buf < end; ++buf)
16185 crc = crc32_table[(crc ^ *buf) & 0xff] ^ (crc >> 8);
16186 return ~crc & 0xffffffff;
16187 @}
16188 @end smallexample
16189
16190 @noindent
16191 This computation does not apply to the ``build ID'' method.
16192
16193
16194 @node Index Files
16195 @section Index Files Speed Up @value{GDBN}
16196 @cindex index files
16197 @cindex @samp{.gdb_index} section
16198
16199 When @value{GDBN} finds a symbol file, it scans the symbols in the
16200 file in order to construct an internal symbol table. This lets most
16201 @value{GDBN} operations work quickly---at the cost of a delay early
16202 on. For large programs, this delay can be quite lengthy, so
16203 @value{GDBN} provides a way to build an index, which speeds up
16204 startup.
16205
16206 The index is stored as a section in the symbol file. @value{GDBN} can
16207 write the index to a file, then you can put it into the symbol file
16208 using @command{objcopy}.
16209
16210 To create an index file, use the @code{save gdb-index} command:
16211
16212 @table @code
16213 @item save gdb-index @var{directory}
16214 @kindex save gdb-index
16215 Create an index file for each symbol file currently known by
16216 @value{GDBN}. Each file is named after its corresponding symbol file,
16217 with @samp{.gdb-index} appended, and is written into the given
16218 @var{directory}.
16219 @end table
16220
16221 Once you have created an index file you can merge it into your symbol
16222 file, here named @file{symfile}, using @command{objcopy}:
16223
16224 @smallexample
16225 $ objcopy --add-section .gdb_index=symfile.gdb-index \
16226 --set-section-flags .gdb_index=readonly symfile symfile
16227 @end smallexample
16228
16229 There are currently some limitation on indices. They only work when
16230 for DWARF debugging information, not stabs. And, they do not
16231 currently work for programs using Ada.
16232
16233 @node Symbol Errors
16234 @section Errors Reading Symbol Files
16235
16236 While reading a symbol file, @value{GDBN} occasionally encounters problems,
16237 such as symbol types it does not recognize, or known bugs in compiler
16238 output. By default, @value{GDBN} does not notify you of such problems, since
16239 they are relatively common and primarily of interest to people
16240 debugging compilers. If you are interested in seeing information
16241 about ill-constructed symbol tables, you can either ask @value{GDBN} to print
16242 only one message about each such type of problem, no matter how many
16243 times the problem occurs; or you can ask @value{GDBN} to print more messages,
16244 to see how many times the problems occur, with the @code{set
16245 complaints} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
16246 Messages}).
16247
16248 The messages currently printed, and their meanings, include:
16249
16250 @table @code
16251 @item inner block not inside outer block in @var{symbol}
16252
16253 The symbol information shows where symbol scopes begin and end
16254 (such as at the start of a function or a block of statements). This
16255 error indicates that an inner scope block is not fully contained
16256 in its outer scope blocks.
16257
16258 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the inner block as if it had
16259 the same scope as the outer block. In the error message, @var{symbol}
16260 may be shown as ``@code{(don't know)}'' if the outer block is not a
16261 function.
16262
16263 @item block at @var{address} out of order
16264
16265 The symbol information for symbol scope blocks should occur in
16266 order of increasing addresses. This error indicates that it does not
16267 do so.
16268
16269 @value{GDBN} does not circumvent this problem, and has trouble
16270 locating symbols in the source file whose symbols it is reading. (You
16271 can often determine what source file is affected by specifying
16272 @code{set verbose on}. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
16273 Messages}.)
16274
16275 @item bad block start address patched
16276
16277 The symbol information for a symbol scope block has a start address
16278 smaller than the address of the preceding source line. This is known
16279 to occur in the SunOS 4.1.1 (and earlier) C compiler.
16280
16281 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the symbol scope block as
16282 starting on the previous source line.
16283
16284 @item bad string table offset in symbol @var{n}
16285
16286 @cindex foo
16287 Symbol number @var{n} contains a pointer into the string table which is
16288 larger than the size of the string table.
16289
16290 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by considering the symbol to have the
16291 name @code{foo}, which may cause other problems if many symbols end up
16292 with this name.
16293
16294 @item unknown symbol type @code{0x@var{nn}}
16295
16296 The symbol information contains new data types that @value{GDBN} does
16297 not yet know how to read. @code{0x@var{nn}} is the symbol type of the
16298 uncomprehended information, in hexadecimal.
16299
16300 @value{GDBN} circumvents the error by ignoring this symbol information.
16301 This usually allows you to debug your program, though certain symbols
16302 are not accessible. If you encounter such a problem and feel like
16303 debugging it, you can debug @code{@value{GDBP}} with itself, breakpoint
16304 on @code{complain}, then go up to the function @code{read_dbx_symtab}
16305 and examine @code{*bufp} to see the symbol.
16306
16307 @item stub type has NULL name
16308
16309 @value{GDBN} could not find the full definition for a struct or class.
16310
16311 @item const/volatile indicator missing (ok if using g++ v1.x), got@dots{}
16312 The symbol information for a C@t{++} member function is missing some
16313 information that recent versions of the compiler should have output for
16314 it.
16315
16316 @item info mismatch between compiler and debugger
16317
16318 @value{GDBN} could not parse a type specification output by the compiler.
16319
16320 @end table
16321
16322 @node Data Files
16323 @section GDB Data Files
16324
16325 @cindex prefix for data files
16326 @value{GDBN} will sometimes read an auxiliary data file. These files
16327 are kept in a directory known as the @dfn{data directory}.
16328
16329 You can set the data directory's name, and view the name @value{GDBN}
16330 is currently using.
16331
16332 @table @code
16333 @kindex set data-directory
16334 @item set data-directory @var{directory}
16335 Set the directory which @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files
16336 to @var{directory}.
16337
16338 @kindex show data-directory
16339 @item show data-directory
16340 Show the directory @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files.
16341 @end table
16342
16343 @cindex default data directory
16344 @cindex @samp{--with-gdb-datadir}
16345 You can set the default data directory by using the configure-time
16346 @samp{--with-gdb-datadir} option. If the data directory is inside
16347 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
16348 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default data directory will be updated
16349 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
16350 location.
16351
16352 The data directory may also be specified with the
16353 @code{--data-directory} command line option.
16354 @xref{Mode Options}.
16355
16356 @node Targets
16357 @chapter Specifying a Debugging Target
16358
16359 @cindex debugging target
16360 A @dfn{target} is the execution environment occupied by your program.
16361
16362 Often, @value{GDBN} runs in the same host environment as your program;
16363 in that case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when
16364 you use the @code{file} or @code{core} commands. When you need more
16365 flexibility---for example, running @value{GDBN} on a physically separate
16366 host, or controlling a standalone system over a serial port or a
16367 realtime system over a TCP/IP connection---you can use the @code{target}
16368 command to specify one of the target types configured for @value{GDBN}
16369 (@pxref{Target Commands, ,Commands for Managing Targets}).
16370
16371 @cindex target architecture
16372 It is possible to build @value{GDBN} for several different @dfn{target
16373 architectures}. When @value{GDBN} is built like that, you can choose
16374 one of the available architectures with the @kbd{set architecture}
16375 command.
16376
16377 @table @code
16378 @kindex set architecture
16379 @kindex show architecture
16380 @item set architecture @var{arch}
16381 This command sets the current target architecture to @var{arch}. The
16382 value of @var{arch} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition to one of the
16383 supported architectures.
16384
16385 @item show architecture
16386 Show the current target architecture.
16387
16388 @item set processor
16389 @itemx processor
16390 @kindex set processor
16391 @kindex show processor
16392 These are alias commands for, respectively, @code{set architecture}
16393 and @code{show architecture}.
16394 @end table
16395
16396 @menu
16397 * Active Targets:: Active targets
16398 * Target Commands:: Commands for managing targets
16399 * Byte Order:: Choosing target byte order
16400 @end menu
16401
16402 @node Active Targets
16403 @section Active Targets
16404
16405 @cindex stacking targets
16406 @cindex active targets
16407 @cindex multiple targets
16408
16409 There are multiple classes of targets such as: processes, executable files or
16410 recording sessions. Core files belong to the process class, making core file
16411 and process mutually exclusive. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} can work concurrently
16412 on multiple active targets, one in each class. This allows you to (for
16413 example) start a process and inspect its activity, while still having access to
16414 the executable file after the process finishes. Or if you start process
16415 recording (@pxref{Reverse Execution}) and @code{reverse-step} there, you are
16416 presented a virtual layer of the recording target, while the process target
16417 remains stopped at the chronologically last point of the process execution.
16418
16419 Use the @code{core-file} and @code{exec-file} commands to select a new core
16420 file or executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}). To
16421 specify as a target a process that is already running, use the @code{attach}
16422 command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
16423
16424 @node Target Commands
16425 @section Commands for Managing Targets
16426
16427 @table @code
16428 @item target @var{type} @var{parameters}
16429 Connects the @value{GDBN} host environment to a target machine or
16430 process. A target is typically a protocol for talking to debugging
16431 facilities. You use the argument @var{type} to specify the type or
16432 protocol of the target machine.
16433
16434 Further @var{parameters} are interpreted by the target protocol, but
16435 typically include things like device names or host names to connect
16436 with, process numbers, and baud rates.
16437
16438 The @code{target} command does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again
16439 after executing the command.
16440
16441 @kindex help target
16442 @item help target
16443 Displays the names of all targets available. To display targets
16444 currently selected, use either @code{info target} or @code{info files}
16445 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
16446
16447 @item help target @var{name}
16448 Describe a particular target, including any parameters necessary to
16449 select it.
16450
16451 @kindex set gnutarget
16452 @item set gnutarget @var{args}
16453 @value{GDBN} uses its own library BFD to read your files. @value{GDBN}
16454 knows whether it is reading an @dfn{executable},
16455 a @dfn{core}, or a @dfn{.o} file; however, you can specify the file format
16456 with the @code{set gnutarget} command. Unlike most @code{target} commands,
16457 with @code{gnutarget} the @code{target} refers to a program, not a machine.
16458
16459 @quotation
16460 @emph{Warning:} To specify a file format with @code{set gnutarget},
16461 you must know the actual BFD name.
16462 @end quotation
16463
16464 @noindent
16465 @xref{Files, , Commands to Specify Files}.
16466
16467 @kindex show gnutarget
16468 @item show gnutarget
16469 Use the @code{show gnutarget} command to display what file format
16470 @code{gnutarget} is set to read. If you have not set @code{gnutarget},
16471 @value{GDBN} will determine the file format for each file automatically,
16472 and @code{show gnutarget} displays @samp{The current BDF target is "auto"}.
16473 @end table
16474
16475 @cindex common targets
16476 Here are some common targets (available, or not, depending on the GDB
16477 configuration):
16478
16479 @table @code
16480 @kindex target
16481 @item target exec @var{program}
16482 @cindex executable file target
16483 An executable file. @samp{target exec @var{program}} is the same as
16484 @samp{exec-file @var{program}}.
16485
16486 @item target core @var{filename}
16487 @cindex core dump file target
16488 A core dump file. @samp{target core @var{filename}} is the same as
16489 @samp{core-file @var{filename}}.
16490
16491 @item target remote @var{medium}
16492 @cindex remote target
16493 A remote system connected to @value{GDBN} via a serial line or network
16494 connection. This command tells @value{GDBN} to use its own remote
16495 protocol over @var{medium} for debugging. @xref{Remote Debugging}.
16496
16497 For example, if you have a board connected to @file{/dev/ttya} on the
16498 machine running @value{GDBN}, you could say:
16499
16500 @smallexample
16501 target remote /dev/ttya
16502 @end smallexample
16503
16504 @code{target remote} supports the @code{load} command. This is only
16505 useful if you have some other way of getting the stub to the target
16506 system, and you can put it somewhere in memory where it won't get
16507 clobbered by the download.
16508
16509 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
16510 @cindex built-in simulator target
16511 Builtin CPU simulator. @value{GDBN} includes simulators for most architectures.
16512 In general,
16513 @smallexample
16514 target sim
16515 load
16516 run
16517 @end smallexample
16518 @noindent
16519 works; however, you cannot assume that a specific memory map, device
16520 drivers, or even basic I/O is available, although some simulators do
16521 provide these. For info about any processor-specific simulator details,
16522 see the appropriate section in @ref{Embedded Processors, ,Embedded
16523 Processors}.
16524
16525 @end table
16526
16527 Some configurations may include these targets as well:
16528
16529 @table @code
16530
16531 @item target nrom @var{dev}
16532 @cindex NetROM ROM emulator target
16533 NetROM ROM emulator. This target only supports downloading.
16534
16535 @end table
16536
16537 Different targets are available on different configurations of @value{GDBN};
16538 your configuration may have more or fewer targets.
16539
16540 Many remote targets require you to download the executable's code once
16541 you've successfully established a connection. You may wish to control
16542 various aspects of this process.
16543
16544 @table @code
16545
16546 @item set hash
16547 @kindex set hash@r{, for remote monitors}
16548 @cindex hash mark while downloading
16549 This command controls whether a hash mark @samp{#} is displayed while
16550 downloading a file to the remote monitor. If on, a hash mark is
16551 displayed after each S-record is successfully downloaded to the
16552 monitor.
16553
16554 @item show hash
16555 @kindex show hash@r{, for remote monitors}
16556 Show the current status of displaying the hash mark.
16557
16558 @item set debug monitor
16559 @kindex set debug monitor
16560 @cindex display remote monitor communications
16561 Enable or disable display of communications messages between
16562 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
16563
16564 @item show debug monitor
16565 @kindex show debug monitor
16566 Show the current status of displaying communications between
16567 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
16568 @end table
16569
16570 @table @code
16571
16572 @kindex load @var{filename}
16573 @item load @var{filename}
16574 @anchor{load}
16575 Depending on what remote debugging facilities are configured into
16576 @value{GDBN}, the @code{load} command may be available. Where it exists, it
16577 is meant to make @var{filename} (an executable) available for debugging
16578 on the remote system---by downloading, or dynamic linking, for example.
16579 @code{load} also records the @var{filename} symbol table in @value{GDBN}, like
16580 the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
16581
16582 If your @value{GDBN} does not have a @code{load} command, attempting to
16583 execute it gets the error message ``@code{You can't do that when your
16584 target is @dots{}}''
16585
16586 The file is loaded at whatever address is specified in the executable.
16587 For some object file formats, you can specify the load address when you
16588 link the program; for other formats, like a.out, the object file format
16589 specifies a fixed address.
16590 @c FIXME! This would be a good place for an xref to the GNU linker doc.
16591
16592 Depending on the remote side capabilities, @value{GDBN} may be able to
16593 load programs into flash memory.
16594
16595 @code{load} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
16596 @end table
16597
16598 @node Byte Order
16599 @section Choosing Target Byte Order
16600
16601 @cindex choosing target byte order
16602 @cindex target byte order
16603
16604 Some types of processors, such as the MIPS, PowerPC, and Renesas SH,
16605 offer the ability to run either big-endian or little-endian byte
16606 orders. Usually the executable or symbol will include a bit to
16607 designate the endian-ness, and you will not need to worry about
16608 which to use. However, you may still find it useful to adjust
16609 @value{GDBN}'s idea of processor endian-ness manually.
16610
16611 @table @code
16612 @kindex set endian
16613 @item set endian big
16614 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is big-endian.
16615
16616 @item set endian little
16617 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is little-endian.
16618
16619 @item set endian auto
16620 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the byte order associated with the
16621 executable.
16622
16623 @item show endian
16624 Display @value{GDBN}'s current idea of the target byte order.
16625
16626 @end table
16627
16628 Note that these commands merely adjust interpretation of symbolic
16629 data on the host, and that they have absolutely no effect on the
16630 target system.
16631
16632
16633 @node Remote Debugging
16634 @chapter Debugging Remote Programs
16635 @cindex remote debugging
16636
16637 If you are trying to debug a program running on a machine that cannot run
16638 @value{GDBN} in the usual way, it is often useful to use remote debugging.
16639 For example, you might use remote debugging on an operating system kernel,
16640 or on a small system which does not have a general purpose operating system
16641 powerful enough to run a full-featured debugger.
16642
16643 Some configurations of @value{GDBN} have special serial or TCP/IP interfaces
16644 to make this work with particular debugging targets. In addition,
16645 @value{GDBN} comes with a generic serial protocol (specific to @value{GDBN},
16646 but not specific to any particular target system) which you can use if you
16647 write the remote stubs---the code that runs on the remote system to
16648 communicate with @value{GDBN}.
16649
16650 Other remote targets may be available in your
16651 configuration of @value{GDBN}; use @code{help target} to list them.
16652
16653 @menu
16654 * Connecting:: Connecting to a remote target
16655 * File Transfer:: Sending files to a remote system
16656 * Server:: Using the gdbserver program
16657 * Remote Configuration:: Remote configuration
16658 * Remote Stub:: Implementing a remote stub
16659 @end menu
16660
16661 @node Connecting
16662 @section Connecting to a Remote Target
16663
16664 On the @value{GDBN} host machine, you will need an unstripped copy of
16665 your program, since @value{GDBN} needs symbol and debugging information.
16666 Start up @value{GDBN} as usual, using the name of the local copy of your
16667 program as the first argument.
16668
16669 @cindex @code{target remote}
16670 @value{GDBN} can communicate with the target over a serial line, or
16671 over an @acronym{IP} network using @acronym{TCP} or @acronym{UDP}. In
16672 each case, @value{GDBN} uses the same protocol for debugging your
16673 program; only the medium carrying the debugging packets varies. The
16674 @code{target remote} command establishes a connection to the target.
16675 Its arguments indicate which medium to use:
16676
16677 @table @code
16678
16679 @item target remote @var{serial-device}
16680 @cindex serial line, @code{target remote}
16681 Use @var{serial-device} to communicate with the target. For example,
16682 to use a serial line connected to the device named @file{/dev/ttyb}:
16683
16684 @smallexample
16685 target remote /dev/ttyb
16686 @end smallexample
16687
16688 If you're using a serial line, you may want to give @value{GDBN} the
16689 @w{@samp{--baud}} option, or use the @code{set remotebaud} command
16690 (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remotebaud}) before the
16691 @code{target} command.
16692
16693 @item target remote @code{@var{host}:@var{port}}
16694 @itemx target remote @code{tcp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
16695 @cindex @acronym{TCP} port, @code{target remote}
16696 Debug using a @acronym{TCP} connection to @var{port} on @var{host}.
16697 The @var{host} may be either a host name or a numeric @acronym{IP}
16698 address; @var{port} must be a decimal number. The @var{host} could be
16699 the target machine itself, if it is directly connected to the net, or
16700 it might be a terminal server which in turn has a serial line to the
16701 target.
16702
16703 For example, to connect to port 2828 on a terminal server named
16704 @code{manyfarms}:
16705
16706 @smallexample
16707 target remote manyfarms:2828
16708 @end smallexample
16709
16710 If your remote target is actually running on the same machine as your
16711 debugger session (e.g.@: a simulator for your target running on the
16712 same host), you can omit the hostname. For example, to connect to
16713 port 1234 on your local machine:
16714
16715 @smallexample
16716 target remote :1234
16717 @end smallexample
16718 @noindent
16719
16720 Note that the colon is still required here.
16721
16722 @item target remote @code{udp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
16723 @cindex @acronym{UDP} port, @code{target remote}
16724 Debug using @acronym{UDP} packets to @var{port} on @var{host}. For example, to
16725 connect to @acronym{UDP} port 2828 on a terminal server named @code{manyfarms}:
16726
16727 @smallexample
16728 target remote udp:manyfarms:2828
16729 @end smallexample
16730
16731 When using a @acronym{UDP} connection for remote debugging, you should
16732 keep in mind that the `U' stands for ``Unreliable''. @acronym{UDP}
16733 can silently drop packets on busy or unreliable networks, which will
16734 cause havoc with your debugging session.
16735
16736 @item target remote | @var{command}
16737 @cindex pipe, @code{target remote} to
16738 Run @var{command} in the background and communicate with it using a
16739 pipe. The @var{command} is a shell command, to be parsed and expanded
16740 by the system's command shell, @code{/bin/sh}; it should expect remote
16741 protocol packets on its standard input, and send replies on its
16742 standard output. You could use this to run a stand-alone simulator
16743 that speaks the remote debugging protocol, to make net connections
16744 using programs like @code{ssh}, or for other similar tricks.
16745
16746 If @var{command} closes its standard output (perhaps by exiting),
16747 @value{GDBN} will try to send it a @code{SIGTERM} signal. (If the
16748 program has already exited, this will have no effect.)
16749
16750 @end table
16751
16752 Once the connection has been established, you can use all the usual
16753 commands to examine and change data. The remote program is already
16754 running; you can use @kbd{step} and @kbd{continue}, and you do not
16755 need to use @kbd{run}.
16756
16757 @cindex interrupting remote programs
16758 @cindex remote programs, interrupting
16759 Whenever @value{GDBN} is waiting for the remote program, if you type the
16760 interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}), @value{GDBN} attempts to stop the
16761 program. This may or may not succeed, depending in part on the hardware
16762 and the serial drivers the remote system uses. If you type the
16763 interrupt character once again, @value{GDBN} displays this prompt:
16764
16765 @smallexample
16766 Interrupted while waiting for the program.
16767 Give up (and stop debugging it)? (y or n)
16768 @end smallexample
16769
16770 If you type @kbd{y}, @value{GDBN} abandons the remote debugging session.
16771 (If you decide you want to try again later, you can use @samp{target
16772 remote} again to connect once more.) If you type @kbd{n}, @value{GDBN}
16773 goes back to waiting.
16774
16775 @table @code
16776 @kindex detach (remote)
16777 @item detach
16778 When you have finished debugging the remote program, you can use the
16779 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control.
16780 Detaching from the target normally resumes its execution, but the results
16781 will depend on your particular remote stub. After the @code{detach}
16782 command, @value{GDBN} is free to connect to another target.
16783
16784 @kindex disconnect
16785 @item disconnect
16786 The @code{disconnect} command behaves like @code{detach}, except that
16787 the target is generally not resumed. It will wait for @value{GDBN}
16788 (this instance or another one) to connect and continue debugging. After
16789 the @code{disconnect} command, @value{GDBN} is again free to connect to
16790 another target.
16791
16792 @cindex send command to remote monitor
16793 @cindex extend @value{GDBN} for remote targets
16794 @cindex add new commands for external monitor
16795 @kindex monitor
16796 @item monitor @var{cmd}
16797 This command allows you to send arbitrary commands directly to the
16798 remote monitor. Since @value{GDBN} doesn't care about the commands it
16799 sends like this, this command is the way to extend @value{GDBN}---you
16800 can add new commands that only the external monitor will understand
16801 and implement.
16802 @end table
16803
16804 @node File Transfer
16805 @section Sending files to a remote system
16806 @cindex remote target, file transfer
16807 @cindex file transfer
16808 @cindex sending files to remote systems
16809
16810 Some remote targets offer the ability to transfer files over the same
16811 connection used to communicate with @value{GDBN}. This is convenient
16812 for targets accessible through other means, e.g.@: @sc{gnu}/Linux systems
16813 running @code{gdbserver} over a network interface. For other targets,
16814 e.g.@: embedded devices with only a single serial port, this may be
16815 the only way to upload or download files.
16816
16817 Not all remote targets support these commands.
16818
16819 @table @code
16820 @kindex remote put
16821 @item remote put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
16822 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
16823 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
16824
16825 @kindex remote get
16826 @item remote get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
16827 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
16828 on the host system.
16829
16830 @kindex remote delete
16831 @item remote delete @var{targetfile}
16832 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
16833
16834 @end table
16835
16836 @node Server
16837 @section Using the @code{gdbserver} Program
16838
16839 @kindex gdbserver
16840 @cindex remote connection without stubs
16841 @code{gdbserver} is a control program for Unix-like systems, which
16842 allows you to connect your program with a remote @value{GDBN} via
16843 @code{target remote}---but without linking in the usual debugging stub.
16844
16845 @code{gdbserver} is not a complete replacement for the debugging stubs,
16846 because it requires essentially the same operating-system facilities
16847 that @value{GDBN} itself does. In fact, a system that can run
16848 @code{gdbserver} to connect to a remote @value{GDBN} could also run
16849 @value{GDBN} locally! @code{gdbserver} is sometimes useful nevertheless,
16850 because it is a much smaller program than @value{GDBN} itself. It is
16851 also easier to port than all of @value{GDBN}, so you may be able to get
16852 started more quickly on a new system by using @code{gdbserver}.
16853 Finally, if you develop code for real-time systems, you may find that
16854 the tradeoffs involved in real-time operation make it more convenient to
16855 do as much development work as possible on another system, for example
16856 by cross-compiling. You can use @code{gdbserver} to make a similar
16857 choice for debugging.
16858
16859 @value{GDBN} and @code{gdbserver} communicate via either a serial line
16860 or a TCP connection, using the standard @value{GDBN} remote serial
16861 protocol.
16862
16863 @quotation
16864 @emph{Warning:} @code{gdbserver} does not have any built-in security.
16865 Do not run @code{gdbserver} connected to any public network; a
16866 @value{GDBN} connection to @code{gdbserver} provides access to the
16867 target system with the same privileges as the user running
16868 @code{gdbserver}.
16869 @end quotation
16870
16871 @subsection Running @code{gdbserver}
16872 @cindex arguments, to @code{gdbserver}
16873 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, command-line arguments
16874
16875 Run @code{gdbserver} on the target system. You need a copy of the
16876 program you want to debug, including any libraries it requires.
16877 @code{gdbserver} does not need your program's symbol table, so you can
16878 strip the program if necessary to save space. @value{GDBN} on the host
16879 system does all the symbol handling.
16880
16881 To use the server, you must tell it how to communicate with @value{GDBN};
16882 the name of your program; and the arguments for your program. The usual
16883 syntax is:
16884
16885 @smallexample
16886 target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [ @var{args} @dots{} ]
16887 @end smallexample
16888
16889 @var{comm} is either a device name (to use a serial line), or a TCP
16890 hostname and portnumber, or @code{-} or @code{stdio} to use
16891 stdin/stdout of @code{gdbserver}.
16892 For example, to debug Emacs with the argument
16893 @samp{foo.txt} and communicate with @value{GDBN} over the serial port
16894 @file{/dev/com1}:
16895
16896 @smallexample
16897 target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
16898 @end smallexample
16899
16900 @code{gdbserver} waits passively for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate
16901 with it.
16902
16903 To use a TCP connection instead of a serial line:
16904
16905 @smallexample
16906 target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
16907 @end smallexample
16908
16909 The only difference from the previous example is the first argument,
16910 specifying that you are communicating with the host @value{GDBN} via
16911 TCP. The @samp{host:2345} argument means that @code{gdbserver} is to
16912 expect a TCP connection from machine @samp{host} to local TCP port 2345.
16913 (Currently, the @samp{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number
16914 you want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any
16915 TCP ports already in use on the target system (for example, @code{23} is
16916 reserved for @code{telnet}).@footnote{If you choose a port number that
16917 conflicts with another service, @code{gdbserver} prints an error message
16918 and exits.} You must use the same port number with the host @value{GDBN}
16919 @code{target remote} command.
16920
16921 The @code{stdio} connection is useful when starting @code{gdbserver}
16922 with ssh:
16923
16924 @smallexample
16925 (gdb) target remote | ssh -T hostname gdbserver - hello
16926 @end smallexample
16927
16928 The @samp{-T} option to ssh is provided because we don't need a remote pty,
16929 and we don't want escape-character handling. Ssh does this by default when
16930 a command is provided, the flag is provided to make it explicit.
16931 You could elide it if you want to.
16932
16933 Programs started with stdio-connected gdbserver have @file{/dev/null} for
16934 @code{stdin}, and @code{stdout},@code{stderr} are sent back to gdb for
16935 display through a pipe connected to gdbserver.
16936 Both @code{stdout} and @code{stderr} use the same pipe.
16937
16938 @subsubsection Attaching to a Running Program
16939 @cindex attach to a program, @code{gdbserver}
16940 @cindex @option{--attach}, @code{gdbserver} option
16941
16942 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
16943 This is accomplished via the @code{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
16944
16945 @smallexample
16946 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
16947 @end smallexample
16948
16949 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't necessary
16950 to point @code{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
16951
16952 @pindex pidof
16953 You can debug processes by name instead of process ID if your target has the
16954 @code{pidof} utility:
16955
16956 @smallexample
16957 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} `pidof @var{program}`
16958 @end smallexample
16959
16960 In case more than one copy of @var{program} is running, or @var{program}
16961 has multiple threads, most versions of @code{pidof} support the
16962 @code{-s} option to only return the first process ID.
16963
16964 @subsubsection Multi-Process Mode for @code{gdbserver}
16965 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, multiple processes
16966 @cindex multiple processes with @code{gdbserver}
16967
16968 When you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target remote},
16969 @code{gdbserver} debugs the specified program only once. When the
16970 program exits, or you detach from it, @value{GDBN} closes the connection
16971 and @code{gdbserver} exits.
16972
16973 If you connect using @kbd{target extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver}
16974 enters multi-process mode. When the debugged program exits, or you
16975 detach from it, @value{GDBN} stays connected to @code{gdbserver} even
16976 though no program is running. The @code{run} and @code{attach}
16977 commands instruct @code{gdbserver} to run or attach to a new program.
16978 The @code{run} command uses @code{set remote exec-file} (@pxref{set
16979 remote exec-file}) to select the program to run. Command line
16980 arguments are supported, except for wildcard expansion and I/O
16981 redirection (@pxref{Arguments}).
16982
16983 @cindex @option{--multi}, @code{gdbserver} option
16984 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
16985 or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
16986 Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
16987 the program you want to debug.
16988
16989 In multi-process mode @code{gdbserver} does not automatically exit unless you
16990 use the option @option{--once}. You can terminate it by using
16991 @code{monitor exit} (@pxref{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}). Note that the
16992 conditions under which @code{gdbserver} terminates depend on how @value{GDBN}
16993 connects to it (@kbd{target remote} or @kbd{target extended-remote}). The
16994 @option{--multi} option to @code{gdbserver} has no influence on that.
16995
16996 @subsubsection TCP port allocation lifecycle of @code{gdbserver}
16997
16998 This section applies only when @code{gdbserver} is run to listen on a TCP port.
16999
17000 @code{gdbserver} normally terminates after all of its debugged processes have
17001 terminated in @kbd{target remote} mode. On the other hand, for @kbd{target
17002 extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver} stays running even with no processes left.
17003 @value{GDBN} normally terminates the spawned debugged process on its exit,
17004 which normally also terminates @code{gdbserver} in the @kbd{target remote}
17005 mode. Therefore, when the connection drops unexpectedly, and @value{GDBN}
17006 cannot ask @code{gdbserver} to kill its debugged processes, @code{gdbserver}
17007 stays running even in the @kbd{target remote} mode.
17008
17009 When @code{gdbserver} stays running, @value{GDBN} can connect to it again later.
17010 Such reconnecting is useful for features like @ref{disconnected tracing}. For
17011 completeness, at most one @value{GDBN} can be connected at a time.
17012
17013 @cindex @option{--once}, @code{gdbserver} option
17014 By default, @code{gdbserver} keeps the listening TCP port open, so that
17015 additional connections are possible. However, if you start @code{gdbserver}
17016 with the @option{--once} option, it will stop listening for any further
17017 connection attempts after connecting to the first @value{GDBN} session. This
17018 means no further connections to @code{gdbserver} will be possible after the
17019 first one. It also means @code{gdbserver} will terminate after the first
17020 connection with remote @value{GDBN} has closed, even for unexpectedly closed
17021 connections and even in the @kbd{target extended-remote} mode. The
17022 @option{--once} option allows reusing the same port number for connecting to
17023 multiple instances of @code{gdbserver} running on the same host, since each
17024 instance closes its port after the first connection.
17025
17026 @subsubsection Other Command-Line Arguments for @code{gdbserver}
17027
17028 @cindex @option{--debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
17029 The @option{--debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display extra
17030 status information about the debugging process.
17031 @cindex @option{--remote-debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
17032 The @option{--remote-debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display
17033 remote protocol debug output. These options are intended for
17034 @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to the developers.
17035
17036 @cindex @option{--wrapper}, @code{gdbserver} option
17037 The @option{--wrapper} option specifies a wrapper to launch programs
17038 for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
17039 wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
17040 @kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
17041
17042 @code{gdbserver} runs the specified wrapper program with a combined
17043 command line including the wrapper arguments, then the name of the
17044 program to debug, then any arguments to the program. The wrapper
17045 runs until it executes your program, and then @value{GDBN} gains control.
17046
17047 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
17048 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
17049 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
17050 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
17051
17052 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
17053 the debugged program, without setting the variable in @code{gdbserver}'s
17054 environment:
17055
17056 @smallexample
17057 $ gdbserver --wrapper env LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so -- :2222 ./testprog
17058 @end smallexample
17059
17060 @subsection Connecting to @code{gdbserver}
17061
17062 Run @value{GDBN} on the host system.
17063
17064 First make sure you have the necessary symbol files. Load symbols for
17065 your application using the @code{file} command before you connect. Use
17066 @code{set sysroot} to locate target libraries (unless your @value{GDBN}
17067 was compiled with the correct sysroot using @code{--with-sysroot}).
17068
17069 The symbol file and target libraries must exactly match the executable
17070 and libraries on the target, with one exception: the files on the host
17071 system should not be stripped, even if the files on the target system
17072 are. Mismatched or missing files will lead to confusing results
17073 during debugging. On @sc{gnu}/Linux targets, mismatched or missing
17074 files may also prevent @code{gdbserver} from debugging multi-threaded
17075 programs.
17076
17077 Connect to your target (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
17078 For TCP connections, you must start up @code{gdbserver} prior to using
17079 the @code{target remote} command. Otherwise you may get an error whose
17080 text depends on the host system, but which usually looks something like
17081 @samp{Connection refused}. Don't use the @code{load}
17082 command in @value{GDBN} when using @code{gdbserver}, since the program is
17083 already on the target.
17084
17085 @subsection Monitor Commands for @code{gdbserver}
17086 @cindex monitor commands, for @code{gdbserver}
17087 @anchor{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}
17088
17089 During a @value{GDBN} session using @code{gdbserver}, you can use the
17090 @code{monitor} command to send special requests to @code{gdbserver}.
17091 Here are the available commands.
17092
17093 @table @code
17094 @item monitor help
17095 List the available monitor commands.
17096
17097 @item monitor set debug 0
17098 @itemx monitor set debug 1
17099 Disable or enable general debugging messages.
17100
17101 @item monitor set remote-debug 0
17102 @itemx monitor set remote-debug 1
17103 Disable or enable specific debugging messages associated with the remote
17104 protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}).
17105
17106 @item monitor set libthread-db-search-path [PATH]
17107 @cindex gdbserver, search path for @code{libthread_db}
17108 When this command is issued, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
17109 directories to search for @code{libthread_db} (@pxref{Threads,,set
17110 libthread-db-search-path}). If you omit @var{path},
17111 @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to its default value.
17112
17113 The special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path} is
17114 not supported in @code{gdbserver}.
17115
17116 @item monitor exit
17117 Tell gdbserver to exit immediately. This command should be followed by
17118 @code{disconnect} to close the debugging session. @code{gdbserver} will
17119 detach from any attached processes and kill any processes it created.
17120 Use @code{monitor exit} to terminate @code{gdbserver} at the end
17121 of a multi-process mode debug session.
17122
17123 @end table
17124
17125 @subsection Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
17126 @cindex tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
17127
17128 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints, fast
17129 tracepoints and static tracepoints.
17130
17131 For fast or static tracepoints to work, a special library called the
17132 @dfn{in-process agent} (IPA), must be loaded in the inferior process.
17133 This library is built and distributed as an integral part of
17134 @code{gdbserver}. In addition, support for static tracepoints
17135 requires building the in-process agent library with static tracepoints
17136 support. At present, the UST (LTTng Userspace Tracer,
17137 @url{http://lttng.org/ust}) tracing engine is supported. This support
17138 is automatically available if UST development headers are found in the
17139 standard include path when @code{gdbserver} is built, or if
17140 @code{gdbserver} was explicitly configured using @option{--with-ust}
17141 to point at such headers. You can explicitly disable the support
17142 using @option{--with-ust=no}.
17143
17144 There are several ways to load the in-process agent in your program:
17145
17146 @table @code
17147 @item Specifying it as dependency at link time
17148
17149 You can link your program dynamically with the in-process agent
17150 library. On most systems, this is accomplished by adding
17151 @code{-linproctrace} to the link command.
17152
17153 @item Using the system's preloading mechanisms
17154
17155 You can force loading the in-process agent at startup time by using
17156 your system's support for preloading shared libraries. Many Unixes
17157 support the concept of preloading user defined libraries. In most
17158 cases, you do that by specifying @code{LD_PRELOAD=libinproctrace.so}
17159 in the environment. See also the description of @code{gdbserver}'s
17160 @option{--wrapper} command line option.
17161
17162 @item Using @value{GDBN} to force loading the agent at run time
17163
17164 On some systems, you can force the inferior to load a shared library,
17165 by calling a dynamic loader function in the inferior that takes care
17166 of dynamically looking up and loading a shared library. On most Unix
17167 systems, the function is @code{dlopen}. You'll use the @code{call}
17168 command for that. For example:
17169
17170 @smallexample
17171 (@value{GDBP}) call dlopen ("libinproctrace.so", ...)
17172 @end smallexample
17173
17174 Note that on most Unix systems, for the @code{dlopen} function to be
17175 available, the program needs to be linked with @code{-ldl}.
17176 @end table
17177
17178 On systems that have a userspace dynamic loader, like most Unix
17179 systems, when you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target
17180 remote}, you'll find that the program is stopped at the dynamic
17181 loader's entry point, and no shared library has been loaded in the
17182 program's address space yet, including the in-process agent. In that
17183 case, before being able to use any of the fast or static tracepoints
17184 features, you need to let the loader run and load the shared
17185 libraries. The simplest way to do that is to run the program to the
17186 main procedure. E.g., if debugging a C or C@t{++} program, start
17187 @code{gdbserver} like so:
17188
17189 @smallexample
17190 $ gdbserver :9999 myprogram
17191 @end smallexample
17192
17193 Start GDB and connect to @code{gdbserver} like so, and run to main:
17194
17195 @smallexample
17196 $ gdb myprogram
17197 (@value{GDBP}) target remote myhost:9999
17198 0x00007f215893ba60 in ?? () from /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2
17199 (@value{GDBP}) b main
17200 (@value{GDBP}) continue
17201 @end smallexample
17202
17203 The in-process tracing agent library should now be loaded into the
17204 process; you can confirm it with the @code{info sharedlibrary}
17205 command, which will list @file{libinproctrace.so} as loaded in the
17206 process. You are now ready to install fast tracepoints, list static
17207 tracepoint markers, probe static tracepoints markers, and start
17208 tracing.
17209
17210 @node Remote Configuration
17211 @section Remote Configuration
17212
17213 @kindex set remote
17214 @kindex show remote
17215 This section documents the configuration options available when
17216 debugging remote programs. For the options related to the File I/O
17217 extensions of the remote protocol, see @ref{system,
17218 system-call-allowed}.
17219
17220 @table @code
17221 @item set remoteaddresssize @var{bits}
17222 @cindex address size for remote targets
17223 @cindex bits in remote address
17224 Set the maximum size of address in a memory packet to the specified
17225 number of bits. @value{GDBN} will mask off the address bits above
17226 that number, when it passes addresses to the remote target. The
17227 default value is the number of bits in the target's address.
17228
17229 @item show remoteaddresssize
17230 Show the current value of remote address size in bits.
17231
17232 @item set remotebaud @var{n}
17233 @cindex baud rate for remote targets
17234 Set the baud rate for the remote serial I/O to @var{n} baud. The
17235 value is used to set the speed of the serial port used for debugging
17236 remote targets.
17237
17238 @item show remotebaud
17239 Show the current speed of the remote connection.
17240
17241 @item set remotebreak
17242 @cindex interrupt remote programs
17243 @cindex BREAK signal instead of Ctrl-C
17244 @anchor{set remotebreak}
17245 If set to on, @value{GDBN} sends a @code{BREAK} signal to the remote
17246 when you type @kbd{Ctrl-c} to interrupt the program running
17247 on the remote. If set to off, @value{GDBN} sends the @samp{Ctrl-C}
17248 character instead. The default is off, since most remote systems
17249 expect to see @samp{Ctrl-C} as the interrupt signal.
17250
17251 @item show remotebreak
17252 Show whether @value{GDBN} sends @code{BREAK} or @samp{Ctrl-C} to
17253 interrupt the remote program.
17254
17255 @item set remoteflow on
17256 @itemx set remoteflow off
17257 @kindex set remoteflow
17258 Enable or disable hardware flow control (@code{RTS}/@code{CTS})
17259 on the serial port used to communicate to the remote target.
17260
17261 @item show remoteflow
17262 @kindex show remoteflow
17263 Show the current setting of hardware flow control.
17264
17265 @item set remotelogbase @var{base}
17266 Set the base (a.k.a.@: radix) of logging serial protocol
17267 communications to @var{base}. Supported values of @var{base} are:
17268 @code{ascii}, @code{octal}, and @code{hex}. The default is
17269 @code{ascii}.
17270
17271 @item show remotelogbase
17272 Show the current setting of the radix for logging remote serial
17273 protocol.
17274
17275 @item set remotelogfile @var{file}
17276 @cindex record serial communications on file
17277 Record remote serial communications on the named @var{file}. The
17278 default is not to record at all.
17279
17280 @item show remotelogfile.
17281 Show the current setting of the file name on which to record the
17282 serial communications.
17283
17284 @item set remotetimeout @var{num}
17285 @cindex timeout for serial communications
17286 @cindex remote timeout
17287 Set the timeout limit to wait for the remote target to respond to
17288 @var{num} seconds. The default is 2 seconds.
17289
17290 @item show remotetimeout
17291 Show the current number of seconds to wait for the remote target
17292 responses.
17293
17294 @cindex limit hardware breakpoints and watchpoints
17295 @cindex remote target, limit break- and watchpoints
17296 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}
17297 @anchor{set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit}
17298 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit @var{limit}
17299 @itemx set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit @var{limit}
17300 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} remote hardware breakpoint or
17301 watchpoints. A limit of -1, the default, is treated as unlimited.
17302
17303 @cindex limit hardware watchpoints length
17304 @cindex remote target, limit watchpoints length
17305 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit}
17306 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit @var{limit}
17307 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} bytes for the maximum length of
17308 a remote hardware watchpoint. A limit of -1, the default, is treated
17309 as unlimited.
17310
17311 @item show remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit
17312 Show the current limit (in bytes) of the maximum length of
17313 a remote hardware watchpoint.
17314
17315 @item set remote exec-file @var{filename}
17316 @itemx show remote exec-file
17317 @anchor{set remote exec-file}
17318 @cindex executable file, for remote target
17319 Select the file used for @code{run} with @code{target
17320 extended-remote}. This should be set to a filename valid on the
17321 target system. If it is not set, the target will use a default
17322 filename (e.g.@: the last program run).
17323
17324 @item set remote interrupt-sequence
17325 @cindex interrupt remote programs
17326 @cindex select Ctrl-C, BREAK or BREAK-g
17327 Allow the user to select one of @samp{Ctrl-C}, a @code{BREAK} or
17328 @samp{BREAK-g} as the
17329 sequence to the remote target in order to interrupt the execution.
17330 @samp{Ctrl-C} is a default. Some system prefers @code{BREAK} which
17331 is high level of serial line for some certain time.
17332 Linux kernel prefers @samp{BREAK-g}, a.k.a Magic SysRq g.
17333 It is @code{BREAK} signal followed by character @code{g}.
17334
17335 @item show interrupt-sequence
17336 Show which of @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or @code{BREAK-g}
17337 is sent by @value{GDBN} to interrupt the remote program.
17338 @code{BREAK-g} is BREAK signal followed by @code{g} and
17339 also known as Magic SysRq g.
17340
17341 @item set remote interrupt-on-connect
17342 @cindex send interrupt-sequence on start
17343 Specify whether interrupt-sequence is sent to remote target when
17344 @value{GDBN} connects to it. This is mostly needed when you debug
17345 Linux kernel. Linux kernel expects @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g}
17346 which is known as Magic SysRq g in order to connect @value{GDBN}.
17347
17348 @item show interrupt-on-connect
17349 Show whether interrupt-sequence is sent
17350 to remote target when @value{GDBN} connects to it.
17351
17352 @kindex set tcp
17353 @kindex show tcp
17354 @item set tcp auto-retry on
17355 @cindex auto-retry, for remote TCP target
17356 Enable auto-retry for remote TCP connections. This is useful if the remote
17357 debugging agent is launched in parallel with @value{GDBN}; there is a race
17358 condition because the agent may not become ready to accept the connection
17359 before @value{GDBN} attempts to connect. When auto-retry is
17360 enabled, if the initial attempt to connect fails, @value{GDBN} reattempts
17361 to establish the connection using the timeout specified by
17362 @code{set tcp connect-timeout}.
17363
17364 @item set tcp auto-retry off
17365 Do not auto-retry failed TCP connections.
17366
17367 @item show tcp auto-retry
17368 Show the current auto-retry setting.
17369
17370 @item set tcp connect-timeout @var{seconds}
17371 @cindex connection timeout, for remote TCP target
17372 @cindex timeout, for remote target connection
17373 Set the timeout for establishing a TCP connection to the remote target to
17374 @var{seconds}. The timeout affects both polling to retry failed connections
17375 (enabled by @code{set tcp auto-retry on}) and waiting for connections
17376 that are merely slow to complete, and represents an approximate cumulative
17377 value.
17378
17379 @item show tcp connect-timeout
17380 Show the current connection timeout setting.
17381 @end table
17382
17383 @cindex remote packets, enabling and disabling
17384 The @value{GDBN} remote protocol autodetects the packets supported by
17385 your debugging stub. If you need to override the autodetection, you
17386 can use these commands to enable or disable individual packets. Each
17387 packet can be set to @samp{on} (the remote target supports this
17388 packet), @samp{off} (the remote target does not support this packet),
17389 or @samp{auto} (detect remote target support for this packet). They
17390 all default to @samp{auto}. For more information about each packet,
17391 see @ref{Remote Protocol}.
17392
17393 During normal use, you should not have to use any of these commands.
17394 If you do, that may be a bug in your remote debugging stub, or a bug
17395 in @value{GDBN}. You may want to report the problem to the
17396 @value{GDBN} developers.
17397
17398 For each packet @var{name}, the command to enable or disable the
17399 packet is @code{set remote @var{name}-packet}. The available settings
17400 are:
17401
17402 @multitable @columnfractions 0.28 0.32 0.25
17403 @item Command Name
17404 @tab Remote Packet
17405 @tab Related Features
17406
17407 @item @code{fetch-register}
17408 @tab @code{p}
17409 @tab @code{info registers}
17410
17411 @item @code{set-register}
17412 @tab @code{P}
17413 @tab @code{set}
17414
17415 @item @code{binary-download}
17416 @tab @code{X}
17417 @tab @code{load}, @code{set}
17418
17419 @item @code{read-aux-vector}
17420 @tab @code{qXfer:auxv:read}
17421 @tab @code{info auxv}
17422
17423 @item @code{symbol-lookup}
17424 @tab @code{qSymbol}
17425 @tab Detecting multiple threads
17426
17427 @item @code{attach}
17428 @tab @code{vAttach}
17429 @tab @code{attach}
17430
17431 @item @code{verbose-resume}
17432 @tab @code{vCont}
17433 @tab Stepping or resuming multiple threads
17434
17435 @item @code{run}
17436 @tab @code{vRun}
17437 @tab @code{run}
17438
17439 @item @code{software-breakpoint}
17440 @tab @code{Z0}
17441 @tab @code{break}
17442
17443 @item @code{hardware-breakpoint}
17444 @tab @code{Z1}
17445 @tab @code{hbreak}
17446
17447 @item @code{write-watchpoint}
17448 @tab @code{Z2}
17449 @tab @code{watch}
17450
17451 @item @code{read-watchpoint}
17452 @tab @code{Z3}
17453 @tab @code{rwatch}
17454
17455 @item @code{access-watchpoint}
17456 @tab @code{Z4}
17457 @tab @code{awatch}
17458
17459 @item @code{target-features}
17460 @tab @code{qXfer:features:read}
17461 @tab @code{set architecture}
17462
17463 @item @code{library-info}
17464 @tab @code{qXfer:libraries:read}
17465 @tab @code{info sharedlibrary}
17466
17467 @item @code{memory-map}
17468 @tab @code{qXfer:memory-map:read}
17469 @tab @code{info mem}
17470
17471 @item @code{read-sdata-object}
17472 @tab @code{qXfer:sdata:read}
17473 @tab @code{print $_sdata}
17474
17475 @item @code{read-spu-object}
17476 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:read}
17477 @tab @code{info spu}
17478
17479 @item @code{write-spu-object}
17480 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:write}
17481 @tab @code{info spu}
17482
17483 @item @code{read-siginfo-object}
17484 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:read}
17485 @tab @code{print $_siginfo}
17486
17487 @item @code{write-siginfo-object}
17488 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:write}
17489 @tab @code{set $_siginfo}
17490
17491 @item @code{threads}
17492 @tab @code{qXfer:threads:read}
17493 @tab @code{info threads}
17494
17495 @item @code{get-thread-local-@*storage-address}
17496 @tab @code{qGetTLSAddr}
17497 @tab Displaying @code{__thread} variables
17498
17499 @item @code{get-thread-information-block-address}
17500 @tab @code{qGetTIBAddr}
17501 @tab Display MS-Windows Thread Information Block.
17502
17503 @item @code{search-memory}
17504 @tab @code{qSearch:memory}
17505 @tab @code{find}
17506
17507 @item @code{supported-packets}
17508 @tab @code{qSupported}
17509 @tab Remote communications parameters
17510
17511 @item @code{pass-signals}
17512 @tab @code{QPassSignals}
17513 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
17514
17515 @item @code{hostio-close-packet}
17516 @tab @code{vFile:close}
17517 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
17518
17519 @item @code{hostio-open-packet}
17520 @tab @code{vFile:open}
17521 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
17522
17523 @item @code{hostio-pread-packet}
17524 @tab @code{vFile:pread}
17525 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
17526
17527 @item @code{hostio-pwrite-packet}
17528 @tab @code{vFile:pwrite}
17529 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
17530
17531 @item @code{hostio-unlink-packet}
17532 @tab @code{vFile:unlink}
17533 @tab @code{remote delete}
17534
17535 @item @code{hostio-readlink-packet}
17536 @tab @code{vFile:readlink}
17537 @tab Host I/O
17538
17539 @item @code{noack-packet}
17540 @tab @code{QStartNoAckMode}
17541 @tab Packet acknowledgment
17542
17543 @item @code{osdata}
17544 @tab @code{qXfer:osdata:read}
17545 @tab @code{info os}
17546
17547 @item @code{query-attached}
17548 @tab @code{qAttached}
17549 @tab Querying remote process attach state.
17550
17551 @item @code{traceframe-info}
17552 @tab @code{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
17553 @tab Traceframe info
17554
17555 @item @code{install-in-trace}
17556 @tab @code{InstallInTrace}
17557 @tab Install tracepoint in tracing
17558
17559 @item @code{disable-randomization}
17560 @tab @code{QDisableRandomization}
17561 @tab @code{set disable-randomization}
17562
17563 @item @code{conditional-breakpoints-packet}
17564 @tab @code{Z0 and Z1}
17565 @tab @code{Support for target-side breakpoint condition evaluation}
17566 @end multitable
17567
17568 @node Remote Stub
17569 @section Implementing a Remote Stub
17570
17571 @cindex debugging stub, example
17572 @cindex remote stub, example
17573 @cindex stub example, remote debugging
17574 The stub files provided with @value{GDBN} implement the target side of the
17575 communication protocol, and the @value{GDBN} side is implemented in the
17576 @value{GDBN} source file @file{remote.c}. Normally, you can simply allow
17577 these subroutines to communicate, and ignore the details. (If you're
17578 implementing your own stub file, you can still ignore the details: start
17579 with one of the existing stub files. @file{sparc-stub.c} is the best
17580 organized, and therefore the easiest to read.)
17581
17582 @cindex remote serial debugging, overview
17583 To debug a program running on another machine (the debugging
17584 @dfn{target} machine), you must first arrange for all the usual
17585 prerequisites for the program to run by itself. For example, for a C
17586 program, you need:
17587
17588 @enumerate
17589 @item
17590 A startup routine to set up the C runtime environment; these usually
17591 have a name like @file{crt0}. The startup routine may be supplied by
17592 your hardware supplier, or you may have to write your own.
17593
17594 @item
17595 A C subroutine library to support your program's
17596 subroutine calls, notably managing input and output.
17597
17598 @item
17599 A way of getting your program to the other machine---for example, a
17600 download program. These are often supplied by the hardware
17601 manufacturer, but you may have to write your own from hardware
17602 documentation.
17603 @end enumerate
17604
17605 The next step is to arrange for your program to use a serial port to
17606 communicate with the machine where @value{GDBN} is running (the @dfn{host}
17607 machine). In general terms, the scheme looks like this:
17608
17609 @table @emph
17610 @item On the host,
17611 @value{GDBN} already understands how to use this protocol; when everything
17612 else is set up, you can simply use the @samp{target remote} command
17613 (@pxref{Targets,,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
17614
17615 @item On the target,
17616 you must link with your program a few special-purpose subroutines that
17617 implement the @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol. The file containing these
17618 subroutines is called a @dfn{debugging stub}.
17619
17620 On certain remote targets, you can use an auxiliary program
17621 @code{gdbserver} instead of linking a stub into your program.
17622 @xref{Server,,Using the @code{gdbserver} Program}, for details.
17623 @end table
17624
17625 The debugging stub is specific to the architecture of the remote
17626 machine; for example, use @file{sparc-stub.c} to debug programs on
17627 @sc{sparc} boards.
17628
17629 @cindex remote serial stub list
17630 These working remote stubs are distributed with @value{GDBN}:
17631
17632 @table @code
17633
17634 @item i386-stub.c
17635 @cindex @file{i386-stub.c}
17636 @cindex Intel
17637 @cindex i386
17638 For Intel 386 and compatible architectures.
17639
17640 @item m68k-stub.c
17641 @cindex @file{m68k-stub.c}
17642 @cindex Motorola 680x0
17643 @cindex m680x0
17644 For Motorola 680x0 architectures.
17645
17646 @item sh-stub.c
17647 @cindex @file{sh-stub.c}
17648 @cindex Renesas
17649 @cindex SH
17650 For Renesas SH architectures.
17651
17652 @item sparc-stub.c
17653 @cindex @file{sparc-stub.c}
17654 @cindex Sparc
17655 For @sc{sparc} architectures.
17656
17657 @item sparcl-stub.c
17658 @cindex @file{sparcl-stub.c}
17659 @cindex Fujitsu
17660 @cindex SparcLite
17661 For Fujitsu @sc{sparclite} architectures.
17662
17663 @end table
17664
17665 The @file{README} file in the @value{GDBN} distribution may list other
17666 recently added stubs.
17667
17668 @menu
17669 * Stub Contents:: What the stub can do for you
17670 * Bootstrapping:: What you must do for the stub
17671 * Debug Session:: Putting it all together
17672 @end menu
17673
17674 @node Stub Contents
17675 @subsection What the Stub Can Do for You
17676
17677 @cindex remote serial stub
17678 The debugging stub for your architecture supplies these three
17679 subroutines:
17680
17681 @table @code
17682 @item set_debug_traps
17683 @findex set_debug_traps
17684 @cindex remote serial stub, initialization
17685 This routine arranges for @code{handle_exception} to run when your
17686 program stops. You must call this subroutine explicitly in your
17687 program's startup code.
17688
17689 @item handle_exception
17690 @findex handle_exception
17691 @cindex remote serial stub, main routine
17692 This is the central workhorse, but your program never calls it
17693 explicitly---the setup code arranges for @code{handle_exception} to
17694 run when a trap is triggered.
17695
17696 @code{handle_exception} takes control when your program stops during
17697 execution (for example, on a breakpoint), and mediates communications
17698 with @value{GDBN} on the host machine. This is where the communications
17699 protocol is implemented; @code{handle_exception} acts as the @value{GDBN}
17700 representative on the target machine. It begins by sending summary
17701 information on the state of your program, then continues to execute,
17702 retrieving and transmitting any information @value{GDBN} needs, until you
17703 execute a @value{GDBN} command that makes your program resume; at that point,
17704 @code{handle_exception} returns control to your own code on the target
17705 machine.
17706
17707 @item breakpoint
17708 @cindex @code{breakpoint} subroutine, remote
17709 Use this auxiliary subroutine to make your program contain a
17710 breakpoint. Depending on the particular situation, this may be the only
17711 way for @value{GDBN} to get control. For instance, if your target
17712 machine has some sort of interrupt button, you won't need to call this;
17713 pressing the interrupt button transfers control to
17714 @code{handle_exception}---in effect, to @value{GDBN}. On some machines,
17715 simply receiving characters on the serial port may also trigger a trap;
17716 again, in that situation, you don't need to call @code{breakpoint} from
17717 your own program---simply running @samp{target remote} from the host
17718 @value{GDBN} session gets control.
17719
17720 Call @code{breakpoint} if none of these is true, or if you simply want
17721 to make certain your program stops at a predetermined point for the
17722 start of your debugging session.
17723 @end table
17724
17725 @node Bootstrapping
17726 @subsection What You Must Do for the Stub
17727
17728 @cindex remote stub, support routines
17729 The debugging stubs that come with @value{GDBN} are set up for a particular
17730 chip architecture, but they have no information about the rest of your
17731 debugging target machine.
17732
17733 First of all you need to tell the stub how to communicate with the
17734 serial port.
17735
17736 @table @code
17737 @item int getDebugChar()
17738 @findex getDebugChar
17739 Write this subroutine to read a single character from the serial port.
17740 It may be identical to @code{getchar} for your target system; a
17741 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
17742
17743 @item void putDebugChar(int)
17744 @findex putDebugChar
17745 Write this subroutine to write a single character to the serial port.
17746 It may be identical to @code{putchar} for your target system; a
17747 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
17748 @end table
17749
17750 @cindex control C, and remote debugging
17751 @cindex interrupting remote targets
17752 If you want @value{GDBN} to be able to stop your program while it is
17753 running, you need to use an interrupt-driven serial driver, and arrange
17754 for it to stop when it receives a @code{^C} (@samp{\003}, the control-C
17755 character). That is the character which @value{GDBN} uses to tell the
17756 remote system to stop.
17757
17758 Getting the debugging target to return the proper status to @value{GDBN}
17759 probably requires changes to the standard stub; one quick and dirty way
17760 is to just execute a breakpoint instruction (the ``dirty'' part is that
17761 @value{GDBN} reports a @code{SIGTRAP} instead of a @code{SIGINT}).
17762
17763 Other routines you need to supply are:
17764
17765 @table @code
17766 @item void exceptionHandler (int @var{exception_number}, void *@var{exception_address})
17767 @findex exceptionHandler
17768 Write this function to install @var{exception_address} in the exception
17769 handling tables. You need to do this because the stub does not have any
17770 way of knowing what the exception handling tables on your target system
17771 are like (for example, the processor's table might be in @sc{rom},
17772 containing entries which point to a table in @sc{ram}).
17773 @var{exception_number} is the exception number which should be changed;
17774 its meaning is architecture-dependent (for example, different numbers
17775 might represent divide by zero, misaligned access, etc). When this
17776 exception occurs, control should be transferred directly to
17777 @var{exception_address}, and the processor state (stack, registers,
17778 and so on) should be just as it is when a processor exception occurs. So if
17779 you want to use a jump instruction to reach @var{exception_address}, it
17780 should be a simple jump, not a jump to subroutine.
17781
17782 For the 386, @var{exception_address} should be installed as an interrupt
17783 gate so that interrupts are masked while the handler runs. The gate
17784 should be at privilege level 0 (the most privileged level). The
17785 @sc{sparc} and 68k stubs are able to mask interrupts themselves without
17786 help from @code{exceptionHandler}.
17787
17788 @item void flush_i_cache()
17789 @findex flush_i_cache
17790 On @sc{sparc} and @sc{sparclite} only, write this subroutine to flush the
17791 instruction cache, if any, on your target machine. If there is no
17792 instruction cache, this subroutine may be a no-op.
17793
17794 On target machines that have instruction caches, @value{GDBN} requires this
17795 function to make certain that the state of your program is stable.
17796 @end table
17797
17798 @noindent
17799 You must also make sure this library routine is available:
17800
17801 @table @code
17802 @item void *memset(void *, int, int)
17803 @findex memset
17804 This is the standard library function @code{memset} that sets an area of
17805 memory to a known value. If you have one of the free versions of
17806 @code{libc.a}, @code{memset} can be found there; otherwise, you must
17807 either obtain it from your hardware manufacturer, or write your own.
17808 @end table
17809
17810 If you do not use the GNU C compiler, you may need other standard
17811 library subroutines as well; this varies from one stub to another,
17812 but in general the stubs are likely to use any of the common library
17813 subroutines which @code{@value{NGCC}} generates as inline code.
17814
17815
17816 @node Debug Session
17817 @subsection Putting it All Together
17818
17819 @cindex remote serial debugging summary
17820 In summary, when your program is ready to debug, you must follow these
17821 steps.
17822
17823 @enumerate
17824 @item
17825 Make sure you have defined the supporting low-level routines
17826 (@pxref{Bootstrapping,,What You Must Do for the Stub}):
17827 @display
17828 @code{getDebugChar}, @code{putDebugChar},
17829 @code{flush_i_cache}, @code{memset}, @code{exceptionHandler}.
17830 @end display
17831
17832 @item
17833 Insert these lines in your program's startup code, before the main
17834 procedure is called:
17835
17836 @smallexample
17837 set_debug_traps();
17838 breakpoint();
17839 @end smallexample
17840
17841 On some machines, when a breakpoint trap is raised, the hardware
17842 automatically makes the PC point to the instruction after the
17843 breakpoint. If your machine doesn't do that, you may need to adjust
17844 @code{handle_exception} to arrange for it to return to the instruction
17845 after the breakpoint on this first invocation, so that your program
17846 doesn't keep hitting the initial breakpoint instead of making
17847 progress.
17848
17849 @item
17850 For the 680x0 stub only, you need to provide a variable called
17851 @code{exceptionHook}. Normally you just use:
17852
17853 @smallexample
17854 void (*exceptionHook)() = 0;
17855 @end smallexample
17856
17857 @noindent
17858 but if before calling @code{set_debug_traps}, you set it to point to a
17859 function in your program, that function is called when
17860 @code{@value{GDBN}} continues after stopping on a trap (for example, bus
17861 error). The function indicated by @code{exceptionHook} is called with
17862 one parameter: an @code{int} which is the exception number.
17863
17864 @item
17865 Compile and link together: your program, the @value{GDBN} debugging stub for
17866 your target architecture, and the supporting subroutines.
17867
17868 @item
17869 Make sure you have a serial connection between your target machine and
17870 the @value{GDBN} host, and identify the serial port on the host.
17871
17872 @item
17873 @c The "remote" target now provides a `load' command, so we should
17874 @c document that. FIXME.
17875 Download your program to your target machine (or get it there by
17876 whatever means the manufacturer provides), and start it.
17877
17878 @item
17879 Start @value{GDBN} on the host, and connect to the target
17880 (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
17881
17882 @end enumerate
17883
17884 @node Configurations
17885 @chapter Configuration-Specific Information
17886
17887 While nearly all @value{GDBN} commands are available for all native and
17888 cross versions of the debugger, there are some exceptions. This chapter
17889 describes things that are only available in certain configurations.
17890
17891 There are three major categories of configurations: native
17892 configurations, where the host and target are the same, embedded
17893 operating system configurations, which are usually the same for several
17894 different processor architectures, and bare embedded processors, which
17895 are quite different from each other.
17896
17897 @menu
17898 * Native::
17899 * Embedded OS::
17900 * Embedded Processors::
17901 * Architectures::
17902 @end menu
17903
17904 @node Native
17905 @section Native
17906
17907 This section describes details specific to particular native
17908 configurations.
17909
17910 @menu
17911 * HP-UX:: HP-UX
17912 * BSD libkvm Interface:: Debugging BSD kernel memory images
17913 * SVR4 Process Information:: SVR4 process information
17914 * DJGPP Native:: Features specific to the DJGPP port
17915 * Cygwin Native:: Features specific to the Cygwin port
17916 * Hurd Native:: Features specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd
17917 * Neutrino:: Features specific to QNX Neutrino
17918 * Darwin:: Features specific to Darwin
17919 @end menu
17920
17921 @node HP-UX
17922 @subsection HP-UX
17923
17924 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
17925 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
17926 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
17927
17928
17929 @node BSD libkvm Interface
17930 @subsection BSD libkvm Interface
17931
17932 @cindex libkvm
17933 @cindex kernel memory image
17934 @cindex kernel crash dump
17935
17936 BSD-derived systems (FreeBSD/NetBSD/OpenBSD) have a kernel memory
17937 interface that provides a uniform interface for accessing kernel virtual
17938 memory images, including live systems and crash dumps. @value{GDBN}
17939 uses this interface to allow you to debug live kernels and kernel crash
17940 dumps on many native BSD configurations. This is implemented as a
17941 special @code{kvm} debugging target. For debugging a live system, load
17942 the currently running kernel into @value{GDBN} and connect to the
17943 @code{kvm} target:
17944
17945 @smallexample
17946 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm}
17947 @end smallexample
17948
17949 For debugging crash dumps, provide the file name of the crash dump as an
17950 argument:
17951
17952 @smallexample
17953 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm /var/crash/bsd.0}
17954 @end smallexample
17955
17956 Once connected to the @code{kvm} target, the following commands are
17957 available:
17958
17959 @table @code
17960 @kindex kvm
17961 @item kvm pcb
17962 Set current context from the @dfn{Process Control Block} (PCB) address.
17963
17964 @item kvm proc
17965 Set current context from proc address. This command isn't available on
17966 modern FreeBSD systems.
17967 @end table
17968
17969 @node SVR4 Process Information
17970 @subsection SVR4 Process Information
17971 @cindex /proc
17972 @cindex examine process image
17973 @cindex process info via @file{/proc}
17974
17975 Many versions of SVR4 and compatible systems provide a facility called
17976 @samp{/proc} that can be used to examine the image of a running
17977 process using file-system subroutines. If @value{GDBN} is configured
17978 for an operating system with this facility, the command @code{info
17979 proc} is available to report information about the process running
17980 your program, or about any process running on your system. @code{info
17981 proc} works only on SVR4 systems that include the @code{procfs} code.
17982 This includes, as of this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, OSF/1 (Digital
17983 Unix), Solaris, Irix, and Unixware, but not HP-UX, for example.
17984
17985 @table @code
17986 @kindex info proc
17987 @cindex process ID
17988 @item info proc
17989 @itemx info proc @var{process-id}
17990 Summarize available information about any running process. If a
17991 process ID is specified by @var{process-id}, display information about
17992 that process; otherwise display information about the program being
17993 debugged. The summary includes the debugged process ID, the command
17994 line used to invoke it, its current working directory, and its
17995 executable file's absolute file name.
17996
17997 On some systems, @var{process-id} can be of the form
17998 @samp{[@var{pid}]/@var{tid}} which specifies a certain thread ID
17999 within a process. If the optional @var{pid} part is missing, it means
18000 a thread from the process being debugged (the leading @samp{/} still
18001 needs to be present, or else @value{GDBN} will interpret the number as
18002 a process ID rather than a thread ID).
18003
18004 @item info proc mappings
18005 @cindex memory address space mappings
18006 Report the memory address space ranges accessible in the program, with
18007 information on whether the process has read, write, or execute access
18008 rights to each range. On @sc{gnu}/Linux systems, each memory range
18009 includes the object file which is mapped to that range, instead of the
18010 memory access rights to that range.
18011
18012 @item info proc stat
18013 @itemx info proc status
18014 @cindex process detailed status information
18015 These subcommands are specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux systems. They show
18016 the process-related information, including the user ID and group ID;
18017 how many threads are there in the process; its virtual memory usage;
18018 the signals that are pending, blocked, and ignored; its TTY; its
18019 consumption of system and user time; its stack size; its @samp{nice}
18020 value; etc. For more information, see the @samp{proc} man page
18021 (type @kbd{man 5 proc} from your shell prompt).
18022
18023 @item info proc all
18024 Show all the information about the process described under all of the
18025 above @code{info proc} subcommands.
18026
18027 @ignore
18028 @comment These sub-options of 'info proc' were not included when
18029 @comment procfs.c was re-written. Keep their descriptions around
18030 @comment against the day when someone finds the time to put them back in.
18031 @kindex info proc times
18032 @item info proc times
18033 Starting time, user CPU time, and system CPU time for your program and
18034 its children.
18035
18036 @kindex info proc id
18037 @item info proc id
18038 Report on the process IDs related to your program: its own process ID,
18039 the ID of its parent, the process group ID, and the session ID.
18040 @end ignore
18041
18042 @item set procfs-trace
18043 @kindex set procfs-trace
18044 @cindex @code{procfs} API calls
18045 This command enables and disables tracing of @code{procfs} API calls.
18046
18047 @item show procfs-trace
18048 @kindex show procfs-trace
18049 Show the current state of @code{procfs} API call tracing.
18050
18051 @item set procfs-file @var{file}
18052 @kindex set procfs-file
18053 Tell @value{GDBN} to write @code{procfs} API trace to the named
18054 @var{file}. @value{GDBN} appends the trace info to the previous
18055 contents of the file. The default is to display the trace on the
18056 standard output.
18057
18058 @item show procfs-file
18059 @kindex show procfs-file
18060 Show the file to which @code{procfs} API trace is written.
18061
18062 @item proc-trace-entry
18063 @itemx proc-trace-exit
18064 @itemx proc-untrace-entry
18065 @itemx proc-untrace-exit
18066 @kindex proc-trace-entry
18067 @kindex proc-trace-exit
18068 @kindex proc-untrace-entry
18069 @kindex proc-untrace-exit
18070 These commands enable and disable tracing of entries into and exits
18071 from the @code{syscall} interface.
18072
18073 @item info pidlist
18074 @kindex info pidlist
18075 @cindex process list, QNX Neutrino
18076 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all the
18077 processes and all the threads within each process.
18078
18079 @item info meminfo
18080 @kindex info meminfo
18081 @cindex mapinfo list, QNX Neutrino
18082 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all mapinfos.
18083 @end table
18084
18085 @node DJGPP Native
18086 @subsection Features for Debugging @sc{djgpp} Programs
18087 @cindex @sc{djgpp} debugging
18088 @cindex native @sc{djgpp} debugging
18089 @cindex MS-DOS-specific commands
18090
18091 @cindex DPMI
18092 @sc{djgpp} is a port of the @sc{gnu} development tools to MS-DOS and
18093 MS-Windows. @sc{djgpp} programs are 32-bit protected-mode programs
18094 that use the @dfn{DPMI} (DOS Protected-Mode Interface) API to run on
18095 top of real-mode DOS systems and their emulations.
18096
18097 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of @sc{djgpp} programs, and
18098 defines a few commands specific to the @sc{djgpp} port. This
18099 subsection describes those commands.
18100
18101 @table @code
18102 @kindex info dos
18103 @item info dos
18104 This is a prefix of @sc{djgpp}-specific commands which print
18105 information about the target system and important OS structures.
18106
18107 @kindex sysinfo
18108 @cindex MS-DOS system info
18109 @cindex free memory information (MS-DOS)
18110 @item info dos sysinfo
18111 This command displays assorted information about the underlying
18112 platform: the CPU type and features, the OS version and flavor, the
18113 DPMI version, and the available conventional and DPMI memory.
18114
18115 @cindex GDT
18116 @cindex LDT
18117 @cindex IDT
18118 @cindex segment descriptor tables
18119 @cindex descriptor tables display
18120 @item info dos gdt
18121 @itemx info dos ldt
18122 @itemx info dos idt
18123 These 3 commands display entries from, respectively, Global, Local,
18124 and Interrupt Descriptor Tables (GDT, LDT, and IDT). The descriptor
18125 tables are data structures which store a descriptor for each segment
18126 that is currently in use. The segment's selector is an index into a
18127 descriptor table; the table entry for that index holds the
18128 descriptor's base address and limit, and its attributes and access
18129 rights.
18130
18131 A typical @sc{djgpp} program uses 3 segments: a code segment, a data
18132 segment (used for both data and the stack), and a DOS segment (which
18133 allows access to DOS/BIOS data structures and absolute addresses in
18134 conventional memory). However, the DPMI host will usually define
18135 additional segments in order to support the DPMI environment.
18136
18137 @cindex garbled pointers
18138 These commands allow to display entries from the descriptor tables.
18139 Without an argument, all entries from the specified table are
18140 displayed. An argument, which should be an integer expression, means
18141 display a single entry whose index is given by the argument. For
18142 example, here's a convenient way to display information about the
18143 debugged program's data segment:
18144
18145 @smallexample
18146 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos ldt $ds}
18147 @exdent @code{0x13f: base=0x11970000 limit=0x0009ffff 32-Bit Data (Read/Write, Exp-up)}
18148 @end smallexample
18149
18150 @noindent
18151 This comes in handy when you want to see whether a pointer is outside
18152 the data segment's limit (i.e.@: @dfn{garbled}).
18153
18154 @cindex page tables display (MS-DOS)
18155 @item info dos pde
18156 @itemx info dos pte
18157 These two commands display entries from, respectively, the Page
18158 Directory and the Page Tables. Page Directories and Page Tables are
18159 data structures which control how virtual memory addresses are mapped
18160 into physical addresses. A Page Table includes an entry for every
18161 page of memory that is mapped into the program's address space; there
18162 may be several Page Tables, each one holding up to 4096 entries. A
18163 Page Directory has up to 4096 entries, one each for every Page Table
18164 that is currently in use.
18165
18166 Without an argument, @kbd{info dos pde} displays the entire Page
18167 Directory, and @kbd{info dos pte} displays all the entries in all of
18168 the Page Tables. An argument, an integer expression, given to the
18169 @kbd{info dos pde} command means display only that entry from the Page
18170 Directory table. An argument given to the @kbd{info dos pte} command
18171 means display entries from a single Page Table, the one pointed to by
18172 the specified entry in the Page Directory.
18173
18174 @cindex direct memory access (DMA) on MS-DOS
18175 These commands are useful when your program uses @dfn{DMA} (Direct
18176 Memory Access), which needs physical addresses to program the DMA
18177 controller.
18178
18179 These commands are supported only with some DPMI servers.
18180
18181 @cindex physical address from linear address
18182 @item info dos address-pte @var{addr}
18183 This command displays the Page Table entry for a specified linear
18184 address. The argument @var{addr} is a linear address which should
18185 already have the appropriate segment's base address added to it,
18186 because this command accepts addresses which may belong to @emph{any}
18187 segment. For example, here's how to display the Page Table entry for
18188 the page where a variable @code{i} is stored:
18189
18190 @smallexample
18191 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte __djgpp_base_address + (char *)&i}
18192 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x11a00d30:}
18193 @exdent @code{Base=0x02698000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0xd30}
18194 @end smallexample
18195
18196 @noindent
18197 This says that @code{i} is stored at offset @code{0xd30} from the page
18198 whose physical base address is @code{0x02698000}, and shows all the
18199 attributes of that page.
18200
18201 Note that you must cast the addresses of variables to a @code{char *},
18202 since otherwise the value of @code{__djgpp_base_address}, the base
18203 address of all variables and functions in a @sc{djgpp} program, will
18204 be added using the rules of C pointer arithmetics: if @code{i} is
18205 declared an @code{int}, @value{GDBN} will add 4 times the value of
18206 @code{__djgpp_base_address} to the address of @code{i}.
18207
18208 Here's another example, it displays the Page Table entry for the
18209 transfer buffer:
18210
18211 @smallexample
18212 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte *((unsigned *)&_go32_info_block + 3)}
18213 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x29110:}
18214 @exdent @code{Base=0x00029000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0x110}
18215 @end smallexample
18216
18217 @noindent
18218 (The @code{+ 3} offset is because the transfer buffer's address is the
18219 3rd member of the @code{_go32_info_block} structure.) The output
18220 clearly shows that this DPMI server maps the addresses in conventional
18221 memory 1:1, i.e.@: the physical (@code{0x00029000} + @code{0x110}) and
18222 linear (@code{0x29110}) addresses are identical.
18223
18224 This command is supported only with some DPMI servers.
18225 @end table
18226
18227 @cindex DOS serial data link, remote debugging
18228 In addition to native debugging, the DJGPP port supports remote
18229 debugging via a serial data link. The following commands are specific
18230 to remote serial debugging in the DJGPP port of @value{GDBN}.
18231
18232 @table @code
18233 @kindex set com1base
18234 @kindex set com1irq
18235 @kindex set com2base
18236 @kindex set com2irq
18237 @kindex set com3base
18238 @kindex set com3irq
18239 @kindex set com4base
18240 @kindex set com4irq
18241 @item set com1base @var{addr}
18242 This command sets the base I/O port address of the @file{COM1} serial
18243 port.
18244
18245 @item set com1irq @var{irq}
18246 This command sets the @dfn{Interrupt Request} (@code{IRQ}) line to use
18247 for the @file{COM1} serial port.
18248
18249 There are similar commands @samp{set com2base}, @samp{set com3irq},
18250 etc.@: for setting the port address and the @code{IRQ} lines for the
18251 other 3 COM ports.
18252
18253 @kindex show com1base
18254 @kindex show com1irq
18255 @kindex show com2base
18256 @kindex show com2irq
18257 @kindex show com3base
18258 @kindex show com3irq
18259 @kindex show com4base
18260 @kindex show com4irq
18261 The related commands @samp{show com1base}, @samp{show com1irq} etc.@:
18262 display the current settings of the base address and the @code{IRQ}
18263 lines used by the COM ports.
18264
18265 @item info serial
18266 @kindex info serial
18267 @cindex DOS serial port status
18268 This command prints the status of the 4 DOS serial ports. For each
18269 port, it prints whether it's active or not, its I/O base address and
18270 IRQ number, whether it uses a 16550-style FIFO, its baudrate, and the
18271 counts of various errors encountered so far.
18272 @end table
18273
18274
18275 @node Cygwin Native
18276 @subsection Features for Debugging MS Windows PE Executables
18277 @cindex MS Windows debugging
18278 @cindex native Cygwin debugging
18279 @cindex Cygwin-specific commands
18280
18281 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of MS Windows programs, including
18282 DLLs with and without symbolic debugging information.
18283
18284 @cindex Ctrl-BREAK, MS-Windows
18285 @cindex interrupt debuggee on MS-Windows
18286 MS-Windows programs that call @code{SetConsoleMode} to switch off the
18287 special meaning of the @samp{Ctrl-C} keystroke cannot be interrupted
18288 by typing @kbd{C-c}. For this reason, @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows
18289 supports @kbd{C-@key{BREAK}} as an alternative interrupt key
18290 sequence, which can be used to interrupt the debuggee even if it
18291 ignores @kbd{C-c}.
18292
18293 There are various additional Cygwin-specific commands, described in
18294 this section. Working with DLLs that have no debugging symbols is
18295 described in @ref{Non-debug DLL Symbols}.
18296
18297 @table @code
18298 @kindex info w32
18299 @item info w32
18300 This is a prefix of MS Windows-specific commands which print
18301 information about the target system and important OS structures.
18302
18303 @item info w32 selector
18304 This command displays information returned by
18305 the Win32 API @code{GetThreadSelectorEntry} function.
18306 It takes an optional argument that is evaluated to
18307 a long value to give the information about this given selector.
18308 Without argument, this command displays information
18309 about the six segment registers.
18310
18311 @item info w32 thread-information-block
18312 This command displays thread specific information stored in the
18313 Thread Information Block (readable on the X86 CPU family using @code{$fs}
18314 selector for 32-bit programs and @code{$gs} for 64-bit programs).
18315
18316 @kindex info dll
18317 @item info dll
18318 This is a Cygwin-specific alias of @code{info shared}.
18319
18320 @kindex dll-symbols
18321 @item dll-symbols
18322 This command loads symbols from a dll similarly to
18323 add-sym command but without the need to specify a base address.
18324
18325 @kindex set cygwin-exceptions
18326 @cindex debugging the Cygwin DLL
18327 @cindex Cygwin DLL, debugging
18328 @item set cygwin-exceptions @var{mode}
18329 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that
18330 happen inside the Cygwin DLL. If @var{mode} is @code{off},
18331 @value{GDBN} will delay recognition of exceptions, and may ignore some
18332 exceptions which seem to be caused by internal Cygwin DLL
18333 ``bookkeeping''. This option is meant primarily for debugging the
18334 Cygwin DLL itself; the default value is @code{off} to avoid annoying
18335 @value{GDBN} users with false @code{SIGSEGV} signals.
18336
18337 @kindex show cygwin-exceptions
18338 @item show cygwin-exceptions
18339 Displays whether @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that happen
18340 inside the Cygwin DLL itself.
18341
18342 @kindex set new-console
18343 @item set new-console @var{mode}
18344 If @var{mode} is @code{on} the debuggee will
18345 be started in a new console on next start.
18346 If @var{mode} is @code{off}, the debuggee will
18347 be started in the same console as the debugger.
18348
18349 @kindex show new-console
18350 @item show new-console
18351 Displays whether a new console is used
18352 when the debuggee is started.
18353
18354 @kindex set new-group
18355 @item set new-group @var{mode}
18356 This boolean value controls whether the debuggee should
18357 start a new group or stay in the same group as the debugger.
18358 This affects the way the Windows OS handles
18359 @samp{Ctrl-C}.
18360
18361 @kindex show new-group
18362 @item show new-group
18363 Displays current value of new-group boolean.
18364
18365 @kindex set debugevents
18366 @item set debugevents
18367 This boolean value adds debug output concerning kernel events related
18368 to the debuggee seen by the debugger. This includes events that
18369 signal thread and process creation and exit, DLL loading and
18370 unloading, console interrupts, and debugging messages produced by the
18371 Windows @code{OutputDebugString} API call.
18372
18373 @kindex set debugexec
18374 @item set debugexec
18375 This boolean value adds debug output concerning execute events
18376 (such as resume thread) seen by the debugger.
18377
18378 @kindex set debugexceptions
18379 @item set debugexceptions
18380 This boolean value adds debug output concerning exceptions in the
18381 debuggee seen by the debugger.
18382
18383 @kindex set debugmemory
18384 @item set debugmemory
18385 This boolean value adds debug output concerning debuggee memory reads
18386 and writes by the debugger.
18387
18388 @kindex set shell
18389 @item set shell
18390 This boolean values specifies whether the debuggee is called
18391 via a shell or directly (default value is on).
18392
18393 @kindex show shell
18394 @item show shell
18395 Displays if the debuggee will be started with a shell.
18396
18397 @end table
18398
18399 @menu
18400 * Non-debug DLL Symbols:: Support for DLLs without debugging symbols
18401 @end menu
18402
18403 @node Non-debug DLL Symbols
18404 @subsubsection Support for DLLs without Debugging Symbols
18405 @cindex DLLs with no debugging symbols
18406 @cindex Minimal symbols and DLLs
18407
18408 Very often on windows, some of the DLLs that your program relies on do
18409 not include symbolic debugging information (for example,
18410 @file{kernel32.dll}). When @value{GDBN} doesn't recognize any debugging
18411 symbols in a DLL, it relies on the minimal amount of symbolic
18412 information contained in the DLL's export table. This section
18413 describes working with such symbols, known internally to @value{GDBN} as
18414 ``minimal symbols''.
18415
18416 Note that before the debugged program has started execution, no DLLs
18417 will have been loaded. The easiest way around this problem is simply to
18418 start the program --- either by setting a breakpoint or letting the
18419 program run once to completion. It is also possible to force
18420 @value{GDBN} to load a particular DLL before starting the executable ---
18421 see the shared library information in @ref{Files}, or the
18422 @code{dll-symbols} command in @ref{Cygwin Native}. Currently,
18423 explicitly loading symbols from a DLL with no debugging information will
18424 cause the symbol names to be duplicated in @value{GDBN}'s lookup table,
18425 which may adversely affect symbol lookup performance.
18426
18427 @subsubsection DLL Name Prefixes
18428
18429 In keeping with the naming conventions used by the Microsoft debugging
18430 tools, DLL export symbols are made available with a prefix based on the
18431 DLL name, for instance @code{KERNEL32!CreateFileA}. The plain name is
18432 also entered into the symbol table, so @code{CreateFileA} is often
18433 sufficient. In some cases there will be name clashes within a program
18434 (particularly if the executable itself includes full debugging symbols)
18435 necessitating the use of the fully qualified name when referring to the
18436 contents of the DLL. Use single-quotes around the name to avoid the
18437 exclamation mark (``!'') being interpreted as a language operator.
18438
18439 Note that the internal name of the DLL may be all upper-case, even
18440 though the file name of the DLL is lower-case, or vice-versa. Since
18441 symbols within @value{GDBN} are @emph{case-sensitive} this may cause
18442 some confusion. If in doubt, try the @code{info functions} and
18443 @code{info variables} commands or even @code{maint print msymbols}
18444 (@pxref{Symbols}). Here's an example:
18445
18446 @smallexample
18447 (@value{GDBP}) info function CreateFileA
18448 All functions matching regular expression "CreateFileA":
18449
18450 Non-debugging symbols:
18451 0x77e885f4 CreateFileA
18452 0x77e885f4 KERNEL32!CreateFileA
18453 @end smallexample
18454
18455 @smallexample
18456 (@value{GDBP}) info function !
18457 All functions matching regular expression "!":
18458
18459 Non-debugging symbols:
18460 0x6100114c cygwin1!__assert
18461 0x61004034 cygwin1!_dll_crt0@@0
18462 0x61004240 cygwin1!dll_crt0(per_process *)
18463 [etc...]
18464 @end smallexample
18465
18466 @subsubsection Working with Minimal Symbols
18467
18468 Symbols extracted from a DLL's export table do not contain very much
18469 type information. All that @value{GDBN} can do is guess whether a symbol
18470 refers to a function or variable depending on the linker section that
18471 contains the symbol. Also note that the actual contents of the memory
18472 contained in a DLL are not available unless the program is running. This
18473 means that you cannot examine the contents of a variable or disassemble
18474 a function within a DLL without a running program.
18475
18476 Variables are generally treated as pointers and dereferenced
18477 automatically. For this reason, it is often necessary to prefix a
18478 variable name with the address-of operator (``&'') and provide explicit
18479 type information in the command. Here's an example of the type of
18480 problem:
18481
18482 @smallexample
18483 (@value{GDBP}) print 'cygwin1!__argv'
18484 $1 = 268572168
18485 @end smallexample
18486
18487 @smallexample
18488 (@value{GDBP}) x 'cygwin1!__argv'
18489 0x10021610: "\230y\""
18490 @end smallexample
18491
18492 And two possible solutions:
18493
18494 @smallexample
18495 (@value{GDBP}) print ((char **)'cygwin1!__argv')[0]
18496 $2 = 0x22fd98 "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
18497 @end smallexample
18498
18499 @smallexample
18500 (@value{GDBP}) x/2x &'cygwin1!__argv'
18501 0x610c0aa8 <cygwin1!__argv>: 0x10021608 0x00000000
18502 (@value{GDBP}) x/x 0x10021608
18503 0x10021608: 0x0022fd98
18504 (@value{GDBP}) x/s 0x0022fd98
18505 0x22fd98: "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
18506 @end smallexample
18507
18508 Setting a break point within a DLL is possible even before the program
18509 starts execution. However, under these circumstances, @value{GDBN} can't
18510 examine the initial instructions of the function in order to skip the
18511 function's frame set-up code. You can work around this by using ``*&''
18512 to set the breakpoint at a raw memory address:
18513
18514 @smallexample
18515 (@value{GDBP}) break *&'python22!PyOS_Readline'
18516 Breakpoint 1 at 0x1e04eff0
18517 @end smallexample
18518
18519 The author of these extensions is not entirely convinced that setting a
18520 break point within a shared DLL like @file{kernel32.dll} is completely
18521 safe.
18522
18523 @node Hurd Native
18524 @subsection Commands Specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd Systems
18525 @cindex @sc{gnu} Hurd debugging
18526
18527 This subsection describes @value{GDBN} commands specific to the
18528 @sc{gnu} Hurd native debugging.
18529
18530 @table @code
18531 @item set signals
18532 @itemx set sigs
18533 @kindex set signals@r{, Hurd command}
18534 @kindex set sigs@r{, Hurd command}
18535 This command toggles the state of inferior signal interception by
18536 @value{GDBN}. Mach exceptions, such as breakpoint traps, are not
18537 affected by this command. @code{sigs} is a shorthand alias for
18538 @code{signals}.
18539
18540 @item show signals
18541 @itemx show sigs
18542 @kindex show signals@r{, Hurd command}
18543 @kindex show sigs@r{, Hurd command}
18544 Show the current state of intercepting inferior's signals.
18545
18546 @item set signal-thread
18547 @itemx set sigthread
18548 @kindex set signal-thread
18549 @kindex set sigthread
18550 This command tells @value{GDBN} which thread is the @code{libc} signal
18551 thread. That thread is run when a signal is delivered to a running
18552 process. @code{set sigthread} is the shorthand alias of @code{set
18553 signal-thread}.
18554
18555 @item show signal-thread
18556 @itemx show sigthread
18557 @kindex show signal-thread
18558 @kindex show sigthread
18559 These two commands show which thread will run when the inferior is
18560 delivered a signal.
18561
18562 @item set stopped
18563 @kindex set stopped@r{, Hurd command}
18564 This commands tells @value{GDBN} that the inferior process is stopped,
18565 as with the @code{SIGSTOP} signal. The stopped process can be
18566 continued by delivering a signal to it.
18567
18568 @item show stopped
18569 @kindex show stopped@r{, Hurd command}
18570 This command shows whether @value{GDBN} thinks the debuggee is
18571 stopped.
18572
18573 @item set exceptions
18574 @kindex set exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
18575 Use this command to turn off trapping of exceptions in the inferior.
18576 When exception trapping is off, neither breakpoints nor
18577 single-stepping will work. To restore the default, set exception
18578 trapping on.
18579
18580 @item show exceptions
18581 @kindex show exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
18582 Show the current state of trapping exceptions in the inferior.
18583
18584 @item set task pause
18585 @kindex set task@r{, Hurd commands}
18586 @cindex task attributes (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
18587 @cindex pause current task (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
18588 This command toggles task suspension when @value{GDBN} has control.
18589 Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the task is suspended
18590 whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to off will take
18591 effect the next time the inferior is continued. If this option is set
18592 to off, you can use @code{set thread default pause on} or @code{set
18593 thread pause on} (see below) to pause individual threads.
18594
18595 @item show task pause
18596 @kindex show task@r{, Hurd commands}
18597 Show the current state of task suspension.
18598
18599 @item set task detach-suspend-count
18600 @cindex task suspend count
18601 @cindex detach from task, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18602 This command sets the suspend count the task will be left with when
18603 @value{GDBN} detaches from it.
18604
18605 @item show task detach-suspend-count
18606 Show the suspend count the task will be left with when detaching.
18607
18608 @item set task exception-port
18609 @itemx set task excp
18610 @cindex task exception port, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18611 This command sets the task exception port to which @value{GDBN} will
18612 forward exceptions. The argument should be the value of the @dfn{send
18613 rights} of the task. @code{set task excp} is a shorthand alias.
18614
18615 @item set noninvasive
18616 @cindex noninvasive task options
18617 This command switches @value{GDBN} to a mode that is the least
18618 invasive as far as interfering with the inferior is concerned. This
18619 is the same as using @code{set task pause}, @code{set exceptions}, and
18620 @code{set signals} to values opposite to the defaults.
18621
18622 @item info send-rights
18623 @itemx info receive-rights
18624 @itemx info port-rights
18625 @itemx info port-sets
18626 @itemx info dead-names
18627 @itemx info ports
18628 @itemx info psets
18629 @cindex send rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18630 @cindex receive rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18631 @cindex port rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18632 @cindex port sets, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18633 @cindex dead names, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18634 These commands display information about, respectively, send rights,
18635 receive rights, port rights, port sets, and dead names of a task.
18636 There are also shorthand aliases: @code{info ports} for @code{info
18637 port-rights} and @code{info psets} for @code{info port-sets}.
18638
18639 @item set thread pause
18640 @kindex set thread@r{, Hurd command}
18641 @cindex thread properties, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18642 @cindex pause current thread (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
18643 This command toggles current thread suspension when @value{GDBN} has
18644 control. Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the current
18645 thread is suspended whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to
18646 off will take effect the next time the inferior is continued.
18647 Normally, this command has no effect, since when @value{GDBN} has
18648 control, the whole task is suspended. However, if you used @code{set
18649 task pause off} (see above), this command comes in handy to suspend
18650 only the current thread.
18651
18652 @item show thread pause
18653 @kindex show thread@r{, Hurd command}
18654 This command shows the state of current thread suspension.
18655
18656 @item set thread run
18657 This command sets whether the current thread is allowed to run.
18658
18659 @item show thread run
18660 Show whether the current thread is allowed to run.
18661
18662 @item set thread detach-suspend-count
18663 @cindex thread suspend count, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18664 @cindex detach from thread, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18665 This command sets the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on a
18666 thread when detaching. This number is relative to the suspend count
18667 found by @value{GDBN} when it notices the thread; use @code{set thread
18668 takeover-suspend-count} to force it to an absolute value.
18669
18670 @item show thread detach-suspend-count
18671 Show the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on the thread when
18672 detaching.
18673
18674 @item set thread exception-port
18675 @itemx set thread excp
18676 Set the thread exception port to which to forward exceptions. This
18677 overrides the port set by @code{set task exception-port} (see above).
18678 @code{set thread excp} is the shorthand alias.
18679
18680 @item set thread takeover-suspend-count
18681 Normally, @value{GDBN}'s thread suspend counts are relative to the
18682 value @value{GDBN} finds when it notices each thread. This command
18683 changes the suspend counts to be absolute instead.
18684
18685 @item set thread default
18686 @itemx show thread default
18687 @cindex thread default settings, @sc{gnu} Hurd
18688 Each of the above @code{set thread} commands has a @code{set thread
18689 default} counterpart (e.g., @code{set thread default pause}, @code{set
18690 thread default exception-port}, etc.). The @code{thread default}
18691 variety of commands sets the default thread properties for all
18692 threads; you can then change the properties of individual threads with
18693 the non-default commands.
18694 @end table
18695
18696
18697 @node Neutrino
18698 @subsection QNX Neutrino
18699 @cindex QNX Neutrino
18700
18701 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the QNX
18702 Neutrino target:
18703
18704 @table @code
18705 @item set debug nto-debug
18706 @kindex set debug nto-debug
18707 When set to on, enables debugging messages specific to the QNX
18708 Neutrino support.
18709
18710 @item show debug nto-debug
18711 @kindex show debug nto-debug
18712 Show the current state of QNX Neutrino messages.
18713 @end table
18714
18715 @node Darwin
18716 @subsection Darwin
18717 @cindex Darwin
18718
18719 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the Darwin target:
18720
18721 @table @code
18722 @item set debug darwin @var{num}
18723 @kindex set debug darwin
18724 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages specific to
18725 the Darwin support. Higher values produce more verbose output.
18726
18727 @item show debug darwin
18728 @kindex show debug darwin
18729 Show the current state of Darwin messages.
18730
18731 @item set debug mach-o @var{num}
18732 @kindex set debug mach-o
18733 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages while
18734 @value{GDBN} is reading Darwin object files. (@dfn{Mach-O} is the
18735 file format used on Darwin for object and executable files.) Higher
18736 values produce more verbose output. This is a command to diagnose
18737 problems internal to @value{GDBN} and should not be needed in normal
18738 usage.
18739
18740 @item show debug mach-o
18741 @kindex show debug mach-o
18742 Show the current state of Mach-O file messages.
18743
18744 @item set mach-exceptions on
18745 @itemx set mach-exceptions off
18746 @kindex set mach-exceptions
18747 On Darwin, faults are first reported as a Mach exception and are then
18748 mapped to a Posix signal. Use this command to turn on trapping of
18749 Mach exceptions in the inferior. This might be sometimes useful to
18750 better understand the cause of a fault. The default is off.
18751
18752 @item show mach-exceptions
18753 @kindex show mach-exceptions
18754 Show the current state of exceptions trapping.
18755 @end table
18756
18757
18758 @node Embedded OS
18759 @section Embedded Operating Systems
18760
18761 This section describes configurations involving the debugging of
18762 embedded operating systems that are available for several different
18763 architectures.
18764
18765 @menu
18766 * VxWorks:: Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
18767 @end menu
18768
18769 @value{GDBN} includes the ability to debug programs running on
18770 various real-time operating systems.
18771
18772 @node VxWorks
18773 @subsection Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
18774
18775 @cindex VxWorks
18776
18777 @table @code
18778
18779 @kindex target vxworks
18780 @item target vxworks @var{machinename}
18781 A VxWorks system, attached via TCP/IP. The argument @var{machinename}
18782 is the target system's machine name or IP address.
18783
18784 @end table
18785
18786 On VxWorks, @code{load} links @var{filename} dynamically on the
18787 current target system as well as adding its symbols in @value{GDBN}.
18788
18789 @value{GDBN} enables developers to spawn and debug tasks running on networked
18790 VxWorks targets from a Unix host. Already-running tasks spawned from
18791 the VxWorks shell can also be debugged. @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
18792 both the Unix host and on the VxWorks target. The program
18793 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host. (It may be
18794 installed with the name @code{vxgdb}, to distinguish it from a
18795 @value{GDBN} for debugging programs on the host itself.)
18796
18797 @table @code
18798 @item VxWorks-timeout @var{args}
18799 @kindex vxworks-timeout
18800 All VxWorks-based targets now support the option @code{vxworks-timeout}.
18801 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
18802 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses to rpc's. You might use this if
18803 your VxWorks target is a slow software simulator or is on the far side
18804 of a thin network line.
18805 @end table
18806
18807 The following information on connecting to VxWorks was current when
18808 this manual was produced; newer releases of VxWorks may use revised
18809 procedures.
18810
18811 @findex INCLUDE_RDB
18812 To use @value{GDBN} with VxWorks, you must rebuild your VxWorks kernel
18813 to include the remote debugging interface routines in the VxWorks
18814 library @file{rdb.a}. To do this, define @code{INCLUDE_RDB} in the
18815 VxWorks configuration file @file{configAll.h} and rebuild your VxWorks
18816 kernel. The resulting kernel contains @file{rdb.a}, and spawns the
18817 source debugging task @code{tRdbTask} when VxWorks is booted. For more
18818 information on configuring and remaking VxWorks, see the manufacturer's
18819 manual.
18820 @c VxWorks, see the @cite{VxWorks Programmer's Guide}.
18821
18822 Once you have included @file{rdb.a} in your VxWorks system image and set
18823 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
18824 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}} (or
18825 @code{vxgdb}, depending on your installation).
18826
18827 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
18828
18829 @smallexample
18830 (vxgdb)
18831 @end smallexample
18832
18833 @menu
18834 * VxWorks Connection:: Connecting to VxWorks
18835 * VxWorks Download:: VxWorks download
18836 * VxWorks Attach:: Running tasks
18837 @end menu
18838
18839 @node VxWorks Connection
18840 @subsubsection Connecting to VxWorks
18841
18842 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a VxWorks target on the
18843 network. To connect to a target whose host name is ``@code{tt}'', type:
18844
18845 @smallexample
18846 (vxgdb) target vxworks tt
18847 @end smallexample
18848
18849 @need 750
18850 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
18851
18852 @smallexample
18853 Attaching remote machine across net...
18854 Connected to tt.
18855 @end smallexample
18856
18857 @need 1000
18858 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol tables of any object modules
18859 loaded into the VxWorks target since it was last booted. @value{GDBN} locates
18860 these files by searching the directories listed in the command search
18861 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}); if it fails
18862 to find an object file, it displays a message such as:
18863
18864 @smallexample
18865 prog.o: No such file or directory.
18866 @end smallexample
18867
18868 When this happens, add the appropriate directory to the search path with
18869 the @value{GDBN} command @code{path}, and execute the @code{target}
18870 command again.
18871
18872 @node VxWorks Download
18873 @subsubsection VxWorks Download
18874
18875 @cindex download to VxWorks
18876 If you have connected to the VxWorks target and you want to debug an
18877 object that has not yet been loaded, you can use the @value{GDBN}
18878 @code{load} command to download a file from Unix to VxWorks
18879 incrementally. The object file given as an argument to the @code{load}
18880 command is actually opened twice: first by the VxWorks target in order
18881 to download the code, then by @value{GDBN} in order to read the symbol
18882 table. This can lead to problems if the current working directories on
18883 the two systems differ. If both systems have NFS mounted the same
18884 filesystems, you can avoid these problems by using absolute paths.
18885 Otherwise, it is simplest to set the working directory on both systems
18886 to the directory in which the object file resides, and then to reference
18887 the file by its name, without any path. For instance, a program
18888 @file{prog.o} may reside in @file{@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb} in VxWorks
18889 and in @file{@var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb} on the host. To load this
18890 program, type this on VxWorks:
18891
18892 @smallexample
18893 -> cd "@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb"
18894 @end smallexample
18895
18896 @noindent
18897 Then, in @value{GDBN}, type:
18898
18899 @smallexample
18900 (vxgdb) cd @var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb
18901 (vxgdb) load prog.o
18902 @end smallexample
18903
18904 @value{GDBN} displays a response similar to this:
18905
18906 @smallexample
18907 Reading symbol data from wherever/vw/demo/rdb/prog.o... done.
18908 @end smallexample
18909
18910 You can also use the @code{load} command to reload an object module
18911 after editing and recompiling the corresponding source file. Note that
18912 this makes @value{GDBN} delete all currently-defined breakpoints,
18913 auto-displays, and convenience variables, and to clear the value
18914 history. (This is necessary in order to preserve the integrity of
18915 debugger's data structures that reference the target system's symbol
18916 table.)
18917
18918 @node VxWorks Attach
18919 @subsubsection Running Tasks
18920
18921 @cindex running VxWorks tasks
18922 You can also attach to an existing task using the @code{attach} command as
18923 follows:
18924
18925 @smallexample
18926 (vxgdb) attach @var{task}
18927 @end smallexample
18928
18929 @noindent
18930 where @var{task} is the VxWorks hexadecimal task ID. The task can be running
18931 or suspended when you attach to it. Running tasks are suspended at
18932 the time of attachment.
18933
18934 @node Embedded Processors
18935 @section Embedded Processors
18936
18937 This section goes into details specific to particular embedded
18938 configurations.
18939
18940 @cindex send command to simulator
18941 Whenever a specific embedded processor has a simulator, @value{GDBN}
18942 allows to send an arbitrary command to the simulator.
18943
18944 @table @code
18945 @item sim @var{command}
18946 @kindex sim@r{, a command}
18947 Send an arbitrary @var{command} string to the simulator. Consult the
18948 documentation for the specific simulator in use for information about
18949 acceptable commands.
18950 @end table
18951
18952
18953 @menu
18954 * ARM:: ARM RDI
18955 * M32R/D:: Renesas M32R/D
18956 * M68K:: Motorola M68K
18957 * MicroBlaze:: Xilinx MicroBlaze
18958 * MIPS Embedded:: MIPS Embedded
18959 * OpenRISC 1000:: OpenRisc 1000
18960 * PA:: HP PA Embedded
18961 * PowerPC Embedded:: PowerPC Embedded
18962 * Sparclet:: Tsqware Sparclet
18963 * Sparclite:: Fujitsu Sparclite
18964 * Z8000:: Zilog Z8000
18965 * AVR:: Atmel AVR
18966 * CRIS:: CRIS
18967 * Super-H:: Renesas Super-H
18968 @end menu
18969
18970 @node ARM
18971 @subsection ARM
18972 @cindex ARM RDI
18973
18974 @table @code
18975 @kindex target rdi
18976 @item target rdi @var{dev}
18977 ARM Angel monitor, via RDI library interface to ADP protocol. You may
18978 use this target to communicate with both boards running the Angel
18979 monitor, or with the EmbeddedICE JTAG debug device.
18980
18981 @kindex target rdp
18982 @item target rdp @var{dev}
18983 ARM Demon monitor.
18984
18985 @end table
18986
18987 @value{GDBN} provides the following ARM-specific commands:
18988
18989 @table @code
18990 @item set arm disassembler
18991 @kindex set arm
18992 This commands selects from a list of disassembly styles. The
18993 @code{"std"} style is the standard style.
18994
18995 @item show arm disassembler
18996 @kindex show arm
18997 Show the current disassembly style.
18998
18999 @item set arm apcs32
19000 @cindex ARM 32-bit mode
19001 This command toggles ARM operation mode between 32-bit and 26-bit.
19002
19003 @item show arm apcs32
19004 Display the current usage of the ARM 32-bit mode.
19005
19006 @item set arm fpu @var{fputype}
19007 This command sets the ARM floating-point unit (FPU) type. The
19008 argument @var{fputype} can be one of these:
19009
19010 @table @code
19011 @item auto
19012 Determine the FPU type by querying the OS ABI.
19013 @item softfpa
19014 Software FPU, with mixed-endian doubles on little-endian ARM
19015 processors.
19016 @item fpa
19017 GCC-compiled FPA co-processor.
19018 @item softvfp
19019 Software FPU with pure-endian doubles.
19020 @item vfp
19021 VFP co-processor.
19022 @end table
19023
19024 @item show arm fpu
19025 Show the current type of the FPU.
19026
19027 @item set arm abi
19028 This command forces @value{GDBN} to use the specified ABI.
19029
19030 @item show arm abi
19031 Show the currently used ABI.
19032
19033 @item set arm fallback-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
19034 @value{GDBN} uses the symbol table, when available, to determine
19035 whether instructions are ARM or Thumb. This command controls
19036 @value{GDBN}'s default behavior when the symbol table is not
19037 available. The default is @samp{auto}, which causes @value{GDBN} to
19038 use the current execution mode (from the @code{T} bit in the @code{CPSR}
19039 register).
19040
19041 @item show arm fallback-mode
19042 Show the current fallback instruction mode.
19043
19044 @item set arm force-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
19045 This command overrides use of the symbol table to determine whether
19046 instructions are ARM or Thumb. The default is @samp{auto}, which
19047 causes @value{GDBN} to use the symbol table and then the setting
19048 of @samp{set arm fallback-mode}.
19049
19050 @item show arm force-mode
19051 Show the current forced instruction mode.
19052
19053 @item set debug arm
19054 Toggle whether to display ARM-specific debugging messages from the ARM
19055 target support subsystem.
19056
19057 @item show debug arm
19058 Show whether ARM-specific debugging messages are enabled.
19059 @end table
19060
19061 The following commands are available when an ARM target is debugged
19062 using the RDI interface:
19063
19064 @table @code
19065 @item rdilogfile @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
19066 @kindex rdilogfile
19067 @cindex ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) logging
19068 Set the filename for the ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) packet log.
19069 With an argument, sets the log file to the specified @var{file}. With
19070 no argument, show the current log file name. The default log file is
19071 @file{rdi.log}.
19072
19073 @item rdilogenable @r{[}@var{arg}@r{]}
19074 @kindex rdilogenable
19075 Control logging of ADP packets. With an argument of 1 or @code{"yes"}
19076 enables logging, with an argument 0 or @code{"no"} disables it. With
19077 no arguments displays the current setting. When logging is enabled,
19078 ADP packets exchanged between @value{GDBN} and the RDI target device
19079 are logged to a file.
19080
19081 @item set rdiromatzero
19082 @kindex set rdiromatzero
19083 @cindex ROM at zero address, RDI
19084 Tell @value{GDBN} whether the target has ROM at address 0. If on,
19085 vector catching is disabled, so that zero address can be used. If off
19086 (the default), vector catching is enabled. For this command to take
19087 effect, it needs to be invoked prior to the @code{target rdi} command.
19088
19089 @item show rdiromatzero
19090 @kindex show rdiromatzero
19091 Show the current setting of ROM at zero address.
19092
19093 @item set rdiheartbeat
19094 @kindex set rdiheartbeat
19095 @cindex RDI heartbeat
19096 Enable or disable RDI heartbeat packets. It is not recommended to
19097 turn on this option, since it confuses ARM and EPI JTAG interface, as
19098 well as the Angel monitor.
19099
19100 @item show rdiheartbeat
19101 @kindex show rdiheartbeat
19102 Show the setting of RDI heartbeat packets.
19103 @end table
19104
19105 @table @code
19106 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
19107 The @value{GDBN} ARM simulator accepts the following optional arguments.
19108
19109 @table @code
19110 @item --swi-support=@var{type}
19111 Tell the simulator which SWI interfaces to support.
19112 @var{type} may be a comma separated list of the following values.
19113 The default value is @code{all}.
19114
19115 @table @code
19116 @item none
19117 @item demon
19118 @item angel
19119 @item redboot
19120 @item all
19121 @end table
19122 @end table
19123 @end table
19124
19125 @node M32R/D
19126 @subsection Renesas M32R/D and M32R/SDI
19127
19128 @table @code
19129 @kindex target m32r
19130 @item target m32r @var{dev}
19131 Renesas M32R/D ROM monitor.
19132
19133 @kindex target m32rsdi
19134 @item target m32rsdi @var{dev}
19135 Renesas M32R SDI server, connected via parallel port to the board.
19136 @end table
19137
19138 The following @value{GDBN} commands are specific to the M32R monitor:
19139
19140 @table @code
19141 @item set download-path @var{path}
19142 @kindex set download-path
19143 @cindex find downloadable @sc{srec} files (M32R)
19144 Set the default path for finding downloadable @sc{srec} files.
19145
19146 @item show download-path
19147 @kindex show download-path
19148 Show the default path for downloadable @sc{srec} files.
19149
19150 @item set board-address @var{addr}
19151 @kindex set board-address
19152 @cindex M32-EVA target board address
19153 Set the IP address for the M32R-EVA target board.
19154
19155 @item show board-address
19156 @kindex show board-address
19157 Show the current IP address of the target board.
19158
19159 @item set server-address @var{addr}
19160 @kindex set server-address
19161 @cindex download server address (M32R)
19162 Set the IP address for the download server, which is the @value{GDBN}'s
19163 host machine.
19164
19165 @item show server-address
19166 @kindex show server-address
19167 Display the IP address of the download server.
19168
19169 @item upload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
19170 @kindex upload@r{, M32R}
19171 Upload the specified @sc{srec} @var{file} via the monitor's Ethernet
19172 upload capability. If no @var{file} argument is given, the current
19173 executable file is uploaded.
19174
19175 @item tload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
19176 @kindex tload@r{, M32R}
19177 Test the @code{upload} command.
19178 @end table
19179
19180 The following commands are available for M32R/SDI:
19181
19182 @table @code
19183 @item sdireset
19184 @kindex sdireset
19185 @cindex reset SDI connection, M32R
19186 This command resets the SDI connection.
19187
19188 @item sdistatus
19189 @kindex sdistatus
19190 This command shows the SDI connection status.
19191
19192 @item debug_chaos
19193 @kindex debug_chaos
19194 @cindex M32R/Chaos debugging
19195 Instructs the remote that M32R/Chaos debugging is to be used.
19196
19197 @item use_debug_dma
19198 @kindex use_debug_dma
19199 Instructs the remote to use the DEBUG_DMA method of accessing memory.
19200
19201 @item use_mon_code
19202 @kindex use_mon_code
19203 Instructs the remote to use the MON_CODE method of accessing memory.
19204
19205 @item use_ib_break
19206 @kindex use_ib_break
19207 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by IB break.
19208
19209 @item use_dbt_break
19210 @kindex use_dbt_break
19211 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by DBT.
19212 @end table
19213
19214 @node M68K
19215 @subsection M68k
19216
19217 The Motorola m68k configuration includes ColdFire support, and a
19218 target command for the following ROM monitor.
19219
19220 @table @code
19221
19222 @kindex target dbug
19223 @item target dbug @var{dev}
19224 dBUG ROM monitor for Motorola ColdFire.
19225
19226 @end table
19227
19228 @node MicroBlaze
19229 @subsection MicroBlaze
19230 @cindex Xilinx MicroBlaze
19231 @cindex XMD, Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger
19232
19233 The MicroBlaze is a soft-core processor supported on various Xilinx
19234 FPGAs, such as Spartan or Virtex series. Boards with these processors
19235 usually have JTAG ports which connect to a host system running the Xilinx
19236 Embedded Development Kit (EDK) or Software Development Kit (SDK).
19237 This host system is used to download the configuration bitstream to
19238 the target FPGA. The Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger (XMD) program
19239 communicates with the target board using the JTAG interface and
19240 presents a @code{gdbserver} interface to the board. By default
19241 @code{xmd} uses port @code{1234}. (While it is possible to change
19242 this default port, it requires the use of undocumented @code{xmd}
19243 commands. Contact Xilinx support if you need to do this.)
19244
19245 Use these GDB commands to connect to the MicroBlaze target processor.
19246
19247 @table @code
19248 @item target remote :1234
19249 Use this command to connect to the target if you are running @value{GDBN}
19250 on the same system as @code{xmd}.
19251
19252 @item target remote @var{xmd-host}:1234
19253 Use this command to connect to the target if it is connected to @code{xmd}
19254 running on a different system named @var{xmd-host}.
19255
19256 @item load
19257 Use this command to download a program to the MicroBlaze target.
19258
19259 @item set debug microblaze @var{n}
19260 Enable MicroBlaze-specific debugging messages if non-zero.
19261
19262 @item show debug microblaze @var{n}
19263 Show MicroBlaze-specific debugging level.
19264 @end table
19265
19266 @node MIPS Embedded
19267 @subsection MIPS Embedded
19268
19269 @cindex MIPS boards
19270 @value{GDBN} can use the MIPS remote debugging protocol to talk to a
19271 MIPS board attached to a serial line. This is available when
19272 you configure @value{GDBN} with @samp{--target=mips-elf}.
19273
19274 @need 1000
19275 Use these @value{GDBN} commands to specify the connection to your target board:
19276
19277 @table @code
19278 @item target mips @var{port}
19279 @kindex target mips @var{port}
19280 To run a program on the board, start up @code{@value{GDBP}} with the
19281 name of your program as the argument. To connect to the board, use the
19282 command @samp{target mips @var{port}}, where @var{port} is the name of
19283 the serial port connected to the board. If the program has not already
19284 been downloaded to the board, you may use the @code{load} command to
19285 download it. You can then use all the usual @value{GDBN} commands.
19286
19287 For example, this sequence connects to the target board through a serial
19288 port, and loads and runs a program called @var{prog} through the
19289 debugger:
19290
19291 @smallexample
19292 host$ @value{GDBP} @var{prog}
19293 @value{GDBN} is free software and @dots{}
19294 (@value{GDBP}) target mips /dev/ttyb
19295 (@value{GDBP}) load @var{prog}
19296 (@value{GDBP}) run
19297 @end smallexample
19298
19299 @item target mips @var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}
19300 On some @value{GDBN} host configurations, you can specify a TCP
19301 connection (for instance, to a serial line managed by a terminal
19302 concentrator) instead of a serial port, using the syntax
19303 @samp{@var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}}.
19304
19305 @item target pmon @var{port}
19306 @kindex target pmon @var{port}
19307 PMON ROM monitor.
19308
19309 @item target ddb @var{port}
19310 @kindex target ddb @var{port}
19311 NEC's DDB variant of PMON for Vr4300.
19312
19313 @item target lsi @var{port}
19314 @kindex target lsi @var{port}
19315 LSI variant of PMON.
19316
19317 @kindex target r3900
19318 @item target r3900 @var{dev}
19319 Densan DVE-R3900 ROM monitor for Toshiba R3900 Mips.
19320
19321 @kindex target array
19322 @item target array @var{dev}
19323 Array Tech LSI33K RAID controller board.
19324
19325 @end table
19326
19327
19328 @noindent
19329 @value{GDBN} also supports these special commands for MIPS targets:
19330
19331 @table @code
19332 @item set mipsfpu double
19333 @itemx set mipsfpu single
19334 @itemx set mipsfpu none
19335 @itemx set mipsfpu auto
19336 @itemx show mipsfpu
19337 @kindex set mipsfpu
19338 @kindex show mipsfpu
19339 @cindex MIPS remote floating point
19340 @cindex floating point, MIPS remote
19341 If your target board does not support the MIPS floating point
19342 coprocessor, you should use the command @samp{set mipsfpu none} (if you
19343 need this, you may wish to put the command in your @value{GDBN} init
19344 file). This tells @value{GDBN} how to find the return value of
19345 functions which return floating point values. It also allows
19346 @value{GDBN} to avoid saving the floating point registers when calling
19347 functions on the board. If you are using a floating point coprocessor
19348 with only single precision floating point support, as on the @sc{r4650}
19349 processor, use the command @samp{set mipsfpu single}. The default
19350 double precision floating point coprocessor may be selected using
19351 @samp{set mipsfpu double}.
19352
19353 In previous versions the only choices were double precision or no
19354 floating point, so @samp{set mipsfpu on} will select double precision
19355 and @samp{set mipsfpu off} will select no floating point.
19356
19357 As usual, you can inquire about the @code{mipsfpu} variable with
19358 @samp{show mipsfpu}.
19359
19360 @item set timeout @var{seconds}
19361 @itemx set retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}
19362 @itemx show timeout
19363 @itemx show retransmit-timeout
19364 @cindex @code{timeout}, MIPS protocol
19365 @cindex @code{retransmit-timeout}, MIPS protocol
19366 @kindex set timeout
19367 @kindex show timeout
19368 @kindex set retransmit-timeout
19369 @kindex show retransmit-timeout
19370 You can control the timeout used while waiting for a packet, in the MIPS
19371 remote protocol, with the @code{set timeout @var{seconds}} command. The
19372 default is 5 seconds. Similarly, you can control the timeout used while
19373 waiting for an acknowledgment of a packet with the @code{set
19374 retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}} command. The default is 3 seconds.
19375 You can inspect both values with @code{show timeout} and @code{show
19376 retransmit-timeout}. (These commands are @emph{only} available when
19377 @value{GDBN} is configured for @samp{--target=mips-elf}.)
19378
19379 The timeout set by @code{set timeout} does not apply when @value{GDBN}
19380 is waiting for your program to stop. In that case, @value{GDBN} waits
19381 forever because it has no way of knowing how long the program is going
19382 to run before stopping.
19383
19384 @item set syn-garbage-limit @var{num}
19385 @kindex set syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
19386 @cindex synchronize with remote MIPS target
19387 Limit the maximum number of characters @value{GDBN} should ignore when
19388 it tries to synchronize with the remote target. The default is 10
19389 characters. Setting the limit to -1 means there's no limit.
19390
19391 @item show syn-garbage-limit
19392 @kindex show syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
19393 Show the current limit on the number of characters to ignore when
19394 trying to synchronize with the remote system.
19395
19396 @item set monitor-prompt @var{prompt}
19397 @kindex set monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
19398 @cindex remote monitor prompt
19399 Tell @value{GDBN} to expect the specified @var{prompt} string from the
19400 remote monitor. The default depends on the target:
19401 @table @asis
19402 @item pmon target
19403 @samp{PMON}
19404 @item ddb target
19405 @samp{NEC010}
19406 @item lsi target
19407 @samp{PMON>}
19408 @end table
19409
19410 @item show monitor-prompt
19411 @kindex show monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
19412 Show the current strings @value{GDBN} expects as the prompt from the
19413 remote monitor.
19414
19415 @item set monitor-warnings
19416 @kindex set monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
19417 Enable or disable monitor warnings about hardware breakpoints. This
19418 has effect only for the @code{lsi} target. When on, @value{GDBN} will
19419 display warning messages whose codes are returned by the @code{lsi}
19420 PMON monitor for breakpoint commands.
19421
19422 @item show monitor-warnings
19423 @kindex show monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
19424 Show the current setting of printing monitor warnings.
19425
19426 @item pmon @var{command}
19427 @kindex pmon@r{, MIPS remote}
19428 @cindex send PMON command
19429 This command allows sending an arbitrary @var{command} string to the
19430 monitor. The monitor must be in debug mode for this to work.
19431 @end table
19432
19433 @node OpenRISC 1000
19434 @subsection OpenRISC 1000
19435 @cindex OpenRISC 1000
19436
19437 @cindex or1k boards
19438 See OR1k Architecture document (@uref{www.opencores.org}) for more information
19439 about platform and commands.
19440
19441 @table @code
19442
19443 @kindex target jtag
19444 @item target jtag jtag://@var{host}:@var{port}
19445
19446 Connects to remote JTAG server.
19447 JTAG remote server can be either an or1ksim or JTAG server,
19448 connected via parallel port to the board.
19449
19450 Example: @code{target jtag jtag://localhost:9999}
19451
19452 @kindex or1ksim
19453 @item or1ksim @var{command}
19454 If connected to @code{or1ksim} OpenRISC 1000 Architectural
19455 Simulator, proprietary commands can be executed.
19456
19457 @kindex info or1k spr
19458 @item info or1k spr
19459 Displays spr groups.
19460
19461 @item info or1k spr @var{group}
19462 @itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno}
19463 Displays register names in selected group.
19464
19465 @item info or1k spr @var{group} @var{register}
19466 @itemx info or1k spr @var{register}
19467 @itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno}
19468 @itemx info or1k spr @var{registerno}
19469 Shows information about specified spr register.
19470
19471 @kindex spr
19472 @item spr @var{group} @var{register} @var{value}
19473 @itemx spr @var{register @var{value}}
19474 @itemx spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno @var{value}}
19475 @itemx spr @var{registerno @var{value}}
19476 Writes @var{value} to specified spr register.
19477 @end table
19478
19479 Some implementations of OpenRISC 1000 Architecture also have hardware trace.
19480 It is very similar to @value{GDBN} trace, except it does not interfere with normal
19481 program execution and is thus much faster. Hardware breakpoints/watchpoint
19482 triggers can be set using:
19483 @table @code
19484 @item $LEA/$LDATA
19485 Load effective address/data
19486 @item $SEA/$SDATA
19487 Store effective address/data
19488 @item $AEA/$ADATA
19489 Access effective address ($SEA or $LEA) or data ($SDATA/$LDATA)
19490 @item $FETCH
19491 Fetch data
19492 @end table
19493
19494 When triggered, it can capture low level data, like: @code{PC}, @code{LSEA},
19495 @code{LDATA}, @code{SDATA}, @code{READSPR}, @code{WRITESPR}, @code{INSTR}.
19496
19497 @code{htrace} commands:
19498 @cindex OpenRISC 1000 htrace
19499 @table @code
19500 @kindex hwatch
19501 @item hwatch @var{conditional}
19502 Set hardware watchpoint on combination of Load/Store Effective Address(es)
19503 or Data. For example:
19504
19505 @code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
19506
19507 @code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
19508
19509 @kindex htrace
19510 @item htrace info
19511 Display information about current HW trace configuration.
19512
19513 @item htrace trigger @var{conditional}
19514 Set starting criteria for HW trace.
19515
19516 @item htrace qualifier @var{conditional}
19517 Set acquisition qualifier for HW trace.
19518
19519 @item htrace stop @var{conditional}
19520 Set HW trace stopping criteria.
19521
19522 @item htrace record [@var{data}]*
19523 Selects the data to be recorded, when qualifier is met and HW trace was
19524 triggered.
19525
19526 @item htrace enable
19527 @itemx htrace disable
19528 Enables/disables the HW trace.
19529
19530 @item htrace rewind [@var{filename}]
19531 Clears currently recorded trace data.
19532
19533 If filename is specified, new trace file is made and any newly collected data
19534 will be written there.
19535
19536 @item htrace print [@var{start} [@var{len}]]
19537 Prints trace buffer, using current record configuration.
19538
19539 @item htrace mode continuous
19540 Set continuous trace mode.
19541
19542 @item htrace mode suspend
19543 Set suspend trace mode.
19544
19545 @end table
19546
19547 @node PowerPC Embedded
19548 @subsection PowerPC Embedded
19549
19550 @cindex DVC register
19551 @value{GDBN} supports using the DVC (Data Value Compare) register to
19552 implement in hardware simple hardware watchpoint conditions of the form:
19553
19554 @smallexample
19555 (@value{GDBP}) watch @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} \
19556 if @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} == @var{CONSTANT EXPRESSION}
19557 @end smallexample
19558
19559 The DVC register will be automatically used when @value{GDBN} detects
19560 such pattern in a condition expression, and the created watchpoint uses one
19561 debug register (either the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on and the
19562 variable is scalar, or the variable has a length of one byte). This feature
19563 is available in native @value{GDBN} running on a Linux kernel version 2.6.34
19564 or newer.
19565
19566 When running on PowerPC embedded processors, @value{GDBN} automatically uses
19567 ranged hardware watchpoints, unless the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on,
19568 in which case watchpoints using only one debug register are created when
19569 watching variables of scalar types.
19570
19571 You can create an artificial array to watch an arbitrary memory
19572 region using one of the following commands (@pxref{Expressions}):
19573
19574 @smallexample
19575 (@value{GDBP}) watch *((char *) @var{address})@@@var{length}
19576 (@value{GDBP}) watch @{char[@var{length}]@} @var{address}
19577 @end smallexample
19578
19579 PowerPC embedded processors support masked watchpoints. See the discussion
19580 about the @code{mask} argument in @ref{Set Watchpoints}.
19581
19582 @cindex ranged breakpoint
19583 PowerPC embedded processors support hardware accelerated
19584 @dfn{ranged breakpoints}. A ranged breakpoint stops execution of
19585 the inferior whenever it executes an instruction at any address within
19586 the range it specifies. To set a ranged breakpoint in @value{GDBN},
19587 use the @code{break-range} command.
19588
19589 @value{GDBN} provides the following PowerPC-specific commands:
19590
19591 @table @code
19592 @kindex break-range
19593 @item break-range @var{start-location}, @var{end-location}
19594 Set a breakpoint for an address range.
19595 @var{start-location} and @var{end-location} can specify a function name,
19596 a line number, an offset of lines from the current line or from the start
19597 location, or an address of an instruction (see @ref{Specify Location},
19598 for a list of all the possible ways to specify a @var{location}.)
19599 The breakpoint will stop execution of the inferior whenever it
19600 executes an instruction at any address within the specified range,
19601 (including @var{start-location} and @var{end-location}.)
19602
19603 @kindex set powerpc
19604 @item set powerpc soft-float
19605 @itemx show powerpc soft-float
19606 Force @value{GDBN} to use (or not use) a software floating point calling
19607 convention. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention based
19608 on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
19609
19610 @item set powerpc vector-abi
19611 @itemx show powerpc vector-abi
19612 Force @value{GDBN} to use the specified calling convention for vector
19613 arguments and return values. The valid options are @samp{auto};
19614 @samp{generic}, to avoid vector registers even if they are present;
19615 @samp{altivec}, to use AltiVec registers; and @samp{spe} to use SPE
19616 registers. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention
19617 based on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
19618
19619 @item set powerpc exact-watchpoints
19620 @itemx show powerpc exact-watchpoints
19621 Allow @value{GDBN} to use only one debug register when watching a variable
19622 of scalar type, thus assuming that the variable is accessed through the
19623 address of its first byte.
19624
19625 @kindex target dink32
19626 @item target dink32 @var{dev}
19627 DINK32 ROM monitor.
19628
19629 @kindex target ppcbug
19630 @item target ppcbug @var{dev}
19631 @kindex target ppcbug1
19632 @item target ppcbug1 @var{dev}
19633 PPCBUG ROM monitor for PowerPC.
19634
19635 @kindex target sds
19636 @item target sds @var{dev}
19637 SDS monitor, running on a PowerPC board (such as Motorola's ADS).
19638 @end table
19639
19640 @cindex SDS protocol
19641 The following commands specific to the SDS protocol are supported
19642 by @value{GDBN}:
19643
19644 @table @code
19645 @item set sdstimeout @var{nsec}
19646 @kindex set sdstimeout
19647 Set the timeout for SDS protocol reads to be @var{nsec} seconds. The
19648 default is 2 seconds.
19649
19650 @item show sdstimeout
19651 @kindex show sdstimeout
19652 Show the current value of the SDS timeout.
19653
19654 @item sds @var{command}
19655 @kindex sds@r{, a command}
19656 Send the specified @var{command} string to the SDS monitor.
19657 @end table
19658
19659
19660 @node PA
19661 @subsection HP PA Embedded
19662
19663 @table @code
19664
19665 @kindex target op50n
19666 @item target op50n @var{dev}
19667 OP50N monitor, running on an OKI HPPA board.
19668
19669 @kindex target w89k
19670 @item target w89k @var{dev}
19671 W89K monitor, running on a Winbond HPPA board.
19672
19673 @end table
19674
19675 @node Sparclet
19676 @subsection Tsqware Sparclet
19677
19678 @cindex Sparclet
19679
19680 @value{GDBN} enables developers to debug tasks running on
19681 Sparclet targets from a Unix host.
19682 @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
19683 both the Unix host and on the Sparclet target. The program
19684 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host.
19685
19686 @table @code
19687 @item remotetimeout @var{args}
19688 @kindex remotetimeout
19689 @value{GDBN} supports the option @code{remotetimeout}.
19690 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
19691 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses.
19692 @end table
19693
19694 @cindex compiling, on Sparclet
19695 When compiling for debugging, include the options @samp{-g} to get debug
19696 information and @samp{-Ttext} to relocate the program to where you wish to
19697 load it on the target. You may also want to add the options @samp{-n} or
19698 @samp{-N} in order to reduce the size of the sections. Example:
19699
19700 @smallexample
19701 sparclet-aout-gcc prog.c -Ttext 0x12010000 -g -o prog -N
19702 @end smallexample
19703
19704 You can use @code{objdump} to verify that the addresses are what you intended:
19705
19706 @smallexample
19707 sparclet-aout-objdump --headers --syms prog
19708 @end smallexample
19709
19710 @cindex running, on Sparclet
19711 Once you have set
19712 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
19713 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}}
19714 (or @code{sparclet-aout-gdb}, depending on your installation).
19715
19716 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
19717
19718 @smallexample
19719 (gdbslet)
19720 @end smallexample
19721
19722 @menu
19723 * Sparclet File:: Setting the file to debug
19724 * Sparclet Connection:: Connecting to Sparclet
19725 * Sparclet Download:: Sparclet download
19726 * Sparclet Execution:: Running and debugging
19727 @end menu
19728
19729 @node Sparclet File
19730 @subsubsection Setting File to Debug
19731
19732 The @value{GDBN} command @code{file} lets you choose with program to debug.
19733
19734 @smallexample
19735 (gdbslet) file prog
19736 @end smallexample
19737
19738 @need 1000
19739 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol table of @file{prog}.
19740 @value{GDBN} locates
19741 the file by searching the directories listed in the command search
19742 path.
19743 If the file was compiled with debug information (option @samp{-g}), source
19744 files will be searched as well.
19745 @value{GDBN} locates
19746 the source files by searching the directories listed in the directory search
19747 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}).
19748 If it fails
19749 to find a file, it displays a message such as:
19750
19751 @smallexample
19752 prog: No such file or directory.
19753 @end smallexample
19754
19755 When this happens, add the appropriate directories to the search paths with
19756 the @value{GDBN} commands @code{path} and @code{dir}, and execute the
19757 @code{target} command again.
19758
19759 @node Sparclet Connection
19760 @subsubsection Connecting to Sparclet
19761
19762 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a Sparclet target.
19763 To connect to a target on serial port ``@code{ttya}'', type:
19764
19765 @smallexample
19766 (gdbslet) target sparclet /dev/ttya
19767 Remote target sparclet connected to /dev/ttya
19768 main () at ../prog.c:3
19769 @end smallexample
19770
19771 @need 750
19772 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
19773
19774 @smallexample
19775 Connected to ttya.
19776 @end smallexample
19777
19778 @node Sparclet Download
19779 @subsubsection Sparclet Download
19780
19781 @cindex download to Sparclet
19782 Once connected to the Sparclet target,
19783 you can use the @value{GDBN}
19784 @code{load} command to download the file from the host to the target.
19785 The file name and load offset should be given as arguments to the @code{load}
19786 command.
19787 Since the file format is aout, the program must be loaded to the starting
19788 address. You can use @code{objdump} to find out what this value is. The load
19789 offset is an offset which is added to the VMA (virtual memory address)
19790 of each of the file's sections.
19791 For instance, if the program
19792 @file{prog} was linked to text address 0x1201000, with data at 0x12010160
19793 and bss at 0x12010170, in @value{GDBN}, type:
19794
19795 @smallexample
19796 (gdbslet) load prog 0x12010000
19797 Loading section .text, size 0xdb0 vma 0x12010000
19798 @end smallexample
19799
19800 If the code is loaded at a different address then what the program was linked
19801 to, you may need to use the @code{section} and @code{add-symbol-file} commands
19802 to tell @value{GDBN} where to map the symbol table.
19803
19804 @node Sparclet Execution
19805 @subsubsection Running and Debugging
19806
19807 @cindex running and debugging Sparclet programs
19808 You can now begin debugging the task using @value{GDBN}'s execution control
19809 commands, @code{b}, @code{step}, @code{run}, etc. See the @value{GDBN}
19810 manual for the list of commands.
19811
19812 @smallexample
19813 (gdbslet) b main
19814 Breakpoint 1 at 0x12010000: file prog.c, line 3.
19815 (gdbslet) run
19816 Starting program: prog
19817 Breakpoint 1, main (argc=1, argv=0xeffff21c) at prog.c:3
19818 3 char *symarg = 0;
19819 (gdbslet) step
19820 4 char *execarg = "hello!";
19821 (gdbslet)
19822 @end smallexample
19823
19824 @node Sparclite
19825 @subsection Fujitsu Sparclite
19826
19827 @table @code
19828
19829 @kindex target sparclite
19830 @item target sparclite @var{dev}
19831 Fujitsu sparclite boards, used only for the purpose of loading.
19832 You must use an additional command to debug the program.
19833 For example: target remote @var{dev} using @value{GDBN} standard
19834 remote protocol.
19835
19836 @end table
19837
19838 @node Z8000
19839 @subsection Zilog Z8000
19840
19841 @cindex Z8000
19842 @cindex simulator, Z8000
19843 @cindex Zilog Z8000 simulator
19844
19845 When configured for debugging Zilog Z8000 targets, @value{GDBN} includes
19846 a Z8000 simulator.
19847
19848 For the Z8000 family, @samp{target sim} simulates either the Z8002 (the
19849 unsegmented variant of the Z8000 architecture) or the Z8001 (the
19850 segmented variant). The simulator recognizes which architecture is
19851 appropriate by inspecting the object code.
19852
19853 @table @code
19854 @item target sim @var{args}
19855 @kindex sim
19856 @kindex target sim@r{, with Z8000}
19857 Debug programs on a simulated CPU. If the simulator supports setup
19858 options, specify them via @var{args}.
19859 @end table
19860
19861 @noindent
19862 After specifying this target, you can debug programs for the simulated
19863 CPU in the same style as programs for your host computer; use the
19864 @code{file} command to load a new program image, the @code{run} command
19865 to run your program, and so on.
19866
19867 As well as making available all the usual machine registers
19868 (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}), the Z8000 simulator provides three
19869 additional items of information as specially named registers:
19870
19871 @table @code
19872
19873 @item cycles
19874 Counts clock-ticks in the simulator.
19875
19876 @item insts
19877 Counts instructions run in the simulator.
19878
19879 @item time
19880 Execution time in 60ths of a second.
19881
19882 @end table
19883
19884 You can refer to these values in @value{GDBN} expressions with the usual
19885 conventions; for example, @w{@samp{b fputc if $cycles>5000}} sets a
19886 conditional breakpoint that suspends only after at least 5000
19887 simulated clock ticks.
19888
19889 @node AVR
19890 @subsection Atmel AVR
19891 @cindex AVR
19892
19893 When configured for debugging the Atmel AVR, @value{GDBN} supports the
19894 following AVR-specific commands:
19895
19896 @table @code
19897 @item info io_registers
19898 @kindex info io_registers@r{, AVR}
19899 @cindex I/O registers (Atmel AVR)
19900 This command displays information about the AVR I/O registers. For
19901 each register, @value{GDBN} prints its number and value.
19902 @end table
19903
19904 @node CRIS
19905 @subsection CRIS
19906 @cindex CRIS
19907
19908 When configured for debugging CRIS, @value{GDBN} provides the
19909 following CRIS-specific commands:
19910
19911 @table @code
19912 @item set cris-version @var{ver}
19913 @cindex CRIS version
19914 Set the current CRIS version to @var{ver}, either @samp{10} or @samp{32}.
19915 The CRIS version affects register names and sizes. This command is useful in
19916 case autodetection of the CRIS version fails.
19917
19918 @item show cris-version
19919 Show the current CRIS version.
19920
19921 @item set cris-dwarf2-cfi
19922 @cindex DWARF-2 CFI and CRIS
19923 Set the usage of DWARF-2 CFI for CRIS debugging. The default is @samp{on}.
19924 Change to @samp{off} when using @code{gcc-cris} whose version is below
19925 @code{R59}.
19926
19927 @item show cris-dwarf2-cfi
19928 Show the current state of using DWARF-2 CFI.
19929
19930 @item set cris-mode @var{mode}
19931 @cindex CRIS mode
19932 Set the current CRIS mode to @var{mode}. It should only be changed when
19933 debugging in guru mode, in which case it should be set to
19934 @samp{guru} (the default is @samp{normal}).
19935
19936 @item show cris-mode
19937 Show the current CRIS mode.
19938 @end table
19939
19940 @node Super-H
19941 @subsection Renesas Super-H
19942 @cindex Super-H
19943
19944 For the Renesas Super-H processor, @value{GDBN} provides these
19945 commands:
19946
19947 @table @code
19948 @item regs
19949 @kindex regs@r{, Super-H}
19950 Show the values of all Super-H registers.
19951
19952 @item set sh calling-convention @var{convention}
19953 @kindex set sh calling-convention
19954 Set the calling-convention used when calling functions from @value{GDBN}.
19955 Allowed values are @samp{gcc}, which is the default setting, and @samp{renesas}.
19956 With the @samp{gcc} setting, functions are called using the @value{NGCC} calling
19957 convention. If the DWARF-2 information of the called function specifies
19958 that the function follows the Renesas calling convention, the function
19959 is called using the Renesas calling convention. If the calling convention
19960 is set to @samp{renesas}, the Renesas calling convention is always used,
19961 regardless of the DWARF-2 information. This can be used to override the
19962 default of @samp{gcc} if debug information is missing, or the compiler
19963 does not emit the DWARF-2 calling convention entry for a function.
19964
19965 @item show sh calling-convention
19966 @kindex show sh calling-convention
19967 Show the current calling convention setting.
19968
19969 @end table
19970
19971
19972 @node Architectures
19973 @section Architectures
19974
19975 This section describes characteristics of architectures that affect
19976 all uses of @value{GDBN} with the architecture, both native and cross.
19977
19978 @menu
19979 * i386::
19980 * A29K::
19981 * Alpha::
19982 * MIPS::
19983 * HPPA:: HP PA architecture
19984 * SPU:: Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
19985 * PowerPC::
19986 @end menu
19987
19988 @node i386
19989 @subsection x86 Architecture-specific Issues
19990
19991 @table @code
19992 @item set struct-convention @var{mode}
19993 @kindex set struct-convention
19994 @cindex struct return convention
19995 @cindex struct/union returned in registers
19996 Set the convention used by the inferior to return @code{struct}s and
19997 @code{union}s from functions to @var{mode}. Possible values of
19998 @var{mode} are @code{"pcc"}, @code{"reg"}, and @code{"default"} (the
19999 default). @code{"default"} or @code{"pcc"} means that @code{struct}s
20000 are returned on the stack, while @code{"reg"} means that a
20001 @code{struct} or a @code{union} whose size is 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes will
20002 be returned in a register.
20003
20004 @item show struct-convention
20005 @kindex show struct-convention
20006 Show the current setting of the convention to return @code{struct}s
20007 from functions.
20008 @end table
20009
20010 @node A29K
20011 @subsection A29K
20012
20013 @table @code
20014
20015 @kindex set rstack_high_address
20016 @cindex AMD 29K register stack
20017 @cindex register stack, AMD29K
20018 @item set rstack_high_address @var{address}
20019 On AMD 29000 family processors, registers are saved in a separate
20020 @dfn{register stack}. There is no way for @value{GDBN} to determine the
20021 extent of this stack. Normally, @value{GDBN} just assumes that the
20022 stack is ``large enough''. This may result in @value{GDBN} referencing
20023 memory locations that do not exist. If necessary, you can get around
20024 this problem by specifying the ending address of the register stack with
20025 the @code{set rstack_high_address} command. The argument should be an
20026 address, which you probably want to precede with @samp{0x} to specify in
20027 hexadecimal.
20028
20029 @kindex show rstack_high_address
20030 @item show rstack_high_address
20031 Display the current limit of the register stack, on AMD 29000 family
20032 processors.
20033
20034 @end table
20035
20036 @node Alpha
20037 @subsection Alpha
20038
20039 See the following section.
20040
20041 @node MIPS
20042 @subsection MIPS
20043
20044 @cindex stack on Alpha
20045 @cindex stack on MIPS
20046 @cindex Alpha stack
20047 @cindex MIPS stack
20048 Alpha- and MIPS-based computers use an unusual stack frame, which
20049 sometimes requires @value{GDBN} to search backward in the object code to
20050 find the beginning of a function.
20051
20052 @cindex response time, MIPS debugging
20053 To improve response time (especially for embedded applications, where
20054 @value{GDBN} may be restricted to a slow serial line for this search)
20055 you may want to limit the size of this search, using one of these
20056 commands:
20057
20058 @table @code
20059 @cindex @code{heuristic-fence-post} (Alpha, MIPS)
20060 @item set heuristic-fence-post @var{limit}
20061 Restrict @value{GDBN} to examining at most @var{limit} bytes in its
20062 search for the beginning of a function. A value of @var{0} (the
20063 default) means there is no limit. However, except for @var{0}, the
20064 larger the limit the more bytes @code{heuristic-fence-post} must search
20065 and therefore the longer it takes to run. You should only need to use
20066 this command when debugging a stripped executable.
20067
20068 @item show heuristic-fence-post
20069 Display the current limit.
20070 @end table
20071
20072 @noindent
20073 These commands are available @emph{only} when @value{GDBN} is configured
20074 for debugging programs on Alpha or MIPS processors.
20075
20076 Several MIPS-specific commands are available when debugging MIPS
20077 programs:
20078
20079 @table @code
20080 @item set mips abi @var{arg}
20081 @kindex set mips abi
20082 @cindex set ABI for MIPS
20083 Tell @value{GDBN} which MIPS ABI is used by the inferior. Possible
20084 values of @var{arg} are:
20085
20086 @table @samp
20087 @item auto
20088 The default ABI associated with the current binary (this is the
20089 default).
20090 @item o32
20091 @item o64
20092 @item n32
20093 @item n64
20094 @item eabi32
20095 @item eabi64
20096 @end table
20097
20098 @item show mips abi
20099 @kindex show mips abi
20100 Show the MIPS ABI used by @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
20101
20102 @item set mipsfpu
20103 @itemx show mipsfpu
20104 @xref{MIPS Embedded, set mipsfpu}.
20105
20106 @item set mips mask-address @var{arg}
20107 @kindex set mips mask-address
20108 @cindex MIPS addresses, masking
20109 This command determines whether the most-significant 32 bits of 64-bit
20110 MIPS addresses are masked off. The argument @var{arg} can be
20111 @samp{on}, @samp{off}, or @samp{auto}. The latter is the default
20112 setting, which lets @value{GDBN} determine the correct value.
20113
20114 @item show mips mask-address
20115 @kindex show mips mask-address
20116 Show whether the upper 32 bits of MIPS addresses are masked off or
20117 not.
20118
20119 @item set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
20120 @kindex set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
20121 This command controls compatibility with 64-bit MIPS targets that
20122 transfer data in 32-bit quantities. If you have an old MIPS 64 target
20123 that transfers 32 bits for some registers, like @sc{sr} and @sc{fsr},
20124 and 64 bits for other registers, set this option to @samp{on}.
20125
20126 @item show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
20127 @kindex show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
20128 Show the current setting of compatibility with older MIPS 64 targets.
20129
20130 @item set debug mips
20131 @kindex set debug mips
20132 This command turns on and off debugging messages for the MIPS-specific
20133 target code in @value{GDBN}.
20134
20135 @item show debug mips
20136 @kindex show debug mips
20137 Show the current setting of MIPS debugging messages.
20138 @end table
20139
20140
20141 @node HPPA
20142 @subsection HPPA
20143 @cindex HPPA support
20144
20145 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the HP PA architecture, it provides the
20146 following special commands:
20147
20148 @table @code
20149 @item set debug hppa
20150 @kindex set debug hppa
20151 This command determines whether HPPA architecture-specific debugging
20152 messages are to be displayed.
20153
20154 @item show debug hppa
20155 Show whether HPPA debugging messages are displayed.
20156
20157 @item maint print unwind @var{address}
20158 @kindex maint print unwind@r{, HPPA}
20159 This command displays the contents of the unwind table entry at the
20160 given @var{address}.
20161
20162 @end table
20163
20164
20165 @node SPU
20166 @subsection Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
20167 @cindex Cell Broadband Engine
20168 @cindex SPU
20169
20170 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture,
20171 it provides the following special commands:
20172
20173 @table @code
20174 @item info spu event
20175 @kindex info spu
20176 Display SPU event facility status. Shows current event mask
20177 and pending event status.
20178
20179 @item info spu signal
20180 Display SPU signal notification facility status. Shows pending
20181 signal-control word and signal notification mode of both signal
20182 notification channels.
20183
20184 @item info spu mailbox
20185 Display SPU mailbox facility status. Shows all pending entries,
20186 in order of processing, in each of the SPU Write Outbound,
20187 SPU Write Outbound Interrupt, and SPU Read Inbound mailboxes.
20188
20189 @item info spu dma
20190 Display MFC DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
20191 DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
20192 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
20193
20194 @item info spu proxydma
20195 Display MFC Proxy-DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
20196 Proxy-DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
20197 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
20198
20199 @end table
20200
20201 When @value{GDBN} is debugging a combined PowerPC/SPU application
20202 on the Cell Broadband Engine, it provides in addition the following
20203 special commands:
20204
20205 @table @code
20206 @item set spu stop-on-load @var{arg}
20207 @kindex set spu
20208 Set whether to stop for new SPE threads. When set to @code{on}, @value{GDBN}
20209 will give control to the user when a new SPE thread enters its @code{main}
20210 function. The default is @code{off}.
20211
20212 @item show spu stop-on-load
20213 @kindex show spu
20214 Show whether to stop for new SPE threads.
20215
20216 @item set spu auto-flush-cache @var{arg}
20217 Set whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache. When set to
20218 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will automatically cause the SPE software-managed
20219 cache to be flushed whenever SPE execution stops. This provides a consistent
20220 view of PowerPC memory that is accessed via the cache. If an application
20221 does not use the software-managed cache, this option has no effect.
20222
20223 @item show spu auto-flush-cache
20224 Show whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache.
20225
20226 @end table
20227
20228 @node PowerPC
20229 @subsection PowerPC
20230 @cindex PowerPC architecture
20231
20232 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the PowerPC architecture, it provides a set of
20233 pseudo-registers to enable inspection of 128-bit wide Decimal Floating Point
20234 numbers stored in the floating point registers. These values must be stored
20235 in two consecutive registers, always starting at an even register like
20236 @code{f0} or @code{f2}.
20237
20238 The pseudo-registers go from @code{$dl0} through @code{$dl15}, and are formed
20239 by joining the even/odd register pairs @code{f0} and @code{f1} for @code{$dl0},
20240 @code{f2} and @code{f3} for @code{$dl1} and so on.
20241
20242 For POWER7 processors, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers, the 64-bit
20243 wide Extended Floating Point Registers (@samp{f32} through @samp{f63}).
20244
20245
20246 @node Controlling GDB
20247 @chapter Controlling @value{GDBN}
20248
20249 You can alter the way @value{GDBN} interacts with you by using the
20250 @code{set} command. For commands controlling how @value{GDBN} displays
20251 data, see @ref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}. Other settings are
20252 described here.
20253
20254 @menu
20255 * Prompt:: Prompt
20256 * Editing:: Command editing
20257 * Command History:: Command history
20258 * Screen Size:: Screen size
20259 * Numbers:: Numbers
20260 * ABI:: Configuring the current ABI
20261 * Messages/Warnings:: Optional warnings and messages
20262 * Debugging Output:: Optional messages about internal happenings
20263 * Other Misc Settings:: Other Miscellaneous Settings
20264 @end menu
20265
20266 @node Prompt
20267 @section Prompt
20268
20269 @cindex prompt
20270
20271 @value{GDBN} indicates its readiness to read a command by printing a string
20272 called the @dfn{prompt}. This string is normally @samp{(@value{GDBP})}. You
20273 can change the prompt string with the @code{set prompt} command. For
20274 instance, when debugging @value{GDBN} with @value{GDBN}, it is useful to change
20275 the prompt in one of the @value{GDBN} sessions so that you can always tell
20276 which one you are talking to.
20277
20278 @emph{Note:} @code{set prompt} does not add a space for you after the
20279 prompt you set. This allows you to set a prompt which ends in a space
20280 or a prompt that does not.
20281
20282 @table @code
20283 @kindex set prompt
20284 @item set prompt @var{newprompt}
20285 Directs @value{GDBN} to use @var{newprompt} as its prompt string henceforth.
20286
20287 @kindex show prompt
20288 @item show prompt
20289 Prints a line of the form: @samp{Gdb's prompt is: @var{your-prompt}}
20290 @end table
20291
20292 Versions of @value{GDBN} that ship with Python scripting enabled have
20293 prompt extensions. The commands for interacting with these extensions
20294 are:
20295
20296 @table @code
20297 @kindex set extended-prompt
20298 @item set extended-prompt @var{prompt}
20299 Set an extended prompt that allows for substitutions.
20300 @xref{gdb.prompt}, for a list of escape sequences that can be used for
20301 substitution. Any escape sequences specified as part of the prompt
20302 string are replaced with the corresponding strings each time the prompt
20303 is displayed.
20304
20305 For example:
20306
20307 @smallexample
20308 set extended-prompt Current working directory: \w (gdb)
20309 @end smallexample
20310
20311 Note that when an extended-prompt is set, it takes control of the
20312 @var{prompt_hook} hook. @xref{prompt_hook}, for further information.
20313
20314 @kindex show extended-prompt
20315 @item show extended-prompt
20316 Prints the extended prompt. Any escape sequences specified as part of
20317 the prompt string with @code{set extended-prompt}, are replaced with the
20318 corresponding strings each time the prompt is displayed.
20319 @end table
20320
20321 @node Editing
20322 @section Command Editing
20323 @cindex readline
20324 @cindex command line editing
20325
20326 @value{GDBN} reads its input commands via the @dfn{Readline} interface. This
20327 @sc{gnu} library provides consistent behavior for programs which provide a
20328 command line interface to the user. Advantages are @sc{gnu} Emacs-style
20329 or @dfn{vi}-style inline editing of commands, @code{csh}-like history
20330 substitution, and a storage and recall of command history across
20331 debugging sessions.
20332
20333 You may control the behavior of command line editing in @value{GDBN} with the
20334 command @code{set}.
20335
20336 @table @code
20337 @kindex set editing
20338 @cindex editing
20339 @item set editing
20340 @itemx set editing on
20341 Enable command line editing (enabled by default).
20342
20343 @item set editing off
20344 Disable command line editing.
20345
20346 @kindex show editing
20347 @item show editing
20348 Show whether command line editing is enabled.
20349 @end table
20350
20351 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
20352 @xref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library},
20353 @end ifset
20354 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
20355 @xref{Command Line Editing},
20356 @end ifclear
20357 for more details about the Readline
20358 interface. Users unfamiliar with @sc{gnu} Emacs or @code{vi} are
20359 encouraged to read that chapter.
20360
20361 @node Command History
20362 @section Command History
20363 @cindex command history
20364
20365 @value{GDBN} can keep track of the commands you type during your
20366 debugging sessions, so that you can be certain of precisely what
20367 happened. Use these commands to manage the @value{GDBN} command
20368 history facility.
20369
20370 @value{GDBN} uses the @sc{gnu} History library, a part of the Readline
20371 package, to provide the history facility.
20372 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
20373 @xref{Using History Interactively, , , history, GNU History Library},
20374 @end ifset
20375 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
20376 @xref{Using History Interactively},
20377 @end ifclear
20378 for the detailed description of the History library.
20379
20380 To issue a command to @value{GDBN} without affecting certain aspects of
20381 the state which is seen by users, prefix it with @samp{server }
20382 (@pxref{Server Prefix}). This
20383 means that this command will not affect the command history, nor will it
20384 affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which command to repeat if @key{RET} is
20385 pressed on a line by itself.
20386
20387 @cindex @code{server}, command prefix
20388 The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the value
20389 history; to print a value without recording it into the value history,
20390 use the @code{output} command instead of the @code{print} command.
20391
20392 Here is the description of @value{GDBN} commands related to command
20393 history.
20394
20395 @table @code
20396 @cindex history substitution
20397 @cindex history file
20398 @kindex set history filename
20399 @cindex @env{GDBHISTFILE}, environment variable
20400 @item set history filename @var{fname}
20401 Set the name of the @value{GDBN} command history file to @var{fname}.
20402 This is the file where @value{GDBN} reads an initial command history
20403 list, and where it writes the command history from this session when it
20404 exits. You can access this list through history expansion or through
20405 the history command editing characters listed below. This file defaults
20406 to the value of the environment variable @code{GDBHISTFILE}, or to
20407 @file{./.gdb_history} (@file{./_gdb_history} on MS-DOS) if this variable
20408 is not set.
20409
20410 @cindex save command history
20411 @kindex set history save
20412 @item set history save
20413 @itemx set history save on
20414 Record command history in a file, whose name may be specified with the
20415 @code{set history filename} command. By default, this option is disabled.
20416
20417 @item set history save off
20418 Stop recording command history in a file.
20419
20420 @cindex history size
20421 @kindex set history size
20422 @cindex @env{HISTSIZE}, environment variable
20423 @item set history size @var{size}
20424 Set the number of commands which @value{GDBN} keeps in its history list.
20425 This defaults to the value of the environment variable
20426 @code{HISTSIZE}, or to 256 if this variable is not set.
20427 @end table
20428
20429 History expansion assigns special meaning to the character @kbd{!}.
20430 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
20431 @xref{Event Designators, , , history, GNU History Library},
20432 @end ifset
20433 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
20434 @xref{Event Designators},
20435 @end ifclear
20436 for more details.
20437
20438 @cindex history expansion, turn on/off
20439 Since @kbd{!} is also the logical not operator in C, history expansion
20440 is off by default. If you decide to enable history expansion with the
20441 @code{set history expansion on} command, you may sometimes need to
20442 follow @kbd{!} (when it is used as logical not, in an expression) with
20443 a space or a tab to prevent it from being expanded. The readline
20444 history facilities do not attempt substitution on the strings
20445 @kbd{!=} and @kbd{!(}, even when history expansion is enabled.
20446
20447 The commands to control history expansion are:
20448
20449 @table @code
20450 @item set history expansion on
20451 @itemx set history expansion
20452 @kindex set history expansion
20453 Enable history expansion. History expansion is off by default.
20454
20455 @item set history expansion off
20456 Disable history expansion.
20457
20458 @c @group
20459 @kindex show history
20460 @item show history
20461 @itemx show history filename
20462 @itemx show history save
20463 @itemx show history size
20464 @itemx show history expansion
20465 These commands display the state of the @value{GDBN} history parameters.
20466 @code{show history} by itself displays all four states.
20467 @c @end group
20468 @end table
20469
20470 @table @code
20471 @kindex show commands
20472 @cindex show last commands
20473 @cindex display command history
20474 @item show commands
20475 Display the last ten commands in the command history.
20476
20477 @item show commands @var{n}
20478 Print ten commands centered on command number @var{n}.
20479
20480 @item show commands +
20481 Print ten commands just after the commands last printed.
20482 @end table
20483
20484 @node Screen Size
20485 @section Screen Size
20486 @cindex size of screen
20487 @cindex pauses in output
20488
20489 Certain commands to @value{GDBN} may produce large amounts of
20490 information output to the screen. To help you read all of it,
20491 @value{GDBN} pauses and asks you for input at the end of each page of
20492 output. Type @key{RET} when you want to continue the output, or @kbd{q}
20493 to discard the remaining output. Also, the screen width setting
20494 determines when to wrap lines of output. Depending on what is being
20495 printed, @value{GDBN} tries to break the line at a readable place,
20496 rather than simply letting it overflow onto the following line.
20497
20498 Normally @value{GDBN} knows the size of the screen from the terminal
20499 driver software. For example, on Unix @value{GDBN} uses the termcap data base
20500 together with the value of the @code{TERM} environment variable and the
20501 @code{stty rows} and @code{stty cols} settings. If this is not correct,
20502 you can override it with the @code{set height} and @code{set
20503 width} commands:
20504
20505 @table @code
20506 @kindex set height
20507 @kindex set width
20508 @kindex show width
20509 @kindex show height
20510 @item set height @var{lpp}
20511 @itemx show height
20512 @itemx set width @var{cpl}
20513 @itemx show width
20514 These @code{set} commands specify a screen height of @var{lpp} lines and
20515 a screen width of @var{cpl} characters. The associated @code{show}
20516 commands display the current settings.
20517
20518 If you specify a height of zero lines, @value{GDBN} does not pause during
20519 output no matter how long the output is. This is useful if output is to a
20520 file or to an editor buffer.
20521
20522 Likewise, you can specify @samp{set width 0} to prevent @value{GDBN}
20523 from wrapping its output.
20524
20525 @item set pagination on
20526 @itemx set pagination off
20527 @kindex set pagination
20528 Turn the output pagination on or off; the default is on. Turning
20529 pagination off is the alternative to @code{set height 0}. Note that
20530 running @value{GDBN} with the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode
20531 Options, -batch}) also automatically disables pagination.
20532
20533 @item show pagination
20534 @kindex show pagination
20535 Show the current pagination mode.
20536 @end table
20537
20538 @node Numbers
20539 @section Numbers
20540 @cindex number representation
20541 @cindex entering numbers
20542
20543 You can always enter numbers in octal, decimal, or hexadecimal in
20544 @value{GDBN} by the usual conventions: octal numbers begin with
20545 @samp{0}, decimal numbers end with @samp{.}, and hexadecimal numbers
20546 begin with @samp{0x}. Numbers that neither begin with @samp{0} or
20547 @samp{0x}, nor end with a @samp{.} are, by default, entered in base
20548 10; likewise, the default display for numbers---when no particular
20549 format is specified---is base 10. You can change the default base for
20550 both input and output with the commands described below.
20551
20552 @table @code
20553 @kindex set input-radix
20554 @item set input-radix @var{base}
20555 Set the default base for numeric input. Supported choices
20556 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
20557 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix; for
20558 example, any of
20559
20560 @smallexample
20561 set input-radix 012
20562 set input-radix 10.
20563 set input-radix 0xa
20564 @end smallexample
20565
20566 @noindent
20567 sets the input base to decimal. On the other hand, @samp{set input-radix 10}
20568 leaves the input radix unchanged, no matter what it was, since
20569 @samp{10}, being without any leading or trailing signs of its base, is
20570 interpreted in the current radix. Thus, if the current radix is 16,
20571 @samp{10} is interpreted in hex, i.e.@: as 16 decimal, which doesn't
20572 change the radix.
20573
20574 @kindex set output-radix
20575 @item set output-radix @var{base}
20576 Set the default base for numeric display. Supported choices
20577 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
20578 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix.
20579
20580 @kindex show input-radix
20581 @item show input-radix
20582 Display the current default base for numeric input.
20583
20584 @kindex show output-radix
20585 @item show output-radix
20586 Display the current default base for numeric display.
20587
20588 @item set radix @r{[}@var{base}@r{]}
20589 @itemx show radix
20590 @kindex set radix
20591 @kindex show radix
20592 These commands set and show the default base for both input and output
20593 of numbers. @code{set radix} sets the radix of input and output to
20594 the same base; without an argument, it resets the radix back to its
20595 default value of 10.
20596
20597 @end table
20598
20599 @node ABI
20600 @section Configuring the Current ABI
20601
20602 @value{GDBN} can determine the @dfn{ABI} (Application Binary Interface) of your
20603 application automatically. However, sometimes you need to override its
20604 conclusions. Use these commands to manage @value{GDBN}'s view of the
20605 current ABI.
20606
20607 @cindex OS ABI
20608 @kindex set osabi
20609 @kindex show osabi
20610
20611 One @value{GDBN} configuration can debug binaries for multiple operating
20612 system targets, either via remote debugging or native emulation.
20613 @value{GDBN} will autodetect the @dfn{OS ABI} (Operating System ABI) in use,
20614 but you can override its conclusion using the @code{set osabi} command.
20615 One example where this is useful is in debugging of binaries which use
20616 an alternate C library (e.g.@: @sc{uClibc} for @sc{gnu}/Linux) which does
20617 not have the same identifying marks that the standard C library for your
20618 platform provides.
20619
20620 @table @code
20621 @item show osabi
20622 Show the OS ABI currently in use.
20623
20624 @item set osabi
20625 With no argument, show the list of registered available OS ABI's.
20626
20627 @item set osabi @var{abi}
20628 Set the current OS ABI to @var{abi}.
20629 @end table
20630
20631 @cindex float promotion
20632
20633 Generally, the way that an argument of type @code{float} is passed to a
20634 function depends on whether the function is prototyped. For a prototyped
20635 (i.e.@: ANSI/ISO style) function, @code{float} arguments are passed unchanged,
20636 according to the architecture's convention for @code{float}. For unprototyped
20637 (i.e.@: K&R style) functions, @code{float} arguments are first promoted to type
20638 @code{double} and then passed.
20639
20640 Unfortunately, some forms of debug information do not reliably indicate whether
20641 a function is prototyped. If @value{GDBN} calls a function that is not marked
20642 as prototyped, it consults @kbd{set coerce-float-to-double}.
20643
20644 @table @code
20645 @kindex set coerce-float-to-double
20646 @item set coerce-float-to-double
20647 @itemx set coerce-float-to-double on
20648 Arguments of type @code{float} will be promoted to @code{double} when passed
20649 to an unprototyped function. This is the default setting.
20650
20651 @item set coerce-float-to-double off
20652 Arguments of type @code{float} will be passed directly to unprototyped
20653 functions.
20654
20655 @kindex show coerce-float-to-double
20656 @item show coerce-float-to-double
20657 Show the current setting of promoting @code{float} to @code{double}.
20658 @end table
20659
20660 @kindex set cp-abi
20661 @kindex show cp-abi
20662 @value{GDBN} needs to know the ABI used for your program's C@t{++}
20663 objects. The correct C@t{++} ABI depends on which C@t{++} compiler was
20664 used to build your application. @value{GDBN} only fully supports
20665 programs with a single C@t{++} ABI; if your program contains code using
20666 multiple C@t{++} ABI's or if @value{GDBN} can not identify your
20667 program's ABI correctly, you can tell @value{GDBN} which ABI to use.
20668 Currently supported ABI's include ``gnu-v2'', for @code{g++} versions
20669 before 3.0, ``gnu-v3'', for @code{g++} versions 3.0 and later, and
20670 ``hpaCC'' for the HP ANSI C@t{++} compiler. Other C@t{++} compilers may
20671 use the ``gnu-v2'' or ``gnu-v3'' ABI's as well. The default setting is
20672 ``auto''.
20673
20674 @table @code
20675 @item show cp-abi
20676 Show the C@t{++} ABI currently in use.
20677
20678 @item set cp-abi
20679 With no argument, show the list of supported C@t{++} ABI's.
20680
20681 @item set cp-abi @var{abi}
20682 @itemx set cp-abi auto
20683 Set the current C@t{++} ABI to @var{abi}, or return to automatic detection.
20684 @end table
20685
20686 @node Messages/Warnings
20687 @section Optional Warnings and Messages
20688
20689 @cindex verbose operation
20690 @cindex optional warnings
20691 By default, @value{GDBN} is silent about its inner workings. If you are
20692 running on a slow machine, you may want to use the @code{set verbose}
20693 command. This makes @value{GDBN} tell you when it does a lengthy
20694 internal operation, so you will not think it has crashed.
20695
20696 Currently, the messages controlled by @code{set verbose} are those
20697 which announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read;
20698 see @code{symbol-file} in @ref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}.
20699
20700 @table @code
20701 @kindex set verbose
20702 @item set verbose on
20703 Enables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
20704
20705 @item set verbose off
20706 Disables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
20707
20708 @kindex show verbose
20709 @item show verbose
20710 Displays whether @code{set verbose} is on or off.
20711 @end table
20712
20713 By default, if @value{GDBN} encounters bugs in the symbol table of an
20714 object file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may
20715 find this information useful (@pxref{Symbol Errors, ,Errors Reading
20716 Symbol Files}).
20717
20718 @table @code
20719
20720 @kindex set complaints
20721 @item set complaints @var{limit}
20722 Permits @value{GDBN} to output @var{limit} complaints about each type of
20723 unusual symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set
20724 @var{limit} to zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number
20725 to prevent complaints from being suppressed.
20726
20727 @kindex show complaints
20728 @item show complaints
20729 Displays how many symbol complaints @value{GDBN} is permitted to produce.
20730
20731 @end table
20732
20733 @anchor{confirmation requests}
20734 By default, @value{GDBN} is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a
20735 lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if
20736 you try to run a program which is already running:
20737
20738 @smallexample
20739 (@value{GDBP}) run
20740 The program being debugged has been started already.
20741 Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
20742 @end smallexample
20743
20744 If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own
20745 commands, you can disable this ``feature'':
20746
20747 @table @code
20748
20749 @kindex set confirm
20750 @cindex flinching
20751 @cindex confirmation
20752 @cindex stupid questions
20753 @item set confirm off
20754 Disables confirmation requests. Note that running @value{GDBN} with
20755 the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode Options, -batch}) also
20756 automatically disables confirmation requests.
20757
20758 @item set confirm on
20759 Enables confirmation requests (the default).
20760
20761 @kindex show confirm
20762 @item show confirm
20763 Displays state of confirmation requests.
20764
20765 @end table
20766
20767 @cindex command tracing
20768 If you need to debug user-defined commands or sourced files you may find it
20769 useful to enable @dfn{command tracing}. In this mode each command will be
20770 printed as it is executed, prefixed with one or more @samp{+} symbols, the
20771 quantity denoting the call depth of each command.
20772
20773 @table @code
20774 @kindex set trace-commands
20775 @cindex command scripts, debugging
20776 @item set trace-commands on
20777 Enable command tracing.
20778 @item set trace-commands off
20779 Disable command tracing.
20780 @item show trace-commands
20781 Display the current state of command tracing.
20782 @end table
20783
20784 @node Debugging Output
20785 @section Optional Messages about Internal Happenings
20786 @cindex optional debugging messages
20787
20788 @value{GDBN} has commands that enable optional debugging messages from
20789 various @value{GDBN} subsystems; normally these commands are of
20790 interest to @value{GDBN} maintainers, or when reporting a bug. This
20791 section documents those commands.
20792
20793 @table @code
20794 @kindex set exec-done-display
20795 @item set exec-done-display
20796 Turns on or off the notification of asynchronous commands'
20797 completion. When on, @value{GDBN} will print a message when an
20798 asynchronous command finishes its execution. The default is off.
20799 @kindex show exec-done-display
20800 @item show exec-done-display
20801 Displays the current setting of asynchronous command completion
20802 notification.
20803 @kindex set debug
20804 @cindex gdbarch debugging info
20805 @cindex architecture debugging info
20806 @item set debug arch
20807 Turns on or off display of gdbarch debugging info. The default is off
20808 @kindex show debug
20809 @item show debug arch
20810 Displays the current state of displaying gdbarch debugging info.
20811 @item set debug aix-thread
20812 @cindex AIX threads
20813 Display debugging messages about inner workings of the AIX thread
20814 module.
20815 @item show debug aix-thread
20816 Show the current state of AIX thread debugging info display.
20817 @item set debug check-physname
20818 @cindex physname
20819 Check the results of the ``physname'' computation. When reading DWARF
20820 debugging information for C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} attempts to compute
20821 each entity's name. @value{GDBN} can do this computation in two
20822 different ways, depending on exactly what information is present.
20823 When enabled, this setting causes @value{GDBN} to compute the names
20824 both ways and display any discrepancies.
20825 @item show debug check-physname
20826 Show the current state of ``physname'' checking.
20827 @item set debug dwarf2-die
20828 @cindex DWARF2 DIEs
20829 Dump DWARF2 DIEs after they are read in.
20830 The value is the number of nesting levels to print.
20831 A value of zero turns off the display.
20832 @item show debug dwarf2-die
20833 Show the current state of DWARF2 DIE debugging.
20834 @item set debug displaced
20835 @cindex displaced stepping debugging info
20836 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for the
20837 displaced stepping support. The default is off.
20838 @item show debug displaced
20839 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} debugging info
20840 related to displaced stepping.
20841 @item set debug event
20842 @cindex event debugging info
20843 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} event debugging info. The
20844 default is off.
20845 @item show debug event
20846 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} event debugging
20847 info.
20848 @item set debug expression
20849 @cindex expression debugging info
20850 Turns on or off display of debugging info about @value{GDBN}
20851 expression parsing. The default is off.
20852 @item show debug expression
20853 Displays the current state of displaying debugging info about
20854 @value{GDBN} expression parsing.
20855 @item set debug frame
20856 @cindex frame debugging info
20857 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} frame debugging info. The
20858 default is off.
20859 @item show debug frame
20860 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} frame debugging
20861 info.
20862 @item set debug gnu-nat
20863 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug messages
20864 Turns on or off debugging messages from the @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug support.
20865 @item show debug gnu-nat
20866 Show the current state of @sc{gnu}/Hurd debugging messages.
20867 @item set debug infrun
20868 @cindex inferior debugging info
20869 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for running the inferior.
20870 The default is off. @file{infrun.c} contains GDB's runtime state machine used
20871 for implementing operations such as single-stepping the inferior.
20872 @item show debug infrun
20873 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} inferior debugging.
20874 @item set debug jit
20875 @cindex just-in-time compilation, debugging messages
20876 Turns on or off debugging messages from JIT debug support.
20877 @item show debug jit
20878 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} JIT debugging.
20879 @item set debug lin-lwp
20880 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP debug messages
20881 @cindex Linux lightweight processes
20882 Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP debug support.
20883 @item show debug lin-lwp
20884 Show the current state of Linux LWP debugging messages.
20885 @item set debug observer
20886 @cindex observer debugging info
20887 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} observer debugging. This
20888 includes info such as the notification of observable events.
20889 @item show debug observer
20890 Displays the current state of observer debugging.
20891 @item set debug overload
20892 @cindex C@t{++} overload debugging info
20893 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload debugging
20894 info. This includes info such as ranking of functions, etc. The default
20895 is off.
20896 @item show debug overload
20897 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload
20898 debugging info.
20899 @cindex expression parser, debugging info
20900 @cindex debug expression parser
20901 @item set debug parser
20902 Turns on or off the display of expression parser debugging output.
20903 Internally, this sets the @code{yydebug} variable in the expression
20904 parser. @xref{Tracing, , Tracing Your Parser, bison, Bison}, for
20905 details. The default is off.
20906 @item show debug parser
20907 Show the current state of expression parser debugging.
20908 @cindex packets, reporting on stdout
20909 @cindex serial connections, debugging
20910 @cindex debug remote protocol
20911 @cindex remote protocol debugging
20912 @cindex display remote packets
20913 @item set debug remote
20914 Turns on or off display of reports on all packets sent back and forth across
20915 the serial line to the remote machine. The info is printed on the
20916 @value{GDBN} standard output stream. The default is off.
20917 @item show debug remote
20918 Displays the state of display of remote packets.
20919 @item set debug serial
20920 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} serial debugging info. The
20921 default is off.
20922 @item show debug serial
20923 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} serial debugging
20924 info.
20925 @item set debug solib-frv
20926 @cindex FR-V shared-library debugging
20927 Turns on or off debugging messages for FR-V shared-library code.
20928 @item show debug solib-frv
20929 Display the current state of FR-V shared-library code debugging
20930 messages.
20931 @item set debug target
20932 @cindex target debugging info
20933 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} target debugging info. This info
20934 includes what is going on at the target level of GDB, as it happens. The
20935 default is 0. Set it to 1 to track events, and to 2 to also track the
20936 value of large memory transfers. Changes to this flag do not take effect
20937 until the next time you connect to a target or use the @code{run} command.
20938 @item show debug target
20939 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} target debugging
20940 info.
20941 @item set debug timestamp
20942 @cindex timestampping debugging info
20943 Turns on or off display of timestamps with @value{GDBN} debugging info.
20944 When enabled, seconds and microseconds are displayed before each debugging
20945 message.
20946 @item show debug timestamp
20947 Displays the current state of displaying timestamps with @value{GDBN}
20948 debugging info.
20949 @item set debugvarobj
20950 @cindex variable object debugging info
20951 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} variable object debugging
20952 info. The default is off.
20953 @item show debugvarobj
20954 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} variable object
20955 debugging info.
20956 @item set debug xml
20957 @cindex XML parser debugging
20958 Turns on or off debugging messages for built-in XML parsers.
20959 @item show debug xml
20960 Displays the current state of XML debugging messages.
20961 @end table
20962
20963 @node Other Misc Settings
20964 @section Other Miscellaneous Settings
20965 @cindex miscellaneous settings
20966
20967 @table @code
20968 @kindex set interactive-mode
20969 @item set interactive-mode
20970 If @code{on}, forces @value{GDBN} to assume that GDB was started
20971 in a terminal. In practice, this means that @value{GDBN} should wait
20972 for the user to answer queries generated by commands entered at
20973 the command prompt. If @code{off}, forces @value{GDBN} to operate
20974 in the opposite mode, and it uses the default answers to all queries.
20975 If @code{auto} (the default), @value{GDBN} tries to determine whether
20976 its standard input is a terminal, and works in interactive-mode if it
20977 is, non-interactively otherwise.
20978
20979 In the vast majority of cases, the debugger should be able to guess
20980 correctly which mode should be used. But this setting can be useful
20981 in certain specific cases, such as running a MinGW @value{GDBN}
20982 inside a cygwin window.
20983
20984 @kindex show interactive-mode
20985 @item show interactive-mode
20986 Displays whether the debugger is operating in interactive mode or not.
20987 @end table
20988
20989 @node Extending GDB
20990 @chapter Extending @value{GDBN}
20991 @cindex extending GDB
20992
20993 @value{GDBN} provides three mechanisms for extension. The first is based
20994 on composition of @value{GDBN} commands, the second is based on the
20995 Python scripting language, and the third is for defining new aliases of
20996 existing commands.
20997
20998 To facilitate the use of the first two extensions, @value{GDBN} is capable
20999 of evaluating the contents of a file. When doing so, @value{GDBN}
21000 can recognize which scripting language is being used by looking at
21001 the filename extension. Files with an unrecognized filename extension
21002 are always treated as a @value{GDBN} Command Files.
21003 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
21004
21005 You can control how @value{GDBN} evaluates these files with the following
21006 setting:
21007
21008 @table @code
21009 @kindex set script-extension
21010 @kindex show script-extension
21011 @item set script-extension off
21012 All scripts are always evaluated as @value{GDBN} Command Files.
21013
21014 @item set script-extension soft
21015 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
21016 extension. If this scripting language is supported, @value{GDBN}
21017 evaluates the script using that language. Otherwise, it evaluates
21018 the file as a @value{GDBN} Command File.
21019
21020 @item set script-extension strict
21021 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
21022 extension, and evaluates the script using that language. If the
21023 language is not supported, then the evaluation fails.
21024
21025 @item show script-extension
21026 Display the current value of the @code{script-extension} option.
21027
21028 @end table
21029
21030 @menu
21031 * Sequences:: Canned Sequences of Commands
21032 * Python:: Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
21033 * Aliases:: Creating new spellings of existing commands
21034 @end menu
21035
21036 @node Sequences
21037 @section Canned Sequences of Commands
21038
21039 Aside from breakpoint commands (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint
21040 Command Lists}), @value{GDBN} provides two ways to store sequences of
21041 commands for execution as a unit: user-defined commands and command
21042 files.
21043
21044 @menu
21045 * Define:: How to define your own commands
21046 * Hooks:: Hooks for user-defined commands
21047 * Command Files:: How to write scripts of commands to be stored in a file
21048 * Output:: Commands for controlled output
21049 @end menu
21050
21051 @node Define
21052 @subsection User-defined Commands
21053
21054 @cindex user-defined command
21055 @cindex arguments, to user-defined commands
21056 A @dfn{user-defined command} is a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands to
21057 which you assign a new name as a command. This is done with the
21058 @code{define} command. User commands may accept up to 10 arguments
21059 separated by whitespace. Arguments are accessed within the user command
21060 via @code{$arg0@dots{}$arg9}. A trivial example:
21061
21062 @smallexample
21063 define adder
21064 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
21065 end
21066 @end smallexample
21067
21068 @noindent
21069 To execute the command use:
21070
21071 @smallexample
21072 adder 1 2 3
21073 @end smallexample
21074
21075 @noindent
21076 This defines the command @code{adder}, which prints the sum of
21077 its three arguments. Note the arguments are text substitutions, so they may
21078 reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
21079 functions calls.
21080
21081 @cindex argument count in user-defined commands
21082 @cindex how many arguments (user-defined commands)
21083 In addition, @code{$argc} may be used to find out how many arguments have
21084 been passed. This expands to a number in the range 0@dots{}10.
21085
21086 @smallexample
21087 define adder
21088 if $argc == 2
21089 print $arg0 + $arg1
21090 end
21091 if $argc == 3
21092 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
21093 end
21094 end
21095 @end smallexample
21096
21097 @table @code
21098
21099 @kindex define
21100 @item define @var{commandname}
21101 Define a command named @var{commandname}. If there is already a command
21102 by that name, you are asked to confirm that you want to redefine it.
21103 @var{commandname} may be a bare command name consisting of letters,
21104 numbers, dashes, and underscores. It may also start with any predefined
21105 prefix command. For example, @samp{define target my-target} creates
21106 a user-defined @samp{target my-target} command.
21107
21108 The definition of the command is made up of other @value{GDBN} command lines,
21109 which are given following the @code{define} command. The end of these
21110 commands is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
21111
21112 @kindex document
21113 @kindex end@r{ (user-defined commands)}
21114 @item document @var{commandname}
21115 Document the user-defined command @var{commandname}, so that it can be
21116 accessed by @code{help}. The command @var{commandname} must already be
21117 defined. This command reads lines of documentation just as @code{define}
21118 reads the lines of the command definition, ending with @code{end}.
21119 After the @code{document} command is finished, @code{help} on command
21120 @var{commandname} displays the documentation you have written.
21121
21122 You may use the @code{document} command again to change the
21123 documentation of a command. Redefining the command with @code{define}
21124 does not change the documentation.
21125
21126 @kindex dont-repeat
21127 @cindex don't repeat command
21128 @item dont-repeat
21129 Used inside a user-defined command, this tells @value{GDBN} that this
21130 command should not be repeated when the user hits @key{RET}
21131 (@pxref{Command Syntax, repeat last command}).
21132
21133 @kindex help user-defined
21134 @item help user-defined
21135 List all user-defined commands, with the first line of the documentation
21136 (if any) for each.
21137
21138 @kindex show user
21139 @item show user
21140 @itemx show user @var{commandname}
21141 Display the @value{GDBN} commands used to define @var{commandname} (but
21142 not its documentation). If no @var{commandname} is given, display the
21143 definitions for all user-defined commands.
21144
21145 @cindex infinite recursion in user-defined commands
21146 @kindex show max-user-call-depth
21147 @kindex set max-user-call-depth
21148 @item show max-user-call-depth
21149 @itemx set max-user-call-depth
21150 The value of @code{max-user-call-depth} controls how many recursion
21151 levels are allowed in user-defined commands before @value{GDBN} suspects an
21152 infinite recursion and aborts the command.
21153 @end table
21154
21155 In addition to the above commands, user-defined commands frequently
21156 use control flow commands, described in @ref{Command Files}.
21157
21158 When user-defined commands are executed, the
21159 commands of the definition are not printed. An error in any command
21160 stops execution of the user-defined command.
21161
21162 If used interactively, commands that would ask for confirmation proceed
21163 without asking when used inside a user-defined command. Many @value{GDBN}
21164 commands that normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the
21165 messages when used in a user-defined command.
21166
21167 @node Hooks
21168 @subsection User-defined Command Hooks
21169 @cindex command hooks
21170 @cindex hooks, for commands
21171 @cindex hooks, pre-command
21172
21173 @kindex hook
21174 You may define @dfn{hooks}, which are a special kind of user-defined
21175 command. Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined
21176 command @samp{hook-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments)
21177 before that command.
21178
21179 @cindex hooks, post-command
21180 @kindex hookpost
21181 A hook may also be defined which is run after the command you executed.
21182 Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined command
21183 @samp{hookpost-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments) after
21184 that command. Post-execution hooks may exist simultaneously with
21185 pre-execution hooks, for the same command.
21186
21187 It is valid for a hook to call the command which it hooks. If this
21188 occurs, the hook is not re-executed, thereby avoiding infinite recursion.
21189
21190 @c It would be nice if hookpost could be passed a parameter indicating
21191 @c if the command it hooks executed properly or not. FIXME!
21192
21193 @kindex stop@r{, a pseudo-command}
21194 In addition, a pseudo-command, @samp{stop} exists. Defining
21195 (@samp{hook-stop}) makes the associated commands execute every time
21196 execution stops in your program: before breakpoint commands are run,
21197 displays are printed, or the stack frame is printed.
21198
21199 For example, to ignore @code{SIGALRM} signals while
21200 single-stepping, but treat them normally during normal execution,
21201 you could define:
21202
21203 @smallexample
21204 define hook-stop
21205 handle SIGALRM nopass
21206 end
21207
21208 define hook-run
21209 handle SIGALRM pass
21210 end
21211
21212 define hook-continue
21213 handle SIGALRM pass
21214 end
21215 @end smallexample
21216
21217 As a further example, to hook at the beginning and end of the @code{echo}
21218 command, and to add extra text to the beginning and end of the message,
21219 you could define:
21220
21221 @smallexample
21222 define hook-echo
21223 echo <<<---
21224 end
21225
21226 define hookpost-echo
21227 echo --->>>\n
21228 end
21229
21230 (@value{GDBP}) echo Hello World
21231 <<<---Hello World--->>>
21232 (@value{GDBP})
21233
21234 @end smallexample
21235
21236 You can define a hook for any single-word command in @value{GDBN}, but
21237 not for command aliases; you should define a hook for the basic command
21238 name, e.g.@: @code{backtrace} rather than @code{bt}.
21239 @c FIXME! So how does Joe User discover whether a command is an alias
21240 @c or not?
21241 You can hook a multi-word command by adding @code{hook-} or
21242 @code{hookpost-} to the last word of the command, e.g.@:
21243 @samp{define target hook-remote} to add a hook to @samp{target remote}.
21244
21245 If an error occurs during the execution of your hook, execution of
21246 @value{GDBN} commands stops and @value{GDBN} issues a prompt
21247 (before the command that you actually typed had a chance to run).
21248
21249 If you try to define a hook which does not match any known command, you
21250 get a warning from the @code{define} command.
21251
21252 @node Command Files
21253 @subsection Command Files
21254
21255 @cindex command files
21256 @cindex scripting commands
21257 A command file for @value{GDBN} is a text file made of lines that are
21258 @value{GDBN} commands. Comments (lines starting with @kbd{#}) may
21259 also be included. An empty line in a command file does nothing; it
21260 does not mean to repeat the last command, as it would from the
21261 terminal.
21262
21263 You can request the execution of a command file with the @code{source}
21264 command. Note that the @code{source} command is also used to evaluate
21265 scripts that are not Command Files. The exact behavior can be configured
21266 using the @code{script-extension} setting.
21267 @xref{Extending GDB,, Extending GDB}.
21268
21269 @table @code
21270 @kindex source
21271 @cindex execute commands from a file
21272 @item source [-s] [-v] @var{filename}
21273 Execute the command file @var{filename}.
21274 @end table
21275
21276 The lines in a command file are generally executed sequentially,
21277 unless the order of execution is changed by one of the
21278 @emph{flow-control commands} described below. The commands are not
21279 printed as they are executed. An error in any command terminates
21280 execution of the command file and control is returned to the console.
21281
21282 @value{GDBN} first searches for @var{filename} in the current directory.
21283 If the file is not found there, and @var{filename} does not specify a
21284 directory, then @value{GDBN} also looks for the file on the source search path
21285 (specified with the @samp{directory} command);
21286 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched because the compilation directory
21287 is not relevant to scripts.
21288
21289 If @code{-s} is specified, then @value{GDBN} searches for @var{filename}
21290 on the search path even if @var{filename} specifies a directory.
21291 The search is done by appending @var{filename} to each element of the
21292 search path. So, for example, if @var{filename} is @file{mylib/myscript}
21293 and the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
21294 look for the script @file{/home/user/mylib/myscript}.
21295 The search is also done if @var{filename} is an absolute path.
21296 For example, if @var{filename} is @file{/tmp/myscript} and
21297 the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
21298 look for the script @file{/home/user/tmp/myscript}.
21299 For DOS-like systems, if @var{filename} contains a drive specification,
21300 it is stripped before concatenation. For example, if @var{filename} is
21301 @file{d:myscript} and the search path contains @file{c:/tmp} then @value{GDBN}
21302 will look for the script @file{c:/tmp/myscript}.
21303
21304 If @code{-v}, for verbose mode, is given then @value{GDBN} displays
21305 each command as it is executed. The option must be given before
21306 @var{filename}, and is interpreted as part of the filename anywhere else.
21307
21308 Commands that would ask for confirmation if used interactively proceed
21309 without asking when used in a command file. Many @value{GDBN} commands that
21310 normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the messages
21311 when called from command files.
21312
21313 @value{GDBN} also accepts command input from standard input. In this
21314 mode, normal output goes to standard output and error output goes to
21315 standard error. Errors in a command file supplied on standard input do
21316 not terminate execution of the command file---execution continues with
21317 the next command.
21318
21319 @smallexample
21320 gdb < cmds > log 2>&1
21321 @end smallexample
21322
21323 (The syntax above will vary depending on the shell used.) This example
21324 will execute commands from the file @file{cmds}. All output and errors
21325 would be directed to @file{log}.
21326
21327 Since commands stored on command files tend to be more general than
21328 commands typed interactively, they frequently need to deal with
21329 complicated situations, such as different or unexpected values of
21330 variables and symbols, changes in how the program being debugged is
21331 built, etc. @value{GDBN} provides a set of flow-control commands to
21332 deal with these complexities. Using these commands, you can write
21333 complex scripts that loop over data structures, execute commands
21334 conditionally, etc.
21335
21336 @table @code
21337 @kindex if
21338 @kindex else
21339 @item if
21340 @itemx else
21341 This command allows to include in your script conditionally executed
21342 commands. The @code{if} command takes a single argument, which is an
21343 expression to evaluate. It is followed by a series of commands that
21344 are executed only if the expression is true (its value is nonzero).
21345 There can then optionally be an @code{else} line, followed by a series
21346 of commands that are only executed if the expression was false. The
21347 end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
21348
21349 @kindex while
21350 @item while
21351 This command allows to write loops. Its syntax is similar to
21352 @code{if}: the command takes a single argument, which is an expression
21353 to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to execute, one per
21354 line, terminated by an @code{end}. These commands are called the
21355 @dfn{body} of the loop. The commands in the body of @code{while} are
21356 executed repeatedly as long as the expression evaluates to true.
21357
21358 @kindex loop_break
21359 @item loop_break
21360 This command exits the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included.
21361 Execution of the script continues after that @code{while}s @code{end}
21362 line.
21363
21364 @kindex loop_continue
21365 @item loop_continue
21366 This command skips the execution of the rest of the body of commands
21367 in the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included. Execution
21368 branches to the beginning of the @code{while} loop, where it evaluates
21369 the controlling expression.
21370
21371 @kindex end@r{ (if/else/while commands)}
21372 @item end
21373 Terminate the block of commands that are the body of @code{if},
21374 @code{else}, or @code{while} flow-control commands.
21375 @end table
21376
21377
21378 @node Output
21379 @subsection Commands for Controlled Output
21380
21381 During the execution of a command file or a user-defined command, normal
21382 @value{GDBN} output is suppressed; the only output that appears is what is
21383 explicitly printed by the commands in the definition. This section
21384 describes three commands useful for generating exactly the output you
21385 want.
21386
21387 @table @code
21388 @kindex echo
21389 @item echo @var{text}
21390 @c I do not consider backslash-space a standard C escape sequence
21391 @c because it is not in ANSI.
21392 Print @var{text}. Nonprinting characters can be included in
21393 @var{text} using C escape sequences, such as @samp{\n} to print a
21394 newline. @strong{No newline is printed unless you specify one.}
21395 In addition to the standard C escape sequences, a backslash followed
21396 by a space stands for a space. This is useful for displaying a
21397 string with spaces at the beginning or the end, since leading and
21398 trailing spaces are otherwise trimmed from all arguments.
21399 To print @samp{@w{ }and foo =@w{ }}, use the command
21400 @samp{echo \@w{ }and foo = \@w{ }}.
21401
21402 A backslash at the end of @var{text} can be used, as in C, to continue
21403 the command onto subsequent lines. For example,
21404
21405 @smallexample
21406 echo This is some text\n\
21407 which is continued\n\
21408 onto several lines.\n
21409 @end smallexample
21410
21411 produces the same output as
21412
21413 @smallexample
21414 echo This is some text\n
21415 echo which is continued\n
21416 echo onto several lines.\n
21417 @end smallexample
21418
21419 @kindex output
21420 @item output @var{expression}
21421 Print the value of @var{expression} and nothing but that value: no
21422 newlines, no @samp{$@var{nn} = }. The value is not entered in the
21423 value history either. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information
21424 on expressions.
21425
21426 @item output/@var{fmt} @var{expression}
21427 Print the value of @var{expression} in format @var{fmt}. You can use
21428 the same formats as for @code{print}. @xref{Output Formats,,Output
21429 Formats}, for more information.
21430
21431 @kindex printf
21432 @item printf @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
21433 Print the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
21434 the string @var{template}. To print several values, make
21435 @var{expressions} be a comma-separated list of individual expressions,
21436 which may be either numbers or pointers. Their values are printed as
21437 specified by @var{template}, exactly as a C program would do by
21438 executing the code below:
21439
21440 @smallexample
21441 printf (@var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{});
21442 @end smallexample
21443
21444 As in @code{C} @code{printf}, ordinary characters in @var{template}
21445 are printed verbatim, while @dfn{conversion specification} introduced
21446 by the @samp{%} character cause subsequent @var{expressions} to be
21447 evaluated, their values converted and formatted according to type and
21448 style information encoded in the conversion specifications, and then
21449 printed.
21450
21451 For example, you can print two values in hex like this:
21452
21453 @smallexample
21454 printf "foo, bar-foo = 0x%x, 0x%x\n", foo, bar-foo
21455 @end smallexample
21456
21457 @code{printf} supports all the standard @code{C} conversion
21458 specifications, including the flags and modifiers between the @samp{%}
21459 character and the conversion letter, with the following exceptions:
21460
21461 @itemize @bullet
21462 @item
21463 The argument-ordering modifiers, such as @samp{2$}, are not supported.
21464
21465 @item
21466 The modifier @samp{*} is not supported for specifying precision or
21467 width.
21468
21469 @item
21470 The @samp{'} flag (for separation of digits into groups according to
21471 @code{LC_NUMERIC'}) is not supported.
21472
21473 @item
21474 The type modifiers @samp{hh}, @samp{j}, @samp{t}, and @samp{z} are not
21475 supported.
21476
21477 @item
21478 The conversion letter @samp{n} (as in @samp{%n}) is not supported.
21479
21480 @item
21481 The conversion letters @samp{a} and @samp{A} are not supported.
21482 @end itemize
21483
21484 @noindent
21485 Note that the @samp{ll} type modifier is supported only if the
21486 underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} supports
21487 the @code{long long int} type, and the @samp{L} type modifier is
21488 supported only if @code{long double} type is available.
21489
21490 As in @code{C}, @code{printf} supports simple backslash-escape
21491 sequences, such as @code{\n}, @samp{\t}, @samp{\\}, @samp{\"},
21492 @samp{\a}, and @samp{\f}, that consist of backslash followed by a
21493 single character. Octal and hexadecimal escape sequences are not
21494 supported.
21495
21496 Additionally, @code{printf} supports conversion specifications for DFP
21497 (@dfn{Decimal Floating Point}) types using the following length modifiers
21498 together with a floating point specifier.
21499 letters:
21500
21501 @itemize @bullet
21502 @item
21503 @samp{H} for printing @code{Decimal32} types.
21504
21505 @item
21506 @samp{D} for printing @code{Decimal64} types.
21507
21508 @item
21509 @samp{DD} for printing @code{Decimal128} types.
21510 @end itemize
21511
21512 If the underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} has
21513 support for the three length modifiers for DFP types, other modifiers
21514 such as width and precision will also be available for @value{GDBN} to use.
21515
21516 In case there is no such @code{C} support, no additional modifiers will be
21517 available and the value will be printed in the standard way.
21518
21519 Here's an example of printing DFP types using the above conversion letters:
21520 @smallexample
21521 printf "D32: %Hf - D64: %Df - D128: %DDf\n",1.2345df,1.2E10dd,1.2E1dl
21522 @end smallexample
21523
21524 @kindex eval
21525 @item eval @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
21526 Convert the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
21527 the string @var{template} to a command line, and call it.
21528
21529 @end table
21530
21531 @node Python
21532 @section Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
21533 @cindex python scripting
21534 @cindex scripting with python
21535
21536 You can script @value{GDBN} using the @uref{http://www.python.org/,
21537 Python programming language}. This feature is available only if
21538 @value{GDBN} was configured using @option{--with-python}.
21539
21540 @cindex python directory
21541 Python scripts used by @value{GDBN} should be installed in
21542 @file{@var{data-directory}/python}, where @var{data-directory} is
21543 the data directory as determined at @value{GDBN} startup (@pxref{Data Files}).
21544 This directory, known as the @dfn{python directory},
21545 is automatically added to the Python Search Path in order to allow
21546 the Python interpreter to locate all scripts installed at this location.
21547
21548 Additionally, @value{GDBN} commands and convenience functions which
21549 are written in Python and are located in the
21550 @file{@var{data-directory}/python/gdb/command} or
21551 @file{@var{data-directory}/python/gdb/function} directories are
21552 automatically imported when @value{GDBN} starts.
21553
21554 @menu
21555 * Python Commands:: Accessing Python from @value{GDBN}.
21556 * Python API:: Accessing @value{GDBN} from Python.
21557 * Auto-loading:: Automatically loading Python code.
21558 * Python modules:: Python modules provided by @value{GDBN}.
21559 @end menu
21560
21561 @node Python Commands
21562 @subsection Python Commands
21563 @cindex python commands
21564 @cindex commands to access python
21565
21566 @value{GDBN} provides one command for accessing the Python interpreter,
21567 and one related setting:
21568
21569 @table @code
21570 @kindex python
21571 @item python @r{[}@var{code}@r{]}
21572 The @code{python} command can be used to evaluate Python code.
21573
21574 If given an argument, the @code{python} command will evaluate the
21575 argument as a Python command. For example:
21576
21577 @smallexample
21578 (@value{GDBP}) python print 23
21579 23
21580 @end smallexample
21581
21582 If you do not provide an argument to @code{python}, it will act as a
21583 multi-line command, like @code{define}. In this case, the Python
21584 script is made up of subsequent command lines, given after the
21585 @code{python} command. This command list is terminated using a line
21586 containing @code{end}. For example:
21587
21588 @smallexample
21589 (@value{GDBP}) python
21590 Type python script
21591 End with a line saying just "end".
21592 >print 23
21593 >end
21594 23
21595 @end smallexample
21596
21597 @kindex set python print-stack
21598 @item set python print-stack
21599 By default, @value{GDBN} will print only the message component of a
21600 Python exception when an error occurs in a Python script. This can be
21601 controlled using @code{set python print-stack}: if @code{full}, then
21602 full Python stack printing is enabled; if @code{none}, then Python stack
21603 and message printing is disabled; if @code{message}, the default, only
21604 the message component of the error is printed.
21605 @end table
21606
21607 It is also possible to execute a Python script from the @value{GDBN}
21608 interpreter:
21609
21610 @table @code
21611 @item source @file{script-name}
21612 The script name must end with @samp{.py} and @value{GDBN} must be configured
21613 to recognize the script language based on filename extension using
21614 the @code{script-extension} setting. @xref{Extending GDB, ,Extending GDB}.
21615
21616 @item python execfile ("script-name")
21617 This method is based on the @code{execfile} Python built-in function,
21618 and thus is always available.
21619 @end table
21620
21621 @node Python API
21622 @subsection Python API
21623 @cindex python api
21624 @cindex programming in python
21625
21626 @cindex python stdout
21627 @cindex python pagination
21628 At startup, @value{GDBN} overrides Python's @code{sys.stdout} and
21629 @code{sys.stderr} to print using @value{GDBN}'s output-paging streams.
21630 A Python program which outputs to one of these streams may have its
21631 output interrupted by the user (@pxref{Screen Size}). In this
21632 situation, a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception is thrown.
21633
21634 @menu
21635 * Basic Python:: Basic Python Functions.
21636 * Exception Handling:: How Python exceptions are translated.
21637 * Values From Inferior:: Python representation of values.
21638 * Types In Python:: Python representation of types.
21639 * Pretty Printing API:: Pretty-printing values.
21640 * Selecting Pretty-Printers:: How GDB chooses a pretty-printer.
21641 * Writing a Pretty-Printer:: Writing a Pretty-Printer.
21642 * Inferiors In Python:: Python representation of inferiors (processes)
21643 * Events In Python:: Listening for events from @value{GDBN}.
21644 * Threads In Python:: Accessing inferior threads from Python.
21645 * Commands In Python:: Implementing new commands in Python.
21646 * Parameters In Python:: Adding new @value{GDBN} parameters.
21647 * Functions In Python:: Writing new convenience functions.
21648 * Progspaces In Python:: Program spaces.
21649 * Objfiles In Python:: Object files.
21650 * Frames In Python:: Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
21651 * Blocks In Python:: Accessing frame blocks from Python.
21652 * Symbols In Python:: Python representation of symbols.
21653 * Symbol Tables In Python:: Python representation of symbol tables.
21654 * Lazy Strings In Python:: Python representation of lazy strings.
21655 * Breakpoints In Python:: Manipulating breakpoints using Python.
21656 * Finish Breakpoints in Python:: Setting Breakpoints on function return
21657 using Python.
21658 @end menu
21659
21660 @node Basic Python
21661 @subsubsection Basic Python
21662
21663 @cindex python functions
21664 @cindex python module
21665 @cindex gdb module
21666 @value{GDBN} introduces a new Python module, named @code{gdb}. All
21667 methods and classes added by @value{GDBN} are placed in this module.
21668 @value{GDBN} automatically @code{import}s the @code{gdb} module for
21669 use in all scripts evaluated by the @code{python} command.
21670
21671 @findex gdb.PYTHONDIR
21672 @defvar gdb.PYTHONDIR
21673 A string containing the python directory (@pxref{Python}).
21674 @end defvar
21675
21676 @findex gdb.execute
21677 @defun gdb.execute (command @r{[}, from_tty @r{[}, to_string@r{]]})
21678 Evaluate @var{command}, a string, as a @value{GDBN} CLI command.
21679 If a GDB exception happens while @var{command} runs, it is
21680 translated as described in @ref{Exception Handling,,Exception Handling}.
21681
21682 @var{from_tty} specifies whether @value{GDBN} ought to consider this
21683 command as having originated from the user invoking it interactively.
21684 It must be a boolean value. If omitted, it defaults to @code{False}.
21685
21686 By default, any output produced by @var{command} is sent to
21687 @value{GDBN}'s standard output. If the @var{to_string} parameter is
21688 @code{True}, then output will be collected by @code{gdb.execute} and
21689 returned as a string. The default is @code{False}, in which case the
21690 return value is @code{None}. If @var{to_string} is @code{True}, the
21691 @value{GDBN} virtual terminal will be temporarily set to unlimited width
21692 and height, and its pagination will be disabled; @pxref{Screen Size}.
21693 @end defun
21694
21695 @findex gdb.breakpoints
21696 @defun gdb.breakpoints ()
21697 Return a sequence holding all of @value{GDBN}'s breakpoints.
21698 @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for more information.
21699 @end defun
21700
21701 @findex gdb.parameter
21702 @defun gdb.parameter (parameter)
21703 Return the value of a @value{GDBN} parameter. @var{parameter} is a
21704 string naming the parameter to look up; @var{parameter} may contain
21705 spaces if the parameter has a multi-part name. For example,
21706 @samp{print object} is a valid parameter name.
21707
21708 If the named parameter does not exist, this function throws a
21709 @code{gdb.error} (@pxref{Exception Handling}). Otherwise, the
21710 parameter's value is converted to a Python value of the appropriate
21711 type, and returned.
21712 @end defun
21713
21714 @findex gdb.history
21715 @defun gdb.history (number)
21716 Return a value from @value{GDBN}'s value history (@pxref{Value
21717 History}). @var{number} indicates which history element to return.
21718 If @var{number} is negative, then @value{GDBN} will take its absolute value
21719 and count backward from the last element (i.e., the most recent element) to
21720 find the value to return. If @var{number} is zero, then @value{GDBN} will
21721 return the most recent element. If the element specified by @var{number}
21722 doesn't exist in the value history, a @code{gdb.error} exception will be
21723 raised.
21724
21725 If no exception is raised, the return value is always an instance of
21726 @code{gdb.Value} (@pxref{Values From Inferior}).
21727 @end defun
21728
21729 @findex gdb.parse_and_eval
21730 @defun gdb.parse_and_eval (expression)
21731 Parse @var{expression} as an expression in the current language,
21732 evaluate it, and return the result as a @code{gdb.Value}.
21733 @var{expression} must be a string.
21734
21735 This function can be useful when implementing a new command
21736 (@pxref{Commands In Python}), as it provides a way to parse the
21737 command's argument as an expression. It is also useful simply to
21738 compute values, for example, it is the only way to get the value of a
21739 convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) as a @code{gdb.Value}.
21740 @end defun
21741
21742 @findex gdb.post_event
21743 @defun gdb.post_event (event)
21744 Put @var{event}, a callable object taking no arguments, into
21745 @value{GDBN}'s internal event queue. This callable will be invoked at
21746 some later point, during @value{GDBN}'s event processing. Events
21747 posted using @code{post_event} will be run in the order in which they
21748 were posted; however, there is no way to know when they will be
21749 processed relative to other events inside @value{GDBN}.
21750
21751 @value{GDBN} is not thread-safe. If your Python program uses multiple
21752 threads, you must be careful to only call @value{GDBN}-specific
21753 functions in the main @value{GDBN} thread. @code{post_event} ensures
21754 this. For example:
21755
21756 @smallexample
21757 (@value{GDBP}) python
21758 >import threading
21759 >
21760 >class Writer():
21761 > def __init__(self, message):
21762 > self.message = message;
21763 > def __call__(self):
21764 > gdb.write(self.message)
21765 >
21766 >class MyThread1 (threading.Thread):
21767 > def run (self):
21768 > gdb.post_event(Writer("Hello "))
21769 >
21770 >class MyThread2 (threading.Thread):
21771 > def run (self):
21772 > gdb.post_event(Writer("World\n"))
21773 >
21774 >MyThread1().start()
21775 >MyThread2().start()
21776 >end
21777 (@value{GDBP}) Hello World
21778 @end smallexample
21779 @end defun
21780
21781 @findex gdb.write
21782 @defun gdb.write (string @r{[}, stream{]})
21783 Print a string to @value{GDBN}'s paginated output stream. The
21784 optional @var{stream} determines the stream to print to. The default
21785 stream is @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream. Possible stream
21786 values are:
21787
21788 @table @code
21789 @findex STDOUT
21790 @findex gdb.STDOUT
21791 @item gdb.STDOUT
21792 @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream.
21793
21794 @findex STDERR
21795 @findex gdb.STDERR
21796 @item gdb.STDERR
21797 @value{GDBN}'s standard error stream.
21798
21799 @findex STDLOG
21800 @findex gdb.STDLOG
21801 @item gdb.STDLOG
21802 @value{GDBN}'s log stream (@pxref{Logging Output}).
21803 @end table
21804
21805 Writing to @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
21806 call this function and will automatically direct the output to the
21807 relevant stream.
21808 @end defun
21809
21810 @findex gdb.flush
21811 @defun gdb.flush ()
21812 Flush the buffer of a @value{GDBN} paginated stream so that the
21813 contents are displayed immediately. @value{GDBN} will flush the
21814 contents of a stream automatically when it encounters a newline in the
21815 buffer. The optional @var{stream} determines the stream to flush. The
21816 default stream is @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream. Possible
21817 stream values are:
21818
21819 @table @code
21820 @findex STDOUT
21821 @findex gdb.STDOUT
21822 @item gdb.STDOUT
21823 @value{GDBN}'s standard output stream.
21824
21825 @findex STDERR
21826 @findex gdb.STDERR
21827 @item gdb.STDERR
21828 @value{GDBN}'s standard error stream.
21829
21830 @findex STDLOG
21831 @findex gdb.STDLOG
21832 @item gdb.STDLOG
21833 @value{GDBN}'s log stream (@pxref{Logging Output}).
21834
21835 @end table
21836
21837 Flushing @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
21838 call this function for the relevant stream.
21839 @end defun
21840
21841 @findex gdb.target_charset
21842 @defun gdb.target_charset ()
21843 Return the name of the current target character set (@pxref{Character
21844 Sets}). This differs from @code{gdb.parameter('target-charset')} in
21845 that @samp{auto} is never returned.
21846 @end defun
21847
21848 @findex gdb.target_wide_charset
21849 @defun gdb.target_wide_charset ()
21850 Return the name of the current target wide character set
21851 (@pxref{Character Sets}). This differs from
21852 @code{gdb.parameter('target-wide-charset')} in that @samp{auto} is
21853 never returned.
21854 @end defun
21855
21856 @findex gdb.solib_name
21857 @defun gdb.solib_name (address)
21858 Return the name of the shared library holding the given @var{address}
21859 as a string, or @code{None}.
21860 @end defun
21861
21862 @findex gdb.decode_line
21863 @defun gdb.decode_line @r{[}expression@r{]}
21864 Return locations of the line specified by @var{expression}, or of the
21865 current line if no argument was given. This function returns a Python
21866 tuple containing two elements. The first element contains a string
21867 holding any unparsed section of @var{expression} (or @code{None} if
21868 the expression has been fully parsed). The second element contains
21869 either @code{None} or another tuple that contains all the locations
21870 that match the expression represented as @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line}
21871 objects (@pxref{Symbol Tables In Python}). If @var{expression} is
21872 provided, it is decoded the way that @value{GDBN}'s inbuilt
21873 @code{break} or @code{edit} commands do (@pxref{Specify Location}).
21874 @end defun
21875
21876 @defun gdb.prompt_hook (current_prompt)
21877 @anchor{prompt_hook}
21878
21879 If @var{prompt_hook} is callable, @value{GDBN} will call the method
21880 assigned to this operation before a prompt is displayed by
21881 @value{GDBN}.
21882
21883 The parameter @code{current_prompt} contains the current @value{GDBN}
21884 prompt. This method must return a Python string, or @code{None}. If
21885 a string is returned, the @value{GDBN} prompt will be set to that
21886 string. If @code{None} is returned, @value{GDBN} will continue to use
21887 the current prompt.
21888
21889 Some prompts cannot be substituted in @value{GDBN}. Secondary prompts
21890 such as those used by readline for command input, and annotation
21891 related prompts are prohibited from being changed.
21892 @end defun
21893
21894 @node Exception Handling
21895 @subsubsection Exception Handling
21896 @cindex python exceptions
21897 @cindex exceptions, python
21898
21899 When executing the @code{python} command, Python exceptions
21900 uncaught within the Python code are translated to calls to
21901 @value{GDBN} error-reporting mechanism. If the command that called
21902 @code{python} does not handle the error, @value{GDBN} will
21903 terminate it and print an error message containing the Python
21904 exception name, the associated value, and the Python call stack
21905 backtrace at the point where the exception was raised. Example:
21906
21907 @smallexample
21908 (@value{GDBP}) python print foo
21909 Traceback (most recent call last):
21910 File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
21911 NameError: name 'foo' is not defined
21912 @end smallexample
21913
21914 @value{GDBN} errors that happen in @value{GDBN} commands invoked by
21915 Python code are converted to Python exceptions. The type of the
21916 Python exception depends on the error.
21917
21918 @ftable @code
21919 @item gdb.error
21920 This is the base class for most exceptions generated by @value{GDBN}.
21921 It is derived from @code{RuntimeError}, for compatibility with earlier
21922 versions of @value{GDBN}.
21923
21924 If an error occurring in @value{GDBN} does not fit into some more
21925 specific category, then the generated exception will have this type.
21926
21927 @item gdb.MemoryError
21928 This is a subclass of @code{gdb.error} which is thrown when an
21929 operation tried to access invalid memory in the inferior.
21930
21931 @item KeyboardInterrupt
21932 User interrupt (via @kbd{C-c} or by typing @kbd{q} at a pagination
21933 prompt) is translated to a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception.
21934 @end ftable
21935
21936 In all cases, your exception handler will see the @value{GDBN} error
21937 message as its value and the Python call stack backtrace at the Python
21938 statement closest to where the @value{GDBN} error occured as the
21939 traceback.
21940
21941 @findex gdb.GdbError
21942 When implementing @value{GDBN} commands in Python via @code{gdb.Command},
21943 it is useful to be able to throw an exception that doesn't cause a
21944 traceback to be printed. For example, the user may have invoked the
21945 command incorrectly. Use the @code{gdb.GdbError} exception
21946 to handle this case. Example:
21947
21948 @smallexample
21949 (gdb) python
21950 >class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
21951 > """Greet the whole world."""
21952 > def __init__ (self):
21953 > super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE)
21954 > def invoke (self, args, from_tty):
21955 > argv = gdb.string_to_argv (args)
21956 > if len (argv) != 0:
21957 > raise gdb.GdbError ("hello-world takes no arguments")
21958 > print "Hello, World!"
21959 >HelloWorld ()
21960 >end
21961 (gdb) hello-world 42
21962 hello-world takes no arguments
21963 @end smallexample
21964
21965 @node Values From Inferior
21966 @subsubsection Values From Inferior
21967 @cindex values from inferior, with Python
21968 @cindex python, working with values from inferior
21969
21970 @cindex @code{gdb.Value}
21971 @value{GDBN} provides values it obtains from the inferior program in
21972 an object of type @code{gdb.Value}. @value{GDBN} uses this object
21973 for its internal bookkeeping of the inferior's values, and for
21974 fetching values when necessary.
21975
21976 Inferior values that are simple scalars can be used directly in
21977 Python expressions that are valid for the value's data type. Here's
21978 an example for an integer or floating-point value @code{some_val}:
21979
21980 @smallexample
21981 bar = some_val + 2
21982 @end smallexample
21983
21984 @noindent
21985 As result of this, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object
21986 whose values are of the same type as those of @code{some_val}.
21987
21988 Inferior values that are structures or instances of some class can
21989 be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}. For example, if
21990 @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance holding a structure, you
21991 can access its @code{foo} element with:
21992
21993 @smallexample
21994 bar = some_val['foo']
21995 @end smallexample
21996
21997 Again, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object.
21998
21999 A @code{gdb.Value} that represents a function can be executed via
22000 inferior function call. Any arguments provided to the call must match
22001 the function's prototype, and must be provided in the order specified
22002 by that prototype.
22003
22004 For example, @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance
22005 representing a function that takes two integers as arguments. To
22006 execute this function, call it like so:
22007
22008 @smallexample
22009 result = some_val (10,20)
22010 @end smallexample
22011
22012 Any values returned from a function call will be stored as a
22013 @code{gdb.Value}.
22014
22015 The following attributes are provided:
22016
22017 @table @code
22018 @defvar Value.address
22019 If this object is addressable, this read-only attribute holds a
22020 @code{gdb.Value} object representing the address. Otherwise,
22021 this attribute holds @code{None}.
22022 @end defvar
22023
22024 @cindex optimized out value in Python
22025 @defvar Value.is_optimized_out
22026 This read-only boolean attribute is true if the compiler optimized out
22027 this value, thus it is not available for fetching from the inferior.
22028 @end defvar
22029
22030 @defvar Value.type
22031 The type of this @code{gdb.Value}. The value of this attribute is a
22032 @code{gdb.Type} object (@pxref{Types In Python}).
22033 @end defvar
22034
22035 @defvar Value.dynamic_type
22036 The dynamic type of this @code{gdb.Value}. This uses C@t{++} run-time
22037 type information (@acronym{RTTI}) to determine the dynamic type of the
22038 value. If this value is of class type, it will return the class in
22039 which the value is embedded, if any. If this value is of pointer or
22040 reference to a class type, it will compute the dynamic type of the
22041 referenced object, and return a pointer or reference to that type,
22042 respectively. In all other cases, it will return the value's static
22043 type.
22044
22045 Note that this feature will only work when debugging a C@t{++} program
22046 that includes @acronym{RTTI} for the object in question. Otherwise,
22047 it will just return the static type of the value as in @kbd{ptype foo}
22048 (@pxref{Symbols, ptype}).
22049 @end defvar
22050
22051 @defvar Value.is_lazy
22052 The value of this read-only boolean attribute is @code{True} if this
22053 @code{gdb.Value} has not yet been fetched from the inferior.
22054 @value{GDBN} does not fetch values until necessary, for efficiency.
22055 For example:
22056
22057 @smallexample
22058 myval = gdb.parse_and_eval ('somevar')
22059 @end smallexample
22060
22061 The value of @code{somevar} is not fetched at this time. It will be
22062 fetched when the value is needed, or when the @code{fetch_lazy}
22063 method is invoked.
22064 @end defvar
22065 @end table
22066
22067 The following methods are provided:
22068
22069 @table @code
22070 @defun Value.__init__ (@var{val})
22071 Many Python values can be converted directly to a @code{gdb.Value} via
22072 this object initializer. Specifically:
22073
22074 @table @asis
22075 @item Python boolean
22076 A Python boolean is converted to the boolean type from the current
22077 language.
22078
22079 @item Python integer
22080 A Python integer is converted to the C @code{long} type for the
22081 current architecture.
22082
22083 @item Python long
22084 A Python long is converted to the C @code{long long} type for the
22085 current architecture.
22086
22087 @item Python float
22088 A Python float is converted to the C @code{double} type for the
22089 current architecture.
22090
22091 @item Python string
22092 A Python string is converted to a target string, using the current
22093 target encoding.
22094
22095 @item @code{gdb.Value}
22096 If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.Value}, then a copy of the value is made.
22097
22098 @item @code{gdb.LazyString}
22099 If @code{val} is a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings In
22100 Python}), then the lazy string's @code{value} method is called, and
22101 its result is used.
22102 @end table
22103 @end defun
22104
22105 @defun Value.cast (type)
22106 Return a new instance of @code{gdb.Value} that is the result of
22107 casting this instance to the type described by @var{type}, which must
22108 be a @code{gdb.Type} object. If the cast cannot be performed for some
22109 reason, this method throws an exception.
22110 @end defun
22111
22112 @defun Value.dereference ()
22113 For pointer data types, this method returns a new @code{gdb.Value} object
22114 whose contents is the object pointed to by the pointer. For example, if
22115 @code{foo} is a C pointer to an @code{int}, declared in your C program as
22116
22117 @smallexample
22118 int *foo;
22119 @end smallexample
22120
22121 @noindent
22122 then you can use the corresponding @code{gdb.Value} to access what
22123 @code{foo} points to like this:
22124
22125 @smallexample
22126 bar = foo.dereference ()
22127 @end smallexample
22128
22129 The result @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Value} object holding the
22130 value pointed to by @code{foo}.
22131 @end defun
22132
22133 @defun Value.dynamic_cast (type)
22134 Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{dynamic_cast}
22135 operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
22136 @end defun
22137
22138 @defun Value.reinterpret_cast (type)
22139 Like @code{Value.cast}, but works as if the C@t{++} @code{reinterpret_cast}
22140 operator were used. Consult a C@t{++} reference for details.
22141 @end defun
22142
22143 @defun Value.string (@r{[}encoding@r{[}, errors@r{[}, length@r{]]]})
22144 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
22145 converts the contents to a Python string. Otherwise, this method will
22146 throw an exception.
22147
22148 Strings are recognized in a language-specific way; whether a given
22149 @code{gdb.Value} represents a string is determined by the current
22150 language.
22151
22152 For C-like languages, a value is a string if it is a pointer to or an
22153 array of characters or ints. The string is assumed to be terminated
22154 by a zero of the appropriate width. However if the optional length
22155 argument is given, the string will be converted to that given length,
22156 ignoring any embedded zeros that the string may contain.
22157
22158 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
22159 naming the encoding of the string in the @code{gdb.Value}, such as
22160 @code{"ascii"}, @code{"iso-8859-6"} or @code{"utf-8"}. It accepts
22161 the same encodings as the corresponding argument to Python's
22162 @code{string.decode} method, and the Python codec machinery will be used
22163 to convert the string. If @var{encoding} is not given, or if
22164 @var{encoding} is the empty string, then either the @code{target-charset}
22165 (@pxref{Character Sets}) will be used, or a language-specific encoding
22166 will be used, if the current language is able to supply one.
22167
22168 The optional @var{errors} argument is the same as the corresponding
22169 argument to Python's @code{string.decode} method.
22170
22171 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
22172 fetched and converted to the given length.
22173 @end defun
22174
22175 @defun Value.lazy_string (@r{[}encoding @r{[}, length@r{]]})
22176 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
22177 converts the contents to a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings
22178 In Python}). Otherwise, this method will throw an exception.
22179
22180 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
22181 naming the encoding of the @code{gdb.LazyString}. Some examples are:
22182 @samp{ascii}, @samp{iso-8859-6} or @samp{utf-8}. If the
22183 @var{encoding} argument is an encoding that @value{GDBN} does
22184 recognize, @value{GDBN} will raise an error.
22185
22186 When a lazy string is printed, the @value{GDBN} encoding machinery is
22187 used to convert the string during printing. If the optional
22188 @var{encoding} argument is not provided, or is an empty string,
22189 @value{GDBN} will automatically select the encoding most suitable for
22190 the string type. For further information on encoding in @value{GDBN}
22191 please see @ref{Character Sets}.
22192
22193 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
22194 fetched and encoded to the length of characters specified. If
22195 the @var{length} argument is not provided, the string will be fetched
22196 and encoded until a null of appropriate width is found.
22197 @end defun
22198
22199 @defun Value.fetch_lazy ()
22200 If the @code{gdb.Value} object is currently a lazy value
22201 (@code{gdb.Value.is_lazy} is @code{True}), then the value is
22202 fetched from the inferior. Any errors that occur in the process
22203 will produce a Python exception.
22204
22205 If the @code{gdb.Value} object is not a lazy value, this method
22206 has no effect.
22207
22208 This method does not return a value.
22209 @end defun
22210
22211 @end table
22212
22213 @node Types In Python
22214 @subsubsection Types In Python
22215 @cindex types in Python
22216 @cindex Python, working with types
22217
22218 @tindex gdb.Type
22219 @value{GDBN} represents types from the inferior using the class
22220 @code{gdb.Type}.
22221
22222 The following type-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
22223 module:
22224
22225 @findex gdb.lookup_type
22226 @defun gdb.lookup_type (name @r{[}, block@r{]})
22227 This function looks up a type by name. @var{name} is the name of the
22228 type to look up. It must be a string.
22229
22230 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
22231 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
22232
22233 Ordinarily, this function will return an instance of @code{gdb.Type}.
22234 If the named type cannot be found, it will throw an exception.
22235 @end defun
22236
22237 If the type is a structure or class type, or an enum type, the fields
22238 of that type can be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}.
22239 For example, if @code{some_type} is a @code{gdb.Type} instance holding
22240 a structure type, you can access its @code{foo} field with:
22241
22242 @smallexample
22243 bar = some_type['foo']
22244 @end smallexample
22245
22246 @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Field} object; see below under the
22247 description of the @code{Type.fields} method for a description of the
22248 @code{gdb.Field} class.
22249
22250 An instance of @code{Type} has the following attributes:
22251
22252 @table @code
22253 @defvar Type.code
22254 The type code for this type. The type code will be one of the
22255 @code{TYPE_CODE_} constants defined below.
22256 @end defvar
22257
22258 @defvar Type.sizeof
22259 The size of this type, in target @code{char} units. Usually, a
22260 target's @code{char} type will be an 8-bit byte. However, on some
22261 unusual platforms, this type may have a different size.
22262 @end defvar
22263
22264 @defvar Type.tag
22265 The tag name for this type. The tag name is the name after
22266 @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} in C and C@t{++}; not all
22267 languages have this concept. If this type has no tag name, then
22268 @code{None} is returned.
22269 @end defvar
22270 @end table
22271
22272 The following methods are provided:
22273
22274 @table @code
22275 @defun Type.fields ()
22276 For structure and union types, this method returns the fields. Range
22277 types have two fields, the minimum and maximum values. Enum types
22278 have one field per enum constant. Function and method types have one
22279 field per parameter. The base types of C@t{++} classes are also
22280 represented as fields. If the type has no fields, or does not fit
22281 into one of these categories, an empty sequence will be returned.
22282
22283 Each field is a @code{gdb.Field} object, with some pre-defined attributes:
22284 @table @code
22285 @item bitpos
22286 This attribute is not available for @code{static} fields (as in
22287 C@t{++} or Java). For non-@code{static} fields, the value is the bit
22288 position of the field. For @code{enum} fields, the value is the
22289 enumeration member's integer representation.
22290
22291 @item name
22292 The name of the field, or @code{None} for anonymous fields.
22293
22294 @item artificial
22295 This is @code{True} if the field is artificial, usually meaning that
22296 it was provided by the compiler and not the user. This attribute is
22297 always provided, and is @code{False} if the field is not artificial.
22298
22299 @item is_base_class
22300 This is @code{True} if the field represents a base class of a C@t{++}
22301 structure. This attribute is always provided, and is @code{False}
22302 if the field is not a base class of the type that is the argument of
22303 @code{fields}, or if that type was not a C@t{++} class.
22304
22305 @item bitsize
22306 If the field is packed, or is a bitfield, then this will have a
22307 non-zero value, which is the size of the field in bits. Otherwise,
22308 this will be zero; in this case the field's size is given by its type.
22309
22310 @item type
22311 The type of the field. This is usually an instance of @code{Type},
22312 but it can be @code{None} in some situations.
22313 @end table
22314 @end defun
22315
22316 @defun Type.array (@var{n1} @r{[}, @var{n2}@r{]})
22317 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an array of this
22318 type. If one argument is given, it is the inclusive upper bound of
22319 the array; in this case the lower bound is zero. If two arguments are
22320 given, the first argument is the lower bound of the array, and the
22321 second argument is the upper bound of the array. An array's length
22322 must not be negative, but the bounds can be.
22323 @end defun
22324
22325 @defun Type.const ()
22326 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
22327 @code{const}-qualified variant of this type.
22328 @end defun
22329
22330 @defun Type.volatile ()
22331 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
22332 @code{volatile}-qualified variant of this type.
22333 @end defun
22334
22335 @defun Type.unqualified ()
22336 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an unqualified
22337 variant of this type. That is, the result is neither @code{const} nor
22338 @code{volatile}.
22339 @end defun
22340
22341 @defun Type.range ()
22342 Return a Python @code{Tuple} object that contains two elements: the
22343 low bound of the argument type and the high bound of that type. If
22344 the type does not have a range, @value{GDBN} will raise a
22345 @code{gdb.error} exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
22346 @end defun
22347
22348 @defun Type.reference ()
22349 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a reference to this
22350 type.
22351 @end defun
22352
22353 @defun Type.pointer ()
22354 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a pointer to this
22355 type.
22356 @end defun
22357
22358 @defun Type.strip_typedefs ()
22359 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} that represents the real type,
22360 after removing all layers of typedefs.
22361 @end defun
22362
22363 @defun Type.target ()
22364 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents the target type
22365 of this type.
22366
22367 For a pointer type, the target type is the type of the pointed-to
22368 object. For an array type (meaning C-like arrays), the target type is
22369 the type of the elements of the array. For a function or method type,
22370 the target type is the type of the return value. For a complex type,
22371 the target type is the type of the elements. For a typedef, the
22372 target type is the aliased type.
22373
22374 If the type does not have a target, this method will throw an
22375 exception.
22376 @end defun
22377
22378 @defun Type.template_argument (n @r{[}, block@r{]})
22379 If this @code{gdb.Type} is an instantiation of a template, this will
22380 return a new @code{gdb.Type} which represents the type of the
22381 @var{n}th template argument.
22382
22383 If this @code{gdb.Type} is not a template type, this will throw an
22384 exception. Ordinarily, only C@t{++} code will have template types.
22385
22386 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
22387 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
22388 @end defun
22389 @end table
22390
22391
22392 Each type has a code, which indicates what category this type falls
22393 into. The available type categories are represented by constants
22394 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
22395
22396 @table @code
22397 @findex TYPE_CODE_PTR
22398 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
22399 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
22400 The type is a pointer.
22401
22402 @findex TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
22403 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
22404 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
22405 The type is an array.
22406
22407 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
22408 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
22409 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
22410 The type is a structure.
22411
22412 @findex TYPE_CODE_UNION
22413 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
22414 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
22415 The type is a union.
22416
22417 @findex TYPE_CODE_ENUM
22418 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
22419 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
22420 The type is an enum.
22421
22422 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
22423 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
22424 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
22425 A bit flags type, used for things such as status registers.
22426
22427 @findex TYPE_CODE_FUNC
22428 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
22429 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
22430 The type is a function.
22431
22432 @findex TYPE_CODE_INT
22433 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
22434 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
22435 The type is an integer type.
22436
22437 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLT
22438 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
22439 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
22440 A floating point type.
22441
22442 @findex TYPE_CODE_VOID
22443 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
22444 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
22445 The special type @code{void}.
22446
22447 @findex TYPE_CODE_SET
22448 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
22449 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
22450 A Pascal set type.
22451
22452 @findex TYPE_CODE_RANGE
22453 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
22454 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
22455 A range type, that is, an integer type with bounds.
22456
22457 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRING
22458 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
22459 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
22460 A string type. Note that this is only used for certain languages with
22461 language-defined string types; C strings are not represented this way.
22462
22463 @findex TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
22464 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
22465 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
22466 A string of bits.
22467
22468 @findex TYPE_CODE_ERROR
22469 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
22470 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
22471 An unknown or erroneous type.
22472
22473 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHOD
22474 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
22475 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
22476 A method type, as found in C@t{++} or Java.
22477
22478 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
22479 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
22480 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
22481 A pointer-to-member-function.
22482
22483 @findex TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
22484 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
22485 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
22486 A pointer-to-member.
22487
22488 @findex TYPE_CODE_REF
22489 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
22490 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
22491 A reference type.
22492
22493 @findex TYPE_CODE_CHAR
22494 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
22495 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
22496 A character type.
22497
22498 @findex TYPE_CODE_BOOL
22499 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
22500 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
22501 A boolean type.
22502
22503 @findex TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
22504 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
22505 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
22506 A complex float type.
22507
22508 @findex TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
22509 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
22510 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
22511 A typedef to some other type.
22512
22513 @findex TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
22514 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
22515 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
22516 A C@t{++} namespace.
22517
22518 @findex TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
22519 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
22520 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
22521 A decimal floating point type.
22522
22523 @findex TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
22524 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
22525 @item gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
22526 A function internal to @value{GDBN}. This is the type used to represent
22527 convenience functions.
22528 @end table
22529
22530 Further support for types is provided in the @code{gdb.types}
22531 Python module (@pxref{gdb.types}).
22532
22533 @node Pretty Printing API
22534 @subsubsection Pretty Printing API
22535
22536 An example output is provided (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
22537
22538 A pretty-printer is just an object that holds a value and implements a
22539 specific interface, defined here.
22540
22541 @defun pretty_printer.children (self)
22542 @value{GDBN} will call this method on a pretty-printer to compute the
22543 children of the pretty-printer's value.
22544
22545 This method must return an object conforming to the Python iterator
22546 protocol. Each item returned by the iterator must be a tuple holding
22547 two elements. The first element is the ``name'' of the child; the
22548 second element is the child's value. The value can be any Python
22549 object which is convertible to a @value{GDBN} value.
22550
22551 This method is optional. If it does not exist, @value{GDBN} will act
22552 as though the value has no children.
22553 @end defun
22554
22555 @defun pretty_printer.display_hint (self)
22556 The CLI may call this method and use its result to change the
22557 formatting of a value. The result will also be supplied to an MI
22558 consumer as a @samp{displayhint} attribute of the variable being
22559 printed.
22560
22561 This method is optional. If it does exist, this method must return a
22562 string.
22563
22564 Some display hints are predefined by @value{GDBN}:
22565
22566 @table @samp
22567 @item array
22568 Indicate that the object being printed is ``array-like''. The CLI
22569 uses this to respect parameters such as @code{set print elements} and
22570 @code{set print array}.
22571
22572 @item map
22573 Indicate that the object being printed is ``map-like'', and that the
22574 children of this value can be assumed to alternate between keys and
22575 values.
22576
22577 @item string
22578 Indicate that the object being printed is ``string-like''. If the
22579 printer's @code{to_string} method returns a Python string of some
22580 kind, then @value{GDBN} will call its internal language-specific
22581 string-printing function to format the string. For the CLI this means
22582 adding quotation marks, possibly escaping some characters, respecting
22583 @code{set print elements}, and the like.
22584 @end table
22585 @end defun
22586
22587 @defun pretty_printer.to_string (self)
22588 @value{GDBN} will call this method to display the string
22589 representation of the value passed to the object's constructor.
22590
22591 When printing from the CLI, if the @code{to_string} method exists,
22592 then @value{GDBN} will prepend its result to the values returned by
22593 @code{children}. Exactly how this formatting is done is dependent on
22594 the display hint, and may change as more hints are added. Also,
22595 depending on the print settings (@pxref{Print Settings}), the CLI may
22596 print just the result of @code{to_string} in a stack trace, omitting
22597 the result of @code{children}.
22598
22599 If this method returns a string, it is printed verbatim.
22600
22601 Otherwise, if this method returns an instance of @code{gdb.Value},
22602 then @value{GDBN} prints this value. This may result in a call to
22603 another pretty-printer.
22604
22605 If instead the method returns a Python value which is convertible to a
22606 @code{gdb.Value}, then @value{GDBN} performs the conversion and prints
22607 the resulting value. Again, this may result in a call to another
22608 pretty-printer. Python scalars (integers, floats, and booleans) and
22609 strings are convertible to @code{gdb.Value}; other types are not.
22610
22611 Finally, if this method returns @code{None} then no further operations
22612 are peformed in this method and nothing is printed.
22613
22614 If the result is not one of these types, an exception is raised.
22615 @end defun
22616
22617 @value{GDBN} provides a function which can be used to look up the
22618 default pretty-printer for a @code{gdb.Value}:
22619
22620 @findex gdb.default_visualizer
22621 @defun gdb.default_visualizer (value)
22622 This function takes a @code{gdb.Value} object as an argument. If a
22623 pretty-printer for this value exists, then it is returned. If no such
22624 printer exists, then this returns @code{None}.
22625 @end defun
22626
22627 @node Selecting Pretty-Printers
22628 @subsubsection Selecting Pretty-Printers
22629
22630 The Python list @code{gdb.pretty_printers} contains an array of
22631 functions or callable objects that have been registered via addition
22632 as a pretty-printer. Printers in this list are called @code{global}
22633 printers, they're available when debugging all inferiors.
22634 Each @code{gdb.Progspace} contains a @code{pretty_printers} attribute.
22635 Each @code{gdb.Objfile} also contains a @code{pretty_printers}
22636 attribute.
22637
22638 Each function on these lists is passed a single @code{gdb.Value}
22639 argument and should return a pretty-printer object conforming to the
22640 interface definition above (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}). If a function
22641 cannot create a pretty-printer for the value, it should return
22642 @code{None}.
22643
22644 @value{GDBN} first checks the @code{pretty_printers} attribute of each
22645 @code{gdb.Objfile} in the current program space and iteratively calls
22646 each enabled lookup routine in the list for that @code{gdb.Objfile}
22647 until it receives a pretty-printer object.
22648 If no pretty-printer is found in the objfile lists, @value{GDBN} then
22649 searches the pretty-printer list of the current program space,
22650 calling each enabled function until an object is returned.
22651 After these lists have been exhausted, it tries the global
22652 @code{gdb.pretty_printers} list, again calling each enabled function until an
22653 object is returned.
22654
22655 The order in which the objfiles are searched is not specified. For a
22656 given list, functions are always invoked from the head of the list,
22657 and iterated over sequentially until the end of the list, or a printer
22658 object is returned.
22659
22660 For various reasons a pretty-printer may not work.
22661 For example, the underlying data structure may have changed and
22662 the pretty-printer is out of date.
22663
22664 The consequences of a broken pretty-printer are severe enough that
22665 @value{GDBN} provides support for enabling and disabling individual
22666 printers. For example, if @code{print frame-arguments} is on,
22667 a backtrace can become highly illegible if any argument is printed
22668 with a broken printer.
22669
22670 Pretty-printers are enabled and disabled by attaching an @code{enabled}
22671 attribute to the registered function or callable object. If this attribute
22672 is present and its value is @code{False}, the printer is disabled, otherwise
22673 the printer is enabled.
22674
22675 @node Writing a Pretty-Printer
22676 @subsubsection Writing a Pretty-Printer
22677 @cindex writing a pretty-printer
22678
22679 A pretty-printer consists of two parts: a lookup function to detect
22680 if the type is supported, and the printer itself.
22681
22682 Here is an example showing how a @code{std::string} printer might be
22683 written. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for details on the API this class
22684 must provide.
22685
22686 @smallexample
22687 class StdStringPrinter(object):
22688 "Print a std::string"
22689
22690 def __init__(self, val):
22691 self.val = val
22692
22693 def to_string(self):
22694 return self.val['_M_dataplus']['_M_p']
22695
22696 def display_hint(self):
22697 return 'string'
22698 @end smallexample
22699
22700 And here is an example showing how a lookup function for the printer
22701 example above might be written.
22702
22703 @smallexample
22704 def str_lookup_function(val):
22705 lookup_tag = val.type.tag
22706 if lookup_tag == None:
22707 return None
22708 regex = re.compile("^std::basic_string<char,.*>$")
22709 if regex.match(lookup_tag):
22710 return StdStringPrinter(val)
22711 return None
22712 @end smallexample
22713
22714 The example lookup function extracts the value's type, and attempts to
22715 match it to a type that it can pretty-print. If it is a type the
22716 printer can pretty-print, it will return a printer object. If not, it
22717 returns @code{None}.
22718
22719 We recommend that you put your core pretty-printers into a Python
22720 package. If your pretty-printers are for use with a library, we
22721 further recommend embedding a version number into the package name.
22722 This practice will enable @value{GDBN} to load multiple versions of
22723 your pretty-printers at the same time, because they will have
22724 different names.
22725
22726 You should write auto-loaded code (@pxref{Auto-loading}) such that it
22727 can be evaluated multiple times without changing its meaning. An
22728 ideal auto-load file will consist solely of @code{import}s of your
22729 printer modules, followed by a call to a register pretty-printers with
22730 the current objfile.
22731
22732 Taken as a whole, this approach will scale nicely to multiple
22733 inferiors, each potentially using a different library version.
22734 Embedding a version number in the Python package name will ensure that
22735 @value{GDBN} is able to load both sets of printers simultaneously.
22736 Then, because the search for pretty-printers is done by objfile, and
22737 because your auto-loaded code took care to register your library's
22738 printers with a specific objfile, @value{GDBN} will find the correct
22739 printers for the specific version of the library used by each
22740 inferior.
22741
22742 To continue the @code{std::string} example (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}),
22743 this code might appear in @code{gdb.libstdcxx.v6}:
22744
22745 @smallexample
22746 def register_printers(objfile):
22747 objfile.pretty_printers.append(str_lookup_function)
22748 @end smallexample
22749
22750 @noindent
22751 And then the corresponding contents of the auto-load file would be:
22752
22753 @smallexample
22754 import gdb.libstdcxx.v6
22755 gdb.libstdcxx.v6.register_printers(gdb.current_objfile())
22756 @end smallexample
22757
22758 The previous example illustrates a basic pretty-printer.
22759 There are a few things that can be improved on.
22760 The printer doesn't have a name, making it hard to identify in a
22761 list of installed printers. The lookup function has a name, but
22762 lookup functions can have arbitrary, even identical, names.
22763
22764 Second, the printer only handles one type, whereas a library typically has
22765 several types. One could install a lookup function for each desired type
22766 in the library, but one could also have a single lookup function recognize
22767 several types. The latter is the conventional way this is handled.
22768 If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
22769 @dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
22770
22771 The @code{gdb.printing} module provides a formal way of solving these
22772 problems (@pxref{gdb.printing}).
22773 Here is another example that handles multiple types.
22774
22775 These are the types we are going to pretty-print:
22776
22777 @smallexample
22778 struct foo @{ int a, b; @};
22779 struct bar @{ struct foo x, y; @};
22780 @end smallexample
22781
22782 Here are the printers:
22783
22784 @smallexample
22785 class fooPrinter:
22786 """Print a foo object."""
22787
22788 def __init__(self, val):
22789 self.val = val
22790
22791 def to_string(self):
22792 return ("a=<" + str(self.val["a"]) +
22793 "> b=<" + str(self.val["b"]) + ">")
22794
22795 class barPrinter:
22796 """Print a bar object."""
22797
22798 def __init__(self, val):
22799 self.val = val
22800
22801 def to_string(self):
22802 return ("x=<" + str(self.val["x"]) +
22803 "> y=<" + str(self.val["y"]) + ">")
22804 @end smallexample
22805
22806 This example doesn't need a lookup function, that is handled by the
22807 @code{gdb.printing} module. Instead a function is provided to build up
22808 the object that handles the lookup.
22809
22810 @smallexample
22811 import gdb.printing
22812
22813 def build_pretty_printer():
22814 pp = gdb.printing.RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter(
22815 "my_library")
22816 pp.add_printer('foo', '^foo$', fooPrinter)
22817 pp.add_printer('bar', '^bar$', barPrinter)
22818 return pp
22819 @end smallexample
22820
22821 And here is the autoload support:
22822
22823 @smallexample
22824 import gdb.printing
22825 import my_library
22826 gdb.printing.register_pretty_printer(
22827 gdb.current_objfile(),
22828 my_library.build_pretty_printer())
22829 @end smallexample
22830
22831 Finally, when this printer is loaded into @value{GDBN}, here is the
22832 corresponding output of @samp{info pretty-printer}:
22833
22834 @smallexample
22835 (gdb) info pretty-printer
22836 my_library.so:
22837 my_library
22838 foo
22839 bar
22840 @end smallexample
22841
22842 @node Inferiors In Python
22843 @subsubsection Inferiors In Python
22844 @cindex inferiors in Python
22845
22846 @findex gdb.Inferior
22847 Programs which are being run under @value{GDBN} are called inferiors
22848 (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). Python scripts can access
22849 information about and manipulate inferiors controlled by @value{GDBN}
22850 via objects of the @code{gdb.Inferior} class.
22851
22852 The following inferior-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
22853 module:
22854
22855 @defun gdb.inferiors ()
22856 Return a tuple containing all inferior objects.
22857 @end defun
22858
22859 @defun gdb.selected_inferior ()
22860 Return an object representing the current inferior.
22861 @end defun
22862
22863 A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following attributes:
22864
22865 @table @code
22866 @defvar Inferior.num
22867 ID of inferior, as assigned by GDB.
22868 @end defvar
22869
22870 @defvar Inferior.pid
22871 Process ID of the inferior, as assigned by the underlying operating
22872 system.
22873 @end defvar
22874
22875 @defvar Inferior.was_attached
22876 Boolean signaling whether the inferior was created using `attach', or
22877 started by @value{GDBN} itself.
22878 @end defvar
22879 @end table
22880
22881 A @code{gdb.Inferior} object has the following methods:
22882
22883 @table @code
22884 @defun Inferior.is_valid ()
22885 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Inferior} object is valid,
22886 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Inferior} object will become invalid
22887 if the inferior no longer exists within @value{GDBN}. All other
22888 @code{gdb.Inferior} methods will throw an exception if it is invalid
22889 at the time the method is called.
22890 @end defun
22891
22892 @defun Inferior.threads ()
22893 This method returns a tuple holding all the threads which are valid
22894 when it is called. If there are no valid threads, the method will
22895 return an empty tuple.
22896 @end defun
22897
22898 @findex gdb.read_memory
22899 @defun Inferior.read_memory (address, length)
22900 Read @var{length} bytes of memory from the inferior, starting at
22901 @var{address}. Returns a buffer object, which behaves much like an array
22902 or a string. It can be modified and given to the @code{gdb.write_memory}
22903 function.
22904 @end defun
22905
22906 @findex gdb.write_memory
22907 @defun Inferior.write_memory (address, buffer @r{[}, length@r{]})
22908 Write the contents of @var{buffer} to the inferior, starting at
22909 @var{address}. The @var{buffer} parameter must be a Python object
22910 which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
22911 object returned from @code{gdb.read_memory}. If given, @var{length}
22912 determines the number of bytes from @var{buffer} to be written.
22913 @end defun
22914
22915 @findex gdb.search_memory
22916 @defun Inferior.search_memory (address, length, pattern)
22917 Search a region of the inferior memory starting at @var{address} with
22918 the given @var{length} using the search pattern supplied in
22919 @var{pattern}. The @var{pattern} parameter must be a Python object
22920 which supports the buffer protocol, i.e., a string, an array or the
22921 object returned from @code{gdb.read_memory}. Returns a Python @code{Long}
22922 containing the address where the pattern was found, or @code{None} if
22923 the pattern could not be found.
22924 @end defun
22925 @end table
22926
22927 @node Events In Python
22928 @subsubsection Events In Python
22929 @cindex inferior events in Python
22930
22931 @value{GDBN} provides a general event facility so that Python code can be
22932 notified of various state changes, particularly changes that occur in
22933 the inferior.
22934
22935 An @dfn{event} is just an object that describes some state change. The
22936 type of the object and its attributes will vary depending on the details
22937 of the change. All the existing events are described below.
22938
22939 In order to be notified of an event, you must register an event handler
22940 with an @dfn{event registry}. An event registry is an object in the
22941 @code{gdb.events} module which dispatches particular events. A registry
22942 provides methods to register and unregister event handlers:
22943
22944 @table @code
22945 @defun EventRegistry.connect (object)
22946 Add the given callable @var{object} to the registry. This object will be
22947 called when an event corresponding to this registry occurs.
22948 @end defun
22949
22950 @defun EventRegistry.disconnect (object)
22951 Remove the given @var{object} from the registry. Once removed, the object
22952 will no longer receive notifications of events.
22953 @end defun
22954 @end table
22955
22956 Here is an example:
22957
22958 @smallexample
22959 def exit_handler (event):
22960 print "event type: exit"
22961 print "exit code: %d" % (event.exit_code)
22962
22963 gdb.events.exited.connect (exit_handler)
22964 @end smallexample
22965
22966 In the above example we connect our handler @code{exit_handler} to the
22967 registry @code{events.exited}. Once connected, @code{exit_handler} gets
22968 called when the inferior exits. The argument @dfn{event} in this example is
22969 of type @code{gdb.ExitedEvent}. As you can see in the example the
22970 @code{ExitedEvent} object has an attribute which indicates the exit code of
22971 the inferior.
22972
22973 The following is a listing of the event registries that are available and
22974 details of the events they emit:
22975
22976 @table @code
22977
22978 @item events.cont
22979 Emits @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
22980
22981 Some events can be thread specific when @value{GDBN} is running in non-stop
22982 mode. When represented in Python, these events all extend
22983 @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}. Note, this event is not emitted directly; instead,
22984 events which are emitted by this or other modules might extend this event.
22985 Examples of these events are @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} and
22986 @code{gdb.ContinueEvent}.
22987
22988 @table @code
22989 @defvar ThreadEvent.inferior_thread
22990 In non-stop mode this attribute will be set to the specific thread which was
22991 involved in the emitted event. Otherwise, it will be set to @code{None}.
22992 @end defvar
22993 @end table
22994
22995 Emits @code{gdb.ContinueEvent} which extends @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
22996
22997 This event indicates that the inferior has been continued after a stop. For
22998 inherited attribute refer to @code{gdb.ThreadEvent} above.
22999
23000 @item events.exited
23001 Emits @code{events.ExitedEvent} which indicates that the inferior has exited.
23002 @code{events.ExitedEvent} has two attributes:
23003 @table @code
23004 @defvar ExitedEvent.exit_code
23005 An integer representing the exit code, if available, which the inferior
23006 has returned. (The exit code could be unavailable if, for example,
23007 @value{GDBN} detaches from the inferior.) If the exit code is unavailable,
23008 the attribute does not exist.
23009 @end defvar
23010 @defvar ExitedEvent inferior
23011 A reference to the inferior which triggered the @code{exited} event.
23012 @end defvar
23013 @end table
23014
23015 @item events.stop
23016 Emits @code{gdb.StopEvent} which extends @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}.
23017
23018 Indicates that the inferior has stopped. All events emitted by this registry
23019 extend StopEvent. As a child of @code{gdb.ThreadEvent}, @code{gdb.StopEvent}
23020 will indicate the stopped thread when @value{GDBN} is running in non-stop
23021 mode. Refer to @code{gdb.ThreadEvent} above for more details.
23022
23023 Emits @code{gdb.SignalEvent} which extends @code{gdb.StopEvent}.
23024
23025 This event indicates that the inferior or one of its threads has received as
23026 signal. @code{gdb.SignalEvent} has the following attributes:
23027
23028 @table @code
23029 @defvar SignalEvent.stop_signal
23030 A string representing the signal received by the inferior. A list of possible
23031 signal values can be obtained by running the command @code{info signals} in
23032 the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
23033 @end defvar
23034 @end table
23035
23036 Also emits @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} which extends @code{gdb.StopEvent}.
23037
23038 @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent} event indicates that one or more breakpoints have
23039 been hit, and has the following attributes:
23040
23041 @table @code
23042 @defvar BreakpointEvent.breakpoints
23043 A sequence containing references to all the breakpoints (type
23044 @code{gdb.Breakpoint}) that were hit.
23045 @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for details of the @code{gdb.Breakpoint} object.
23046 @end defvar
23047 @defvar BreakpointEvent.breakpoint
23048 A reference to the first breakpoint that was hit.
23049 This function is maintained for backward compatibility and is now deprecated
23050 in favor of the @code{gdb.BreakpointEvent.breakpoints} attribute.
23051 @end defvar
23052 @end table
23053
23054 @item events.new_objfile
23055 Emits @code{gdb.NewObjFileEvent} which indicates that a new object file has
23056 been loaded by @value{GDBN}. @code{gdb.NewObjFileEvent} has one attribute:
23057
23058 @table @code
23059 @defvar NewObjFileEvent.new_objfile
23060 A reference to the object file (@code{gdb.Objfile}) which has been loaded.
23061 @xref{Objfiles In Python}, for details of the @code{gdb.Objfile} object.
23062 @end defvar
23063 @end table
23064
23065 @end table
23066
23067 @node Threads In Python
23068 @subsubsection Threads In Python
23069 @cindex threads in python
23070
23071 @findex gdb.InferiorThread
23072 Python scripts can access information about, and manipulate inferior threads
23073 controlled by @value{GDBN}, via objects of the @code{gdb.InferiorThread} class.
23074
23075 The following thread-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
23076 module:
23077
23078 @findex gdb.selected_thread
23079 @defun gdb.selected_thread ()
23080 This function returns the thread object for the selected thread. If there
23081 is no selected thread, this will return @code{None}.
23082 @end defun
23083
23084 A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following attributes:
23085
23086 @table @code
23087 @defvar InferiorThread.name
23088 The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using
23089 @code{thread name}, then this returns that name. Otherwise, if an
23090 OS-supplied name is available, then it is returned. Otherwise, this
23091 returns @code{None}.
23092
23093 This attribute can be assigned to. The new value must be a string
23094 object, which sets the new name, or @code{None}, which removes any
23095 user-specified thread name.
23096 @end defvar
23097
23098 @defvar InferiorThread.num
23099 ID of the thread, as assigned by GDB.
23100 @end defvar
23101
23102 @defvar InferiorThread.ptid
23103 ID of the thread, as assigned by the operating system. This attribute is a
23104 tuple containing three integers. The first is the Process ID (PID); the second
23105 is the Lightweight Process ID (LWPID), and the third is the Thread ID (TID).
23106 Either the LWPID or TID may be 0, which indicates that the operating system
23107 does not use that identifier.
23108 @end defvar
23109 @end table
23110
23111 A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object has the following methods:
23112
23113 @table @code
23114 @defun InferiorThread.is_valid ()
23115 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object is valid,
23116 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.InferiorThread} object will become
23117 invalid if the thread exits, or the inferior that the thread belongs
23118 is deleted. All other @code{gdb.InferiorThread} methods will throw an
23119 exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
23120 @end defun
23121
23122 @defun InferiorThread.switch ()
23123 This changes @value{GDBN}'s currently selected thread to the one represented
23124 by this object.
23125 @end defun
23126
23127 @defun InferiorThread.is_stopped ()
23128 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is stopped.
23129 @end defun
23130
23131 @defun InferiorThread.is_running ()
23132 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is running.
23133 @end defun
23134
23135 @defun InferiorThread.is_exited ()
23136 Return a Boolean indicating whether the thread is exited.
23137 @end defun
23138 @end table
23139
23140 @node Commands In Python
23141 @subsubsection Commands In Python
23142
23143 @cindex commands in python
23144 @cindex python commands
23145 You can implement new @value{GDBN} CLI commands in Python. A CLI
23146 command is implemented using an instance of the @code{gdb.Command}
23147 class, most commonly using a subclass.
23148
23149 @defun Command.__init__ (name, @var{command_class} @r{[}, @var{completer_class} @r{[}, @var{prefix}@r{]]})
23150 The object initializer for @code{Command} registers the new command
23151 with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked from the
23152 subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
23153
23154 @var{name} is the name of the command. If @var{name} consists of
23155 multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
23156 commands. In this case, if one of the prefix commands does not exist,
23157 an exception is raised.
23158
23159 There is no support for multi-line commands.
23160
23161 @var{command_class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
23162 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to categorize the
23163 new command in the help system.
23164
23165 @var{completer_class} is an optional argument. If given, it should be
23166 one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined below. This argument
23167 tells @value{GDBN} how to perform completion for this command. If not
23168 given, @value{GDBN} will attempt to complete using the object's
23169 @code{complete} method (see below); if no such method is found, an
23170 error will occur when completion is attempted.
23171
23172 @var{prefix} is an optional argument. If @code{True}, then the new
23173 command is a prefix command; sub-commands of this command may be
23174 registered.
23175
23176 The help text for the new command is taken from the Python
23177 documentation string for the command's class, if there is one. If no
23178 documentation string is provided, the default value ``This command is
23179 not documented.'' is used.
23180 @end defun
23181
23182 @cindex don't repeat Python command
23183 @defun Command.dont_repeat ()
23184 By default, a @value{GDBN} command is repeated when the user enters a
23185 blank line at the command prompt. A command can suppress this
23186 behavior by invoking the @code{dont_repeat} method. This is similar
23187 to the user command @code{dont-repeat}, see @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
23188 @end defun
23189
23190 @defun Command.invoke (argument, from_tty)
23191 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when this command is invoked.
23192
23193 @var{argument} is a string. It is the argument to the command, after
23194 leading and trailing whitespace has been stripped.
23195
23196 @var{from_tty} is a boolean argument. When true, this means that the
23197 command was entered by the user at the terminal; when false it means
23198 that the command came from elsewhere.
23199
23200 If this method throws an exception, it is turned into a @value{GDBN}
23201 @code{error} call. Otherwise, the return value is ignored.
23202
23203 @findex gdb.string_to_argv
23204 To break @var{argument} up into an argv-like string use
23205 @code{gdb.string_to_argv}. This function behaves identically to
23206 @value{GDBN}'s internal argument lexer @code{buildargv}.
23207 It is recommended to use this for consistency.
23208 Arguments are separated by spaces and may be quoted.
23209 Example:
23210
23211 @smallexample
23212 print gdb.string_to_argv ("1 2\ \\\"3 '4 \"5' \"6 '7\"")
23213 ['1', '2 "3', '4 "5', "6 '7"]
23214 @end smallexample
23215
23216 @end defun
23217
23218 @cindex completion of Python commands
23219 @defun Command.complete (text, word)
23220 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when the user attempts
23221 completion on this command. All forms of completion are handled by
23222 this method, that is, the @key{TAB} and @key{M-?} key bindings
23223 (@pxref{Completion}), and the @code{complete} command (@pxref{Help,
23224 complete}).
23225
23226 The arguments @var{text} and @var{word} are both strings. @var{text}
23227 holds the complete command line up to the cursor's location.
23228 @var{word} holds the last word of the command line; this is computed
23229 using a word-breaking heuristic.
23230
23231 The @code{complete} method can return several values:
23232 @itemize @bullet
23233 @item
23234 If the return value is a sequence, the contents of the sequence are
23235 used as the completions. It is up to @code{complete} to ensure that the
23236 contents actually do complete the word. A zero-length sequence is
23237 allowed, it means that there were no completions available. Only
23238 string elements of the sequence are used; other elements in the
23239 sequence are ignored.
23240
23241 @item
23242 If the return value is one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined
23243 below, then the corresponding @value{GDBN}-internal completion
23244 function is invoked, and its result is used.
23245
23246 @item
23247 All other results are treated as though there were no available
23248 completions.
23249 @end itemize
23250 @end defun
23251
23252 When a new command is registered, it must be declared as a member of
23253 some general class of commands. This is used to classify top-level
23254 commands in the on-line help system; note that prefix commands are not
23255 listed under their own category but rather that of their top-level
23256 command. The available classifications are represented by constants
23257 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
23258
23259 @table @code
23260 @findex COMMAND_NONE
23261 @findex gdb.COMMAND_NONE
23262 @item gdb.COMMAND_NONE
23263 The command does not belong to any particular class. A command in
23264 this category will not be displayed in any of the help categories.
23265
23266 @findex COMMAND_RUNNING
23267 @findex gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
23268 @item gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
23269 The command is related to running the inferior. For example,
23270 @code{start}, @code{step}, and @code{continue} are in this category.
23271 Type @kbd{help running} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
23272 commands in this category.
23273
23274 @findex COMMAND_DATA
23275 @findex gdb.COMMAND_DATA
23276 @item gdb.COMMAND_DATA
23277 The command is related to data or variables. For example,
23278 @code{call}, @code{find}, and @code{print} are in this category. Type
23279 @kbd{help data} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands
23280 in this category.
23281
23282 @findex COMMAND_STACK
23283 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STACK
23284 @item gdb.COMMAND_STACK
23285 The command has to do with manipulation of the stack. For example,
23286 @code{backtrace}, @code{frame}, and @code{return} are in this
23287 category. Type @kbd{help stack} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a
23288 list of commands in this category.
23289
23290 @findex COMMAND_FILES
23291 @findex gdb.COMMAND_FILES
23292 @item gdb.COMMAND_FILES
23293 This class is used for file-related commands. For example,
23294 @code{file}, @code{list} and @code{section} are in this category.
23295 Type @kbd{help files} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
23296 commands in this category.
23297
23298 @findex COMMAND_SUPPORT
23299 @findex gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
23300 @item gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
23301 This should be used for ``support facilities'', generally meaning
23302 things that are useful to the user when interacting with @value{GDBN},
23303 but not related to the state of the inferior. For example,
23304 @code{help}, @code{make}, and @code{shell} are in this category. Type
23305 @kbd{help support} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
23306 commands in this category.
23307
23308 @findex COMMAND_STATUS
23309 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
23310 @item gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
23311 The command is an @samp{info}-related command, that is, related to the
23312 state of @value{GDBN} itself. For example, @code{info}, @code{macro},
23313 and @code{show} are in this category. Type @kbd{help status} at the
23314 @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this category.
23315
23316 @findex COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
23317 @findex gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
23318 @item gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
23319 The command has to do with breakpoints. For example, @code{break},
23320 @code{clear}, and @code{delete} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
23321 breakpoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in
23322 this category.
23323
23324 @findex COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
23325 @findex gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
23326 @item gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
23327 The command has to do with tracepoints. For example, @code{trace},
23328 @code{actions}, and @code{tfind} are in this category. Type
23329 @kbd{help tracepoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
23330 commands in this category.
23331
23332 @findex COMMAND_OBSCURE
23333 @findex gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
23334 @item gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
23335 The command is only used in unusual circumstances, or is not of
23336 general interest to users. For example, @code{checkpoint},
23337 @code{fork}, and @code{stop} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
23338 obscure} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this
23339 category.
23340
23341 @findex COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
23342 @findex gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
23343 @item gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
23344 The command is only useful to @value{GDBN} maintainers. The
23345 @code{maintenance} and @code{flushregs} commands are in this category.
23346 Type @kbd{help internals} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
23347 commands in this category.
23348 @end table
23349
23350 A new command can use a predefined completion function, either by
23351 specifying it via an argument at initialization, or by returning it
23352 from the @code{complete} method. These predefined completion
23353 constants are all defined in the @code{gdb} module:
23354
23355 @table @code
23356 @findex COMPLETE_NONE
23357 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
23358 @item gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
23359 This constant means that no completion should be done.
23360
23361 @findex COMPLETE_FILENAME
23362 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
23363 @item gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
23364 This constant means that filename completion should be performed.
23365
23366 @findex COMPLETE_LOCATION
23367 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
23368 @item gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
23369 This constant means that location completion should be done.
23370 @xref{Specify Location}.
23371
23372 @findex COMPLETE_COMMAND
23373 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
23374 @item gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
23375 This constant means that completion should examine @value{GDBN}
23376 command names.
23377
23378 @findex COMPLETE_SYMBOL
23379 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
23380 @item gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
23381 This constant means that completion should be done using symbol names
23382 as the source.
23383 @end table
23384
23385 The following code snippet shows how a trivial CLI command can be
23386 implemented in Python:
23387
23388 @smallexample
23389 class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
23390 """Greet the whole world."""
23391
23392 def __init__ (self):
23393 super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE)
23394
23395 def invoke (self, arg, from_tty):
23396 print "Hello, World!"
23397
23398 HelloWorld ()
23399 @end smallexample
23400
23401 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
23402 registration of the command with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
23403 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
23404 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
23405
23406 @node Parameters In Python
23407 @subsubsection Parameters In Python
23408
23409 @cindex parameters in python
23410 @cindex python parameters
23411 @tindex gdb.Parameter
23412 @tindex Parameter
23413 You can implement new @value{GDBN} parameters using Python. A new
23414 parameter is implemented as an instance of the @code{gdb.Parameter}
23415 class.
23416
23417 Parameters are exposed to the user via the @code{set} and
23418 @code{show} commands. @xref{Help}.
23419
23420 There are many parameters that already exist and can be set in
23421 @value{GDBN}. Two examples are: @code{set follow fork} and
23422 @code{set charset}. Setting these parameters influences certain
23423 behavior in @value{GDBN}. Similarly, you can define parameters that
23424 can be used to influence behavior in custom Python scripts and commands.
23425
23426 @defun Parameter.__init__ (name, @var{command-class}, @var{parameter-class} @r{[}, @var{enum-sequence}@r{]})
23427 The object initializer for @code{Parameter} registers the new
23428 parameter with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked
23429 from the subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
23430
23431 @var{name} is the name of the new parameter. If @var{name} consists
23432 of multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
23433 parameters. An example of this can be illustrated with the
23434 @code{set print} set of parameters. If @var{name} is
23435 @code{print foo}, then @code{print} will be searched as the prefix
23436 parameter. In this case the parameter can subsequently be accessed in
23437 @value{GDBN} as @code{set print foo}.
23438
23439 If @var{name} consists of multiple words, and no prefix parameter group
23440 can be found, an exception is raised.
23441
23442 @var{command-class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
23443 (@pxref{Commands In Python}). This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to
23444 categorize the new parameter in the help system.
23445
23446 @var{parameter-class} should be one of the @samp{PARAM_} constants
23447 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} the type of the new
23448 parameter; this information is used for input validation and
23449 completion.
23450
23451 If @var{parameter-class} is @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then
23452 @var{enum-sequence} must be a sequence of strings. These strings
23453 represent the possible values for the parameter.
23454
23455 If @var{parameter-class} is not @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then the presence
23456 of a fourth argument will cause an exception to be thrown.
23457
23458 The help text for the new parameter is taken from the Python
23459 documentation string for the parameter's class, if there is one. If
23460 there is no documentation string, a default value is used.
23461 @end defun
23462
23463 @defvar Parameter.set_doc
23464 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
23465 the help text for this parameter's @code{set} command. The value is
23466 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
23467 have no effect.
23468 @end defvar
23469
23470 @defvar Parameter.show_doc
23471 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
23472 the help text for this parameter's @code{show} command. The value is
23473 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
23474 have no effect.
23475 @end defvar
23476
23477 @defvar Parameter.value
23478 The @code{value} attribute holds the underlying value of the
23479 parameter. It can be read and assigned to just as any other
23480 attribute. @value{GDBN} does validation when assignments are made.
23481 @end defvar
23482
23483 There are two methods that should be implemented in any
23484 @code{Parameter} class. These are:
23485
23486 @defun Parameter.get_set_string (self)
23487 @value{GDBN} will call this method when a @var{parameter}'s value has
23488 been changed via the @code{set} API (for example, @kbd{set foo off}).
23489 The @code{value} attribute has already been populated with the new
23490 value and may be used in output. This method must return a string.
23491 @end defun
23492
23493 @defun Parameter.get_show_string (self, svalue)
23494 @value{GDBN} will call this method when a @var{parameter}'s
23495 @code{show} API has been invoked (for example, @kbd{show foo}). The
23496 argument @code{svalue} receives the string representation of the
23497 current value. This method must return a string.
23498 @end defun
23499
23500 When a new parameter is defined, its type must be specified. The
23501 available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
23502 module:
23503
23504 @table @code
23505 @findex PARAM_BOOLEAN
23506 @findex gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
23507 @item gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
23508 The value is a plain boolean. The Python boolean values, @code{True}
23509 and @code{False} are the only valid values.
23510
23511 @findex PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
23512 @findex gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
23513 @item gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
23514 The value has three possible states: true, false, and @samp{auto}. In
23515 Python, true and false are represented using boolean constants, and
23516 @samp{auto} is represented using @code{None}.
23517
23518 @findex PARAM_UINTEGER
23519 @findex gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
23520 @item gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
23521 The value is an unsigned integer. The value of 0 should be
23522 interpreted to mean ``unlimited''.
23523
23524 @findex PARAM_INTEGER
23525 @findex gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
23526 @item gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
23527 The value is a signed integer. The value of 0 should be interpreted
23528 to mean ``unlimited''.
23529
23530 @findex PARAM_STRING
23531 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING
23532 @item gdb.PARAM_STRING
23533 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, any escape
23534 sequences, such as @samp{\t}, @samp{\f}, and octal escapes, are
23535 translated into corresponding characters and encoded into the current
23536 host charset.
23537
23538 @findex PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
23539 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
23540 @item gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
23541 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, escapes are
23542 passed through untranslated.
23543
23544 @findex PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
23545 @findex gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
23546 @item gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
23547 The value is a either a filename (a string), or @code{None}.
23548
23549 @findex PARAM_FILENAME
23550 @findex gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
23551 @item gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
23552 The value is a filename. This is just like
23553 @code{PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE}, but uses file names for completion.
23554
23555 @findex PARAM_ZINTEGER
23556 @findex gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
23557 @item gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
23558 The value is an integer. This is like @code{PARAM_INTEGER}, except 0
23559 is interpreted as itself.
23560
23561 @findex PARAM_ENUM
23562 @findex gdb.PARAM_ENUM
23563 @item gdb.PARAM_ENUM
23564 The value is a string, which must be one of a collection string
23565 constants provided when the parameter is created.
23566 @end table
23567
23568 @node Functions In Python
23569 @subsubsection Writing new convenience functions
23570
23571 @cindex writing convenience functions
23572 @cindex convenience functions in python
23573 @cindex python convenience functions
23574 @tindex gdb.Function
23575 @tindex Function
23576 You can implement new convenience functions (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
23577 in Python. A convenience function is an instance of a subclass of the
23578 class @code{gdb.Function}.
23579
23580 @defun Function.__init__ (name)
23581 The initializer for @code{Function} registers the new function with
23582 @value{GDBN}. The argument @var{name} is the name of the function,
23583 a string. The function will be visible to the user as a convenience
23584 variable of type @code{internal function}, whose name is the same as
23585 the given @var{name}.
23586
23587 The documentation for the new function is taken from the documentation
23588 string for the new class.
23589 @end defun
23590
23591 @defun Function.invoke (@var{*args})
23592 When a convenience function is evaluated, its arguments are converted
23593 to instances of @code{gdb.Value}, and then the function's
23594 @code{invoke} method is called. Note that @value{GDBN} does not
23595 predetermine the arity of convenience functions. Instead, all
23596 available arguments are passed to @code{invoke}, following the
23597 standard Python calling convention. In particular, a convenience
23598 function can have default values for parameters without ill effect.
23599
23600 The return value of this method is used as its value in the enclosing
23601 expression. If an ordinary Python value is returned, it is converted
23602 to a @code{gdb.Value} following the usual rules.
23603 @end defun
23604
23605 The following code snippet shows how a trivial convenience function can
23606 be implemented in Python:
23607
23608 @smallexample
23609 class Greet (gdb.Function):
23610 """Return string to greet someone.
23611 Takes a name as argument."""
23612
23613 def __init__ (self):
23614 super (Greet, self).__init__ ("greet")
23615
23616 def invoke (self, name):
23617 return "Hello, %s!" % name.string ()
23618
23619 Greet ()
23620 @end smallexample
23621
23622 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
23623 registration of the function with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
23624 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
23625 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
23626
23627 @node Progspaces In Python
23628 @subsubsection Program Spaces In Python
23629
23630 @cindex progspaces in python
23631 @tindex gdb.Progspace
23632 @tindex Progspace
23633 A program space, or @dfn{progspace}, represents a symbolic view
23634 of an address space.
23635 It consists of all of the objfiles of the program.
23636 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
23637 @xref{Inferiors and Programs, program spaces}, for more details
23638 about program spaces.
23639
23640 The following progspace-related functions are available in the
23641 @code{gdb} module:
23642
23643 @findex gdb.current_progspace
23644 @defun gdb.current_progspace ()
23645 This function returns the program space of the currently selected inferior.
23646 @xref{Inferiors and Programs}.
23647 @end defun
23648
23649 @findex gdb.progspaces
23650 @defun gdb.progspaces ()
23651 Return a sequence of all the progspaces currently known to @value{GDBN}.
23652 @end defun
23653
23654 Each progspace is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Progspace}
23655 class.
23656
23657 @defvar Progspace.filename
23658 The file name of the progspace as a string.
23659 @end defvar
23660
23661 @defvar Progspace.pretty_printers
23662 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
23663 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
23664 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
23665 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
23666 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
23667 information.
23668 @end defvar
23669
23670 @node Objfiles In Python
23671 @subsubsection Objfiles In Python
23672
23673 @cindex objfiles in python
23674 @tindex gdb.Objfile
23675 @tindex Objfile
23676 @value{GDBN} loads symbols for an inferior from various
23677 symbol-containing files (@pxref{Files}). These include the primary
23678 executable file, any shared libraries used by the inferior, and any
23679 separate debug info files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}).
23680 @value{GDBN} calls these symbol-containing files @dfn{objfiles}.
23681
23682 The following objfile-related functions are available in the
23683 @code{gdb} module:
23684
23685 @findex gdb.current_objfile
23686 @defun gdb.current_objfile ()
23687 When auto-loading a Python script (@pxref{Auto-loading}), @value{GDBN}
23688 sets the ``current objfile'' to the corresponding objfile. This
23689 function returns the current objfile. If there is no current objfile,
23690 this function returns @code{None}.
23691 @end defun
23692
23693 @findex gdb.objfiles
23694 @defun gdb.objfiles ()
23695 Return a sequence of all the objfiles current known to @value{GDBN}.
23696 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
23697 @end defun
23698
23699 Each objfile is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Objfile}
23700 class.
23701
23702 @defvar Objfile.filename
23703 The file name of the objfile as a string.
23704 @end defvar
23705
23706 @defvar Objfile.pretty_printers
23707 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
23708 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
23709 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
23710 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
23711 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
23712 information.
23713 @end defvar
23714
23715 A @code{gdb.Objfile} object has the following methods:
23716
23717 @defun Objfile.is_valid ()
23718 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Objfile} object is valid,
23719 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Objfile} object can become invalid
23720 if the object file it refers to is not loaded in @value{GDBN} any
23721 longer. All other @code{gdb.Objfile} methods will throw an exception
23722 if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
23723 @end defun
23724
23725 @node Frames In Python
23726 @subsubsection Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
23727
23728 @cindex frames in python
23729 When the debugged program stops, @value{GDBN} is able to analyze its call
23730 stack (@pxref{Frames,,Stack frames}). The @code{gdb.Frame} class
23731 represents a frame in the stack. A @code{gdb.Frame} object is only valid
23732 while its corresponding frame exists in the inferior's stack. If you try
23733 to use an invalid frame object, @value{GDBN} will throw a @code{gdb.error}
23734 exception (@pxref{Exception Handling}).
23735
23736 Two @code{gdb.Frame} objects can be compared for equality with the @code{==}
23737 operator, like:
23738
23739 @smallexample
23740 (@value{GDBP}) python print gdb.newest_frame() == gdb.selected_frame ()
23741 True
23742 @end smallexample
23743
23744 The following frame-related functions are available in the @code{gdb} module:
23745
23746 @findex gdb.selected_frame
23747 @defun gdb.selected_frame ()
23748 Return the selected frame object. (@pxref{Selection,,Selecting a Frame}).
23749 @end defun
23750
23751 @findex gdb.newest_frame
23752 @defun gdb.newest_frame ()
23753 Return the newest frame object for the selected thread.
23754 @end defun
23755
23756 @defun gdb.frame_stop_reason_string (reason)
23757 Return a string explaining the reason why @value{GDBN} stopped unwinding
23758 frames, as expressed by the given @var{reason} code (an integer, see the
23759 @code{unwind_stop_reason} method further down in this section).
23760 @end defun
23761
23762 A @code{gdb.Frame} object has the following methods:
23763
23764 @table @code
23765 @defun Frame.is_valid ()
23766 Returns true if the @code{gdb.Frame} object is valid, false if not.
23767 A frame object can become invalid if the frame it refers to doesn't
23768 exist anymore in the inferior. All @code{gdb.Frame} methods will throw
23769 an exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
23770 @end defun
23771
23772 @defun Frame.name ()
23773 Returns the function name of the frame, or @code{None} if it can't be
23774 obtained.
23775 @end defun
23776
23777 @defun Frame.type ()
23778 Returns the type of the frame. The value can be one of:
23779 @table @code
23780 @item gdb.NORMAL_FRAME
23781 An ordinary stack frame.
23782
23783 @item gdb.DUMMY_FRAME
23784 A fake stack frame that was created by @value{GDBN} when performing an
23785 inferior function call.
23786
23787 @item gdb.INLINE_FRAME
23788 A frame representing an inlined function. The function was inlined
23789 into a @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME} that is older than this one.
23790
23791 @item gdb.TAILCALL_FRAME
23792 A frame representing a tail call. @xref{Tail Call Frames}.
23793
23794 @item gdb.SIGTRAMP_FRAME
23795 A signal trampoline frame. This is the frame created by the OS when
23796 it calls into a signal handler.
23797
23798 @item gdb.ARCH_FRAME
23799 A fake stack frame representing a cross-architecture call.
23800
23801 @item gdb.SENTINEL_FRAME
23802 This is like @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME}, but it is only used for the
23803 newest frame.
23804 @end table
23805 @end defun
23806
23807 @defun Frame.unwind_stop_reason ()
23808 Return an integer representing the reason why it's not possible to find
23809 more frames toward the outermost frame. Use
23810 @code{gdb.frame_stop_reason_string} to convert the value returned by this
23811 function to a string. The value can be one of:
23812
23813 @table @code
23814 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NO_REASON
23815 No particular reason (older frames should be available).
23816
23817 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NULL_ID
23818 The previous frame's analyzer returns an invalid result.
23819
23820 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_OUTERMOST
23821 This frame is the outermost.
23822
23823 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_UNAVAILABLE
23824 Cannot unwind further, because that would require knowing the
23825 values of registers or memory that have not been collected.
23826
23827 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_INNER_ID
23828 This frame ID looks like it ought to belong to a NEXT frame,
23829 but we got it for a PREV frame. Normally, this is a sign of
23830 unwinder failure. It could also indicate stack corruption.
23831
23832 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_SAME_ID
23833 This frame has the same ID as the previous one. That means
23834 that unwinding further would almost certainly give us another
23835 frame with exactly the same ID, so break the chain. Normally,
23836 this is a sign of unwinder failure. It could also indicate
23837 stack corruption.
23838
23839 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_NO_SAVED_PC
23840 The frame unwinder did not find any saved PC, but we needed
23841 one to unwind further.
23842
23843 @item gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_FIRST_ERROR
23844 Any stop reason greater or equal to this value indicates some kind
23845 of error. This special value facilitates writing code that tests
23846 for errors in unwinding in a way that will work correctly even if
23847 the list of the other values is modified in future @value{GDBN}
23848 versions. Using it, you could write:
23849 @smallexample
23850 reason = gdb.selected_frame().unwind_stop_reason ()
23851 reason_str = gdb.frame_stop_reason_string (reason)
23852 if reason >= gdb.FRAME_UNWIND_FIRST_ERROR:
23853 print "An error occured: %s" % reason_str
23854 @end smallexample
23855 @end table
23856
23857 @end defun
23858
23859 @defun Frame.pc ()
23860 Returns the frame's resume address.
23861 @end defun
23862
23863 @defun Frame.block ()
23864 Return the frame's code block. @xref{Blocks In Python}.
23865 @end defun
23866
23867 @defun Frame.function ()
23868 Return the symbol for the function corresponding to this frame.
23869 @xref{Symbols In Python}.
23870 @end defun
23871
23872 @defun Frame.older ()
23873 Return the frame that called this frame.
23874 @end defun
23875
23876 @defun Frame.newer ()
23877 Return the frame called by this frame.
23878 @end defun
23879
23880 @defun Frame.find_sal ()
23881 Return the frame's symtab and line object.
23882 @xref{Symbol Tables In Python}.
23883 @end defun
23884
23885 @defun Frame.read_var (variable @r{[}, block@r{]})
23886 Return the value of @var{variable} in this frame. If the optional
23887 argument @var{block} is provided, search for the variable from that
23888 block; otherwise start at the frame's current block (which is
23889 determined by the frame's current program counter). @var{variable}
23890 must be a string or a @code{gdb.Symbol} object. @var{block} must be a
23891 @code{gdb.Block} object.
23892 @end defun
23893
23894 @defun Frame.select ()
23895 Set this frame to be the selected frame. @xref{Stack, ,Examining the
23896 Stack}.
23897 @end defun
23898 @end table
23899
23900 @node Blocks In Python
23901 @subsubsection Accessing frame blocks from Python.
23902
23903 @cindex blocks in python
23904 @tindex gdb.Block
23905
23906 Within each frame, @value{GDBN} maintains information on each block
23907 stored in that frame. These blocks are organized hierarchically, and
23908 are represented individually in Python as a @code{gdb.Block}.
23909 Please see @ref{Frames In Python}, for a more in-depth discussion on
23910 frames. Furthermore, see @ref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}, for more
23911 detailed technical information on @value{GDBN}'s book-keeping of the
23912 stack.
23913
23914 A @code{gdb.Block} is iterable. The iterator returns the symbols
23915 (@pxref{Symbols In Python}) local to the block.
23916
23917 The following block-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
23918 module:
23919
23920 @findex gdb.block_for_pc
23921 @defun gdb.block_for_pc (pc)
23922 Return the @code{gdb.Block} containing the given @var{pc} value. If the
23923 block cannot be found for the @var{pc} value specified, the function
23924 will return @code{None}.
23925 @end defun
23926
23927 A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following methods:
23928
23929 @table @code
23930 @defun Block.is_valid ()
23931 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is valid,
23932 @code{False} if not. A block object can become invalid if the block it
23933 refers to doesn't exist anymore in the inferior. All other
23934 @code{gdb.Block} methods will throw an exception if it is invalid at
23935 the time the method is called. The block's validity is also checked
23936 during iteration over symbols of the block.
23937 @end defun
23938 @end table
23939
23940 A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following attributes:
23941
23942 @table @code
23943 @defvar Block.start
23944 The start address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
23945 @end defvar
23946
23947 @defvar Block.end
23948 The end address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
23949 @end defvar
23950
23951 @defvar Block.function
23952 The name of the block represented as a @code{gdb.Symbol}. If the
23953 block is not named, then this attribute holds @code{None}. This
23954 attribute is not writable.
23955 @end defvar
23956
23957 @defvar Block.superblock
23958 The block containing this block. If this parent block does not exist,
23959 this attribute holds @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
23960 @end defvar
23961
23962 @defvar Block.global_block
23963 The global block associated with this block. This attribute is not
23964 writable.
23965 @end defvar
23966
23967 @defvar Block.static_block
23968 The static block associated with this block. This attribute is not
23969 writable.
23970 @end defvar
23971
23972 @defvar Block.is_global
23973 @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is a global block,
23974 @code{False} if not. This attribute is not
23975 writable.
23976 @end defvar
23977
23978 @defvar Block.is_static
23979 @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Block} object is a static block,
23980 @code{False} if not. This attribute is not writable.
23981 @end defvar
23982 @end table
23983
23984 @node Symbols In Python
23985 @subsubsection Python representation of Symbols.
23986
23987 @cindex symbols in python
23988 @tindex gdb.Symbol
23989
23990 @value{GDBN} represents every variable, function and type as an
23991 entry in a symbol table. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
23992 Similarly, Python represents these symbols in @value{GDBN} with the
23993 @code{gdb.Symbol} object.
23994
23995 The following symbol-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
23996 module:
23997
23998 @findex gdb.lookup_symbol
23999 @defun gdb.lookup_symbol (name @r{[}, block @r{[}, domain@r{]]})
24000 This function searches for a symbol by name. The search scope can be
24001 restricted to the parameters defined in the optional domain and block
24002 arguments.
24003
24004 @var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string. The
24005 optional @var{block} argument restricts the search to symbols visible
24006 in that @var{block}. The @var{block} argument must be a
24007 @code{gdb.Block} object. If omitted, the block for the current frame
24008 is used. The optional @var{domain} argument restricts
24009 the search to the domain type. The @var{domain} argument must be a
24010 domain constant defined in the @code{gdb} module and described later
24011 in this chapter.
24012
24013 The result is a tuple of two elements.
24014 The first element is a @code{gdb.Symbol} object or @code{None} if the symbol
24015 is not found.
24016 If the symbol is found, the second element is @code{True} if the symbol
24017 is a field of a method's object (e.g., @code{this} in C@t{++}),
24018 otherwise it is @code{False}.
24019 If the symbol is not found, the second element is @code{False}.
24020 @end defun
24021
24022 @findex gdb.lookup_global_symbol
24023 @defun gdb.lookup_global_symbol (name @r{[}, domain@r{]})
24024 This function searches for a global symbol by name.
24025 The search scope can be restricted to by the domain argument.
24026
24027 @var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string.
24028 The optional @var{domain} argument restricts the search to the domain type.
24029 The @var{domain} argument must be a domain constant defined in the @code{gdb}
24030 module and described later in this chapter.
24031
24032 The result is a @code{gdb.Symbol} object or @code{None} if the symbol
24033 is not found.
24034 @end defun
24035
24036 A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following attributes:
24037
24038 @table @code
24039 @defvar Symbol.type
24040 The type of the symbol or @code{None} if no type is recorded.
24041 This attribute is represented as a @code{gdb.Type} object.
24042 @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not writable.
24043 @end defvar
24044
24045 @defvar Symbol.symtab
24046 The symbol table in which the symbol appears. This attribute is
24047 represented as a @code{gdb.Symtab} object. @xref{Symbol Tables In
24048 Python}. This attribute is not writable.
24049 @end defvar
24050
24051 @defvar Symbol.line
24052 The line number in the source code at which the symbol was defined.
24053 This is an integer.
24054 @end defvar
24055
24056 @defvar Symbol.name
24057 The name of the symbol as a string. This attribute is not writable.
24058 @end defvar
24059
24060 @defvar Symbol.linkage_name
24061 The name of the symbol, as used by the linker (i.e., may be mangled).
24062 This attribute is not writable.
24063 @end defvar
24064
24065 @defvar Symbol.print_name
24066 The name of the symbol in a form suitable for output. This is either
24067 @code{name} or @code{linkage_name}, depending on whether the user
24068 asked @value{GDBN} to display demangled or mangled names.
24069 @end defvar
24070
24071 @defvar Symbol.addr_class
24072 The address class of the symbol. This classifies how to find the value
24073 of a symbol. Each address class is a constant defined in the
24074 @code{gdb} module and described later in this chapter.
24075 @end defvar
24076
24077 @defvar Symbol.needs_frame
24078 This is @code{True} if evaluating this symbol's value requires a frame
24079 (@pxref{Frames In Python}) and @code{False} otherwise. Typically,
24080 local variables will require a frame, but other symbols will not.
24081 @end defvar
24082
24083 @defvar Symbol.is_argument
24084 @code{True} if the symbol is an argument of a function.
24085 @end defvar
24086
24087 @defvar Symbol.is_constant
24088 @code{True} if the symbol is a constant.
24089 @end defvar
24090
24091 @defvar Symbol.is_function
24092 @code{True} if the symbol is a function or a method.
24093 @end defvar
24094
24095 @defvar Symbol.is_variable
24096 @code{True} if the symbol is a variable.
24097 @end defvar
24098 @end table
24099
24100 A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following methods:
24101
24102 @table @code
24103 @defun Symbol.is_valid ()
24104 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symbol} object is valid,
24105 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symbol} object can become invalid if
24106 the symbol it refers to does not exist in @value{GDBN} any longer.
24107 All other @code{gdb.Symbol} methods will throw an exception if it is
24108 invalid at the time the method is called.
24109 @end defun
24110
24111 @defun Symbol.value (@r{[}frame@r{]})
24112 Compute the value of the symbol, as a @code{gdb.Value}. For
24113 functions, this computes the address of the function, cast to the
24114 appropriate type. If the symbol requires a frame in order to compute
24115 its value, then @var{frame} must be given. If @var{frame} is not
24116 given, or if @var{frame} is invalid, then this method will throw an
24117 exception.
24118 @end defun
24119 @end table
24120
24121 The available domain categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
24122 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
24123
24124 @table @code
24125 @findex SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
24126 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
24127 @item gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
24128 This is used when a domain has not been discovered or none of the
24129 following domains apply. This usually indicates an error either
24130 in the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
24131 @findex SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
24132 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
24133 @item gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
24134 This domain contains variables, function names, typedef names and enum
24135 type values.
24136 @findex SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
24137 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
24138 @item gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
24139 This domain holds struct, union and enum type names.
24140 @findex SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
24141 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
24142 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
24143 This domain contains names of labels (for gotos).
24144 @findex SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
24145 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
24146 @item gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
24147 This domain holds a subset of the @code{SYMBOLS_VAR_DOMAIN}; it
24148 contains everything minus functions and types.
24149 @findex SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
24150 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
24151 @item gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTION_DOMAIN
24152 This domain contains all functions.
24153 @findex SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
24154 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
24155 @item gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
24156 This domain contains all types.
24157 @end table
24158
24159 The available address class categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
24160 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
24161
24162 @table @code
24163 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
24164 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
24165 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
24166 If this is returned by address class, it indicates an error either in
24167 the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
24168 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
24169 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
24170 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
24171 Value is constant int.
24172 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
24173 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
24174 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
24175 Value is at a fixed address.
24176 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
24177 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
24178 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
24179 Value is in a register.
24180 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
24181 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
24182 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
24183 Value is an argument. This value is at the offset stored within the
24184 symbol inside the frame's argument list.
24185 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
24186 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
24187 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
24188 Value address is stored in the frame's argument list. Just like
24189 @code{LOC_ARG} except that the value's address is stored at the
24190 offset, not the value itself.
24191 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
24192 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
24193 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
24194 Value is a specified register. Just like @code{LOC_REGISTER} except
24195 the register holds the address of the argument instead of the argument
24196 itself.
24197 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
24198 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
24199 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
24200 Value is a local variable.
24201 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
24202 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
24203 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
24204 Value not used. Symbols in the domain @code{SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN} all
24205 have this class.
24206 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
24207 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
24208 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
24209 Value is a block.
24210 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
24211 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
24212 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
24213 Value is a byte-sequence.
24214 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
24215 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
24216 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
24217 Value is at a fixed address, but the address of the variable has to be
24218 determined from the minimal symbol table whenever the variable is
24219 referenced.
24220 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
24221 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
24222 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
24223 The value does not actually exist in the program.
24224 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
24225 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
24226 @item gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
24227 The value's address is a computed location.
24228 @end table
24229
24230 @node Symbol Tables In Python
24231 @subsubsection Symbol table representation in Python.
24232
24233 @cindex symbol tables in python
24234 @tindex gdb.Symtab
24235 @tindex gdb.Symtab_and_line
24236
24237 Access to symbol table data maintained by @value{GDBN} on the inferior
24238 is exposed to Python via two objects: @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} and
24239 @code{gdb.Symtab}. Symbol table and line data for a frame is returned
24240 from the @code{find_sal} method in @code{gdb.Frame} object.
24241 @xref{Frames In Python}.
24242
24243 For more information on @value{GDBN}'s symbol table management, see
24244 @ref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, for more information.
24245
24246 A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following attributes:
24247
24248 @table @code
24249 @defvar Symtab_and_line.symtab
24250 The symbol table object (@code{gdb.Symtab}) for this frame.
24251 This attribute is not writable.
24252 @end defvar
24253
24254 @defvar Symtab_and_line.pc
24255 Indicates the current program counter address. This attribute is not
24256 writable.
24257 @end defvar
24258
24259 @defvar Symtab_and_line.line
24260 Indicates the current line number for this object. This
24261 attribute is not writable.
24262 @end defvar
24263 @end table
24264
24265 A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following methods:
24266
24267 @table @code
24268 @defun Symtab_and_line.is_valid ()
24269 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object is valid,
24270 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object can become
24271 invalid if the Symbol table and line object it refers to does not
24272 exist in @value{GDBN} any longer. All other
24273 @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} methods will throw an exception if it is
24274 invalid at the time the method is called.
24275 @end defun
24276 @end table
24277
24278 A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following attributes:
24279
24280 @table @code
24281 @defvar Symtab.filename
24282 The symbol table's source filename. This attribute is not writable.
24283 @end defvar
24284
24285 @defvar Symtab.objfile
24286 The symbol table's backing object file. @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
24287 This attribute is not writable.
24288 @end defvar
24289 @end table
24290
24291 A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following methods:
24292
24293 @table @code
24294 @defun Symtab.is_valid ()
24295 Returns @code{True} if the @code{gdb.Symtab} object is valid,
24296 @code{False} if not. A @code{gdb.Symtab} object can become invalid if
24297 the symbol table it refers to does not exist in @value{GDBN} any
24298 longer. All other @code{gdb.Symtab} methods will throw an exception
24299 if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
24300 @end defun
24301
24302 @defun Symtab.fullname ()
24303 Return the symbol table's source absolute file name.
24304 @end defun
24305 @end table
24306
24307 @node Breakpoints In Python
24308 @subsubsection Manipulating breakpoints using Python
24309
24310 @cindex breakpoints in python
24311 @tindex gdb.Breakpoint
24312
24313 Python code can manipulate breakpoints via the @code{gdb.Breakpoint}
24314 class.
24315
24316 @defun Breakpoint.__init__ (spec @r{[}, type @r{[}, wp_class @r{[},internal@r{]]]})
24317 Create a new breakpoint. @var{spec} is a string naming the
24318 location of the breakpoint, or an expression that defines a
24319 watchpoint. The contents can be any location recognized by the
24320 @code{break} command, or in the case of a watchpoint, by the @code{watch}
24321 command. The optional @var{type} denotes the breakpoint to create
24322 from the types defined later in this chapter. This argument can be
24323 either: @code{gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT} or @code{gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT}. @var{type}
24324 defaults to @code{gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT}. The optional @var{internal} argument
24325 allows the breakpoint to become invisible to the user. The breakpoint
24326 will neither be reported when created, nor will it be listed in the
24327 output from @code{info breakpoints} (but will be listed with the
24328 @code{maint info breakpoints} command). The optional @var{wp_class}
24329 argument defines the class of watchpoint to create, if @var{type} is
24330 @code{gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT}. If a watchpoint class is not provided, it is
24331 assumed to be a @code{gdb.WP_WRITE} class.
24332 @end defun
24333
24334 @defun Breakpoint.stop (self)
24335 The @code{gdb.Breakpoint} class can be sub-classed and, in
24336 particular, you may choose to implement the @code{stop} method.
24337 If this method is defined as a sub-class of @code{gdb.Breakpoint},
24338 it will be called when the inferior reaches any location of a
24339 breakpoint which instantiates that sub-class. If the method returns
24340 @code{True}, the inferior will be stopped at the location of the
24341 breakpoint, otherwise the inferior will continue.
24342
24343 If there are multiple breakpoints at the same location with a
24344 @code{stop} method, each one will be called regardless of the
24345 return status of the previous. This ensures that all @code{stop}
24346 methods have a chance to execute at that location. In this scenario
24347 if one of the methods returns @code{True} but the others return
24348 @code{False}, the inferior will still be stopped.
24349
24350 You should not alter the execution state of the inferior (i.e.@:, step,
24351 next, etc.), alter the current frame context (i.e.@:, change the current
24352 active frame), or alter, add or delete any breakpoint. As a general
24353 rule, you should not alter any data within @value{GDBN} or the inferior
24354 at this time.
24355
24356 Example @code{stop} implementation:
24357
24358 @smallexample
24359 class MyBreakpoint (gdb.Breakpoint):
24360 def stop (self):
24361 inf_val = gdb.parse_and_eval("foo")
24362 if inf_val == 3:
24363 return True
24364 return False
24365 @end smallexample
24366 @end defun
24367
24368 The available watchpoint types represented by constants are defined in the
24369 @code{gdb} module:
24370
24371 @table @code
24372 @findex WP_READ
24373 @findex gdb.WP_READ
24374 @item gdb.WP_READ
24375 Read only watchpoint.
24376
24377 @findex WP_WRITE
24378 @findex gdb.WP_WRITE
24379 @item gdb.WP_WRITE
24380 Write only watchpoint.
24381
24382 @findex WP_ACCESS
24383 @findex gdb.WP_ACCESS
24384 @item gdb.WP_ACCESS
24385 Read/Write watchpoint.
24386 @end table
24387
24388 @defun Breakpoint.is_valid ()
24389 Return @code{True} if this @code{Breakpoint} object is valid,
24390 @code{False} otherwise. A @code{Breakpoint} object can become invalid
24391 if the user deletes the breakpoint. In this case, the object still
24392 exists, but the underlying breakpoint does not. In the cases of
24393 watchpoint scope, the watchpoint remains valid even if execution of the
24394 inferior leaves the scope of that watchpoint.
24395 @end defun
24396
24397 @defun Breakpoint.delete
24398 Permanently deletes the @value{GDBN} breakpoint. This also
24399 invalidates the Python @code{Breakpoint} object. Any further access
24400 to this object's attributes or methods will raise an error.
24401 @end defun
24402
24403 @defvar Breakpoint.enabled
24404 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is enabled, and
24405 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
24406 @end defvar
24407
24408 @defvar Breakpoint.silent
24409 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is silent, and
24410 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
24411
24412 Note that a breakpoint can also be silent if it has commands and the
24413 first command is @code{silent}. This is not reported by the
24414 @code{silent} attribute.
24415 @end defvar
24416
24417 @defvar Breakpoint.thread
24418 If the breakpoint is thread-specific, this attribute holds the thread
24419 id. If the breakpoint is not thread-specific, this attribute is
24420 @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
24421 @end defvar
24422
24423 @defvar Breakpoint.task
24424 If the breakpoint is Ada task-specific, this attribute holds the Ada task
24425 id. If the breakpoint is not task-specific (or the underlying
24426 language is not Ada), this attribute is @code{None}. This attribute
24427 is writable.
24428 @end defvar
24429
24430 @defvar Breakpoint.ignore_count
24431 This attribute holds the ignore count for the breakpoint, an integer.
24432 This attribute is writable.
24433 @end defvar
24434
24435 @defvar Breakpoint.number
24436 This attribute holds the breakpoint's number --- the identifier used by
24437 the user to manipulate the breakpoint. This attribute is not writable.
24438 @end defvar
24439
24440 @defvar Breakpoint.type
24441 This attribute holds the breakpoint's type --- the identifier used to
24442 determine the actual breakpoint type or use-case. This attribute is not
24443 writable.
24444 @end defvar
24445
24446 @defvar Breakpoint.visible
24447 This attribute tells whether the breakpoint is visible to the user
24448 when set, or when the @samp{info breakpoints} command is run. This
24449 attribute is not writable.
24450 @end defvar
24451
24452 The available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
24453 module:
24454
24455 @table @code
24456 @findex BP_BREAKPOINT
24457 @findex gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
24458 @item gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
24459 Normal code breakpoint.
24460
24461 @findex BP_WATCHPOINT
24462 @findex gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
24463 @item gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
24464 Watchpoint breakpoint.
24465
24466 @findex BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
24467 @findex gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
24468 @item gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
24469 Hardware assisted watchpoint.
24470
24471 @findex BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
24472 @findex gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
24473 @item gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
24474 Hardware assisted read watchpoint.
24475
24476 @findex BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
24477 @findex gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
24478 @item gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
24479 Hardware assisted access watchpoint.
24480 @end table
24481
24482 @defvar Breakpoint.hit_count
24483 This attribute holds the hit count for the breakpoint, an integer.
24484 This attribute is writable, but currently it can only be set to zero.
24485 @end defvar
24486
24487 @defvar Breakpoint.location
24488 This attribute holds the location of the breakpoint, as specified by
24489 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have a location
24490 (that is, it is a watchpoint) the attribute's value is @code{None}. This
24491 attribute is not writable.
24492 @end defvar
24493
24494 @defvar Breakpoint.expression
24495 This attribute holds a breakpoint expression, as specified by
24496 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have an
24497 expression (the breakpoint is not a watchpoint) the attribute's value
24498 is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
24499 @end defvar
24500
24501 @defvar Breakpoint.condition
24502 This attribute holds the condition of the breakpoint, as specified by
24503 the user. It is a string. If there is no condition, this attribute's
24504 value is @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
24505 @end defvar
24506
24507 @defvar Breakpoint.commands
24508 This attribute holds the commands attached to the breakpoint. If
24509 there are commands, this attribute's value is a string holding all the
24510 commands, separated by newlines. If there are no commands, this
24511 attribute is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
24512 @end defvar
24513
24514 @node Finish Breakpoints in Python
24515 @subsubsection Finish Breakpoints
24516
24517 @cindex python finish breakpoints
24518 @tindex gdb.FinishBreakpoint
24519
24520 A finish breakpoint is a temporary breakpoint set at the return address of
24521 a frame, based on the @code{finish} command. @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint}
24522 extends @code{gdb.Breakpoint}. The underlying breakpoint will be disabled
24523 and deleted when the execution will run out of the breakpoint scope (i.e.@:
24524 @code{Breakpoint.stop} or @code{FinishBreakpoint.out_of_scope} triggered).
24525 Finish breakpoints are thread specific and must be create with the right
24526 thread selected.
24527
24528 @defun FinishBreakpoint.__init__ (@r{[}frame@r{]} @r{[}, internal@r{]})
24529 Create a finish breakpoint at the return address of the @code{gdb.Frame}
24530 object @var{frame}. If @var{frame} is not provided, this defaults to the
24531 newest frame. The optional @var{internal} argument allows the breakpoint to
24532 become invisible to the user. @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for further
24533 details about this argument.
24534 @end defun
24535
24536 @defun FinishBreakpoint.out_of_scope (self)
24537 In some circumstances (e.g.@: @code{longjmp}, C@t{++} exceptions, @value{GDBN}
24538 @code{return} command, @dots{}), a function may not properly terminate, and
24539 thus never hit the finish breakpoint. When @value{GDBN} notices such a
24540 situation, the @code{out_of_scope} callback will be triggered.
24541
24542 You may want to sub-class @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint} and override this
24543 method:
24544
24545 @smallexample
24546 class MyFinishBreakpoint (gdb.FinishBreakpoint)
24547 def stop (self):
24548 print "normal finish"
24549 return True
24550
24551 def out_of_scope ():
24552 print "abnormal finish"
24553 @end smallexample
24554 @end defun
24555
24556 @defvar FinishBreakpoint.return_value
24557 When @value{GDBN} is stopped at a finish breakpoint and the frame
24558 used to build the @code{gdb.FinishBreakpoint} object had debug symbols, this
24559 attribute will contain a @code{gdb.Value} object corresponding to the return
24560 value of the function. The value will be @code{None} if the function return
24561 type is @code{void} or if the return value was not computable. This attribute
24562 is not writable.
24563 @end defvar
24564
24565 @node Lazy Strings In Python
24566 @subsubsection Python representation of lazy strings.
24567
24568 @cindex lazy strings in python
24569 @tindex gdb.LazyString
24570
24571 A @dfn{lazy string} is a string whose contents is not retrieved or
24572 encoded until it is needed.
24573
24574 A @code{gdb.LazyString} is represented in @value{GDBN} as an
24575 @code{address} that points to a region of memory, an @code{encoding}
24576 that will be used to encode that region of memory, and a @code{length}
24577 to delimit the region of memory that represents the string. The
24578 difference between a @code{gdb.LazyString} and a string wrapped within
24579 a @code{gdb.Value} is that a @code{gdb.LazyString} will be treated
24580 differently by @value{GDBN} when printing. A @code{gdb.LazyString} is
24581 retrieved and encoded during printing, while a @code{gdb.Value}
24582 wrapping a string is immediately retrieved and encoded on creation.
24583
24584 A @code{gdb.LazyString} object has the following functions:
24585
24586 @defun LazyString.value ()
24587 Convert the @code{gdb.LazyString} to a @code{gdb.Value}. This value
24588 will point to the string in memory, but will lose all the delayed
24589 retrieval, encoding and handling that @value{GDBN} applies to a
24590 @code{gdb.LazyString}.
24591 @end defun
24592
24593 @defvar LazyString.address
24594 This attribute holds the address of the string. This attribute is not
24595 writable.
24596 @end defvar
24597
24598 @defvar LazyString.length
24599 This attribute holds the length of the string in characters. If the
24600 length is -1, then the string will be fetched and encoded up to the
24601 first null of appropriate width. This attribute is not writable.
24602 @end defvar
24603
24604 @defvar LazyString.encoding
24605 This attribute holds the encoding that will be applied to the string
24606 when the string is printed by @value{GDBN}. If the encoding is not
24607 set, or contains an empty string, then @value{GDBN} will select the
24608 most appropriate encoding when the string is printed. This attribute
24609 is not writable.
24610 @end defvar
24611
24612 @defvar LazyString.type
24613 This attribute holds the type that is represented by the lazy string's
24614 type. For a lazy string this will always be a pointer type. To
24615 resolve this to the lazy string's character type, use the type's
24616 @code{target} method. @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not
24617 writable.
24618 @end defvar
24619
24620 @node Auto-loading
24621 @subsection Auto-loading
24622 @cindex auto-loading, Python
24623
24624 When a new object file is read (for example, due to the @code{file}
24625 command, or because the inferior has loaded a shared library),
24626 @value{GDBN} will look for Python support scripts in several ways:
24627 @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} and @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section.
24628
24629 @menu
24630 * objfile-gdb.py file:: The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
24631 * .debug_gdb_scripts section:: The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
24632 * Which flavor to choose?::
24633 @end menu
24634
24635 The auto-loading feature is useful for supplying application-specific
24636 debugging commands and scripts.
24637
24638 Auto-loading can be enabled or disabled,
24639 and the list of auto-loaded scripts can be printed.
24640
24641 @table @code
24642 @kindex set auto-load-scripts
24643 @item set auto-load-scripts [yes|no]
24644 Enable or disable the auto-loading of Python scripts.
24645
24646 @kindex show auto-load-scripts
24647 @item show auto-load-scripts
24648 Show whether auto-loading of Python scripts is enabled or disabled.
24649
24650 @kindex info auto-load-scripts
24651 @cindex print list of auto-loaded scripts
24652 @item info auto-load-scripts [@var{regexp}]
24653 Print the list of all scripts that @value{GDBN} auto-loaded.
24654
24655 Also printed is the list of scripts that were mentioned in
24656 the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section and were not found
24657 (@pxref{.debug_gdb_scripts section}).
24658 This is useful because their names are not printed when @value{GDBN}
24659 tries to load them and fails. There may be many of them, and printing
24660 an error message for each one is problematic.
24661
24662 If @var{regexp} is supplied only scripts with matching names are printed.
24663
24664 Example:
24665
24666 @smallexample
24667 (gdb) info auto-load-scripts
24668 Loaded Script
24669 Yes py-section-script.py
24670 full name: /tmp/py-section-script.py
24671 Missing my-foo-pretty-printers.py
24672 @end smallexample
24673 @end table
24674
24675 When reading an auto-loaded file, @value{GDBN} sets the
24676 @dfn{current objfile}. This is available via the @code{gdb.current_objfile}
24677 function (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}). This can be useful for
24678 registering objfile-specific pretty-printers.
24679
24680 @node objfile-gdb.py file
24681 @subsubsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
24682 @cindex @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py}
24683
24684 When a new object file is read, @value{GDBN} looks for
24685 a file named @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py},
24686 where @var{objfile} is the object file's real name, formed by ensuring
24687 that the file name is absolute, following all symlinks, and resolving
24688 @code{.} and @code{..} components. If this file exists and is
24689 readable, @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as a Python script.
24690
24691 If this file does not exist, and if the parameter
24692 @code{debug-file-directory} is set (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}),
24693 then @value{GDBN} will look for @var{real-name} in all of the
24694 directories mentioned in the value of @code{debug-file-directory}.
24695
24696 Finally, if this file does not exist, then @value{GDBN} will look for
24697 a file named @file{@var{data-directory}/auto-load/@var{real-name}}, where
24698 @var{data-directory} is @value{GDBN}'s data directory (available via
24699 @code{show data-directory}, @pxref{Data Files}), and @var{real-name}
24700 is the object file's real name, as described above.
24701
24702 @value{GDBN} does not track which files it has already auto-loaded this way.
24703 @value{GDBN} will load the associated script every time the corresponding
24704 @var{objfile} is opened.
24705 So your @file{-gdb.py} file should be careful to avoid errors if it
24706 is evaluated more than once.
24707
24708 @node .debug_gdb_scripts section
24709 @subsubsection The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
24710 @cindex @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
24711
24712 For systems using file formats like ELF and COFF,
24713 when @value{GDBN} loads a new object file
24714 it will look for a special section named @samp{.debug_gdb_scripts}.
24715 If this section exists, its contents is a list of names of scripts to load.
24716
24717 @value{GDBN} will look for each specified script file first in the
24718 current directory and then along the source search path
24719 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}),
24720 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched, since the compilation
24721 directory is not relevant to scripts.
24722
24723 Entries can be placed in section @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} with,
24724 for example, this GCC macro:
24725
24726 @example
24727 /* Note: The "MS" section flags are to remove duplicates. */
24728 #define DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT(script_name) \
24729 asm("\
24730 .pushsection \".debug_gdb_scripts\", \"MS\",@@progbits,1\n\
24731 .byte 1\n\
24732 .asciz \"" script_name "\"\n\
24733 .popsection \n\
24734 ");
24735 @end example
24736
24737 @noindent
24738 Then one can reference the macro in a header or source file like this:
24739
24740 @example
24741 DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT ("my-app-scripts.py")
24742 @end example
24743
24744 The script name may include directories if desired.
24745
24746 If the macro is put in a header, any application or library
24747 using this header will get a reference to the specified script.
24748
24749 @node Which flavor to choose?
24750 @subsubsection Which flavor to choose?
24751
24752 Given the multiple ways of auto-loading Python scripts, it might not always
24753 be clear which one to choose. This section provides some guidance.
24754
24755 Benefits of the @file{-gdb.py} way:
24756
24757 @itemize @bullet
24758 @item
24759 Can be used with file formats that don't support multiple sections.
24760
24761 @item
24762 Ease of finding scripts for public libraries.
24763
24764 Scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section are searched for
24765 in the source search path.
24766 For publicly installed libraries, e.g., @file{libstdc++}, there typically
24767 isn't a source directory in which to find the script.
24768
24769 @item
24770 Doesn't require source code additions.
24771 @end itemize
24772
24773 Benefits of the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} way:
24774
24775 @itemize @bullet
24776 @item
24777 Works with static linking.
24778
24779 Scripts for libraries done the @file{-gdb.py} way require an objfile to
24780 trigger their loading. When an application is statically linked the only
24781 objfile available is the executable, and it is cumbersome to attach all the
24782 scripts from all the input libraries to the executable's @file{-gdb.py} script.
24783
24784 @item
24785 Works with classes that are entirely inlined.
24786
24787 Some classes can be entirely inlined, and thus there may not be an associated
24788 shared library to attach a @file{-gdb.py} script to.
24789
24790 @item
24791 Scripts needn't be copied out of the source tree.
24792
24793 In some circumstances, apps can be built out of large collections of internal
24794 libraries, and the build infrastructure necessary to install the
24795 @file{-gdb.py} scripts in a place where @value{GDBN} can find them is
24796 cumbersome. It may be easier to specify the scripts in the
24797 @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section as relative paths, and add a path to the
24798 top of the source tree to the source search path.
24799 @end itemize
24800
24801 @node Python modules
24802 @subsection Python modules
24803 @cindex python modules
24804
24805 @value{GDBN} comes with several modules to assist writing Python code.
24806
24807 @menu
24808 * gdb.printing:: Building and registering pretty-printers.
24809 * gdb.types:: Utilities for working with types.
24810 * gdb.prompt:: Utilities for prompt value substitution.
24811 @end menu
24812
24813 @node gdb.printing
24814 @subsubsection gdb.printing
24815 @cindex gdb.printing
24816
24817 This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
24818 pretty-printers.
24819
24820 @table @code
24821 @item PrettyPrinter (@var{name}, @var{subprinters}=None)
24822 This class specifies the API that makes @samp{info pretty-printer},
24823 @samp{enable pretty-printer} and @samp{disable pretty-printer} work.
24824 Pretty-printers should generally inherit from this class.
24825
24826 @item SubPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
24827 For printers that handle multiple types, this class specifies the
24828 corresponding API for the subprinters.
24829
24830 @item RegexpCollectionPrettyPrinter (@var{name})
24831 Utility class for handling multiple printers, all recognized via
24832 regular expressions.
24833 @xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for an example.
24834
24835 @item FlagEnumerationPrinter (@var{name})
24836 A pretty-printer which handles printing of @code{enum} values. Unlike
24837 @value{GDBN}'s built-in @code{enum} printing, this printer attempts to
24838 work properly when there is some overlap between the enumeration
24839 constants. @var{name} is the name of the printer and also the name of
24840 the @code{enum} type to look up.
24841
24842 @item register_pretty_printer (@var{obj}, @var{printer}, @var{replace}=False)
24843 Register @var{printer} with the pretty-printer list of @var{obj}.
24844 If @var{replace} is @code{True} then any existing copy of the printer
24845 is replaced. Otherwise a @code{RuntimeError} exception is raised
24846 if a printer with the same name already exists.
24847 @end table
24848
24849 @node gdb.types
24850 @subsubsection gdb.types
24851 @cindex gdb.types
24852
24853 This module provides a collection of utilities for working with
24854 @code{gdb.Types} objects.
24855
24856 @table @code
24857 @item get_basic_type (@var{type})
24858 Return @var{type} with const and volatile qualifiers stripped,
24859 and with typedefs and C@t{++} references converted to the underlying type.
24860
24861 C@t{++} example:
24862
24863 @smallexample
24864 typedef const int const_int;
24865 const_int foo (3);
24866 const_int& foo_ref (foo);
24867 int main () @{ return 0; @}
24868 @end smallexample
24869
24870 Then in gdb:
24871
24872 @smallexample
24873 (gdb) start
24874 (gdb) python import gdb.types
24875 (gdb) python foo_ref = gdb.parse_and_eval("foo_ref")
24876 (gdb) python print gdb.types.get_basic_type(foo_ref.type)
24877 int
24878 @end smallexample
24879
24880 @item has_field (@var{type}, @var{field})
24881 Return @code{True} if @var{type}, assumed to be a type with fields
24882 (e.g., a structure or union), has field @var{field}.
24883
24884 @item make_enum_dict (@var{enum_type})
24885 Return a Python @code{dictionary} type produced from @var{enum_type}.
24886
24887 @item deep_items (@var{type})
24888 Returns a Python iterator similar to the standard
24889 @code{gdb.Type.iteritems} method, except that the iterator returned
24890 by @code{deep_items} will recursively traverse anonymous struct or
24891 union fields. For example:
24892
24893 @smallexample
24894 struct A
24895 @{
24896 int a;
24897 union @{
24898 int b0;
24899 int b1;
24900 @};
24901 @};
24902 @end smallexample
24903
24904 @noindent
24905 Then in @value{GDBN}:
24906 @smallexample
24907 (@value{GDBP}) python import gdb.types
24908 (@value{GDBP}) python struct_a = gdb.lookup_type("struct A")
24909 (@value{GDBP}) python print struct_a.keys ()
24910 @{['a', '']@}
24911 (@value{GDBP}) python print [k for k,v in gdb.types.deep_items(struct_a)]
24912 @{['a', 'b0', 'b1']@}
24913 @end smallexample
24914
24915 @end table
24916
24917 @node gdb.prompt
24918 @subsubsection gdb.prompt
24919 @cindex gdb.prompt
24920
24921 This module provides a method for prompt value-substitution.
24922
24923 @table @code
24924 @item substitute_prompt (@var{string})
24925 Return @var{string} with escape sequences substituted by values. Some
24926 escape sequences take arguments. You can specify arguments inside
24927 ``@{@}'' immediately following the escape sequence.
24928
24929 The escape sequences you can pass to this function are:
24930
24931 @table @code
24932 @item \\
24933 Substitute a backslash.
24934 @item \e
24935 Substitute an ESC character.
24936 @item \f
24937 Substitute the selected frame; an argument names a frame parameter.
24938 @item \n
24939 Substitute a newline.
24940 @item \p
24941 Substitute a parameter's value; the argument names the parameter.
24942 @item \r
24943 Substitute a carriage return.
24944 @item \t
24945 Substitute the selected thread; an argument names a thread parameter.
24946 @item \v
24947 Substitute the version of GDB.
24948 @item \w
24949 Substitute the current working directory.
24950 @item \[
24951 Begin a sequence of non-printing characters. These sequences are
24952 typically used with the ESC character, and are not counted in the string
24953 length. Example: ``\[\e[0;34m\](gdb)\[\e[0m\]'' will return a
24954 blue-colored ``(gdb)'' prompt where the length is five.
24955 @item \]
24956 End a sequence of non-printing characters.
24957 @end table
24958
24959 For example:
24960
24961 @smallexample
24962 substitute_prompt (``frame: \f,
24963 print arguments: \p@{print frame-arguments@}'')
24964 @end smallexample
24965
24966 @exdent will return the string:
24967
24968 @smallexample
24969 "frame: main, print arguments: scalars"
24970 @end smallexample
24971 @end table
24972
24973 @node Aliases
24974 @section Creating new spellings of existing commands
24975 @cindex aliases for commands
24976
24977 It is often useful to define alternate spellings of existing commands.
24978 For example, if a new @value{GDBN} command defined in Python has
24979 a long name to type, it is handy to have an abbreviated version of it
24980 that involves less typing.
24981
24982 @value{GDBN} itself uses aliases. For example @samp{s} is an alias
24983 of the @samp{step} command even though it is otherwise an ambiguous
24984 abbreviation of other commands like @samp{set} and @samp{show}.
24985
24986 Aliases are also used to provide shortened or more common versions
24987 of multi-word commands. For example, @value{GDBN} provides the
24988 @samp{tty} alias of the @samp{set inferior-tty} command.
24989
24990 You can define a new alias with the @samp{alias} command.
24991
24992 @table @code
24993
24994 @kindex alias
24995 @item alias [-a] [--] @var{ALIAS} = @var{COMMAND}
24996
24997 @end table
24998
24999 @var{ALIAS} specifies the name of the new alias.
25000 Each word of @var{ALIAS} must consist of letters, numbers, dashes and
25001 underscores.
25002
25003 @var{COMMAND} specifies the name of an existing command
25004 that is being aliased.
25005
25006 The @samp{-a} option specifies that the new alias is an abbreviation
25007 of the command. Abbreviations are not shown in command
25008 lists displayed by the @samp{help} command.
25009
25010 The @samp{--} option specifies the end of options,
25011 and is useful when @var{ALIAS} begins with a dash.
25012
25013 Here is a simple example showing how to make an abbreviation
25014 of a command so that there is less to type.
25015 Suppose you were tired of typing @samp{disas}, the current
25016 shortest unambiguous abbreviation of the @samp{disassemble} command
25017 and you wanted an even shorter version named @samp{di}.
25018 The following will accomplish this.
25019
25020 @smallexample
25021 (gdb) alias -a di = disas
25022 @end smallexample
25023
25024 Note that aliases are different from user-defined commands.
25025 With a user-defined command, you also need to write documentation
25026 for it with the @samp{document} command.
25027 An alias automatically picks up the documentation of the existing command.
25028
25029 Here is an example where we make @samp{elms} an abbreviation of
25030 @samp{elements} in the @samp{set print elements} command.
25031 This is to show that you can make an abbreviation of any part
25032 of a command.
25033
25034 @smallexample
25035 (gdb) alias -a set print elms = set print elements
25036 (gdb) alias -a show print elms = show print elements
25037 (gdb) set p elms 20
25038 (gdb) show p elms
25039 Limit on string chars or array elements to print is 200.
25040 @end smallexample
25041
25042 Note that if you are defining an alias of a @samp{set} command,
25043 and you want to have an alias for the corresponding @samp{show}
25044 command, then you need to define the latter separately.
25045
25046 Unambiguously abbreviated commands are allowed in @var{COMMAND} and
25047 @var{ALIAS}, just as they are normally.
25048
25049 @smallexample
25050 (gdb) alias -a set pr elms = set p ele
25051 @end smallexample
25052
25053 Finally, here is an example showing the creation of a one word
25054 alias for a more complex command.
25055 This creates alias @samp{spe} of the command @samp{set print elements}.
25056
25057 @smallexample
25058 (gdb) alias spe = set print elements
25059 (gdb) spe 20
25060 @end smallexample
25061
25062 @node Interpreters
25063 @chapter Command Interpreters
25064 @cindex command interpreters
25065
25066 @value{GDBN} supports multiple command interpreters, and some command
25067 infrastructure to allow users or user interface writers to switch
25068 between interpreters or run commands in other interpreters.
25069
25070 @value{GDBN} currently supports two command interpreters, the console
25071 interpreter (sometimes called the command-line interpreter or @sc{cli})
25072 and the machine interface interpreter (or @sc{gdb/mi}). This manual
25073 describes both of these interfaces in great detail.
25074
25075 By default, @value{GDBN} will start with the console interpreter.
25076 However, the user may choose to start @value{GDBN} with another
25077 interpreter by specifying the @option{-i} or @option{--interpreter}
25078 startup options. Defined interpreters include:
25079
25080 @table @code
25081 @item console
25082 @cindex console interpreter
25083 The traditional console or command-line interpreter. This is the most often
25084 used interpreter with @value{GDBN}. With no interpreter specified at runtime,
25085 @value{GDBN} will use this interpreter.
25086
25087 @item mi
25088 @cindex mi interpreter
25089 The newest @sc{gdb/mi} interface (currently @code{mi2}). Used primarily
25090 by programs wishing to use @value{GDBN} as a backend for a debugger GUI
25091 or an IDE. For more information, see @ref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi}
25092 Interface}.
25093
25094 @item mi2
25095 @cindex mi2 interpreter
25096 The current @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
25097
25098 @item mi1
25099 @cindex mi1 interpreter
25100 The @sc{gdb/mi} interface included in @value{GDBN} 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3.
25101
25102 @end table
25103
25104 @cindex invoke another interpreter
25105 The interpreter being used by @value{GDBN} may not be dynamically
25106 switched at runtime. Although possible, this could lead to a very
25107 precarious situation. Consider an IDE using @sc{gdb/mi}. If a user
25108 enters the command "interpreter-set console" in a console view,
25109 @value{GDBN} would switch to using the console interpreter, rendering
25110 the IDE inoperable!
25111
25112 @kindex interpreter-exec
25113 Although you may only choose a single interpreter at startup, you may execute
25114 commands in any interpreter from the current interpreter using the appropriate
25115 command. If you are running the console interpreter, simply use the
25116 @code{interpreter-exec} command:
25117
25118 @smallexample
25119 interpreter-exec mi "-data-list-register-names"
25120 @end smallexample
25121
25122 @sc{gdb/mi} has a similar command, although it is only available in versions of
25123 @value{GDBN} which support @sc{gdb/mi} version 2 (or greater).
25124
25125 @node TUI
25126 @chapter @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
25127 @cindex TUI
25128 @cindex Text User Interface
25129
25130 @menu
25131 * TUI Overview:: TUI overview
25132 * TUI Keys:: TUI key bindings
25133 * TUI Single Key Mode:: TUI single key mode
25134 * TUI Commands:: TUI-specific commands
25135 * TUI Configuration:: TUI configuration variables
25136 @end menu
25137
25138 The @value{GDBN} Text User Interface (TUI) is a terminal
25139 interface which uses the @code{curses} library to show the source
25140 file, the assembly output, the program registers and @value{GDBN}
25141 commands in separate text windows. The TUI mode is supported only
25142 on platforms where a suitable version of the @code{curses} library
25143 is available.
25144
25145 The TUI mode is enabled by default when you invoke @value{GDBN} as
25146 @samp{@value{GDBP} -tui}.
25147 You can also switch in and out of TUI mode while @value{GDBN} runs by
25148 using various TUI commands and key bindings, such as @kbd{C-x C-a}.
25149 @xref{TUI Keys, ,TUI Key Bindings}.
25150
25151 @node TUI Overview
25152 @section TUI Overview
25153
25154 In TUI mode, @value{GDBN} can display several text windows:
25155
25156 @table @emph
25157 @item command
25158 This window is the @value{GDBN} command window with the @value{GDBN}
25159 prompt and the @value{GDBN} output. The @value{GDBN} input is still
25160 managed using readline.
25161
25162 @item source
25163 The source window shows the source file of the program. The current
25164 line and active breakpoints are displayed in this window.
25165
25166 @item assembly
25167 The assembly window shows the disassembly output of the program.
25168
25169 @item register
25170 This window shows the processor registers. Registers are highlighted
25171 when their values change.
25172 @end table
25173
25174 The source and assembly windows show the current program position
25175 by highlighting the current line and marking it with a @samp{>} marker.
25176 Breakpoints are indicated with two markers. The first marker
25177 indicates the breakpoint type:
25178
25179 @table @code
25180 @item B
25181 Breakpoint which was hit at least once.
25182
25183 @item b
25184 Breakpoint which was never hit.
25185
25186 @item H
25187 Hardware breakpoint which was hit at least once.
25188
25189 @item h
25190 Hardware breakpoint which was never hit.
25191 @end table
25192
25193 The second marker indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled or not:
25194
25195 @table @code
25196 @item +
25197 Breakpoint is enabled.
25198
25199 @item -
25200 Breakpoint is disabled.
25201 @end table
25202
25203 The source, assembly and register windows are updated when the current
25204 thread changes, when the frame changes, or when the program counter
25205 changes.
25206
25207 These windows are not all visible at the same time. The command
25208 window is always visible. The others can be arranged in several
25209 layouts:
25210
25211 @itemize @bullet
25212 @item
25213 source only,
25214
25215 @item
25216 assembly only,
25217
25218 @item
25219 source and assembly,
25220
25221 @item
25222 source and registers, or
25223
25224 @item
25225 assembly and registers.
25226 @end itemize
25227
25228 A status line above the command window shows the following information:
25229
25230 @table @emph
25231 @item target
25232 Indicates the current @value{GDBN} target.
25233 (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
25234
25235 @item process
25236 Gives the current process or thread number.
25237 When no process is being debugged, this field is set to @code{No process}.
25238
25239 @item function
25240 Gives the current function name for the selected frame.
25241 The name is demangled if demangling is turned on (@pxref{Print Settings}).
25242 When there is no symbol corresponding to the current program counter,
25243 the string @code{??} is displayed.
25244
25245 @item line
25246 Indicates the current line number for the selected frame.
25247 When the current line number is not known, the string @code{??} is displayed.
25248
25249 @item pc
25250 Indicates the current program counter address.
25251 @end table
25252
25253 @node TUI Keys
25254 @section TUI Key Bindings
25255 @cindex TUI key bindings
25256
25257 The TUI installs several key bindings in the readline keymaps
25258 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
25259 (@pxref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library}).
25260 @end ifset
25261 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
25262 (@pxref{Command Line Editing}).
25263 @end ifclear
25264 The following key bindings are installed for both TUI mode and the
25265 @value{GDBN} standard mode.
25266
25267 @table @kbd
25268 @kindex C-x C-a
25269 @item C-x C-a
25270 @kindex C-x a
25271 @itemx C-x a
25272 @kindex C-x A
25273 @itemx C-x A
25274 Enter or leave the TUI mode. When leaving the TUI mode,
25275 the curses window management stops and @value{GDBN} operates using
25276 its standard mode, writing on the terminal directly. When reentering
25277 the TUI mode, control is given back to the curses windows.
25278 The screen is then refreshed.
25279
25280 @kindex C-x 1
25281 @item C-x 1
25282 Use a TUI layout with only one window. The layout will
25283 either be @samp{source} or @samp{assembly}. When the TUI mode
25284 is not active, it will switch to the TUI mode.
25285
25286 Think of this key binding as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 1} binding.
25287
25288 @kindex C-x 2
25289 @item C-x 2
25290 Use a TUI layout with at least two windows. When the current
25291 layout already has two windows, the next layout with two windows is used.
25292 When a new layout is chosen, one window will always be common to the
25293 previous layout and the new one.
25294
25295 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 2} binding.
25296
25297 @kindex C-x o
25298 @item C-x o
25299 Change the active window. The TUI associates several key bindings
25300 (like scrolling and arrow keys) with the active window. This command
25301 gives the focus to the next TUI window.
25302
25303 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x o} binding.
25304
25305 @kindex C-x s
25306 @item C-x s
25307 Switch in and out of the TUI SingleKey mode that binds single
25308 keys to @value{GDBN} commands (@pxref{TUI Single Key Mode}).
25309 @end table
25310
25311 The following key bindings only work in the TUI mode:
25312
25313 @table @asis
25314 @kindex PgUp
25315 @item @key{PgUp}
25316 Scroll the active window one page up.
25317
25318 @kindex PgDn
25319 @item @key{PgDn}
25320 Scroll the active window one page down.
25321
25322 @kindex Up
25323 @item @key{Up}
25324 Scroll the active window one line up.
25325
25326 @kindex Down
25327 @item @key{Down}
25328 Scroll the active window one line down.
25329
25330 @kindex Left
25331 @item @key{Left}
25332 Scroll the active window one column left.
25333
25334 @kindex Right
25335 @item @key{Right}
25336 Scroll the active window one column right.
25337
25338 @kindex C-L
25339 @item @kbd{C-L}
25340 Refresh the screen.
25341 @end table
25342
25343 Because the arrow keys scroll the active window in the TUI mode, they
25344 are not available for their normal use by readline unless the command
25345 window has the focus. When another window is active, you must use
25346 other readline key bindings such as @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}
25347 and @kbd{C-f} to control the command window.
25348
25349 @node TUI Single Key Mode
25350 @section TUI Single Key Mode
25351 @cindex TUI single key mode
25352
25353 The TUI also provides a @dfn{SingleKey} mode, which binds several
25354 frequently used @value{GDBN} commands to single keys. Type @kbd{C-x s} to
25355 switch into this mode, where the following key bindings are used:
25356
25357 @table @kbd
25358 @kindex c @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25359 @item c
25360 continue
25361
25362 @kindex d @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25363 @item d
25364 down
25365
25366 @kindex f @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25367 @item f
25368 finish
25369
25370 @kindex n @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25371 @item n
25372 next
25373
25374 @kindex q @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25375 @item q
25376 exit the SingleKey mode.
25377
25378 @kindex r @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25379 @item r
25380 run
25381
25382 @kindex s @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25383 @item s
25384 step
25385
25386 @kindex u @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25387 @item u
25388 up
25389
25390 @kindex v @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25391 @item v
25392 info locals
25393
25394 @kindex w @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25395 @item w
25396 where
25397 @end table
25398
25399 Other keys temporarily switch to the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
25400 The key that was pressed is inserted in the editing buffer so that
25401 it is possible to type most @value{GDBN} commands without interaction
25402 with the TUI SingleKey mode. Once the command is entered the TUI
25403 SingleKey mode is restored. The only way to permanently leave
25404 this mode is by typing @kbd{q} or @kbd{C-x s}.
25405
25406
25407 @node TUI Commands
25408 @section TUI-specific Commands
25409 @cindex TUI commands
25410
25411 The TUI has specific commands to control the text windows.
25412 These commands are always available, even when @value{GDBN} is not in
25413 the TUI mode. When @value{GDBN} is in the standard mode, most
25414 of these commands will automatically switch to the TUI mode.
25415
25416 Note that if @value{GDBN}'s @code{stdout} is not connected to a
25417 terminal, or @value{GDBN} has been started with the machine interface
25418 interpreter (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}), most of
25419 these commands will fail with an error, because it would not be
25420 possible or desirable to enable curses window management.
25421
25422 @table @code
25423 @item info win
25424 @kindex info win
25425 List and give the size of all displayed windows.
25426
25427 @item layout next
25428 @kindex layout
25429 Display the next layout.
25430
25431 @item layout prev
25432 Display the previous layout.
25433
25434 @item layout src
25435 Display the source window only.
25436
25437 @item layout asm
25438 Display the assembly window only.
25439
25440 @item layout split
25441 Display the source and assembly window.
25442
25443 @item layout regs
25444 Display the register window together with the source or assembly window.
25445
25446 @item focus next
25447 @kindex focus
25448 Make the next window active for scrolling.
25449
25450 @item focus prev
25451 Make the previous window active for scrolling.
25452
25453 @item focus src
25454 Make the source window active for scrolling.
25455
25456 @item focus asm
25457 Make the assembly window active for scrolling.
25458
25459 @item focus regs
25460 Make the register window active for scrolling.
25461
25462 @item focus cmd
25463 Make the command window active for scrolling.
25464
25465 @item refresh
25466 @kindex refresh
25467 Refresh the screen. This is similar to typing @kbd{C-L}.
25468
25469 @item tui reg float
25470 @kindex tui reg
25471 Show the floating point registers in the register window.
25472
25473 @item tui reg general
25474 Show the general registers in the register window.
25475
25476 @item tui reg next
25477 Show the next register group. The list of register groups as well as
25478 their order is target specific. The predefined register groups are the
25479 following: @code{general}, @code{float}, @code{system}, @code{vector},
25480 @code{all}, @code{save}, @code{restore}.
25481
25482 @item tui reg system
25483 Show the system registers in the register window.
25484
25485 @item update
25486 @kindex update
25487 Update the source window and the current execution point.
25488
25489 @item winheight @var{name} +@var{count}
25490 @itemx winheight @var{name} -@var{count}
25491 @kindex winheight
25492 Change the height of the window @var{name} by @var{count}
25493 lines. Positive counts increase the height, while negative counts
25494 decrease it.
25495
25496 @item tabset @var{nchars}
25497 @kindex tabset
25498 Set the width of tab stops to be @var{nchars} characters.
25499 @end table
25500
25501 @node TUI Configuration
25502 @section TUI Configuration Variables
25503 @cindex TUI configuration variables
25504
25505 Several configuration variables control the appearance of TUI windows.
25506
25507 @table @code
25508 @item set tui border-kind @var{kind}
25509 @kindex set tui border-kind
25510 Select the border appearance for the source, assembly and register windows.
25511 The possible values are the following:
25512 @table @code
25513 @item space
25514 Use a space character to draw the border.
25515
25516 @item ascii
25517 Use @sc{ascii} characters @samp{+}, @samp{-} and @samp{|} to draw the border.
25518
25519 @item acs
25520 Use the Alternate Character Set to draw the border. The border is
25521 drawn using character line graphics if the terminal supports them.
25522 @end table
25523
25524 @item set tui border-mode @var{mode}
25525 @kindex set tui border-mode
25526 @itemx set tui active-border-mode @var{mode}
25527 @kindex set tui active-border-mode
25528 Select the display attributes for the borders of the inactive windows
25529 or the active window. The @var{mode} can be one of the following:
25530 @table @code
25531 @item normal
25532 Use normal attributes to display the border.
25533
25534 @item standout
25535 Use standout mode.
25536
25537 @item reverse
25538 Use reverse video mode.
25539
25540 @item half
25541 Use half bright mode.
25542
25543 @item half-standout
25544 Use half bright and standout mode.
25545
25546 @item bold
25547 Use extra bright or bold mode.
25548
25549 @item bold-standout
25550 Use extra bright or bold and standout mode.
25551 @end table
25552 @end table
25553
25554 @node Emacs
25555 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
25556
25557 @cindex Emacs
25558 @cindex @sc{gnu} Emacs
25559 A special interface allows you to use @sc{gnu} Emacs to view (and
25560 edit) the source files for the program you are debugging with
25561 @value{GDBN}.
25562
25563 To use this interface, use the command @kbd{M-x gdb} in Emacs. Give the
25564 executable file you want to debug as an argument. This command starts
25565 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess of Emacs, with input and output through a newly
25566 created Emacs buffer.
25567 @c (Do not use the @code{-tui} option to run @value{GDBN} from Emacs.)
25568
25569 Running @value{GDBN} under Emacs can be just like running @value{GDBN} normally except for two
25570 things:
25571
25572 @itemize @bullet
25573 @item
25574 All ``terminal'' input and output goes through an Emacs buffer, called
25575 the GUD buffer.
25576
25577 This applies both to @value{GDBN} commands and their output, and to the input
25578 and output done by the program you are debugging.
25579
25580 This is useful because it means that you can copy the text of previous
25581 commands and input them again; you can even use parts of the output
25582 in this way.
25583
25584 All the facilities of Emacs' Shell mode are available for interacting
25585 with your program. In particular, you can send signals the usual
25586 way---for example, @kbd{C-c C-c} for an interrupt, @kbd{C-c C-z} for a
25587 stop.
25588
25589 @item
25590 @value{GDBN} displays source code through Emacs.
25591
25592 Each time @value{GDBN} displays a stack frame, Emacs automatically finds the
25593 source file for that frame and puts an arrow (@samp{=>}) at the
25594 left margin of the current line. Emacs uses a separate buffer for
25595 source display, and splits the screen to show both your @value{GDBN} session
25596 and the source.
25597
25598 Explicit @value{GDBN} @code{list} or search commands still produce output as
25599 usual, but you probably have no reason to use them from Emacs.
25600 @end itemize
25601
25602 We call this @dfn{text command mode}. Emacs 22.1, and later, also uses
25603 a graphical mode, enabled by default, which provides further buffers
25604 that can control the execution and describe the state of your program.
25605 @xref{GDB Graphical Interface,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}.
25606
25607 If you specify an absolute file name when prompted for the @kbd{M-x
25608 gdb} argument, then Emacs sets your current working directory to where
25609 your program resides. If you only specify the file name, then Emacs
25610 sets your current working directory to the directory associated
25611 with the previous buffer. In this case, @value{GDBN} may find your
25612 program by searching your environment's @code{PATH} variable, but on
25613 some operating systems it might not find the source. So, although the
25614 @value{GDBN} input and output session proceeds normally, the auxiliary
25615 buffer does not display the current source and line of execution.
25616
25617 The initial working directory of @value{GDBN} is printed on the top
25618 line of the GUD buffer and this serves as a default for the commands
25619 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files,
25620 ,Commands to Specify Files}.
25621
25622 By default, @kbd{M-x gdb} calls the program called @file{gdb}. If you
25623 need to call @value{GDBN} by a different name (for example, if you
25624 keep several configurations around, with different names) you can
25625 customize the Emacs variable @code{gud-gdb-command-name} to run the
25626 one you want.
25627
25628 In the GUD buffer, you can use these special Emacs commands in
25629 addition to the standard Shell mode commands:
25630
25631 @table @kbd
25632 @item C-h m
25633 Describe the features of Emacs' GUD Mode.
25634
25635 @item C-c C-s
25636 Execute to another source line, like the @value{GDBN} @code{step} command; also
25637 update the display window to show the current file and location.
25638
25639 @item C-c C-n
25640 Execute to next source line in this function, skipping all function
25641 calls, like the @value{GDBN} @code{next} command. Then update the display window
25642 to show the current file and location.
25643
25644 @item C-c C-i
25645 Execute one instruction, like the @value{GDBN} @code{stepi} command; update
25646 display window accordingly.
25647
25648 @item C-c C-f
25649 Execute until exit from the selected stack frame, like the @value{GDBN}
25650 @code{finish} command.
25651
25652 @item C-c C-r
25653 Continue execution of your program, like the @value{GDBN} @code{continue}
25654 command.
25655
25656 @item C-c <
25657 Go up the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument
25658 (@pxref{Arguments, , Numeric Arguments, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}),
25659 like the @value{GDBN} @code{up} command.
25660
25661 @item C-c >
25662 Go down the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument, like the
25663 @value{GDBN} @code{down} command.
25664 @end table
25665
25666 In any source file, the Emacs command @kbd{C-x @key{SPC}} (@code{gud-break})
25667 tells @value{GDBN} to set a breakpoint on the source line point is on.
25668
25669 In text command mode, if you type @kbd{M-x speedbar}, Emacs displays a
25670 separate frame which shows a backtrace when the GUD buffer is current.
25671 Move point to any frame in the stack and type @key{RET} to make it
25672 become the current frame and display the associated source in the
25673 source buffer. Alternatively, click @kbd{Mouse-2} to make the
25674 selected frame become the current one. In graphical mode, the
25675 speedbar displays watch expressions.
25676
25677 If you accidentally delete the source-display buffer, an easy way to get
25678 it back is to type the command @code{f} in the @value{GDBN} buffer, to
25679 request a frame display; when you run under Emacs, this recreates
25680 the source buffer if necessary to show you the context of the current
25681 frame.
25682
25683 The source files displayed in Emacs are in ordinary Emacs buffers
25684 which are visiting the source files in the usual way. You can edit
25685 the files with these buffers if you wish; but keep in mind that @value{GDBN}
25686 communicates with Emacs in terms of line numbers. If you add or
25687 delete lines from the text, the line numbers that @value{GDBN} knows cease
25688 to correspond properly with the code.
25689
25690 A more detailed description of Emacs' interaction with @value{GDBN} is
25691 given in the Emacs manual (@pxref{Debuggers,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu}
25692 Emacs Manual}).
25693
25694 @c The following dropped because Epoch is nonstandard. Reactivate
25695 @c if/when v19 does something similar. ---doc@cygnus.com 19dec1990
25696 @ignore
25697 @kindex Emacs Epoch environment
25698 @kindex Epoch
25699 @kindex inspect
25700
25701 Version 18 of @sc{gnu} Emacs has a built-in window system
25702 called the @code{epoch}
25703 environment. Users of this environment can use a new command,
25704 @code{inspect} which performs identically to @code{print} except that
25705 each value is printed in its own window.
25706 @end ignore
25707
25708
25709 @node GDB/MI
25710 @chapter The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface
25711
25712 @unnumberedsec Function and Purpose
25713
25714 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, its purpose
25715 @sc{gdb/mi} is a line based machine oriented text interface to
25716 @value{GDBN} and is activated by specifying using the
25717 @option{--interpreter} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}). It
25718 is specifically intended to support the development of systems which
25719 use the debugger as just one small component of a larger system.
25720
25721 This chapter is a specification of the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. It is written
25722 in the form of a reference manual.
25723
25724 Note that @sc{gdb/mi} is still under construction, so some of the
25725 features described below are incomplete and subject to change
25726 (@pxref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, , @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends}).
25727
25728 @unnumberedsec Notation and Terminology
25729
25730 @cindex notational conventions, for @sc{gdb/mi}
25731 This chapter uses the following notation:
25732
25733 @itemize @bullet
25734 @item
25735 @code{|} separates two alternatives.
25736
25737 @item
25738 @code{[ @var{something} ]} indicates that @var{something} is optional:
25739 it may or may not be given.
25740
25741 @item
25742 @code{( @var{group} )*} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
25743 may repeat zero or more times.
25744
25745 @item
25746 @code{( @var{group} )+} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
25747 may repeat one or more times.
25748
25749 @item
25750 @code{"@var{string}"} means a literal @var{string}.
25751 @end itemize
25752
25753 @ignore
25754 @heading Dependencies
25755 @end ignore
25756
25757 @menu
25758 * GDB/MI General Design::
25759 * GDB/MI Command Syntax::
25760 * GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI::
25761 * GDB/MI Development and Front Ends::
25762 * GDB/MI Output Records::
25763 * GDB/MI Simple Examples::
25764 * GDB/MI Command Description Format::
25765 * GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands::
25766 * GDB/MI Program Context::
25767 * GDB/MI Thread Commands::
25768 * GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands::
25769 * GDB/MI Program Execution::
25770 * GDB/MI Stack Manipulation::
25771 * GDB/MI Variable Objects::
25772 * GDB/MI Data Manipulation::
25773 * GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands::
25774 * GDB/MI Symbol Query::
25775 * GDB/MI File Commands::
25776 @ignore
25777 * GDB/MI Kod Commands::
25778 * GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands::
25779 * GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands::
25780 @end ignore
25781 * GDB/MI Target Manipulation::
25782 * GDB/MI File Transfer Commands::
25783 * GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands::
25784 @end menu
25785
25786 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25787 @node GDB/MI General Design
25788 @section @sc{gdb/mi} General Design
25789 @cindex GDB/MI General Design
25790
25791 Interaction of a @sc{GDB/MI} frontend with @value{GDBN} involves three
25792 parts---commands sent to @value{GDBN}, responses to those commands
25793 and notifications. Each command results in exactly one response,
25794 indicating either successful completion of the command, or an error.
25795 For the commands that do not resume the target, the response contains the
25796 requested information. For the commands that resume the target, the
25797 response only indicates whether the target was successfully resumed.
25798 Notifications is the mechanism for reporting changes in the state of the
25799 target, or in @value{GDBN} state, that cannot conveniently be associated with
25800 a command and reported as part of that command response.
25801
25802 The important examples of notifications are:
25803 @itemize @bullet
25804
25805 @item
25806 Exec notifications. These are used to report changes in
25807 target state---when a target is resumed, or stopped. It would not
25808 be feasible to include this information in response of resuming
25809 commands, because one resume commands can result in multiple events in
25810 different threads. Also, quite some time may pass before any event
25811 happens in the target, while a frontend needs to know whether the resuming
25812 command itself was successfully executed.
25813
25814 @item
25815 Console output, and status notifications. Console output
25816 notifications are used to report output of CLI commands, as well as
25817 diagnostics for other commands. Status notifications are used to
25818 report the progress of a long-running operation. Naturally, including
25819 this information in command response would mean no output is produced
25820 until the command is finished, which is undesirable.
25821
25822 @item
25823 General notifications. Commands may have various side effects on
25824 the @value{GDBN} or target state beyond their official purpose. For example,
25825 a command may change the selected thread. Although such changes can
25826 be included in command response, using notification allows for more
25827 orthogonal frontend design.
25828
25829 @end itemize
25830
25831 There's no guarantee that whenever an MI command reports an error,
25832 @value{GDBN} or the target are in any specific state, and especially,
25833 the state is not reverted to the state before the MI command was
25834 processed. Therefore, whenever an MI command results in an error,
25835 we recommend that the frontend refreshes all the information shown in
25836 the user interface.
25837
25838
25839 @menu
25840 * Context management::
25841 * Asynchronous and non-stop modes::
25842 * Thread groups::
25843 @end menu
25844
25845 @node Context management
25846 @subsection Context management
25847
25848 In most cases when @value{GDBN} accesses the target, this access is
25849 done in context of a specific thread and frame (@pxref{Frames}).
25850 Often, even when accessing global data, the target requires that a thread
25851 be specified. The CLI interface maintains the selected thread and frame,
25852 and supplies them to target on each command. This is convenient,
25853 because a command line user would not want to specify that information
25854 explicitly on each command, and because user interacts with
25855 @value{GDBN} via a single terminal, so no confusion is possible as
25856 to what thread and frame are the current ones.
25857
25858 In the case of MI, the concept of selected thread and frame is less
25859 useful. First, a frontend can easily remember this information
25860 itself. Second, a graphical frontend can have more than one window,
25861 each one used for debugging a different thread, and the frontend might
25862 want to access additional threads for internal purposes. This
25863 increases the risk that by relying on implicitly selected thread, the
25864 frontend may be operating on a wrong one. Therefore, each MI command
25865 should explicitly specify which thread and frame to operate on. To
25866 make it possible, each MI command accepts the @samp{--thread} and
25867 @samp{--frame} options, the value to each is @value{GDBN} identifier
25868 for thread and frame to operate on.
25869
25870 Usually, each top-level window in a frontend allows the user to select
25871 a thread and a frame, and remembers the user selection for further
25872 operations. However, in some cases @value{GDBN} may suggest that the
25873 current thread be changed. For example, when stopping on a breakpoint
25874 it is reasonable to switch to the thread where breakpoint is hit. For
25875 another example, if the user issues the CLI @samp{thread} command via
25876 the frontend, it is desirable to change the frontend's selected thread to the
25877 one specified by user. @value{GDBN} communicates the suggestion to
25878 change current thread using the @samp{=thread-selected} notification.
25879 No such notification is available for the selected frame at the moment.
25880
25881 Note that historically, MI shares the selected thread with CLI, so
25882 frontends used the @code{-thread-select} to execute commands in the
25883 right context. However, getting this to work right is cumbersome. The
25884 simplest way is for frontend to emit @code{-thread-select} command
25885 before every command. This doubles the number of commands that need
25886 to be sent. The alternative approach is to suppress @code{-thread-select}
25887 if the selected thread in @value{GDBN} is supposed to be identical to the
25888 thread the frontend wants to operate on. However, getting this
25889 optimization right can be tricky. In particular, if the frontend
25890 sends several commands to @value{GDBN}, and one of the commands changes the
25891 selected thread, then the behaviour of subsequent commands will
25892 change. So, a frontend should either wait for response from such
25893 problematic commands, or explicitly add @code{-thread-select} for
25894 all subsequent commands. No frontend is known to do this exactly
25895 right, so it is suggested to just always pass the @samp{--thread} and
25896 @samp{--frame} options.
25897
25898 @node Asynchronous and non-stop modes
25899 @subsection Asynchronous command execution and non-stop mode
25900
25901 On some targets, @value{GDBN} is capable of processing MI commands
25902 even while the target is running. This is called @dfn{asynchronous
25903 command execution} (@pxref{Background Execution}). The frontend may
25904 specify a preferrence for asynchronous execution using the
25905 @code{-gdb-set target-async 1} command, which should be emitted before
25906 either running the executable or attaching to the target. After the
25907 frontend has started the executable or attached to the target, it can
25908 find if asynchronous execution is enabled using the
25909 @code{-list-target-features} command.
25910
25911 Even if @value{GDBN} can accept a command while target is running,
25912 many commands that access the target do not work when the target is
25913 running. Therefore, asynchronous command execution is most useful
25914 when combined with non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}). Then,
25915 it is possible to examine the state of one thread, while other threads
25916 are running.
25917
25918 When a given thread is running, MI commands that try to access the
25919 target in the context of that thread may not work, or may work only on
25920 some targets. In particular, commands that try to operate on thread's
25921 stack will not work, on any target. Commands that read memory, or
25922 modify breakpoints, may work or not work, depending on the target. Note
25923 that even commands that operate on global state, such as @code{print},
25924 @code{set}, and breakpoint commands, still access the target in the
25925 context of a specific thread, so frontend should try to find a
25926 stopped thread and perform the operation on that thread (using the
25927 @samp{--thread} option).
25928
25929 Which commands will work in the context of a running thread is
25930 highly target dependent. However, the two commands
25931 @code{-exec-interrupt}, to stop a thread, and @code{-thread-info},
25932 to find the state of a thread, will always work.
25933
25934 @node Thread groups
25935 @subsection Thread groups
25936 @value{GDBN} may be used to debug several processes at the same time.
25937 On some platfroms, @value{GDBN} may support debugging of several
25938 hardware systems, each one having several cores with several different
25939 processes running on each core. This section describes the MI
25940 mechanism to support such debugging scenarios.
25941
25942 The key observation is that regardless of the structure of the
25943 target, MI can have a global list of threads, because most commands that
25944 accept the @samp{--thread} option do not need to know what process that
25945 thread belongs to. Therefore, it is not necessary to introduce
25946 neither additional @samp{--process} option, nor an notion of the
25947 current process in the MI interface. The only strictly new feature
25948 that is required is the ability to find how the threads are grouped
25949 into processes.
25950
25951 To allow the user to discover such grouping, and to support arbitrary
25952 hierarchy of machines/cores/processes, MI introduces the concept of a
25953 @dfn{thread group}. Thread group is a collection of threads and other
25954 thread groups. A thread group always has a string identifier, a type,
25955 and may have additional attributes specific to the type. A new
25956 command, @code{-list-thread-groups}, returns the list of top-level
25957 thread groups, which correspond to processes that @value{GDBN} is
25958 debugging at the moment. By passing an identifier of a thread group
25959 to the @code{-list-thread-groups} command, it is possible to obtain
25960 the members of specific thread group.
25961
25962 To allow the user to easily discover processes, and other objects, he
25963 wishes to debug, a concept of @dfn{available thread group} is
25964 introduced. Available thread group is an thread group that
25965 @value{GDBN} is not debugging, but that can be attached to, using the
25966 @code{-target-attach} command. The list of available top-level thread
25967 groups can be obtained using @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}.
25968 In general, the content of a thread group may be only retrieved only
25969 after attaching to that thread group.
25970
25971 Thread groups are related to inferiors (@pxref{Inferiors and
25972 Programs}). Each inferior corresponds to a thread group of a special
25973 type @samp{process}, and some additional operations are permitted on
25974 such thread groups.
25975
25976 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25977 @node GDB/MI Command Syntax
25978 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Syntax
25979
25980 @menu
25981 * GDB/MI Input Syntax::
25982 * GDB/MI Output Syntax::
25983 @end menu
25984
25985 @node GDB/MI Input Syntax
25986 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Input Syntax
25987
25988 @cindex input syntax for @sc{gdb/mi}
25989 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, input syntax
25990 @table @code
25991 @item @var{command} @expansion{}
25992 @code{@var{cli-command} | @var{mi-command}}
25993
25994 @item @var{cli-command} @expansion{}
25995 @code{[ @var{token} ] @var{cli-command} @var{nl}}, where
25996 @var{cli-command} is any existing @value{GDBN} CLI command.
25997
25998 @item @var{mi-command} @expansion{}
25999 @code{[ @var{token} ] "-" @var{operation} ( " " @var{option} )*
26000 @code{[} " --" @code{]} ( " " @var{parameter} )* @var{nl}}
26001
26002 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
26003 "any sequence of digits"
26004
26005 @item @var{option} @expansion{}
26006 @code{"-" @var{parameter} [ " " @var{parameter} ]}
26007
26008 @item @var{parameter} @expansion{}
26009 @code{@var{non-blank-sequence} | @var{c-string}}
26010
26011 @item @var{operation} @expansion{}
26012 @emph{any of the operations described in this chapter}
26013
26014 @item @var{non-blank-sequence} @expansion{}
26015 @emph{anything, provided it doesn't contain special characters such as
26016 "-", @var{nl}, """ and of course " "}
26017
26018 @item @var{c-string} @expansion{}
26019 @code{""" @var{seven-bit-iso-c-string-content} """}
26020
26021 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
26022 @code{CR | CR-LF}
26023 @end table
26024
26025 @noindent
26026 Notes:
26027
26028 @itemize @bullet
26029 @item
26030 The CLI commands are still handled by the @sc{mi} interpreter; their
26031 output is described below.
26032
26033 @item
26034 The @code{@var{token}}, when present, is passed back when the command
26035 finishes.
26036
26037 @item
26038 Some @sc{mi} commands accept optional arguments as part of the parameter
26039 list. Each option is identified by a leading @samp{-} (dash) and may be
26040 followed by an optional argument parameter. Options occur first in the
26041 parameter list and can be delimited from normal parameters using
26042 @samp{--} (this is useful when some parameters begin with a dash).
26043 @end itemize
26044
26045 Pragmatics:
26046
26047 @itemize @bullet
26048 @item
26049 We want easy access to the existing CLI syntax (for debugging).
26050
26051 @item
26052 We want it to be easy to spot a @sc{mi} operation.
26053 @end itemize
26054
26055 @node GDB/MI Output Syntax
26056 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax
26057
26058 @cindex output syntax of @sc{gdb/mi}
26059 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, output syntax
26060 The output from @sc{gdb/mi} consists of zero or more out-of-band records
26061 followed, optionally, by a single result record. This result record
26062 is for the most recent command. The sequence of output records is
26063 terminated by @samp{(gdb)}.
26064
26065 If an input command was prefixed with a @code{@var{token}} then the
26066 corresponding output for that command will also be prefixed by that same
26067 @var{token}.
26068
26069 @table @code
26070 @item @var{output} @expansion{}
26071 @code{( @var{out-of-band-record} )* [ @var{result-record} ] "(gdb)" @var{nl}}
26072
26073 @item @var{result-record} @expansion{}
26074 @code{ [ @var{token} ] "^" @var{result-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
26075
26076 @item @var{out-of-band-record} @expansion{}
26077 @code{@var{async-record} | @var{stream-record}}
26078
26079 @item @var{async-record} @expansion{}
26080 @code{@var{exec-async-output} | @var{status-async-output} | @var{notify-async-output}}
26081
26082 @item @var{exec-async-output} @expansion{}
26083 @code{[ @var{token} ] "*" @var{async-output}}
26084
26085 @item @var{status-async-output} @expansion{}
26086 @code{[ @var{token} ] "+" @var{async-output}}
26087
26088 @item @var{notify-async-output} @expansion{}
26089 @code{[ @var{token} ] "=" @var{async-output}}
26090
26091 @item @var{async-output} @expansion{}
26092 @code{@var{async-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
26093
26094 @item @var{result-class} @expansion{}
26095 @code{"done" | "running" | "connected" | "error" | "exit"}
26096
26097 @item @var{async-class} @expansion{}
26098 @code{"stopped" | @var{others}} (where @var{others} will be added
26099 depending on the needs---this is still in development).
26100
26101 @item @var{result} @expansion{}
26102 @code{ @var{variable} "=" @var{value}}
26103
26104 @item @var{variable} @expansion{}
26105 @code{ @var{string} }
26106
26107 @item @var{value} @expansion{}
26108 @code{ @var{const} | @var{tuple} | @var{list} }
26109
26110 @item @var{const} @expansion{}
26111 @code{@var{c-string}}
26112
26113 @item @var{tuple} @expansion{}
26114 @code{ "@{@}" | "@{" @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "@}" }
26115
26116 @item @var{list} @expansion{}
26117 @code{ "[]" | "[" @var{value} ( "," @var{value} )* "]" | "["
26118 @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "]" }
26119
26120 @item @var{stream-record} @expansion{}
26121 @code{@var{console-stream-output} | @var{target-stream-output} | @var{log-stream-output}}
26122
26123 @item @var{console-stream-output} @expansion{}
26124 @code{"~" @var{c-string}}
26125
26126 @item @var{target-stream-output} @expansion{}
26127 @code{"@@" @var{c-string}}
26128
26129 @item @var{log-stream-output} @expansion{}
26130 @code{"&" @var{c-string}}
26131
26132 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
26133 @code{CR | CR-LF}
26134
26135 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
26136 @emph{any sequence of digits}.
26137 @end table
26138
26139 @noindent
26140 Notes:
26141
26142 @itemize @bullet
26143 @item
26144 All output sequences end in a single line containing a period.
26145
26146 @item
26147 The @code{@var{token}} is from the corresponding request. Note that
26148 for all async output, while the token is allowed by the grammar and
26149 may be output by future versions of @value{GDBN} for select async
26150 output messages, it is generally omitted. Frontends should treat
26151 all async output as reporting general changes in the state of the
26152 target and there should be no need to associate async output to any
26153 prior command.
26154
26155 @item
26156 @cindex status output in @sc{gdb/mi}
26157 @var{status-async-output} contains on-going status information about the
26158 progress of a slow operation. It can be discarded. All status output is
26159 prefixed by @samp{+}.
26160
26161 @item
26162 @cindex async output in @sc{gdb/mi}
26163 @var{exec-async-output} contains asynchronous state change on the target
26164 (stopped, started, disappeared). All async output is prefixed by
26165 @samp{*}.
26166
26167 @item
26168 @cindex notify output in @sc{gdb/mi}
26169 @var{notify-async-output} contains supplementary information that the
26170 client should handle (e.g., a new breakpoint information). All notify
26171 output is prefixed by @samp{=}.
26172
26173 @item
26174 @cindex console output in @sc{gdb/mi}
26175 @var{console-stream-output} is output that should be displayed as is in the
26176 console. It is the textual response to a CLI command. All the console
26177 output is prefixed by @samp{~}.
26178
26179 @item
26180 @cindex target output in @sc{gdb/mi}
26181 @var{target-stream-output} is the output produced by the target program.
26182 All the target output is prefixed by @samp{@@}.
26183
26184 @item
26185 @cindex log output in @sc{gdb/mi}
26186 @var{log-stream-output} is output text coming from @value{GDBN}'s internals, for
26187 instance messages that should be displayed as part of an error log. All
26188 the log output is prefixed by @samp{&}.
26189
26190 @item
26191 @cindex list output in @sc{gdb/mi}
26192 New @sc{gdb/mi} commands should only output @var{lists} containing
26193 @var{values}.
26194
26195
26196 @end itemize
26197
26198 @xref{GDB/MI Stream Records, , @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records}, for more
26199 details about the various output records.
26200
26201 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26202 @node GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI
26203 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Compatibility with CLI
26204
26205 @cindex compatibility, @sc{gdb/mi} and CLI
26206 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, compatibility with CLI
26207
26208 For the developers convenience CLI commands can be entered directly,
26209 but there may be some unexpected behaviour. For example, commands
26210 that query the user will behave as if the user replied yes, breakpoint
26211 command lists are not executed and some CLI commands, such as
26212 @code{if}, @code{when} and @code{define}, prompt for further input with
26213 @samp{>}, which is not valid MI output.
26214
26215 This feature may be removed at some stage in the future and it is
26216 recommended that front ends use the @code{-interpreter-exec} command
26217 (@pxref{-interpreter-exec}).
26218
26219 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26220 @node GDB/MI Development and Front Ends
26221 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends
26222 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi} development
26223
26224 The application which takes the MI output and presents the state of the
26225 program being debugged to the user is called a @dfn{front end}.
26226
26227 Although @sc{gdb/mi} is still incomplete, it is currently being used
26228 by a variety of front ends to @value{GDBN}. This makes it difficult
26229 to introduce new functionality without breaking existing usage. This
26230 section tries to minimize the problems by describing how the protocol
26231 might change.
26232
26233 Some changes in MI need not break a carefully designed front end, and
26234 for these the MI version will remain unchanged. The following is a
26235 list of changes that may occur within one level, so front ends should
26236 parse MI output in a way that can handle them:
26237
26238 @itemize @bullet
26239 @item
26240 New MI commands may be added.
26241
26242 @item
26243 New fields may be added to the output of any MI command.
26244
26245 @item
26246 The range of values for fields with specified values, e.g.,
26247 @code{in_scope} (@pxref{-var-update}) may be extended.
26248
26249 @c The format of field's content e.g type prefix, may change so parse it
26250 @c at your own risk. Yes, in general?
26251
26252 @c The order of fields may change? Shouldn't really matter but it might
26253 @c resolve inconsistencies.
26254 @end itemize
26255
26256 If the changes are likely to break front ends, the MI version level
26257 will be increased by one. This will allow the front end to parse the
26258 output according to the MI version. Apart from mi0, new versions of
26259 @value{GDBN} will not support old versions of MI and it will be the
26260 responsibility of the front end to work with the new one.
26261
26262 @c Starting with mi3, add a new command -mi-version that prints the MI
26263 @c version?
26264
26265 The best way to avoid unexpected changes in MI that might break your front
26266 end is to make your project known to @value{GDBN} developers and
26267 follow development on @email{gdb@@sourceware.org} and
26268 @email{gdb-patches@@sourceware.org}.
26269 @cindex mailing lists
26270
26271 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26272 @node GDB/MI Output Records
26273 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Output Records
26274
26275 @menu
26276 * GDB/MI Result Records::
26277 * GDB/MI Stream Records::
26278 * GDB/MI Async Records::
26279 * GDB/MI Frame Information::
26280 * GDB/MI Thread Information::
26281 * GDB/MI Ada Exception Information::
26282 @end menu
26283
26284 @node GDB/MI Result Records
26285 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Result Records
26286
26287 @cindex result records in @sc{gdb/mi}
26288 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, result records
26289 In addition to a number of out-of-band notifications, the response to a
26290 @sc{gdb/mi} command includes one of the following result indications:
26291
26292 @table @code
26293 @findex ^done
26294 @item "^done" [ "," @var{results} ]
26295 The synchronous operation was successful, @code{@var{results}} are the return
26296 values.
26297
26298 @item "^running"
26299 @findex ^running
26300 This result record is equivalent to @samp{^done}. Historically, it
26301 was output instead of @samp{^done} if the command has resumed the
26302 target. This behaviour is maintained for backward compatibility, but
26303 all frontends should treat @samp{^done} and @samp{^running}
26304 identically and rely on the @samp{*running} output record to determine
26305 which threads are resumed.
26306
26307 @item "^connected"
26308 @findex ^connected
26309 @value{GDBN} has connected to a remote target.
26310
26311 @item "^error" "," @var{c-string}
26312 @findex ^error
26313 The operation failed. The @code{@var{c-string}} contains the corresponding
26314 error message.
26315
26316 @item "^exit"
26317 @findex ^exit
26318 @value{GDBN} has terminated.
26319
26320 @end table
26321
26322 @node GDB/MI Stream Records
26323 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records
26324
26325 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, stream records
26326 @cindex stream records in @sc{gdb/mi}
26327 @value{GDBN} internally maintains a number of output streams: the console, the
26328 target, and the log. The output intended for each of these streams is
26329 funneled through the @sc{gdb/mi} interface using @dfn{stream records}.
26330
26331 Each stream record begins with a unique @dfn{prefix character} which
26332 identifies its stream (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, , @sc{gdb/mi} Output
26333 Syntax}). In addition to the prefix, each stream record contains a
26334 @code{@var{string-output}}. This is either raw text (with an implicit new
26335 line) or a quoted C string (which does not contain an implicit newline).
26336
26337 @table @code
26338 @item "~" @var{string-output}
26339 The console output stream contains text that should be displayed in the
26340 CLI console window. It contains the textual responses to CLI commands.
26341
26342 @item "@@" @var{string-output}
26343 The target output stream contains any textual output from the running
26344 target. This is only present when GDB's event loop is truly
26345 asynchronous, which is currently only the case for remote targets.
26346
26347 @item "&" @var{string-output}
26348 The log stream contains debugging messages being produced by @value{GDBN}'s
26349 internals.
26350 @end table
26351
26352 @node GDB/MI Async Records
26353 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Async Records
26354
26355 @cindex async records in @sc{gdb/mi}
26356 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, async records
26357 @dfn{Async} records are used to notify the @sc{gdb/mi} client of
26358 additional changes that have occurred. Those changes can either be a
26359 consequence of @sc{gdb/mi} commands (e.g., a breakpoint modified) or a result of
26360 target activity (e.g., target stopped).
26361
26362 The following is the list of possible async records:
26363
26364 @table @code
26365
26366 @item *running,thread-id="@var{thread}"
26367 The target is now running. The @var{thread} field tells which
26368 specific thread is now running, and can be @samp{all} if all threads
26369 are running. The frontend should assume that no interaction with a
26370 running thread is possible after this notification is produced.
26371 The frontend should not assume that this notification is output
26372 only once for any command. @value{GDBN} may emit this notification
26373 several times, either for different threads, because it cannot resume
26374 all threads together, or even for a single thread, if the thread must
26375 be stepped though some code before letting it run freely.
26376
26377 @item *stopped,reason="@var{reason}",thread-id="@var{id}",stopped-threads="@var{stopped}",core="@var{core}"
26378 The target has stopped. The @var{reason} field can have one of the
26379 following values:
26380
26381 @table @code
26382 @item breakpoint-hit
26383 A breakpoint was reached.
26384 @item watchpoint-trigger
26385 A watchpoint was triggered.
26386 @item read-watchpoint-trigger
26387 A read watchpoint was triggered.
26388 @item access-watchpoint-trigger
26389 An access watchpoint was triggered.
26390 @item function-finished
26391 An -exec-finish or similar CLI command was accomplished.
26392 @item location-reached
26393 An -exec-until or similar CLI command was accomplished.
26394 @item watchpoint-scope
26395 A watchpoint has gone out of scope.
26396 @item end-stepping-range
26397 An -exec-next, -exec-next-instruction, -exec-step, -exec-step-instruction or
26398 similar CLI command was accomplished.
26399 @item exited-signalled
26400 The inferior exited because of a signal.
26401 @item exited
26402 The inferior exited.
26403 @item exited-normally
26404 The inferior exited normally.
26405 @item signal-received
26406 A signal was received by the inferior.
26407 @item solib-event
26408 The inferior has stopped due to a library being loaded or unloaded.
26409 This can happen when @code{stop-on-solib-events} (@pxref{Files}) is
26410 set or when a @code{catch load} or @code{catch unload} catchpoint is
26411 in use (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}).
26412 @item fork
26413 The inferior has forked. This is reported when @code{catch fork}
26414 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
26415 @item vfork
26416 The inferior has vforked. This is reported in when @code{catch vfork}
26417 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
26418 @item syscall-entry
26419 The inferior entered a system call. This is reported when @code{catch
26420 syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
26421 @item syscall-entry
26422 The inferior returned from a system call. This is reported when
26423 @code{catch syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
26424 @item exec
26425 The inferior called @code{exec}. This is reported when @code{catch exec}
26426 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
26427 @end table
26428
26429 The @var{id} field identifies the thread that directly caused the stop
26430 -- for example by hitting a breakpoint. Depending on whether all-stop
26431 mode is in effect (@pxref{All-Stop Mode}), @value{GDBN} may either
26432 stop all threads, or only the thread that directly triggered the stop.
26433 If all threads are stopped, the @var{stopped} field will have the
26434 value of @code{"all"}. Otherwise, the value of the @var{stopped}
26435 field will be a list of thread identifiers. Presently, this list will
26436 always include a single thread, but frontend should be prepared to see
26437 several threads in the list. The @var{core} field reports the
26438 processor core on which the stop event has happened. This field may be absent
26439 if such information is not available.
26440
26441 @item =thread-group-added,id="@var{id}"
26442 @itemx =thread-group-removed,id="@var{id}"
26443 A thread group was either added or removed. The @var{id} field
26444 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. When a thread
26445 group is added, it generally might not be associated with a running
26446 process. When a thread group is removed, its id becomes invalid and
26447 cannot be used in any way.
26448
26449 @item =thread-group-started,id="@var{id}",pid="@var{pid}"
26450 A thread group became associated with a running program,
26451 either because the program was just started or the thread group
26452 was attached to a program. The @var{id} field contains the
26453 @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. The @var{pid} field
26454 contains process identifier, specific to the operating system.
26455
26456 @item =thread-group-exited,id="@var{id}"[,exit-code="@var{code}"]
26457 A thread group is no longer associated with a running program,
26458 either because the program has exited, or because it was detached
26459 from. The @var{id} field contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the
26460 thread group. @var{code} is the exit code of the inferior; it exists
26461 only when the inferior exited with some code.
26462
26463 @item =thread-created,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
26464 @itemx =thread-exited,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
26465 A thread either was created, or has exited. The @var{id} field
26466 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread. The @var{gid}
26467 field identifies the thread group this thread belongs to.
26468
26469 @item =thread-selected,id="@var{id}"
26470 Informs that the selected thread was changed as result of the last
26471 command. This notification is not emitted as result of @code{-thread-select}
26472 command but is emitted whenever an MI command that is not documented
26473 to change the selected thread actually changes it. In particular,
26474 invoking, directly or indirectly (via user-defined command), the CLI
26475 @code{thread} command, will generate this notification.
26476
26477 We suggest that in response to this notification, front ends
26478 highlight the selected thread and cause subsequent commands to apply to
26479 that thread.
26480
26481 @item =library-loaded,...
26482 Reports that a new library file was loaded by the program. This
26483 notification has 4 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name},
26484 @var{host-name}, and @var{symbols-loaded}. The @var{id} field is an
26485 opaque identifier of the library. For remote debugging case,
26486 @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} fields give the name of the
26487 library file on the target, and on the host respectively. For native
26488 debugging, both those fields have the same value. The
26489 @var{symbols-loaded} field is emitted only for backward compatibility
26490 and should not be relied on to convey any useful information. The
26491 @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the thread
26492 group in whose context the library was loaded. If the field is
26493 absent, it means the library was loaded in the context of all present
26494 thread groups.
26495
26496 @item =library-unloaded,...
26497 Reports that a library was unloaded by the program. This notification
26498 has 3 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} with
26499 the same meaning as for the @code{=library-loaded} notification.
26500 The @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the
26501 thread group in whose context the library was unloaded. If the field is
26502 absent, it means the library was unloaded in the context of all present
26503 thread groups.
26504
26505 @item =breakpoint-created,bkpt=@{...@}
26506 @itemx =breakpoint-modified,bkpt=@{...@}
26507 @itemx =breakpoint-deleted,bkpt=@{...@}
26508 Reports that a breakpoint was created, modified, or deleted,
26509 respectively. Only user-visible breakpoints are reported to the MI
26510 user.
26511
26512 The @var{bkpt} argument is of the same form as returned by the various
26513 breakpoint commands; @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands}.
26514
26515 Note that if a breakpoint is emitted in the result record of a
26516 command, then it will not also be emitted in an async record.
26517
26518 @end table
26519
26520 @node GDB/MI Frame Information
26521 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Frame Information
26522
26523 Response from many MI commands includes an information about stack
26524 frame. This information is a tuple that may have the following
26525 fields:
26526
26527 @table @code
26528 @item level
26529 The level of the stack frame. The innermost frame has the level of
26530 zero. This field is always present.
26531
26532 @item func
26533 The name of the function corresponding to the frame. This field may
26534 be absent if @value{GDBN} is unable to determine the function name.
26535
26536 @item addr
26537 The code address for the frame. This field is always present.
26538
26539 @item file
26540 The name of the source files that correspond to the frame's code
26541 address. This field may be absent.
26542
26543 @item line
26544 The source line corresponding to the frames' code address. This field
26545 may be absent.
26546
26547 @item from
26548 The name of the binary file (either executable or shared library) the
26549 corresponds to the frame's code address. This field may be absent.
26550
26551 @end table
26552
26553 @node GDB/MI Thread Information
26554 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Information
26555
26556 Whenever @value{GDBN} has to report an information about a thread, it
26557 uses a tuple with the following fields:
26558
26559 @table @code
26560 @item id
26561 The numeric id assigned to the thread by @value{GDBN}. This field is
26562 always present.
26563
26564 @item target-id
26565 Target-specific string identifying the thread. This field is always present.
26566
26567 @item details
26568 Additional information about the thread provided by the target.
26569 It is supposed to be human-readable and not interpreted by the
26570 frontend. This field is optional.
26571
26572 @item state
26573 Either @samp{stopped} or @samp{running}, depending on whether the
26574 thread is presently running. This field is always present.
26575
26576 @item core
26577 The value of this field is an integer number of the processor core the
26578 thread was last seen on. This field is optional.
26579 @end table
26580
26581 @node GDB/MI Ada Exception Information
26582 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Exception Information
26583
26584 Whenever a @code{*stopped} record is emitted because the program
26585 stopped after hitting an exception catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}),
26586 @value{GDBN} provides the name of the exception that was raised via
26587 the @code{exception-name} field.
26588
26589 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26590 @node GDB/MI Simple Examples
26591 @section Simple Examples of @sc{gdb/mi} Interaction
26592 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, simple examples
26593
26594 This subsection presents several simple examples of interaction using
26595 the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. In these examples, @samp{->} means that the
26596 following line is passed to @sc{gdb/mi} as input, while @samp{<-} means
26597 the output received from @sc{gdb/mi}.
26598
26599 Note the line breaks shown in the examples are here only for
26600 readability, they don't appear in the real output.
26601
26602 @subheading Setting a Breakpoint
26603
26604 Setting a breakpoint generates synchronous output which contains detailed
26605 information of the breakpoint.
26606
26607 @smallexample
26608 -> -break-insert main
26609 <- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
26610 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
26611 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",times="0"@}
26612 <- (gdb)
26613 @end smallexample
26614
26615 @subheading Program Execution
26616
26617 Program execution generates asynchronous records and MI gives the
26618 reason that execution stopped.
26619
26620 @smallexample
26621 -> -exec-run
26622 <- ^running
26623 <- (gdb)
26624 <- *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
26625 frame=@{addr="0x08048564",func="main",
26626 args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},@{name="argv",value="0xbfc4d4d4"@}],
26627 file="myprog.c",fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68"@}
26628 <- (gdb)
26629 -> -exec-continue
26630 <- ^running
26631 <- (gdb)
26632 <- *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
26633 <- (gdb)
26634 @end smallexample
26635
26636 @subheading Quitting @value{GDBN}
26637
26638 Quitting @value{GDBN} just prints the result class @samp{^exit}.
26639
26640 @smallexample
26641 -> (gdb)
26642 <- -gdb-exit
26643 <- ^exit
26644 @end smallexample
26645
26646 Please note that @samp{^exit} is printed immediately, but it might
26647 take some time for @value{GDBN} to actually exit. During that time, @value{GDBN}
26648 performs necessary cleanups, including killing programs being debugged
26649 or disconnecting from debug hardware, so the frontend should wait till
26650 @value{GDBN} exits and should only forcibly kill @value{GDBN} if it
26651 fails to exit in reasonable time.
26652
26653 @subheading A Bad Command
26654
26655 Here's what happens if you pass a non-existent command:
26656
26657 @smallexample
26658 -> -rubbish
26659 <- ^error,msg="Undefined MI command: rubbish"
26660 <- (gdb)
26661 @end smallexample
26662
26663
26664 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26665 @node GDB/MI Command Description Format
26666 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Description Format
26667
26668 The remaining sections describe blocks of commands. Each block of
26669 commands is laid out in a fashion similar to this section.
26670
26671 @subheading Motivation
26672
26673 The motivation for this collection of commands.
26674
26675 @subheading Introduction
26676
26677 A brief introduction to this collection of commands as a whole.
26678
26679 @subheading Commands
26680
26681 For each command in the block, the following is described:
26682
26683 @subsubheading Synopsis
26684
26685 @smallexample
26686 -command @var{args}@dots{}
26687 @end smallexample
26688
26689 @subsubheading Result
26690
26691 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26692
26693 The corresponding @value{GDBN} CLI command(s), if any.
26694
26695 @subsubheading Example
26696
26697 Example(s) formatted for readability. Some of the described commands have
26698 not been implemented yet and these are labeled N.A.@: (not available).
26699
26700
26701 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26702 @node GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands
26703 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Commands
26704
26705 @cindex breakpoint commands for @sc{gdb/mi}
26706 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, breakpoint commands
26707 This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
26708 breakpoints.
26709
26710 @subheading The @code{-break-after} Command
26711 @findex -break-after
26712
26713 @subsubheading Synopsis
26714
26715 @smallexample
26716 -break-after @var{number} @var{count}
26717 @end smallexample
26718
26719 The breakpoint number @var{number} is not in effect until it has been
26720 hit @var{count} times. To see how this is reflected in the output of
26721 the @samp{-break-list} command, see the description of the
26722 @samp{-break-list} command below.
26723
26724 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26725
26726 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ignore}.
26727
26728 @subsubheading Example
26729
26730 @smallexample
26731 (gdb)
26732 -break-insert main
26733 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
26734 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
26735 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
26736 (gdb)
26737 -break-after 1 3
26738 ~
26739 ^done
26740 (gdb)
26741 -break-list
26742 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
26743 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26744 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26745 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26746 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26747 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26748 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26749 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
26750 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
26751 line="5",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
26752 (gdb)
26753 @end smallexample
26754
26755 @ignore
26756 @subheading The @code{-break-catch} Command
26757 @findex -break-catch
26758 @end ignore
26759
26760 @subheading The @code{-break-commands} Command
26761 @findex -break-commands
26762
26763 @subsubheading Synopsis
26764
26765 @smallexample
26766 -break-commands @var{number} [ @var{command1} ... @var{commandN} ]
26767 @end smallexample
26768
26769 Specifies the CLI commands that should be executed when breakpoint
26770 @var{number} is hit. The parameters @var{command1} to @var{commandN}
26771 are the commands. If no command is specified, any previously-set
26772 commands are cleared. @xref{Break Commands}. Typical use of this
26773 functionality is tracing a program, that is, printing of values of
26774 some variables whenever breakpoint is hit and then continuing.
26775
26776 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26777
26778 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{commands}.
26779
26780 @subsubheading Example
26781
26782 @smallexample
26783 (gdb)
26784 -break-insert main
26785 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
26786 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
26787 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
26788 (gdb)
26789 -break-commands 1 "print v" "continue"
26790 ^done
26791 (gdb)
26792 @end smallexample
26793
26794 @subheading The @code{-break-condition} Command
26795 @findex -break-condition
26796
26797 @subsubheading Synopsis
26798
26799 @smallexample
26800 -break-condition @var{number} @var{expr}
26801 @end smallexample
26802
26803 Breakpoint @var{number} will stop the program only if the condition in
26804 @var{expr} is true. The condition becomes part of the
26805 @samp{-break-list} output (see the description of the @samp{-break-list}
26806 command below).
26807
26808 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26809
26810 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{condition}.
26811
26812 @subsubheading Example
26813
26814 @smallexample
26815 (gdb)
26816 -break-condition 1 1
26817 ^done
26818 (gdb)
26819 -break-list
26820 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
26821 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26822 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26823 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26824 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26825 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26826 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26827 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
26828 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
26829 line="5",cond="1",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
26830 (gdb)
26831 @end smallexample
26832
26833 @subheading The @code{-break-delete} Command
26834 @findex -break-delete
26835
26836 @subsubheading Synopsis
26837
26838 @smallexample
26839 -break-delete ( @var{breakpoint} )+
26840 @end smallexample
26841
26842 Delete the breakpoint(s) whose number(s) are specified in the argument
26843 list. This is obviously reflected in the breakpoint list.
26844
26845 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26846
26847 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{delete}.
26848
26849 @subsubheading Example
26850
26851 @smallexample
26852 (gdb)
26853 -break-delete 1
26854 ^done
26855 (gdb)
26856 -break-list
26857 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
26858 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26859 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26860 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26861 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26862 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26863 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26864 body=[]@}
26865 (gdb)
26866 @end smallexample
26867
26868 @subheading The @code{-break-disable} Command
26869 @findex -break-disable
26870
26871 @subsubheading Synopsis
26872
26873 @smallexample
26874 -break-disable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
26875 @end smallexample
26876
26877 Disable the named @var{breakpoint}(s). The field @samp{enabled} in the
26878 break list is now set to @samp{n} for the named @var{breakpoint}(s).
26879
26880 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26881
26882 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disable}.
26883
26884 @subsubheading Example
26885
26886 @smallexample
26887 (gdb)
26888 -break-disable 2
26889 ^done
26890 (gdb)
26891 -break-list
26892 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
26893 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26894 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26895 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26896 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26897 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26898 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26899 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
26900 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
26901 line="5",times="0"@}]@}
26902 (gdb)
26903 @end smallexample
26904
26905 @subheading The @code{-break-enable} Command
26906 @findex -break-enable
26907
26908 @subsubheading Synopsis
26909
26910 @smallexample
26911 -break-enable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
26912 @end smallexample
26913
26914 Enable (previously disabled) @var{breakpoint}(s).
26915
26916 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26917
26918 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{enable}.
26919
26920 @subsubheading Example
26921
26922 @smallexample
26923 (gdb)
26924 -break-enable 2
26925 ^done
26926 (gdb)
26927 -break-list
26928 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
26929 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26930 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26931 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26932 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26933 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26934 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26935 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
26936 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
26937 line="5",times="0"@}]@}
26938 (gdb)
26939 @end smallexample
26940
26941 @subheading The @code{-break-info} Command
26942 @findex -break-info
26943
26944 @subsubheading Synopsis
26945
26946 @smallexample
26947 -break-info @var{breakpoint}
26948 @end smallexample
26949
26950 @c REDUNDANT???
26951 Get information about a single breakpoint.
26952
26953 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26954
26955 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break @var{breakpoint}}.
26956
26957 @subsubheading Example
26958 N.A.
26959
26960 @subheading The @code{-break-insert} Command
26961 @findex -break-insert
26962
26963 @subsubheading Synopsis
26964
26965 @smallexample
26966 -break-insert [ -t ] [ -h ] [ -f ] [ -d ] [ -a ]
26967 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
26968 [ -p @var{thread} ] [ @var{location} ]
26969 @end smallexample
26970
26971 @noindent
26972 If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
26973
26974 @itemize @bullet
26975 @item function
26976 @c @item +offset
26977 @c @item -offset
26978 @c @item linenum
26979 @item filename:linenum
26980 @item filename:function
26981 @item *address
26982 @end itemize
26983
26984 The possible optional parameters of this command are:
26985
26986 @table @samp
26987 @item -t
26988 Insert a temporary breakpoint.
26989 @item -h
26990 Insert a hardware breakpoint.
26991 @item -c @var{condition}
26992 Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
26993 @item -i @var{ignore-count}
26994 Initialize the @var{ignore-count}.
26995 @item -f
26996 If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example if it
26997 refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
26998 breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
26999 an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
27000 cannot be parsed.
27001 @item -d
27002 Create a disabled breakpoint.
27003 @item -a
27004 Create a tracepoint. @xref{Tracepoints}. When this parameter
27005 is used together with @samp{-h}, a fast tracepoint is created.
27006 @end table
27007
27008 @subsubheading Result
27009
27010 The result is in the form:
27011
27012 @smallexample
27013 ^done,bkpt=@{number="@var{number}",type="@var{type}",disp="del"|"keep",
27014 enabled="y"|"n",addr="@var{hex}",func="@var{funcname}",file="@var{filename}",
27015 fullname="@var{full_filename}",line="@var{lineno}",[thread="@var{threadno},]
27016 times="@var{times}"@}
27017 @end smallexample
27018
27019 @noindent
27020 where @var{number} is the @value{GDBN} number for this breakpoint,
27021 @var{funcname} is the name of the function where the breakpoint was
27022 inserted, @var{filename} is the name of the source file which contains
27023 this function, @var{lineno} is the source line number within that file
27024 and @var{times} the number of times that the breakpoint has been hit
27025 (always 0 for -break-insert but may be greater for -break-info or -break-list
27026 which use the same output).
27027
27028 Note: this format is open to change.
27029 @c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
27030
27031 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27032
27033 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{break}, @samp{tbreak},
27034 @samp{hbreak}, @samp{thbreak}, and @samp{rbreak}.
27035
27036 @subsubheading Example
27037
27038 @smallexample
27039 (gdb)
27040 -break-insert main
27041 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",
27042 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="4",times="0"@}
27043 (gdb)
27044 -break-insert -t foo
27045 ^done,bkpt=@{number="2",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c",
27046 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="11",times="0"@}
27047 (gdb)
27048 -break-list
27049 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
27050 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27051 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27052 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27053 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27054 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27055 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27056 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27057 addr="0x0001072c", func="main",file="recursive2.c",
27058 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,"line="4",times="0"@},
27059 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
27060 addr="0x00010774",func="foo",file="recursive2.c",
27061 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}]@}
27062 (gdb)
27063 -break-insert -r foo.*
27064 ~int foo(int, int);
27065 ^done,bkpt=@{number="3",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c,
27066 "fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}
27067 (gdb)
27068 @end smallexample
27069
27070 @subheading The @code{-break-list} Command
27071 @findex -break-list
27072
27073 @subsubheading Synopsis
27074
27075 @smallexample
27076 -break-list
27077 @end smallexample
27078
27079 Displays the list of inserted breakpoints, showing the following fields:
27080
27081 @table @samp
27082 @item Number
27083 number of the breakpoint
27084 @item Type
27085 type of the breakpoint: @samp{breakpoint} or @samp{watchpoint}
27086 @item Disposition
27087 should the breakpoint be deleted or disabled when it is hit: @samp{keep}
27088 or @samp{nokeep}
27089 @item Enabled
27090 is the breakpoint enabled or no: @samp{y} or @samp{n}
27091 @item Address
27092 memory location at which the breakpoint is set
27093 @item What
27094 logical location of the breakpoint, expressed by function name, file
27095 name, line number
27096 @item Times
27097 number of times the breakpoint has been hit
27098 @end table
27099
27100 If there are no breakpoints or watchpoints, the @code{BreakpointTable}
27101 @code{body} field is an empty list.
27102
27103 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27104
27105 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break}.
27106
27107 @subsubheading Example
27108
27109 @smallexample
27110 (gdb)
27111 -break-list
27112 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
27113 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27114 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27115 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27116 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27117 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27118 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27119 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27120 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",line="5",times="0"@},
27121 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27122 addr="0x00010114",func="foo",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
27123 line="13",times="0"@}]@}
27124 (gdb)
27125 @end smallexample
27126
27127 Here's an example of the result when there are no breakpoints:
27128
27129 @smallexample
27130 (gdb)
27131 -break-list
27132 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
27133 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27134 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27135 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27136 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27137 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27138 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27139 body=[]@}
27140 (gdb)
27141 @end smallexample
27142
27143 @subheading The @code{-break-passcount} Command
27144 @findex -break-passcount
27145
27146 @subsubheading Synopsis
27147
27148 @smallexample
27149 -break-passcount @var{tracepoint-number} @var{passcount}
27150 @end smallexample
27151
27152 Set the passcount for tracepoint @var{tracepoint-number} to
27153 @var{passcount}. If the breakpoint referred to by @var{tracepoint-number}
27154 is not a tracepoint, error is emitted. This corresponds to CLI
27155 command @samp{passcount}.
27156
27157 @subheading The @code{-break-watch} Command
27158 @findex -break-watch
27159
27160 @subsubheading Synopsis
27161
27162 @smallexample
27163 -break-watch [ -a | -r ]
27164 @end smallexample
27165
27166 Create a watchpoint. With the @samp{-a} option it will create an
27167 @dfn{access} watchpoint, i.e., a watchpoint that triggers either on a
27168 read from or on a write to the memory location. With the @samp{-r}
27169 option, the watchpoint created is a @dfn{read} watchpoint, i.e., it will
27170 trigger only when the memory location is accessed for reading. Without
27171 either of the options, the watchpoint created is a regular watchpoint,
27172 i.e., it will trigger when the memory location is accessed for writing.
27173 @xref{Set Watchpoints, , Setting Watchpoints}.
27174
27175 Note that @samp{-break-list} will report a single list of watchpoints and
27176 breakpoints inserted.
27177
27178 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27179
27180 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{watch}, @samp{awatch}, and
27181 @samp{rwatch}.
27182
27183 @subsubheading Example
27184
27185 Setting a watchpoint on a variable in the @code{main} function:
27186
27187 @smallexample
27188 (gdb)
27189 -break-watch x
27190 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@}
27191 (gdb)
27192 -exec-continue
27193 ^running
27194 (gdb)
27195 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@},
27196 value=@{old="-268439212",new="55"@},
27197 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
27198 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="5"@}
27199 (gdb)
27200 @end smallexample
27201
27202 Setting a watchpoint on a variable local to a function. @value{GDBN} will stop
27203 the program execution twice: first for the variable changing value, then
27204 for the watchpoint going out of scope.
27205
27206 @smallexample
27207 (gdb)
27208 -break-watch C
27209 ^done,wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@}
27210 (gdb)
27211 -exec-continue
27212 ^running
27213 (gdb)
27214 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",
27215 wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@},value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
27216 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
27217 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27218 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
27219 (gdb)
27220 -exec-continue
27221 ^running
27222 (gdb)
27223 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="5",
27224 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
27225 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
27226 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27227 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
27228 (gdb)
27229 @end smallexample
27230
27231 Listing breakpoints and watchpoints, at different points in the program
27232 execution. Note that once the watchpoint goes out of scope, it is
27233 deleted.
27234
27235 @smallexample
27236 (gdb)
27237 -break-watch C
27238 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@}
27239 (gdb)
27240 -break-list
27241 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
27242 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27243 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27244 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27245 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27246 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27247 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27248 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27249 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
27250 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27251 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c"line="8",times="1"@},
27252 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
27253 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="0"@}]@}
27254 (gdb)
27255 -exec-continue
27256 ^running
27257 (gdb)
27258 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@},
27259 value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
27260 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
27261 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27262 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
27263 (gdb)
27264 -break-list
27265 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
27266 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27267 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27268 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27269 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27270 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27271 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27272 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27273 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
27274 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27275 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",times="1"@},
27276 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
27277 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="-5"@}]@}
27278 (gdb)
27279 -exec-continue
27280 ^running
27281 ^done,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="2",
27282 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
27283 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
27284 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27285 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
27286 (gdb)
27287 -break-list
27288 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
27289 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27290 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27291 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27292 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27293 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27294 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27295 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27296 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
27297 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27298 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",
27299 times="1"@}]@}
27300 (gdb)
27301 @end smallexample
27302
27303 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27304 @node GDB/MI Program Context
27305 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Context
27306
27307 @subheading The @code{-exec-arguments} Command
27308 @findex -exec-arguments
27309
27310
27311 @subsubheading Synopsis
27312
27313 @smallexample
27314 -exec-arguments @var{args}
27315 @end smallexample
27316
27317 Set the inferior program arguments, to be used in the next
27318 @samp{-exec-run}.
27319
27320 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27321
27322 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set args}.
27323
27324 @subsubheading Example
27325
27326 @smallexample
27327 (gdb)
27328 -exec-arguments -v word
27329 ^done
27330 (gdb)
27331 @end smallexample
27332
27333
27334 @ignore
27335 @subheading The @code{-exec-show-arguments} Command
27336 @findex -exec-show-arguments
27337
27338 @subsubheading Synopsis
27339
27340 @smallexample
27341 -exec-show-arguments
27342 @end smallexample
27343
27344 Print the arguments of the program.
27345
27346 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27347
27348 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show args}.
27349
27350 @subsubheading Example
27351 N.A.
27352 @end ignore
27353
27354
27355 @subheading The @code{-environment-cd} Command
27356 @findex -environment-cd
27357
27358 @subsubheading Synopsis
27359
27360 @smallexample
27361 -environment-cd @var{pathdir}
27362 @end smallexample
27363
27364 Set @value{GDBN}'s working directory.
27365
27366 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27367
27368 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{cd}.
27369
27370 @subsubheading Example
27371
27372 @smallexample
27373 (gdb)
27374 -environment-cd /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
27375 ^done
27376 (gdb)
27377 @end smallexample
27378
27379
27380 @subheading The @code{-environment-directory} Command
27381 @findex -environment-directory
27382
27383 @subsubheading Synopsis
27384
27385 @smallexample
27386 -environment-directory [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
27387 @end smallexample
27388
27389 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for source files.
27390 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the default
27391 search path. If directories @var{pathdir} are supplied in addition to the
27392 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
27393 occurs as normal.
27394 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
27395 multiple directories in a single command
27396 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
27397 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
27398 If blanks are needed as
27399 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
27400 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
27401 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
27402 character must not be used
27403 in any directory name.
27404 If no directories are specified, the current search path is displayed.
27405
27406 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27407
27408 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dir}.
27409
27410 @subsubheading Example
27411
27412 @smallexample
27413 (gdb)
27414 -environment-directory /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
27415 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
27416 (gdb)
27417 -environment-directory ""
27418 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
27419 (gdb)
27420 -environment-directory -r /home/jjohnstn/src/gdb /usr/src
27421 ^done,source-path="/home/jjohnstn/src/gdb:/usr/src:$cdir:$cwd"
27422 (gdb)
27423 -environment-directory -r
27424 ^done,source-path="$cdir:$cwd"
27425 (gdb)
27426 @end smallexample
27427
27428
27429 @subheading The @code{-environment-path} Command
27430 @findex -environment-path
27431
27432 @subsubheading Synopsis
27433
27434 @smallexample
27435 -environment-path [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
27436 @end smallexample
27437
27438 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for object files.
27439 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the original
27440 search path that existed at gdb start-up. If directories @var{pathdir} are
27441 supplied in addition to the
27442 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
27443 occurs as normal.
27444 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
27445 multiple directories in a single command
27446 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
27447 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
27448 If blanks are needed as
27449 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
27450 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
27451 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
27452 character must not be used
27453 in any directory name.
27454 If no directories are specified, the current path is displayed.
27455
27456
27457 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27458
27459 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{path}.
27460
27461 @subsubheading Example
27462
27463 @smallexample
27464 (gdb)
27465 -environment-path
27466 ^done,path="/usr/bin"
27467 (gdb)
27468 -environment-path /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb /bin
27469 ^done,path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb:/bin:/usr/bin"
27470 (gdb)
27471 -environment-path -r /usr/local/bin
27472 ^done,path="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin"
27473 (gdb)
27474 @end smallexample
27475
27476
27477 @subheading The @code{-environment-pwd} Command
27478 @findex -environment-pwd
27479
27480 @subsubheading Synopsis
27481
27482 @smallexample
27483 -environment-pwd
27484 @end smallexample
27485
27486 Show the current working directory.
27487
27488 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27489
27490 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{pwd}.
27491
27492 @subsubheading Example
27493
27494 @smallexample
27495 (gdb)
27496 -environment-pwd
27497 ^done,cwd="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb"
27498 (gdb)
27499 @end smallexample
27500
27501 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27502 @node GDB/MI Thread Commands
27503 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Commands
27504
27505
27506 @subheading The @code{-thread-info} Command
27507 @findex -thread-info
27508
27509 @subsubheading Synopsis
27510
27511 @smallexample
27512 -thread-info [ @var{thread-id} ]
27513 @end smallexample
27514
27515 Reports information about either a specific thread, if
27516 the @var{thread-id} parameter is present, or about all
27517 threads. When printing information about all threads,
27518 also reports the current thread.
27519
27520 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27521
27522 The @samp{info thread} command prints the same information
27523 about all threads.
27524
27525 @subsubheading Result
27526
27527 The result is a list of threads. The following attributes are
27528 defined for a given thread:
27529
27530 @table @samp
27531 @item current
27532 This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
27533
27534 @item id
27535 The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the thread.
27536
27537 @item target-id
27538 The identifier that the target uses to refer to the thread.
27539
27540 @item details
27541 Extra information about the thread, in a target-specific format. This
27542 field is optional.
27543
27544 @item name
27545 The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using the
27546 @code{thread name} command, then this name is given. Otherwise, if
27547 @value{GDBN} can extract the thread name from the target, then that
27548 name is given. If @value{GDBN} cannot find the thread name, then this
27549 field is omitted.
27550
27551 @item frame
27552 The stack frame currently executing in the thread.
27553
27554 @item state
27555 The thread's state. The @samp{state} field may have the following
27556 values:
27557
27558 @table @code
27559 @item stopped
27560 The thread is stopped. Frame information is available for stopped
27561 threads.
27562
27563 @item running
27564 The thread is running. There's no frame information for running
27565 threads.
27566
27567 @end table
27568
27569 @item core
27570 If @value{GDBN} can find the CPU core on which this thread is running,
27571 then this field is the core identifier. This field is optional.
27572
27573 @end table
27574
27575 @subsubheading Example
27576
27577 @smallexample
27578 -thread-info
27579 ^done,threads=[
27580 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
27581 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",
27582 args=[]@},state="running"@},
27583 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
27584 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",
27585 args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
27586 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},
27587 state="running"@}],
27588 current-thread-id="1"
27589 (gdb)
27590 @end smallexample
27591
27592 @subheading The @code{-thread-list-ids} Command
27593 @findex -thread-list-ids
27594
27595 @subsubheading Synopsis
27596
27597 @smallexample
27598 -thread-list-ids
27599 @end smallexample
27600
27601 Produces a list of the currently known @value{GDBN} thread ids. At the
27602 end of the list it also prints the total number of such threads.
27603
27604 This command is retained for historical reasons, the
27605 @code{-thread-info} command should be used instead.
27606
27607 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27608
27609 Part of @samp{info threads} supplies the same information.
27610
27611 @subsubheading Example
27612
27613 @smallexample
27614 (gdb)
27615 -thread-list-ids
27616 ^done,thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
27617 current-thread-id="1",number-of-threads="3"
27618 (gdb)
27619 @end smallexample
27620
27621
27622 @subheading The @code{-thread-select} Command
27623 @findex -thread-select
27624
27625 @subsubheading Synopsis
27626
27627 @smallexample
27628 -thread-select @var{threadnum}
27629 @end smallexample
27630
27631 Make @var{threadnum} the current thread. It prints the number of the new
27632 current thread, and the topmost frame for that thread.
27633
27634 This command is deprecated in favor of explicitly using the
27635 @samp{--thread} option to each command.
27636
27637 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27638
27639 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{thread}.
27640
27641 @subsubheading Example
27642
27643 @smallexample
27644 (gdb)
27645 -exec-next
27646 ^running
27647 (gdb)
27648 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",thread-id="2",line="187",
27649 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/linux-dp.c"
27650 (gdb)
27651 -thread-list-ids
27652 ^done,
27653 thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
27654 number-of-threads="3"
27655 (gdb)
27656 -thread-select 3
27657 ^done,new-thread-id="3",
27658 frame=@{level="0",func="vprintf",
27659 args=[@{name="format",value="0x8048e9c \"%*s%c %d %c\\n\""@},
27660 @{name="arg",value="0x2"@}],file="vprintf.c",line="31"@}
27661 (gdb)
27662 @end smallexample
27663
27664 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27665 @node GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands
27666 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Tasking Commands
27667
27668 @subheading The @code{-ada-task-info} Command
27669 @findex -ada-task-info
27670
27671 @subsubheading Synopsis
27672
27673 @smallexample
27674 -ada-task-info [ @var{task-id} ]
27675 @end smallexample
27676
27677 Reports information about either a specific Ada task, if the
27678 @var{task-id} parameter is present, or about all Ada tasks.
27679
27680 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27681
27682 The @samp{info tasks} command prints the same information
27683 about all Ada tasks (@pxref{Ada Tasks}).
27684
27685 @subsubheading Result
27686
27687 The result is a table of Ada tasks. The following columns are
27688 defined for each Ada task:
27689
27690 @table @samp
27691 @item current
27692 This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
27693
27694 @item id
27695 The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the Ada task.
27696
27697 @item task-id
27698 The identifier that the target uses to refer to the Ada task.
27699
27700 @item thread-id
27701 The identifier of the thread corresponding to the Ada task.
27702
27703 This field should always exist, as Ada tasks are always implemented
27704 on top of a thread. But if @value{GDBN} cannot find this corresponding
27705 thread for any reason, the field is omitted.
27706
27707 @item parent-id
27708 This field exists only when the task was created by another task.
27709 In this case, it provides the ID of the parent task.
27710
27711 @item priority
27712 The base priority of the task.
27713
27714 @item state
27715 The current state of the task. For a detailed description of the
27716 possible states, see @ref{Ada Tasks}.
27717
27718 @item name
27719 The name of the task.
27720
27721 @end table
27722
27723 @subsubheading Example
27724
27725 @smallexample
27726 -ada-task-info
27727 ^done,tasks=@{nr_rows="3",nr_cols="8",
27728 hdr=[@{width="1",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr=""@},
27729 @{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="id",colhdr="ID"@},
27730 @{width="9",alignment="1",col_name="task-id",colhdr="TID"@},
27731 @{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="thread-id",colhdr=""@},
27732 @{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="parent-id",colhdr="P-ID"@},
27733 @{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="priority",colhdr="Pri"@},
27734 @{width="22",alignment="-1",col_name="state",colhdr="State"@},
27735 @{width="1",alignment="2",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@}],
27736 body=[@{current="*",id="1",task-id=" 644010",thread-id="1",priority="48",
27737 state="Child Termination Wait",name="main_task"@}]@}
27738 (gdb)
27739 @end smallexample
27740
27741 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27742 @node GDB/MI Program Execution
27743 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Execution
27744
27745 These are the asynchronous commands which generate the out-of-band
27746 record @samp{*stopped}. Currently @value{GDBN} only really executes
27747 asynchronously with remote targets and this interaction is mimicked in
27748 other cases.
27749
27750 @subheading The @code{-exec-continue} Command
27751 @findex -exec-continue
27752
27753 @subsubheading Synopsis
27754
27755 @smallexample
27756 -exec-continue [--reverse] [--all|--thread-group N]
27757 @end smallexample
27758
27759 Resumes the execution of the inferior program, which will continue
27760 to execute until it reaches a debugger stop event. If the
27761 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, execution resumes in reverse until
27762 it reaches a stop event. Stop events may include
27763 @itemize @bullet
27764 @item
27765 breakpoints or watchpoints
27766 @item
27767 signals or exceptions
27768 @item
27769 the end of the process (or its beginning under @samp{--reverse})
27770 @item
27771 the end or beginning of a replay log if one is being used.
27772 @end itemize
27773 In all-stop mode (@pxref{All-Stop
27774 Mode}), may resume only one thread, or all threads, depending on the
27775 value of the @samp{scheduler-locking} variable. If @samp{--all} is
27776 specified, all threads (in all inferiors) will be resumed. The @samp{--all} option is
27777 ignored in all-stop mode. If the @samp{--thread-group} options is
27778 specified, then all threads in that thread group are resumed.
27779
27780 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27781
27782 The corresponding @value{GDBN} corresponding is @samp{continue}.
27783
27784 @subsubheading Example
27785
27786 @smallexample
27787 -exec-continue
27788 ^running
27789 (gdb)
27790 @@Hello world
27791 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="2",frame=@{
27792 func="foo",args=[],file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",
27793 line="13"@}
27794 (gdb)
27795 @end smallexample
27796
27797
27798 @subheading The @code{-exec-finish} Command
27799 @findex -exec-finish
27800
27801 @subsubheading Synopsis
27802
27803 @smallexample
27804 -exec-finish [--reverse]
27805 @end smallexample
27806
27807 Resumes the execution of the inferior program until the current
27808 function is exited. Displays the results returned by the function.
27809 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes the reverse
27810 execution of the inferior program until the point where current
27811 function was called.
27812
27813 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27814
27815 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{finish}.
27816
27817 @subsubheading Example
27818
27819 Function returning @code{void}.
27820
27821 @smallexample
27822 -exec-finish
27823 ^running
27824 (gdb)
27825 @@hello from foo
27826 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
27827 file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",line="7"@}
27828 (gdb)
27829 @end smallexample
27830
27831 Function returning other than @code{void}. The name of the internal
27832 @value{GDBN} variable storing the result is printed, together with the
27833 value itself.
27834
27835 @smallexample
27836 -exec-finish
27837 ^running
27838 (gdb)
27839 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{addr="0x000107b0",func="foo",
27840 args=[@{name="a",value="1"],@{name="b",value="9"@}@},
27841 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
27842 gdb-result-var="$1",return-value="0"
27843 (gdb)
27844 @end smallexample
27845
27846
27847 @subheading The @code{-exec-interrupt} Command
27848 @findex -exec-interrupt
27849
27850 @subsubheading Synopsis
27851
27852 @smallexample
27853 -exec-interrupt [--all|--thread-group N]
27854 @end smallexample
27855
27856 Interrupts the background execution of the target. Note how the token
27857 associated with the stop message is the one for the execution command
27858 that has been interrupted. The token for the interrupt itself only
27859 appears in the @samp{^done} output. If the user is trying to
27860 interrupt a non-running program, an error message will be printed.
27861
27862 Note that when asynchronous execution is enabled, this command is
27863 asynchronous just like other execution commands. That is, first the
27864 @samp{^done} response will be printed, and the target stop will be
27865 reported after that using the @samp{*stopped} notification.
27866
27867 In non-stop mode, only the context thread is interrupted by default.
27868 All threads (in all inferiors) will be interrupted if the
27869 @samp{--all} option is specified. If the @samp{--thread-group}
27870 option is specified, all threads in that group will be interrupted.
27871
27872 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27873
27874 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interrupt}.
27875
27876 @subsubheading Example
27877
27878 @smallexample
27879 (gdb)
27880 111-exec-continue
27881 111^running
27882
27883 (gdb)
27884 222-exec-interrupt
27885 222^done
27886 (gdb)
27887 111*stopped,signal-name="SIGINT",signal-meaning="Interrupt",
27888 frame=@{addr="0x00010140",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
27889 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="13"@}
27890 (gdb)
27891
27892 (gdb)
27893 -exec-interrupt
27894 ^error,msg="mi_cmd_exec_interrupt: Inferior not executing."
27895 (gdb)
27896 @end smallexample
27897
27898 @subheading The @code{-exec-jump} Command
27899 @findex -exec-jump
27900
27901 @subsubheading Synopsis
27902
27903 @smallexample
27904 -exec-jump @var{location}
27905 @end smallexample
27906
27907 Resumes execution of the inferior program at the location specified by
27908 parameter. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
27909 different forms of @var{location}.
27910
27911 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27912
27913 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{jump}.
27914
27915 @subsubheading Example
27916
27917 @smallexample
27918 -exec-jump foo.c:10
27919 *running,thread-id="all"
27920 ^running
27921 @end smallexample
27922
27923
27924 @subheading The @code{-exec-next} Command
27925 @findex -exec-next
27926
27927 @subsubheading Synopsis
27928
27929 @smallexample
27930 -exec-next [--reverse]
27931 @end smallexample
27932
27933 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
27934 of the next source line is reached.
27935
27936 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
27937 of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the previous
27938 source line. If you issue this command on the first line of a
27939 function, it will take you back to the caller of that function, to the
27940 source line where the function was called.
27941
27942
27943 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27944
27945 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{next}.
27946
27947 @subsubheading Example
27948
27949 @smallexample
27950 -exec-next
27951 ^running
27952 (gdb)
27953 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="8",file="hello.c"
27954 (gdb)
27955 @end smallexample
27956
27957
27958 @subheading The @code{-exec-next-instruction} Command
27959 @findex -exec-next-instruction
27960
27961 @subsubheading Synopsis
27962
27963 @smallexample
27964 -exec-next-instruction [--reverse]
27965 @end smallexample
27966
27967 Executes one machine instruction. If the instruction is a function
27968 call, continues until the function returns. If the program stops at an
27969 instruction in the middle of a source line, the address will be
27970 printed as well.
27971
27972 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
27973 of the inferior program, stopping at the previous instruction. If the
27974 previously executed instruction was a return from another function,
27975 it will continue to execute in reverse until the call to that function
27976 (from the current stack frame) is reached.
27977
27978 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27979
27980 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{nexti}.
27981
27982 @subsubheading Example
27983
27984 @smallexample
27985 (gdb)
27986 -exec-next-instruction
27987 ^running
27988
27989 (gdb)
27990 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
27991 addr="0x000100d4",line="5",file="hello.c"
27992 (gdb)
27993 @end smallexample
27994
27995
27996 @subheading The @code{-exec-return} Command
27997 @findex -exec-return
27998
27999 @subsubheading Synopsis
28000
28001 @smallexample
28002 -exec-return
28003 @end smallexample
28004
28005 Makes current function return immediately. Doesn't execute the inferior.
28006 Displays the new current frame.
28007
28008 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28009
28010 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{return}.
28011
28012 @subsubheading Example
28013
28014 @smallexample
28015 (gdb)
28016 200-break-insert callee4
28017 200^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x00010734",
28018 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
28019 (gdb)
28020 000-exec-run
28021 000^running
28022 (gdb)
28023 000*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
28024 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
28025 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28026 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
28027 (gdb)
28028 205-break-delete
28029 205^done
28030 (gdb)
28031 111-exec-return
28032 111^done,frame=@{level="0",func="callee3",
28033 args=[@{name="strarg",
28034 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
28035 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28036 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
28037 (gdb)
28038 @end smallexample
28039
28040
28041 @subheading The @code{-exec-run} Command
28042 @findex -exec-run
28043
28044 @subsubheading Synopsis
28045
28046 @smallexample
28047 -exec-run [--all | --thread-group N]
28048 @end smallexample
28049
28050 Starts execution of the inferior from the beginning. The inferior
28051 executes until either a breakpoint is encountered or the program
28052 exits. In the latter case the output will include an exit code, if
28053 the program has exited exceptionally.
28054
28055 When no option is specified, the current inferior is started. If the
28056 @samp{--thread-group} option is specified, it should refer to a thread
28057 group of type @samp{process}, and that thread group will be started.
28058 If the @samp{--all} option is specified, then all inferiors will be started.
28059
28060 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28061
28062 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{run}.
28063
28064 @subsubheading Examples
28065
28066 @smallexample
28067 (gdb)
28068 -break-insert main
28069 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",line="4"@}
28070 (gdb)
28071 -exec-run
28072 ^running
28073 (gdb)
28074 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
28075 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
28076 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}
28077 (gdb)
28078 @end smallexample
28079
28080 @noindent
28081 Program exited normally:
28082
28083 @smallexample
28084 (gdb)
28085 -exec-run
28086 ^running
28087 (gdb)
28088 x = 55
28089 *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
28090 (gdb)
28091 @end smallexample
28092
28093 @noindent
28094 Program exited exceptionally:
28095
28096 @smallexample
28097 (gdb)
28098 -exec-run
28099 ^running
28100 (gdb)
28101 x = 55
28102 *stopped,reason="exited",exit-code="01"
28103 (gdb)
28104 @end smallexample
28105
28106 Another way the program can terminate is if it receives a signal such as
28107 @code{SIGINT}. In this case, @sc{gdb/mi} displays this:
28108
28109 @smallexample
28110 (gdb)
28111 *stopped,reason="exited-signalled",signal-name="SIGINT",
28112 signal-meaning="Interrupt"
28113 @end smallexample
28114
28115
28116 @c @subheading -exec-signal
28117
28118
28119 @subheading The @code{-exec-step} Command
28120 @findex -exec-step
28121
28122 @subsubheading Synopsis
28123
28124 @smallexample
28125 -exec-step [--reverse]
28126 @end smallexample
28127
28128 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
28129 of the next source line is reached, if the next source line is not a
28130 function call. If it is, stop at the first instruction of the called
28131 function. If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse
28132 execution of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the
28133 previously executed source line.
28134
28135 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28136
28137 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{step}.
28138
28139 @subsubheading Example
28140
28141 Stepping into a function:
28142
28143 @smallexample
28144 -exec-step
28145 ^running
28146 (gdb)
28147 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
28148 frame=@{func="foo",args=[@{name="a",value="10"@},
28149 @{name="b",value="0"@}],file="recursive2.c",
28150 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@}
28151 (gdb)
28152 @end smallexample
28153
28154 Regular stepping:
28155
28156 @smallexample
28157 -exec-step
28158 ^running
28159 (gdb)
28160 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="14",file="recursive2.c"
28161 (gdb)
28162 @end smallexample
28163
28164
28165 @subheading The @code{-exec-step-instruction} Command
28166 @findex -exec-step-instruction
28167
28168 @subsubheading Synopsis
28169
28170 @smallexample
28171 -exec-step-instruction [--reverse]
28172 @end smallexample
28173
28174 Resumes the inferior which executes one machine instruction. If the
28175 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution of the
28176 inferior program, stopping at the previously executed instruction.
28177 The output, once @value{GDBN} has stopped, will vary depending on
28178 whether we have stopped in the middle of a source line or not. In the
28179 former case, the address at which the program stopped will be printed
28180 as well.
28181
28182 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28183
28184 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{stepi}.
28185
28186 @subsubheading Example
28187
28188 @smallexample
28189 (gdb)
28190 -exec-step-instruction
28191 ^running
28192
28193 (gdb)
28194 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
28195 frame=@{func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
28196 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
28197 (gdb)
28198 -exec-step-instruction
28199 ^running
28200
28201 (gdb)
28202 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
28203 frame=@{addr="0x000100f4",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
28204 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
28205 (gdb)
28206 @end smallexample
28207
28208
28209 @subheading The @code{-exec-until} Command
28210 @findex -exec-until
28211
28212 @subsubheading Synopsis
28213
28214 @smallexample
28215 -exec-until [ @var{location} ]
28216 @end smallexample
28217
28218 Executes the inferior until the @var{location} specified in the
28219 argument is reached. If there is no argument, the inferior executes
28220 until a source line greater than the current one is reached. The
28221 reason for stopping in this case will be @samp{location-reached}.
28222
28223 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28224
28225 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{until}.
28226
28227 @subsubheading Example
28228
28229 @smallexample
28230 (gdb)
28231 -exec-until recursive2.c:6
28232 ^running
28233 (gdb)
28234 x = 55
28235 *stopped,reason="location-reached",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
28236 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="6"@}
28237 (gdb)
28238 @end smallexample
28239
28240 @ignore
28241 @subheading -file-clear
28242 Is this going away????
28243 @end ignore
28244
28245 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28246 @node GDB/MI Stack Manipulation
28247 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Stack Manipulation Commands
28248
28249
28250 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-frame} Command
28251 @findex -stack-info-frame
28252
28253 @subsubheading Synopsis
28254
28255 @smallexample
28256 -stack-info-frame
28257 @end smallexample
28258
28259 Get info on the selected frame.
28260
28261 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28262
28263 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info frame} or @samp{frame}
28264 (without arguments).
28265
28266 @subsubheading Example
28267
28268 @smallexample
28269 (gdb)
28270 -stack-info-frame
28271 ^done,frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
28272 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28273 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@}
28274 (gdb)
28275 @end smallexample
28276
28277 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-depth} Command
28278 @findex -stack-info-depth
28279
28280 @subsubheading Synopsis
28281
28282 @smallexample
28283 -stack-info-depth [ @var{max-depth} ]
28284 @end smallexample
28285
28286 Return the depth of the stack. If the integer argument @var{max-depth}
28287 is specified, do not count beyond @var{max-depth} frames.
28288
28289 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28290
28291 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
28292
28293 @subsubheading Example
28294
28295 For a stack with frame levels 0 through 11:
28296
28297 @smallexample
28298 (gdb)
28299 -stack-info-depth
28300 ^done,depth="12"
28301 (gdb)
28302 -stack-info-depth 4
28303 ^done,depth="4"
28304 (gdb)
28305 -stack-info-depth 12
28306 ^done,depth="12"
28307 (gdb)
28308 -stack-info-depth 11
28309 ^done,depth="11"
28310 (gdb)
28311 -stack-info-depth 13
28312 ^done,depth="12"
28313 (gdb)
28314 @end smallexample
28315
28316 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-arguments} Command
28317 @findex -stack-list-arguments
28318
28319 @subsubheading Synopsis
28320
28321 @smallexample
28322 -stack-list-arguments @var{print-values}
28323 [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
28324 @end smallexample
28325
28326 Display a list of the arguments for the frames between @var{low-frame}
28327 and @var{high-frame} (inclusive). If @var{low-frame} and
28328 @var{high-frame} are not provided, list the arguments for the whole
28329 call stack. If the two arguments are equal, show the single frame
28330 at the corresponding level. It is an error if @var{low-frame} is
28331 larger than the actual number of frames. On the other hand,
28332 @var{high-frame} may be larger than the actual number of frames, in
28333 which case only existing frames will be returned.
28334
28335 If @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
28336 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
28337 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
28338 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
28339 structures and unions.
28340
28341 Use of this command to obtain arguments in a single frame is
28342 deprecated in favor of the @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
28343
28344 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28345
28346 @value{GDBN} does not have an equivalent command. @code{gdbtk} has a
28347 @samp{gdb_get_args} command which partially overlaps with the
28348 functionality of @samp{-stack-list-arguments}.
28349
28350 @subsubheading Example
28351
28352 @smallexample
28353 (gdb)
28354 -stack-list-frames
28355 ^done,
28356 stack=[
28357 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
28358 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28359 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@},
28360 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
28361 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28362 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@},
28363 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x0001078c",func="callee2",
28364 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28365 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="22"@},
28366 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107b4",func="callee1",
28367 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28368 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="27"@},
28369 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107e0",func="main",
28370 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28371 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="32"@}]
28372 (gdb)
28373 -stack-list-arguments 0
28374 ^done,
28375 stack-args=[
28376 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
28377 frame=@{level="1",args=[name="strarg"]@},
28378 frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@},
28379 frame=@{level="3",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg",name="fltarg"]@},
28380 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
28381 (gdb)
28382 -stack-list-arguments 1
28383 ^done,
28384 stack-args=[
28385 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
28386 frame=@{level="1",
28387 args=[@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
28388 frame=@{level="2",args=[
28389 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
28390 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
28391 @{frame=@{level="3",args=[
28392 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
28393 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@},
28394 @{name="fltarg",value="3.5"@}]@},
28395 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
28396 (gdb)
28397 -stack-list-arguments 0 2 2
28398 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@}]
28399 (gdb)
28400 -stack-list-arguments 1 2 2
28401 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",
28402 args=[@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
28403 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@}]
28404 (gdb)
28405 @end smallexample
28406
28407 @c @subheading -stack-list-exception-handlers
28408
28409
28410 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-frames} Command
28411 @findex -stack-list-frames
28412
28413 @subsubheading Synopsis
28414
28415 @smallexample
28416 -stack-list-frames [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
28417 @end smallexample
28418
28419 List the frames currently on the stack. For each frame it displays the
28420 following info:
28421
28422 @table @samp
28423 @item @var{level}
28424 The frame number, 0 being the topmost frame, i.e., the innermost function.
28425 @item @var{addr}
28426 The @code{$pc} value for that frame.
28427 @item @var{func}
28428 Function name.
28429 @item @var{file}
28430 File name of the source file where the function lives.
28431 @item @var{fullname}
28432 The full file name of the source file where the function lives.
28433 @item @var{line}
28434 Line number corresponding to the @code{$pc}.
28435 @item @var{from}
28436 The shared library where this function is defined. This is only given
28437 if the frame's function is not known.
28438 @end table
28439
28440 If invoked without arguments, this command prints a backtrace for the
28441 whole stack. If given two integer arguments, it shows the frames whose
28442 levels are between the two arguments (inclusive). If the two arguments
28443 are equal, it shows the single frame at the corresponding level. It is
28444 an error if @var{low-frame} is larger than the actual number of
28445 frames. On the other hand, @var{high-frame} may be larger than the
28446 actual number of frames, in which case only existing frames will be returned.
28447
28448 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28449
28450 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{backtrace} and @samp{where}.
28451
28452 @subsubheading Example
28453
28454 Full stack backtrace:
28455
28456 @smallexample
28457 (gdb)
28458 -stack-list-frames
28459 ^done,stack=
28460 [frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0001076c",func="foo",
28461 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@},
28462 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28463 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28464 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28465 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28466 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28467 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28468 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28469 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28470 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28471 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28472 frame=@{level="6",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28473 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28474 frame=@{level="7",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28475 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28476 frame=@{level="8",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28477 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28478 frame=@{level="9",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28479 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28480 frame=@{level="10",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28481 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28482 frame=@{level="11",addr="0x00010738",func="main",
28483 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}]
28484 (gdb)
28485 @end smallexample
28486
28487 Show frames between @var{low_frame} and @var{high_frame}:
28488
28489 @smallexample
28490 (gdb)
28491 -stack-list-frames 3 5
28492 ^done,stack=
28493 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28494 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28495 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28496 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28497 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28498 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
28499 (gdb)
28500 @end smallexample
28501
28502 Show a single frame:
28503
28504 @smallexample
28505 (gdb)
28506 -stack-list-frames 3 3
28507 ^done,stack=
28508 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28509 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
28510 (gdb)
28511 @end smallexample
28512
28513
28514 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-locals} Command
28515 @findex -stack-list-locals
28516
28517 @subsubheading Synopsis
28518
28519 @smallexample
28520 -stack-list-locals @var{print-values}
28521 @end smallexample
28522
28523 Display the local variable names for the selected frame. If
28524 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
28525 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
28526 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
28527 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
28528 structures and unions. In this last case, a frontend can immediately
28529 display the value of simple data types and create variable objects for
28530 other data types when the user wishes to explore their values in
28531 more detail.
28532
28533 This command is deprecated in favor of the
28534 @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
28535
28536 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28537
28538 @samp{info locals} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_get_locals} in @code{gdbtk}.
28539
28540 @subsubheading Example
28541
28542 @smallexample
28543 (gdb)
28544 -stack-list-locals 0
28545 ^done,locals=[name="A",name="B",name="C"]
28546 (gdb)
28547 -stack-list-locals --all-values
28548 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",value="1"@},@{name="B",value="2"@},
28549 @{name="C",value="@{1, 2, 3@}"@}]
28550 -stack-list-locals --simple-values
28551 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",type="int",value="1"@},
28552 @{name="B",type="int",value="2"@},@{name="C",type="int [3]"@}]
28553 (gdb)
28554 @end smallexample
28555
28556 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-variables} Command
28557 @findex -stack-list-variables
28558
28559 @subsubheading Synopsis
28560
28561 @smallexample
28562 -stack-list-variables @var{print-values}
28563 @end smallexample
28564
28565 Display the names of local variables and function arguments for the selected frame. If
28566 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
28567 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
28568 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
28569 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
28570 structures and unions.
28571
28572 @subsubheading Example
28573
28574 @smallexample
28575 (gdb)
28576 -stack-list-variables --thread 1 --frame 0 --all-values
28577 ^done,variables=[@{name="x",value="11"@},@{name="s",value="@{a = 1, b = 2@}"@}]
28578 (gdb)
28579 @end smallexample
28580
28581
28582 @subheading The @code{-stack-select-frame} Command
28583 @findex -stack-select-frame
28584
28585 @subsubheading Synopsis
28586
28587 @smallexample
28588 -stack-select-frame @var{framenum}
28589 @end smallexample
28590
28591 Change the selected frame. Select a different frame @var{framenum} on
28592 the stack.
28593
28594 This command in deprecated in favor of passing the @samp{--frame}
28595 option to every command.
28596
28597 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28598
28599 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{frame}, @samp{up},
28600 @samp{down}, @samp{select-frame}, @samp{up-silent}, and @samp{down-silent}.
28601
28602 @subsubheading Example
28603
28604 @smallexample
28605 (gdb)
28606 -stack-select-frame 2
28607 ^done
28608 (gdb)
28609 @end smallexample
28610
28611 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28612 @node GDB/MI Variable Objects
28613 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Variable Objects
28614
28615 @ignore
28616
28617 @subheading Motivation for Variable Objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
28618
28619 For the implementation of a variable debugger window (locals, watched
28620 expressions, etc.), we are proposing the adaptation of the existing code
28621 used by @code{Insight}.
28622
28623 The two main reasons for that are:
28624
28625 @enumerate 1
28626 @item
28627 It has been proven in practice (it is already on its second generation).
28628
28629 @item
28630 It will shorten development time (needless to say how important it is
28631 now).
28632 @end enumerate
28633
28634 The original interface was designed to be used by Tcl code, so it was
28635 slightly changed so it could be used through @sc{gdb/mi}. This section
28636 describes the @sc{gdb/mi} operations that will be available and gives some
28637 hints about their use.
28638
28639 @emph{Note}: In addition to the set of operations described here, we
28640 expect the @sc{gui} implementation of a variable window to require, at
28641 least, the following operations:
28642
28643 @itemize @bullet
28644 @item @code{-gdb-show} @code{output-radix}
28645 @item @code{-stack-list-arguments}
28646 @item @code{-stack-list-locals}
28647 @item @code{-stack-select-frame}
28648 @end itemize
28649
28650 @end ignore
28651
28652 @subheading Introduction to Variable Objects
28653
28654 @cindex variable objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
28655
28656 Variable objects are "object-oriented" MI interface for examining and
28657 changing values of expressions. Unlike some other MI interfaces that
28658 work with expressions, variable objects are specifically designed for
28659 simple and efficient presentation in the frontend. A variable object
28660 is identified by string name. When a variable object is created, the
28661 frontend specifies the expression for that variable object. The
28662 expression can be a simple variable, or it can be an arbitrary complex
28663 expression, and can even involve CPU registers. After creating a
28664 variable object, the frontend can invoke other variable object
28665 operations---for example to obtain or change the value of a variable
28666 object, or to change display format.
28667
28668 Variable objects have hierarchical tree structure. Any variable object
28669 that corresponds to a composite type, such as structure in C, has
28670 a number of child variable objects, for example corresponding to each
28671 element of a structure. A child variable object can itself have
28672 children, recursively. Recursion ends when we reach
28673 leaf variable objects, which always have built-in types. Child variable
28674 objects are created only by explicit request, so if a frontend
28675 is not interested in the children of a particular variable object, no
28676 child will be created.
28677
28678 For a leaf variable object it is possible to obtain its value as a
28679 string, or set the value from a string. String value can be also
28680 obtained for a non-leaf variable object, but it's generally a string
28681 that only indicates the type of the object, and does not list its
28682 contents. Assignment to a non-leaf variable object is not allowed.
28683
28684 A frontend does not need to read the values of all variable objects each time
28685 the program stops. Instead, MI provides an update command that lists all
28686 variable objects whose values has changed since the last update
28687 operation. This considerably reduces the amount of data that must
28688 be transferred to the frontend. As noted above, children variable
28689 objects are created on demand, and only leaf variable objects have a
28690 real value. As result, gdb will read target memory only for leaf
28691 variables that frontend has created.
28692
28693 The automatic update is not always desirable. For example, a frontend
28694 might want to keep a value of some expression for future reference,
28695 and never update it. For another example, fetching memory is
28696 relatively slow for embedded targets, so a frontend might want
28697 to disable automatic update for the variables that are either not
28698 visible on the screen, or ``closed''. This is possible using so
28699 called ``frozen variable objects''. Such variable objects are never
28700 implicitly updated.
28701
28702 Variable objects can be either @dfn{fixed} or @dfn{floating}. For the
28703 fixed variable object, the expression is parsed when the variable
28704 object is created, including associating identifiers to specific
28705 variables. The meaning of expression never changes. For a floating
28706 variable object the values of variables whose names appear in the
28707 expressions are re-evaluated every time in the context of the current
28708 frame. Consider this example:
28709
28710 @smallexample
28711 void do_work(...)
28712 @{
28713 struct work_state state;
28714
28715 if (...)
28716 do_work(...);
28717 @}
28718 @end smallexample
28719
28720 If a fixed variable object for the @code{state} variable is created in
28721 this function, and we enter the recursive call, the variable
28722 object will report the value of @code{state} in the top-level
28723 @code{do_work} invocation. On the other hand, a floating variable
28724 object will report the value of @code{state} in the current frame.
28725
28726 If an expression specified when creating a fixed variable object
28727 refers to a local variable, the variable object becomes bound to the
28728 thread and frame in which the variable object is created. When such
28729 variable object is updated, @value{GDBN} makes sure that the
28730 thread/frame combination the variable object is bound to still exists,
28731 and re-evaluates the variable object in context of that thread/frame.
28732
28733 The following is the complete set of @sc{gdb/mi} operations defined to
28734 access this functionality:
28735
28736 @multitable @columnfractions .4 .6
28737 @item @strong{Operation}
28738 @tab @strong{Description}
28739
28740 @item @code{-enable-pretty-printing}
28741 @tab enable Python-based pretty-printing
28742 @item @code{-var-create}
28743 @tab create a variable object
28744 @item @code{-var-delete}
28745 @tab delete the variable object and/or its children
28746 @item @code{-var-set-format}
28747 @tab set the display format of this variable
28748 @item @code{-var-show-format}
28749 @tab show the display format of this variable
28750 @item @code{-var-info-num-children}
28751 @tab tells how many children this object has
28752 @item @code{-var-list-children}
28753 @tab return a list of the object's children
28754 @item @code{-var-info-type}
28755 @tab show the type of this variable object
28756 @item @code{-var-info-expression}
28757 @tab print parent-relative expression that this variable object represents
28758 @item @code{-var-info-path-expression}
28759 @tab print full expression that this variable object represents
28760 @item @code{-var-show-attributes}
28761 @tab is this variable editable? does it exist here?
28762 @item @code{-var-evaluate-expression}
28763 @tab get the value of this variable
28764 @item @code{-var-assign}
28765 @tab set the value of this variable
28766 @item @code{-var-update}
28767 @tab update the variable and its children
28768 @item @code{-var-set-frozen}
28769 @tab set frozeness attribute
28770 @item @code{-var-set-update-range}
28771 @tab set range of children to display on update
28772 @end multitable
28773
28774 In the next subsection we describe each operation in detail and suggest
28775 how it can be used.
28776
28777 @subheading Description And Use of Operations on Variable Objects
28778
28779 @subheading The @code{-enable-pretty-printing} Command
28780 @findex -enable-pretty-printing
28781
28782 @smallexample
28783 -enable-pretty-printing
28784 @end smallexample
28785
28786 @value{GDBN} allows Python-based visualizers to affect the output of the
28787 MI variable object commands. However, because there was no way to
28788 implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
28789 request that this functionality be enabled.
28790
28791 Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
28792
28793 Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
28794 this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
28795
28796 This feature is currently (as of @value{GDBN} 7.0) experimental, and
28797 may work differently in future versions of @value{GDBN}.
28798
28799 @subheading The @code{-var-create} Command
28800 @findex -var-create
28801
28802 @subsubheading Synopsis
28803
28804 @smallexample
28805 -var-create @{@var{name} | "-"@}
28806 @{@var{frame-addr} | "*" | "@@"@} @var{expression}
28807 @end smallexample
28808
28809 This operation creates a variable object, which allows the monitoring of
28810 a variable, the result of an expression, a memory cell or a CPU
28811 register.
28812
28813 The @var{name} parameter is the string by which the object can be
28814 referenced. It must be unique. If @samp{-} is specified, the varobj
28815 system will generate a string ``varNNNNNN'' automatically. It will be
28816 unique provided that one does not specify @var{name} of that format.
28817 The command fails if a duplicate name is found.
28818
28819 The frame under which the expression should be evaluated can be
28820 specified by @var{frame-addr}. A @samp{*} indicates that the current
28821 frame should be used. A @samp{@@} indicates that a floating variable
28822 object must be created.
28823
28824 @var{expression} is any expression valid on the current language set (must not
28825 begin with a @samp{*}), or one of the following:
28826
28827 @itemize @bullet
28828 @item
28829 @samp{*@var{addr}}, where @var{addr} is the address of a memory cell
28830
28831 @item
28832 @samp{*@var{addr}-@var{addr}} --- a memory address range (TBD)
28833
28834 @item
28835 @samp{$@var{regname}} --- a CPU register name
28836 @end itemize
28837
28838 @cindex dynamic varobj
28839 A varobj's contents may be provided by a Python-based pretty-printer. In this
28840 case the varobj is known as a @dfn{dynamic varobj}. Dynamic varobjs
28841 have slightly different semantics in some cases. If the
28842 @code{-enable-pretty-printing} command is not sent, then @value{GDBN}
28843 will never create a dynamic varobj. This ensures backward
28844 compatibility for existing clients.
28845
28846 @subsubheading Result
28847
28848 This operation returns attributes of the newly-created varobj. These
28849 are:
28850
28851 @table @samp
28852 @item name
28853 The name of the varobj.
28854
28855 @item numchild
28856 The number of children of the varobj. This number is not necessarily
28857 reliable for a dynamic varobj. Instead, you must examine the
28858 @samp{has_more} attribute.
28859
28860 @item value
28861 The varobj's scalar value. For a varobj whose type is some sort of
28862 aggregate (e.g., a @code{struct}), or for a dynamic varobj, this value
28863 will not be interesting.
28864
28865 @item type
28866 The varobj's type. This is a string representation of the type, as
28867 would be printed by the @value{GDBN} CLI.
28868
28869 @item thread-id
28870 If a variable object is bound to a specific thread, then this is the
28871 thread's identifier.
28872
28873 @item has_more
28874 For a dynamic varobj, this indicates whether there appear to be any
28875 children available. For a non-dynamic varobj, this will be 0.
28876
28877 @item dynamic
28878 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
28879 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
28880 then this attribute will not be present.
28881
28882 @item displayhint
28883 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
28884 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
28885 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
28886 @end table
28887
28888 Typical output will look like this:
28889
28890 @smallexample
28891 name="@var{name}",numchild="@var{N}",type="@var{type}",thread-id="@var{M}",
28892 has_more="@var{has_more}"
28893 @end smallexample
28894
28895
28896 @subheading The @code{-var-delete} Command
28897 @findex -var-delete
28898
28899 @subsubheading Synopsis
28900
28901 @smallexample
28902 -var-delete [ -c ] @var{name}
28903 @end smallexample
28904
28905 Deletes a previously created variable object and all of its children.
28906 With the @samp{-c} option, just deletes the children.
28907
28908 Returns an error if the object @var{name} is not found.
28909
28910
28911 @subheading The @code{-var-set-format} Command
28912 @findex -var-set-format
28913
28914 @subsubheading Synopsis
28915
28916 @smallexample
28917 -var-set-format @var{name} @var{format-spec}
28918 @end smallexample
28919
28920 Sets the output format for the value of the object @var{name} to be
28921 @var{format-spec}.
28922
28923 @anchor{-var-set-format}
28924 The syntax for the @var{format-spec} is as follows:
28925
28926 @smallexample
28927 @var{format-spec} @expansion{}
28928 @{binary | decimal | hexadecimal | octal | natural@}
28929 @end smallexample
28930
28931 The natural format is the default format choosen automatically
28932 based on the variable type (like decimal for an @code{int}, hex
28933 for pointers, etc.).
28934
28935 For a variable with children, the format is set only on the
28936 variable itself, and the children are not affected.
28937
28938 @subheading The @code{-var-show-format} Command
28939 @findex -var-show-format
28940
28941 @subsubheading Synopsis
28942
28943 @smallexample
28944 -var-show-format @var{name}
28945 @end smallexample
28946
28947 Returns the format used to display the value of the object @var{name}.
28948
28949 @smallexample
28950 @var{format} @expansion{}
28951 @var{format-spec}
28952 @end smallexample
28953
28954
28955 @subheading The @code{-var-info-num-children} Command
28956 @findex -var-info-num-children
28957
28958 @subsubheading Synopsis
28959
28960 @smallexample
28961 -var-info-num-children @var{name}
28962 @end smallexample
28963
28964 Returns the number of children of a variable object @var{name}:
28965
28966 @smallexample
28967 numchild=@var{n}
28968 @end smallexample
28969
28970 Note that this number is not completely reliable for a dynamic varobj.
28971 It will return the current number of children, but more children may
28972 be available.
28973
28974
28975 @subheading The @code{-var-list-children} Command
28976 @findex -var-list-children
28977
28978 @subsubheading Synopsis
28979
28980 @smallexample
28981 -var-list-children [@var{print-values}] @var{name} [@var{from} @var{to}]
28982 @end smallexample
28983 @anchor{-var-list-children}
28984
28985 Return a list of the children of the specified variable object and
28986 create variable objects for them, if they do not already exist. With
28987 a single argument or if @var{print-values} has a value of 0 or
28988 @code{--no-values}, print only the names of the variables; if
28989 @var{print-values} is 1 or @code{--all-values}, also print their
28990 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values} print the name and
28991 value for simple data types and just the name for arrays, structures
28992 and unions.
28993
28994 @var{from} and @var{to}, if specified, indicate the range of children
28995 to report. If @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is
28996 reset and all children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting
28997 at @var{from} (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be
28998 reported.
28999
29000 If a child range is requested, it will only affect the current call to
29001 @code{-var-list-children}, but not future calls to @code{-var-update}.
29002 For this, you must instead use @code{-var-set-update-range}. The
29003 intent of this approach is to enable a front end to implement any
29004 update approach it likes; for example, scrolling a view may cause the
29005 front end to request more children with @code{-var-list-children}, and
29006 then the front end could call @code{-var-set-update-range} with a
29007 different range to ensure that future updates are restricted to just
29008 the visible items.
29009
29010 For each child the following results are returned:
29011
29012 @table @var
29013
29014 @item name
29015 Name of the variable object created for this child.
29016
29017 @item exp
29018 The expression to be shown to the user by the front end to designate this child.
29019 For example this may be the name of a structure member.
29020
29021 For a dynamic varobj, this value cannot be used to form an
29022 expression. There is no way to do this at all with a dynamic varobj.
29023
29024 For C/C@t{++} structures there are several pseudo children returned to
29025 designate access qualifiers. For these pseudo children @var{exp} is
29026 @samp{public}, @samp{private}, or @samp{protected}. In this case the
29027 type and value are not present.
29028
29029 A dynamic varobj will not report the access qualifying
29030 pseudo-children, regardless of the language. This information is not
29031 available at all with a dynamic varobj.
29032
29033 @item numchild
29034 Number of children this child has. For a dynamic varobj, this will be
29035 0.
29036
29037 @item type
29038 The type of the child.
29039
29040 @item value
29041 If values were requested, this is the value.
29042
29043 @item thread-id
29044 If this variable object is associated with a thread, this is the thread id.
29045 Otherwise this result is not present.
29046
29047 @item frozen
29048 If the variable object is frozen, this variable will be present with a value of 1.
29049 @end table
29050
29051 The result may have its own attributes:
29052
29053 @table @samp
29054 @item displayhint
29055 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
29056 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
29057 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
29058
29059 @item has_more
29060 This is an integer attribute which is nonzero if there are children
29061 remaining after the end of the selected range.
29062 @end table
29063
29064 @subsubheading Example
29065
29066 @smallexample
29067 (gdb)
29068 -var-list-children n
29069 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
29070 numchild=@var{n},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
29071 (gdb)
29072 -var-list-children --all-values n
29073 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
29074 numchild=@var{n},value=@var{value},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
29075 @end smallexample
29076
29077
29078 @subheading The @code{-var-info-type} Command
29079 @findex -var-info-type
29080
29081 @subsubheading Synopsis
29082
29083 @smallexample
29084 -var-info-type @var{name}
29085 @end smallexample
29086
29087 Returns the type of the specified variable @var{name}. The type is
29088 returned as a string in the same format as it is output by the
29089 @value{GDBN} CLI:
29090
29091 @smallexample
29092 type=@var{typename}
29093 @end smallexample
29094
29095
29096 @subheading The @code{-var-info-expression} Command
29097 @findex -var-info-expression
29098
29099 @subsubheading Synopsis
29100
29101 @smallexample
29102 -var-info-expression @var{name}
29103 @end smallexample
29104
29105 Returns a string that is suitable for presenting this
29106 variable object in user interface. The string is generally
29107 not valid expression in the current language, and cannot be evaluated.
29108
29109 For example, if @code{a} is an array, and variable object
29110 @code{A} was created for @code{a}, then we'll get this output:
29111
29112 @smallexample
29113 (gdb) -var-info-expression A.1
29114 ^done,lang="C",exp="1"
29115 @end smallexample
29116
29117 @noindent
29118 Here, the values of @code{lang} can be @code{@{"C" | "C++" | "Java"@}}.
29119
29120 Note that the output of the @code{-var-list-children} command also
29121 includes those expressions, so the @code{-var-info-expression} command
29122 is of limited use.
29123
29124 @subheading The @code{-var-info-path-expression} Command
29125 @findex -var-info-path-expression
29126
29127 @subsubheading Synopsis
29128
29129 @smallexample
29130 -var-info-path-expression @var{name}
29131 @end smallexample
29132
29133 Returns an expression that can be evaluated in the current
29134 context and will yield the same value that a variable object has.
29135 Compare this with the @code{-var-info-expression} command, which
29136 result can be used only for UI presentation. Typical use of
29137 the @code{-var-info-path-expression} command is creating a
29138 watchpoint from a variable object.
29139
29140 This command is currently not valid for children of a dynamic varobj,
29141 and will give an error when invoked on one.
29142
29143 For example, suppose @code{C} is a C@t{++} class, derived from class
29144 @code{Base}, and that the @code{Base} class has a member called
29145 @code{m_size}. Assume a variable @code{c} is has the type of
29146 @code{C} and a variable object @code{C} was created for variable
29147 @code{c}. Then, we'll get this output:
29148 @smallexample
29149 (gdb) -var-info-path-expression C.Base.public.m_size
29150 ^done,path_expr=((Base)c).m_size)
29151 @end smallexample
29152
29153 @subheading The @code{-var-show-attributes} Command
29154 @findex -var-show-attributes
29155
29156 @subsubheading Synopsis
29157
29158 @smallexample
29159 -var-show-attributes @var{name}
29160 @end smallexample
29161
29162 List attributes of the specified variable object @var{name}:
29163
29164 @smallexample
29165 status=@var{attr} [ ( ,@var{attr} )* ]
29166 @end smallexample
29167
29168 @noindent
29169 where @var{attr} is @code{@{ @{ editable | noneditable @} | TBD @}}.
29170
29171 @subheading The @code{-var-evaluate-expression} Command
29172 @findex -var-evaluate-expression
29173
29174 @subsubheading Synopsis
29175
29176 @smallexample
29177 -var-evaluate-expression [-f @var{format-spec}] @var{name}
29178 @end smallexample
29179
29180 Evaluates the expression that is represented by the specified variable
29181 object and returns its value as a string. The format of the string
29182 can be specified with the @samp{-f} option. The possible values of
29183 this option are the same as for @code{-var-set-format}
29184 (@pxref{-var-set-format}). If the @samp{-f} option is not specified,
29185 the current display format will be used. The current display format
29186 can be changed using the @code{-var-set-format} command.
29187
29188 @smallexample
29189 value=@var{value}
29190 @end smallexample
29191
29192 Note that one must invoke @code{-var-list-children} for a variable
29193 before the value of a child variable can be evaluated.
29194
29195 @subheading The @code{-var-assign} Command
29196 @findex -var-assign
29197
29198 @subsubheading Synopsis
29199
29200 @smallexample
29201 -var-assign @var{name} @var{expression}
29202 @end smallexample
29203
29204 Assigns the value of @var{expression} to the variable object specified
29205 by @var{name}. The object must be @samp{editable}. If the variable's
29206 value is altered by the assign, the variable will show up in any
29207 subsequent @code{-var-update} list.
29208
29209 @subsubheading Example
29210
29211 @smallexample
29212 (gdb)
29213 -var-assign var1 3
29214 ^done,value="3"
29215 (gdb)
29216 -var-update *
29217 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",in_scope="true",type_changed="false"@}]
29218 (gdb)
29219 @end smallexample
29220
29221 @subheading The @code{-var-update} Command
29222 @findex -var-update
29223
29224 @subsubheading Synopsis
29225
29226 @smallexample
29227 -var-update [@var{print-values}] @{@var{name} | "*"@}
29228 @end smallexample
29229
29230 Reevaluate the expressions corresponding to the variable object
29231 @var{name} and all its direct and indirect children, and return the
29232 list of variable objects whose values have changed; @var{name} must
29233 be a root variable object. Here, ``changed'' means that the result of
29234 @code{-var-evaluate-expression} before and after the
29235 @code{-var-update} is different. If @samp{*} is used as the variable
29236 object names, all existing variable objects are updated, except
29237 for frozen ones (@pxref{-var-set-frozen}). The option
29238 @var{print-values} determines whether both names and values, or just
29239 names are printed. The possible values of this option are the same
29240 as for @code{-var-list-children} (@pxref{-var-list-children}). It is
29241 recommended to use the @samp{--all-values} option, to reduce the
29242 number of MI commands needed on each program stop.
29243
29244 With the @samp{*} parameter, if a variable object is bound to a
29245 currently running thread, it will not be updated, without any
29246 diagnostic.
29247
29248 If @code{-var-set-update-range} was previously used on a varobj, then
29249 only the selected range of children will be reported.
29250
29251 @code{-var-update} reports all the changed varobjs in a tuple named
29252 @samp{changelist}.
29253
29254 Each item in the change list is itself a tuple holding:
29255
29256 @table @samp
29257 @item name
29258 The name of the varobj.
29259
29260 @item value
29261 If values were requested for this update, then this field will be
29262 present and will hold the value of the varobj.
29263
29264 @item in_scope
29265 @anchor{-var-update}
29266 This field is a string which may take one of three values:
29267
29268 @table @code
29269 @item "true"
29270 The variable object's current value is valid.
29271
29272 @item "false"
29273 The variable object does not currently hold a valid value but it may
29274 hold one in the future if its associated expression comes back into
29275 scope.
29276
29277 @item "invalid"
29278 The variable object no longer holds a valid value.
29279 This can occur when the executable file being debugged has changed,
29280 either through recompilation or by using the @value{GDBN} @code{file}
29281 command. The front end should normally choose to delete these variable
29282 objects.
29283 @end table
29284
29285 In the future new values may be added to this list so the front should
29286 be prepared for this possibility. @xref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, ,@sc{GDB/MI} Development and Front Ends}.
29287
29288 @item type_changed
29289 This is only present if the varobj is still valid. If the type
29290 changed, then this will be the string @samp{true}; otherwise it will
29291 be @samp{false}.
29292
29293 @item new_type
29294 If the varobj's type changed, then this field will be present and will
29295 hold the new type.
29296
29297 @item new_num_children
29298 For a dynamic varobj, if the number of children changed, or if the
29299 type changed, this will be the new number of children.
29300
29301 The @samp{numchild} field in other varobj responses is generally not
29302 valid for a dynamic varobj -- it will show the number of children that
29303 @value{GDBN} knows about, but because dynamic varobjs lazily
29304 instantiate their children, this will not reflect the number of
29305 children which may be available.
29306
29307 The @samp{new_num_children} attribute only reports changes to the
29308 number of children known by @value{GDBN}. This is the only way to
29309 detect whether an update has removed children (which necessarily can
29310 only happen at the end of the update range).
29311
29312 @item displayhint
29313 The display hint, if any.
29314
29315 @item has_more
29316 This is an integer value, which will be 1 if there are more children
29317 available outside the varobj's update range.
29318
29319 @item dynamic
29320 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
29321 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
29322 then this attribute will not be present.
29323
29324 @item new_children
29325 If new children were added to a dynamic varobj within the selected
29326 update range (as set by @code{-var-set-update-range}), then they will
29327 be listed in this attribute.
29328 @end table
29329
29330 @subsubheading Example
29331
29332 @smallexample
29333 (gdb)
29334 -var-assign var1 3
29335 ^done,value="3"
29336 (gdb)
29337 -var-update --all-values var1
29338 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",value="3",in_scope="true",
29339 type_changed="false"@}]
29340 (gdb)
29341 @end smallexample
29342
29343 @subheading The @code{-var-set-frozen} Command
29344 @findex -var-set-frozen
29345 @anchor{-var-set-frozen}
29346
29347 @subsubheading Synopsis
29348
29349 @smallexample
29350 -var-set-frozen @var{name} @var{flag}
29351 @end smallexample
29352
29353 Set the frozenness flag on the variable object @var{name}. The
29354 @var{flag} parameter should be either @samp{1} to make the variable
29355 frozen or @samp{0} to make it unfrozen. If a variable object is
29356 frozen, then neither itself, nor any of its children, are
29357 implicitly updated by @code{-var-update} of
29358 a parent variable or by @code{-var-update *}. Only
29359 @code{-var-update} of the variable itself will update its value and
29360 values of its children. After a variable object is unfrozen, it is
29361 implicitly updated by all subsequent @code{-var-update} operations.
29362 Unfreezing a variable does not update it, only subsequent
29363 @code{-var-update} does.
29364
29365 @subsubheading Example
29366
29367 @smallexample
29368 (gdb)
29369 -var-set-frozen V 1
29370 ^done
29371 (gdb)
29372 @end smallexample
29373
29374 @subheading The @code{-var-set-update-range} command
29375 @findex -var-set-update-range
29376 @anchor{-var-set-update-range}
29377
29378 @subsubheading Synopsis
29379
29380 @smallexample
29381 -var-set-update-range @var{name} @var{from} @var{to}
29382 @end smallexample
29383
29384 Set the range of children to be returned by future invocations of
29385 @code{-var-update}.
29386
29387 @var{from} and @var{to} indicate the range of children to report. If
29388 @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is reset and all
29389 children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting at @var{from}
29390 (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be reported.
29391
29392 @subsubheading Example
29393
29394 @smallexample
29395 (gdb)
29396 -var-set-update-range V 1 2
29397 ^done
29398 @end smallexample
29399
29400 @subheading The @code{-var-set-visualizer} command
29401 @findex -var-set-visualizer
29402 @anchor{-var-set-visualizer}
29403
29404 @subsubheading Synopsis
29405
29406 @smallexample
29407 -var-set-visualizer @var{name} @var{visualizer}
29408 @end smallexample
29409
29410 Set a visualizer for the variable object @var{name}.
29411
29412 @var{visualizer} is the visualizer to use. The special value
29413 @samp{None} means to disable any visualizer in use.
29414
29415 If not @samp{None}, @var{visualizer} must be a Python expression.
29416 This expression must evaluate to a callable object which accepts a
29417 single argument. @value{GDBN} will call this object with the value of
29418 the varobj @var{name} as an argument (this is done so that the same
29419 Python pretty-printing code can be used for both the CLI and MI).
29420 When called, this object must return an object which conforms to the
29421 pretty-printing interface (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}).
29422
29423 The pre-defined function @code{gdb.default_visualizer} may be used to
29424 select a visualizer by following the built-in process
29425 (@pxref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}). This is done automatically when
29426 a varobj is created, and so ordinarily is not needed.
29427
29428 This feature is only available if Python support is enabled. The MI
29429 command @code{-list-features} (@pxref{GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands})
29430 can be used to check this.
29431
29432 @subsubheading Example
29433
29434 Resetting the visualizer:
29435
29436 @smallexample
29437 (gdb)
29438 -var-set-visualizer V None
29439 ^done
29440 @end smallexample
29441
29442 Reselecting the default (type-based) visualizer:
29443
29444 @smallexample
29445 (gdb)
29446 -var-set-visualizer V gdb.default_visualizer
29447 ^done
29448 @end smallexample
29449
29450 Suppose @code{SomeClass} is a visualizer class. A lambda expression
29451 can be used to instantiate this class for a varobj:
29452
29453 @smallexample
29454 (gdb)
29455 -var-set-visualizer V "lambda val: SomeClass()"
29456 ^done
29457 @end smallexample
29458
29459 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29460 @node GDB/MI Data Manipulation
29461 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Data Manipulation
29462
29463 @cindex data manipulation, in @sc{gdb/mi}
29464 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, data manipulation
29465 This section describes the @sc{gdb/mi} commands that manipulate data:
29466 examine memory and registers, evaluate expressions, etc.
29467
29468 @c REMOVED FROM THE INTERFACE.
29469 @c @subheading -data-assign
29470 @c Change the value of a program variable. Plenty of side effects.
29471 @c @subsubheading GDB Command
29472 @c set variable
29473 @c @subsubheading Example
29474 @c N.A.
29475
29476 @subheading The @code{-data-disassemble} Command
29477 @findex -data-disassemble
29478
29479 @subsubheading Synopsis
29480
29481 @smallexample
29482 -data-disassemble
29483 [ -s @var{start-addr} -e @var{end-addr} ]
29484 | [ -f @var{filename} -l @var{linenum} [ -n @var{lines} ] ]
29485 -- @var{mode}
29486 @end smallexample
29487
29488 @noindent
29489 Where:
29490
29491 @table @samp
29492 @item @var{start-addr}
29493 is the beginning address (or @code{$pc})
29494 @item @var{end-addr}
29495 is the end address
29496 @item @var{filename}
29497 is the name of the file to disassemble
29498 @item @var{linenum}
29499 is the line number to disassemble around
29500 @item @var{lines}
29501 is the number of disassembly lines to be produced. If it is -1,
29502 the whole function will be disassembled, in case no @var{end-addr} is
29503 specified. If @var{end-addr} is specified as a non-zero value, and
29504 @var{lines} is lower than the number of disassembly lines between
29505 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only @var{lines} lines are
29506 displayed; if @var{lines} is higher than the number of lines between
29507 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only the lines up to @var{end-addr}
29508 are displayed.
29509 @item @var{mode}
29510 is either 0 (meaning only disassembly), 1 (meaning mixed source and
29511 disassembly), 2 (meaning disassembly with raw opcodes), or 3 (meaning
29512 mixed source and disassembly with raw opcodes).
29513 @end table
29514
29515 @subsubheading Result
29516
29517 The output for each instruction is composed of four fields:
29518
29519 @itemize @bullet
29520 @item Address
29521 @item Func-name
29522 @item Offset
29523 @item Instruction
29524 @end itemize
29525
29526 Note that whatever included in the instruction field, is not manipulated
29527 directly by @sc{gdb/mi}, i.e., it is not possible to adjust its format.
29528
29529 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29530
29531 There's no direct mapping from this command to the CLI.
29532
29533 @subsubheading Example
29534
29535 Disassemble from the current value of @code{$pc} to @code{$pc + 20}:
29536
29537 @smallexample
29538 (gdb)
29539 -data-disassemble -s $pc -e "$pc + 20" -- 0
29540 ^done,
29541 asm_insns=[
29542 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
29543 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
29544 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
29545 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
29546 @{address="0x000107c8",func-name="main",offset="12",
29547 inst="or %o2, 0x140, %o1\t! 0x11940 <_lib_version+8>"@},
29548 @{address="0x000107cc",func-name="main",offset="16",
29549 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
29550 @{address="0x000107d0",func-name="main",offset="20",
29551 inst="or %o2, 0x168, %o4\t! 0x11968 <_lib_version+48>"@}]
29552 (gdb)
29553 @end smallexample
29554
29555 Disassemble the whole @code{main} function. Line 32 is part of
29556 @code{main}.
29557
29558 @smallexample
29559 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -- 0
29560 ^done,asm_insns=[
29561 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
29562 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
29563 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
29564 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
29565 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
29566 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
29567 [@dots{}]
29568 @{address="0x0001081c",func-name="main",offset="96",inst="ret "@},
29569 @{address="0x00010820",func-name="main",offset="100",inst="restore "@}]
29570 (gdb)
29571 @end smallexample
29572
29573 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main}:
29574
29575 @smallexample
29576 (gdb)
29577 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 0
29578 ^done,asm_insns=[
29579 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
29580 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
29581 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
29582 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
29583 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
29584 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]
29585 (gdb)
29586 @end smallexample
29587
29588 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main} in mixed mode:
29589
29590 @smallexample
29591 (gdb)
29592 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 1
29593 ^done,asm_insns=[
29594 src_and_asm_line=@{line="31",
29595 file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
29596 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
29597 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
29598 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@}]@},
29599 src_and_asm_line=@{line="32",
29600 file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
29601 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
29602 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
29603 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
29604 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
29605 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]@}]
29606 (gdb)
29607 @end smallexample
29608
29609
29610 @subheading The @code{-data-evaluate-expression} Command
29611 @findex -data-evaluate-expression
29612
29613 @subsubheading Synopsis
29614
29615 @smallexample
29616 -data-evaluate-expression @var{expr}
29617 @end smallexample
29618
29619 Evaluate @var{expr} as an expression. The expression could contain an
29620 inferior function call. The function call will execute synchronously.
29621 If the expression contains spaces, it must be enclosed in double quotes.
29622
29623 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29624
29625 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{print}, @samp{output}, and
29626 @samp{call}. In @code{gdbtk} only, there's a corresponding
29627 @samp{gdb_eval} command.
29628
29629 @subsubheading Example
29630
29631 In the following example, the numbers that precede the commands are the
29632 @dfn{tokens} described in @ref{GDB/MI Command Syntax, ,@sc{gdb/mi}
29633 Command Syntax}. Notice how @sc{gdb/mi} returns the same tokens in its
29634 output.
29635
29636 @smallexample
29637 211-data-evaluate-expression A
29638 211^done,value="1"
29639 (gdb)
29640 311-data-evaluate-expression &A
29641 311^done,value="0xefffeb7c"
29642 (gdb)
29643 411-data-evaluate-expression A+3
29644 411^done,value="4"
29645 (gdb)
29646 511-data-evaluate-expression "A + 3"
29647 511^done,value="4"
29648 (gdb)
29649 @end smallexample
29650
29651
29652 @subheading The @code{-data-list-changed-registers} Command
29653 @findex -data-list-changed-registers
29654
29655 @subsubheading Synopsis
29656
29657 @smallexample
29658 -data-list-changed-registers
29659 @end smallexample
29660
29661 Display a list of the registers that have changed.
29662
29663 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29664
29665 @value{GDBN} doesn't have a direct analog for this command; @code{gdbtk}
29666 has the corresponding command @samp{gdb_changed_register_list}.
29667
29668 @subsubheading Example
29669
29670 On a PPC MBX board:
29671
29672 @smallexample
29673 (gdb)
29674 -exec-continue
29675 ^running
29676
29677 (gdb)
29678 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",frame=@{
29679 func="main",args=[],file="try.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",
29680 line="5"@}
29681 (gdb)
29682 -data-list-changed-registers
29683 ^done,changed-registers=["0","1","2","4","5","6","7","8","9",
29684 "10","11","13","14","15","16","17","18","19","20","21","22","23",
29685 "24","25","26","27","28","30","31","64","65","66","67","69"]
29686 (gdb)
29687 @end smallexample
29688
29689
29690 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-names} Command
29691 @findex -data-list-register-names
29692
29693 @subsubheading Synopsis
29694
29695 @smallexample
29696 -data-list-register-names [ ( @var{regno} )+ ]
29697 @end smallexample
29698
29699 Show a list of register names for the current target. If no arguments
29700 are given, it shows a list of the names of all the registers. If
29701 integer numbers are given as arguments, it will print a list of the
29702 names of the registers corresponding to the arguments. To ensure
29703 consistency between a register name and its number, the output list may
29704 include empty register names.
29705
29706 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29707
29708 @value{GDBN} does not have a command which corresponds to
29709 @samp{-data-list-register-names}. In @code{gdbtk} there is a
29710 corresponding command @samp{gdb_regnames}.
29711
29712 @subsubheading Example
29713
29714 For the PPC MBX board:
29715 @smallexample
29716 (gdb)
29717 -data-list-register-names
29718 ^done,register-names=["r0","r1","r2","r3","r4","r5","r6","r7",
29719 "r8","r9","r10","r11","r12","r13","r14","r15","r16","r17","r18",
29720 "r19","r20","r21","r22","r23","r24","r25","r26","r27","r28","r29",
29721 "r30","r31","f0","f1","f2","f3","f4","f5","f6","f7","f8","f9",
29722 "f10","f11","f12","f13","f14","f15","f16","f17","f18","f19","f20",
29723 "f21","f22","f23","f24","f25","f26","f27","f28","f29","f30","f31",
29724 "", "pc","ps","cr","lr","ctr","xer"]
29725 (gdb)
29726 -data-list-register-names 1 2 3
29727 ^done,register-names=["r1","r2","r3"]
29728 (gdb)
29729 @end smallexample
29730
29731 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-values} Command
29732 @findex -data-list-register-values
29733
29734 @subsubheading Synopsis
29735
29736 @smallexample
29737 -data-list-register-values @var{fmt} [ ( @var{regno} )*]
29738 @end smallexample
29739
29740 Display the registers' contents. @var{fmt} is the format according to
29741 which the registers' contents are to be returned, followed by an optional
29742 list of numbers specifying the registers to display. A missing list of
29743 numbers indicates that the contents of all the registers must be returned.
29744
29745 Allowed formats for @var{fmt} are:
29746
29747 @table @code
29748 @item x
29749 Hexadecimal
29750 @item o
29751 Octal
29752 @item t
29753 Binary
29754 @item d
29755 Decimal
29756 @item r
29757 Raw
29758 @item N
29759 Natural
29760 @end table
29761
29762 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29763
29764 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{info reg}, @samp{info
29765 all-reg}, and (in @code{gdbtk}) @samp{gdb_fetch_registers}.
29766
29767 @subsubheading Example
29768
29769 For a PPC MBX board (note: line breaks are for readability only, they
29770 don't appear in the actual output):
29771
29772 @smallexample
29773 (gdb)
29774 -data-list-register-values r 64 65
29775 ^done,register-values=[@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
29776 @{number="65",value="0x00029002"@}]
29777 (gdb)
29778 -data-list-register-values x
29779 ^done,register-values=[@{number="0",value="0xfe0043c8"@},
29780 @{number="1",value="0x3fff88"@},@{number="2",value="0xfffffffe"@},
29781 @{number="3",value="0x0"@},@{number="4",value="0xa"@},
29782 @{number="5",value="0x3fff68"@},@{number="6",value="0x3fff58"@},
29783 @{number="7",value="0xfe011e98"@},@{number="8",value="0x2"@},
29784 @{number="9",value="0xfa202820"@},@{number="10",value="0xfa202808"@},
29785 @{number="11",value="0x1"@},@{number="12",value="0x0"@},
29786 @{number="13",value="0x4544"@},@{number="14",value="0xffdfffff"@},
29787 @{number="15",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="16",value="0xfffffeff"@},
29788 @{number="17",value="0xefffffed"@},@{number="18",value="0xfffffffe"@},
29789 @{number="19",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="20",value="0xffffffff"@},
29790 @{number="21",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="22",value="0xfffffff7"@},
29791 @{number="23",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="24",value="0xffffffff"@},
29792 @{number="25",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="26",value="0xfffffffb"@},
29793 @{number="27",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="28",value="0xf7bfffff"@},
29794 @{number="29",value="0x0"@},@{number="30",value="0xfe010000"@},
29795 @{number="31",value="0x0"@},@{number="32",value="0x0"@},
29796 @{number="33",value="0x0"@},@{number="34",value="0x0"@},
29797 @{number="35",value="0x0"@},@{number="36",value="0x0"@},
29798 @{number="37",value="0x0"@},@{number="38",value="0x0"@},
29799 @{number="39",value="0x0"@},@{number="40",value="0x0"@},
29800 @{number="41",value="0x0"@},@{number="42",value="0x0"@},
29801 @{number="43",value="0x0"@},@{number="44",value="0x0"@},
29802 @{number="45",value="0x0"@},@{number="46",value="0x0"@},
29803 @{number="47",value="0x0"@},@{number="48",value="0x0"@},
29804 @{number="49",value="0x0"@},@{number="50",value="0x0"@},
29805 @{number="51",value="0x0"@},@{number="52",value="0x0"@},
29806 @{number="53",value="0x0"@},@{number="54",value="0x0"@},
29807 @{number="55",value="0x0"@},@{number="56",value="0x0"@},
29808 @{number="57",value="0x0"@},@{number="58",value="0x0"@},
29809 @{number="59",value="0x0"@},@{number="60",value="0x0"@},
29810 @{number="61",value="0x0"@},@{number="62",value="0x0"@},
29811 @{number="63",value="0x0"@},@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
29812 @{number="65",value="0x29002"@},@{number="66",value="0x202f04b5"@},
29813 @{number="67",value="0xfe0043b0"@},@{number="68",value="0xfe00b3e4"@},
29814 @{number="69",value="0x20002b03"@}]
29815 (gdb)
29816 @end smallexample
29817
29818
29819 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory} Command
29820 @findex -data-read-memory
29821
29822 This command is deprecated, use @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} instead.
29823
29824 @subsubheading Synopsis
29825
29826 @smallexample
29827 -data-read-memory [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
29828 @var{address} @var{word-format} @var{word-size}
29829 @var{nr-rows} @var{nr-cols} [ @var{aschar} ]
29830 @end smallexample
29831
29832 @noindent
29833 where:
29834
29835 @table @samp
29836 @item @var{address}
29837 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
29838 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
29839 quoted using the C convention.
29840
29841 @item @var{word-format}
29842 The format to be used to print the memory words. The notation is the
29843 same as for @value{GDBN}'s @code{print} command (@pxref{Output Formats,
29844 ,Output Formats}).
29845
29846 @item @var{word-size}
29847 The size of each memory word in bytes.
29848
29849 @item @var{nr-rows}
29850 The number of rows in the output table.
29851
29852 @item @var{nr-cols}
29853 The number of columns in the output table.
29854
29855 @item @var{aschar}
29856 If present, indicates that each row should include an @sc{ascii} dump. The
29857 value of @var{aschar} is used as a padding character when a byte is not a
29858 member of the printable @sc{ascii} character set (printable @sc{ascii}
29859 characters are those whose code is between 32 and 126, inclusively).
29860
29861 @item @var{byte-offset}
29862 An offset to add to the @var{address} before fetching memory.
29863 @end table
29864
29865 This command displays memory contents as a table of @var{nr-rows} by
29866 @var{nr-cols} words, each word being @var{word-size} bytes. In total,
29867 @code{@var{nr-rows} * @var{nr-cols} * @var{word-size}} bytes are read
29868 (returned as @samp{total-bytes}). Should less than the requested number
29869 of bytes be returned by the target, the missing words are identified
29870 using @samp{N/A}. The number of bytes read from the target is returned
29871 in @samp{nr-bytes} and the starting address used to read memory in
29872 @samp{addr}.
29873
29874 The address of the next/previous row or page is available in
29875 @samp{next-row} and @samp{prev-row}, @samp{next-page} and
29876 @samp{prev-page}.
29877
29878 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29879
29880 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}. @code{gdbtk} has
29881 @samp{gdb_get_mem} memory read command.
29882
29883 @subsubheading Example
29884
29885 Read six bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+6} but then offset by
29886 @code{-6} bytes. Format as three rows of two columns. One byte per
29887 word. Display each word in hex.
29888
29889 @smallexample
29890 (gdb)
29891 9-data-read-memory -o -6 -- bytes+6 x 1 3 2
29892 9^done,addr="0x00001390",nr-bytes="6",total-bytes="6",
29893 next-row="0x00001396",prev-row="0x0000138e",next-page="0x00001396",
29894 prev-page="0x0000138a",memory=[
29895 @{addr="0x00001390",data=["0x00","0x01"]@},
29896 @{addr="0x00001392",data=["0x02","0x03"]@},
29897 @{addr="0x00001394",data=["0x04","0x05"]@}]
29898 (gdb)
29899 @end smallexample
29900
29901 Read two bytes of memory starting at address @code{shorts + 64} and
29902 display as a single word formatted in decimal.
29903
29904 @smallexample
29905 (gdb)
29906 5-data-read-memory shorts+64 d 2 1 1
29907 5^done,addr="0x00001510",nr-bytes="2",total-bytes="2",
29908 next-row="0x00001512",prev-row="0x0000150e",
29909 next-page="0x00001512",prev-page="0x0000150e",memory=[
29910 @{addr="0x00001510",data=["128"]@}]
29911 (gdb)
29912 @end smallexample
29913
29914 Read thirty two bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+16} and format
29915 as eight rows of four columns. Include a string encoding with @samp{x}
29916 used as the non-printable character.
29917
29918 @smallexample
29919 (gdb)
29920 4-data-read-memory bytes+16 x 1 8 4 x
29921 4^done,addr="0x000013a0",nr-bytes="32",total-bytes="32",
29922 next-row="0x000013c0",prev-row="0x0000139c",
29923 next-page="0x000013c0",prev-page="0x00001380",memory=[
29924 @{addr="0x000013a0",data=["0x10","0x11","0x12","0x13"],ascii="xxxx"@},
29925 @{addr="0x000013a4",data=["0x14","0x15","0x16","0x17"],ascii="xxxx"@},
29926 @{addr="0x000013a8",data=["0x18","0x19","0x1a","0x1b"],ascii="xxxx"@},
29927 @{addr="0x000013ac",data=["0x1c","0x1d","0x1e","0x1f"],ascii="xxxx"@},
29928 @{addr="0x000013b0",data=["0x20","0x21","0x22","0x23"],ascii=" !\"#"@},
29929 @{addr="0x000013b4",data=["0x24","0x25","0x26","0x27"],ascii="$%&'"@},
29930 @{addr="0x000013b8",data=["0x28","0x29","0x2a","0x2b"],ascii="()*+"@},
29931 @{addr="0x000013bc",data=["0x2c","0x2d","0x2e","0x2f"],ascii=",-./"@}]
29932 (gdb)
29933 @end smallexample
29934
29935 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} Command
29936 @findex -data-read-memory-bytes
29937
29938 @subsubheading Synopsis
29939
29940 @smallexample
29941 -data-read-memory-bytes [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
29942 @var{address} @var{count}
29943 @end smallexample
29944
29945 @noindent
29946 where:
29947
29948 @table @samp
29949 @item @var{address}
29950 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
29951 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
29952 quoted using the C convention.
29953
29954 @item @var{count}
29955 The number of bytes to read. This should be an integer literal.
29956
29957 @item @var{byte-offset}
29958 The offsets in bytes relative to @var{address} at which to start
29959 reading. This should be an integer literal. This option is provided
29960 so that a frontend is not required to first evaluate address and then
29961 perform address arithmetics itself.
29962
29963 @end table
29964
29965 This command attempts to read all accessible memory regions in the
29966 specified range. First, all regions marked as unreadable in the memory
29967 map (if one is defined) will be skipped. @xref{Memory Region
29968 Attributes}. Second, @value{GDBN} will attempt to read the remaining
29969 regions. For each one, if reading full region results in an errors,
29970 @value{GDBN} will try to read a subset of the region.
29971
29972 In general, every single byte in the region may be readable or not,
29973 and the only way to read every readable byte is to try a read at
29974 every address, which is not practical. Therefore, @value{GDBN} will
29975 attempt to read all accessible bytes at either beginning or the end
29976 of the region, using a binary division scheme. This heuristic works
29977 well for reading accross a memory map boundary. Note that if a region
29978 has a readable range that is neither at the beginning or the end,
29979 @value{GDBN} will not read it.
29980
29981 The result record (@pxref{GDB/MI Result Records}) that is output of
29982 the command includes a field named @samp{memory} whose content is a
29983 list of tuples. Each tuple represent a successfully read memory block
29984 and has the following fields:
29985
29986 @table @code
29987 @item begin
29988 The start address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
29989
29990 @item end
29991 The end address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
29992
29993 @item offset
29994 The offset of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal, relative to
29995 the start address passed to @code{-data-read-memory-bytes}.
29996
29997 @item contents
29998 The contents of the memory block, in hex.
29999
30000 @end table
30001
30002
30003
30004 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30005
30006 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}.
30007
30008 @subsubheading Example
30009
30010 @smallexample
30011 (gdb)
30012 -data-read-memory-bytes &a 10
30013 ^done,memory=[@{begin="0xbffff154",offset="0x00000000",
30014 end="0xbffff15e",
30015 contents="01000000020000000300"@}]
30016 (gdb)
30017 @end smallexample
30018
30019
30020 @subheading The @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} Command
30021 @findex -data-write-memory-bytes
30022
30023 @subsubheading Synopsis
30024
30025 @smallexample
30026 -data-write-memory-bytes @var{address} @var{contents}
30027 @end smallexample
30028
30029 @noindent
30030 where:
30031
30032 @table @samp
30033 @item @var{address}
30034 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
30035 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
30036 quoted using the C convention.
30037
30038 @item @var{contents}
30039 The hex-encoded bytes to write.
30040
30041 @end table
30042
30043 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30044
30045 There's no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
30046
30047 @subsubheading Example
30048
30049 @smallexample
30050 (gdb)
30051 -data-write-memory-bytes &a "aabbccdd"
30052 ^done
30053 (gdb)
30054 @end smallexample
30055
30056
30057 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30058 @node GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands
30059 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Tracepoint Commands
30060
30061 The commands defined in this section implement MI support for
30062 tracepoints. For detailed introduction, see @ref{Tracepoints}.
30063
30064 @subheading The @code{-trace-find} Command
30065 @findex -trace-find
30066
30067 @subsubheading Synopsis
30068
30069 @smallexample
30070 -trace-find @var{mode} [@var{parameters}@dots{}]
30071 @end smallexample
30072
30073 Find a trace frame using criteria defined by @var{mode} and
30074 @var{parameters}. The following table lists permissible
30075 modes and their parameters. For details of operation, see @ref{tfind}.
30076
30077 @table @samp
30078
30079 @item none
30080 No parameters are required. Stops examining trace frames.
30081
30082 @item frame-number
30083 An integer is required as parameter. Selects tracepoint frame with
30084 that index.
30085
30086 @item tracepoint-number
30087 An integer is required as parameter. Finds next
30088 trace frame that corresponds to tracepoint with the specified number.
30089
30090 @item pc
30091 An address is required as parameter. Finds
30092 next trace frame that corresponds to any tracepoint at the specified
30093 address.
30094
30095 @item pc-inside-range
30096 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds next trace
30097 frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address inside the
30098 specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
30099
30100 @item pc-outside-range
30101 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds
30102 next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address outside
30103 the specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
30104
30105 @item line
30106 Line specification is required as parameter. @xref{Specify Location}.
30107 Finds next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at
30108 the specified location.
30109
30110 @end table
30111
30112 If @samp{none} was passed as @var{mode}, the response does not
30113 have fields. Otherwise, the response may have the following fields:
30114
30115 @table @samp
30116 @item found
30117 This field has either @samp{0} or @samp{1} as the value, depending
30118 on whether a matching tracepoint was found.
30119
30120 @item traceframe
30121 The index of the found traceframe. This field is present iff
30122 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
30123
30124 @item tracepoint
30125 The index of the found tracepoint. This field is present iff
30126 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
30127
30128 @item frame
30129 The information about the frame corresponding to the found trace
30130 frame. This field is present only if a trace frame was found.
30131 @xref{GDB/MI Frame Information}, for description of this field.
30132
30133 @end table
30134
30135 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30136
30137 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tfind}.
30138
30139 @subheading -trace-define-variable
30140 @findex -trace-define-variable
30141
30142 @subsubheading Synopsis
30143
30144 @smallexample
30145 -trace-define-variable @var{name} [ @var{value} ]
30146 @end smallexample
30147
30148 Create trace variable @var{name} if it does not exist. If
30149 @var{value} is specified, sets the initial value of the specified
30150 trace variable to that value. Note that the @var{name} should start
30151 with the @samp{$} character.
30152
30153 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30154
30155 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariable}.
30156
30157 @subheading -trace-list-variables
30158 @findex -trace-list-variables
30159
30160 @subsubheading Synopsis
30161
30162 @smallexample
30163 -trace-list-variables
30164 @end smallexample
30165
30166 Return a table of all defined trace variables. Each element of the
30167 table has the following fields:
30168
30169 @table @samp
30170 @item name
30171 The name of the trace variable. This field is always present.
30172
30173 @item initial
30174 The initial value. This is a 64-bit signed integer. This
30175 field is always present.
30176
30177 @item current
30178 The value the trace variable has at the moment. This is a 64-bit
30179 signed integer. This field is absent iff current value is
30180 not defined, for example if the trace was never run, or is
30181 presently running.
30182
30183 @end table
30184
30185 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30186
30187 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariables}.
30188
30189 @subsubheading Example
30190
30191 @smallexample
30192 (gdb)
30193 -trace-list-variables
30194 ^done,trace-variables=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="3",
30195 hdr=[@{width="15",alignment="-1",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@},
30196 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="initial",colhdr="Initial"@},
30197 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr="Current"@}],
30198 body=[variable=@{name="$trace_timestamp",initial="0"@}
30199 variable=@{name="$foo",initial="10",current="15"@}]@}
30200 (gdb)
30201 @end smallexample
30202
30203 @subheading -trace-save
30204 @findex -trace-save
30205
30206 @subsubheading Synopsis
30207
30208 @smallexample
30209 -trace-save [-r ] @var{filename}
30210 @end smallexample
30211
30212 Saves the collected trace data to @var{filename}. Without the
30213 @samp{-r} option, the data is downloaded from the target and saved
30214 in a local file. With the @samp{-r} option the target is asked
30215 to perform the save.
30216
30217 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30218
30219 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tsave}.
30220
30221
30222 @subheading -trace-start
30223 @findex -trace-start
30224
30225 @subsubheading Synopsis
30226
30227 @smallexample
30228 -trace-start
30229 @end smallexample
30230
30231 Starts a tracing experiments. The result of this command does not
30232 have any fields.
30233
30234 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30235
30236 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstart}.
30237
30238 @subheading -trace-status
30239 @findex -trace-status
30240
30241 @subsubheading Synopsis
30242
30243 @smallexample
30244 -trace-status
30245 @end smallexample
30246
30247 Obtains the status of a tracing experiment. The result may include
30248 the following fields:
30249
30250 @table @samp
30251
30252 @item supported
30253 May have a value of either @samp{0}, when no tracing operations are
30254 supported, @samp{1}, when all tracing operations are supported, or
30255 @samp{file} when examining trace file. In the latter case, examining
30256 of trace frame is possible but new tracing experiement cannot be
30257 started. This field is always present.
30258
30259 @item running
30260 May have a value of either @samp{0} or @samp{1} depending on whether
30261 tracing experiement is in progress on target. This field is present
30262 if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
30263
30264 @item stop-reason
30265 Report the reason why the tracing was stopped last time. This field
30266 may be absent iff tracing was never stopped on target yet. The
30267 value of @samp{request} means the tracing was stopped as result of
30268 the @code{-trace-stop} command. The value of @samp{overflow} means
30269 the tracing buffer is full. The value of @samp{disconnection} means
30270 tracing was automatically stopped when @value{GDBN} has disconnected.
30271 The value of @samp{passcount} means tracing was stopped when a
30272 tracepoint was passed a maximal number of times for that tracepoint.
30273 This field is present if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
30274
30275 @item stopping-tracepoint
30276 The number of tracepoint whose passcount as exceeded. This field is
30277 present iff the @samp{stop-reason} field has the value of
30278 @samp{passcount}.
30279
30280 @item frames
30281 @itemx frames-created
30282 The @samp{frames} field is a count of the total number of trace frames
30283 in the trace buffer, while @samp{frames-created} is the total created
30284 during the run, including ones that were discarded, such as when a
30285 circular trace buffer filled up. Both fields are optional.
30286
30287 @item buffer-size
30288 @itemx buffer-free
30289 These fields tell the current size of the tracing buffer and the
30290 remaining space. These fields are optional.
30291
30292 @item circular
30293 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
30294 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
30295 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
30296 and may fill up.
30297
30298 @item disconnected
30299 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
30300 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
30301 that the trace run will stop.
30302
30303 @end table
30304
30305 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30306
30307 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstatus}.
30308
30309 @subheading -trace-stop
30310 @findex -trace-stop
30311
30312 @subsubheading Synopsis
30313
30314 @smallexample
30315 -trace-stop
30316 @end smallexample
30317
30318 Stops a tracing experiment. The result of this command has the same
30319 fields as @code{-trace-status}, except that the @samp{supported} and
30320 @samp{running} fields are not output.
30321
30322 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30323
30324 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstop}.
30325
30326
30327 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30328 @node GDB/MI Symbol Query
30329 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Symbol Query Commands
30330
30331
30332 @ignore
30333 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-address} Command
30334 @findex -symbol-info-address
30335
30336 @subsubheading Synopsis
30337
30338 @smallexample
30339 -symbol-info-address @var{symbol}
30340 @end smallexample
30341
30342 Describe where @var{symbol} is stored.
30343
30344 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30345
30346 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info address}.
30347
30348 @subsubheading Example
30349 N.A.
30350
30351
30352 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-file} Command
30353 @findex -symbol-info-file
30354
30355 @subsubheading Synopsis
30356
30357 @smallexample
30358 -symbol-info-file
30359 @end smallexample
30360
30361 Show the file for the symbol.
30362
30363 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30364
30365 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command. @code{gdbtk} has
30366 @samp{gdb_find_file}.
30367
30368 @subsubheading Example
30369 N.A.
30370
30371
30372 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-function} Command
30373 @findex -symbol-info-function
30374
30375 @subsubheading Synopsis
30376
30377 @smallexample
30378 -symbol-info-function
30379 @end smallexample
30380
30381 Show which function the symbol lives in.
30382
30383 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30384
30385 @samp{gdb_get_function} in @code{gdbtk}.
30386
30387 @subsubheading Example
30388 N.A.
30389
30390
30391 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-line} Command
30392 @findex -symbol-info-line
30393
30394 @subsubheading Synopsis
30395
30396 @smallexample
30397 -symbol-info-line
30398 @end smallexample
30399
30400 Show the core addresses of the code for a source line.
30401
30402 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30403
30404 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info line}.
30405 @code{gdbtk} has the @samp{gdb_get_line} and @samp{gdb_get_file} commands.
30406
30407 @subsubheading Example
30408 N.A.
30409
30410
30411 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-symbol} Command
30412 @findex -symbol-info-symbol
30413
30414 @subsubheading Synopsis
30415
30416 @smallexample
30417 -symbol-info-symbol @var{addr}
30418 @end smallexample
30419
30420 Describe what symbol is at location @var{addr}.
30421
30422 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30423
30424 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info symbol}.
30425
30426 @subsubheading Example
30427 N.A.
30428
30429
30430 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-functions} Command
30431 @findex -symbol-list-functions
30432
30433 @subsubheading Synopsis
30434
30435 @smallexample
30436 -symbol-list-functions
30437 @end smallexample
30438
30439 List the functions in the executable.
30440
30441 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30442
30443 @samp{info functions} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_listfunc} and
30444 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
30445
30446 @subsubheading Example
30447 N.A.
30448 @end ignore
30449
30450
30451 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-lines} Command
30452 @findex -symbol-list-lines
30453
30454 @subsubheading Synopsis
30455
30456 @smallexample
30457 -symbol-list-lines @var{filename}
30458 @end smallexample
30459
30460 Print the list of lines that contain code and their associated program
30461 addresses for the given source filename. The entries are sorted in
30462 ascending PC order.
30463
30464 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30465
30466 There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
30467
30468 @subsubheading Example
30469 @smallexample
30470 (gdb)
30471 -symbol-list-lines basics.c
30472 ^done,lines=[@{pc="0x08048554",line="7"@},@{pc="0x0804855a",line="8"@}]
30473 (gdb)
30474 @end smallexample
30475
30476
30477 @ignore
30478 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-types} Command
30479 @findex -symbol-list-types
30480
30481 @subsubheading Synopsis
30482
30483 @smallexample
30484 -symbol-list-types
30485 @end smallexample
30486
30487 List all the type names.
30488
30489 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30490
30491 The corresponding commands are @samp{info types} in @value{GDBN},
30492 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
30493
30494 @subsubheading Example
30495 N.A.
30496
30497
30498 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-variables} Command
30499 @findex -symbol-list-variables
30500
30501 @subsubheading Synopsis
30502
30503 @smallexample
30504 -symbol-list-variables
30505 @end smallexample
30506
30507 List all the global and static variable names.
30508
30509 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30510
30511 @samp{info variables} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
30512
30513 @subsubheading Example
30514 N.A.
30515
30516
30517 @subheading The @code{-symbol-locate} Command
30518 @findex -symbol-locate
30519
30520 @subsubheading Synopsis
30521
30522 @smallexample
30523 -symbol-locate
30524 @end smallexample
30525
30526 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30527
30528 @samp{gdb_loc} in @code{gdbtk}.
30529
30530 @subsubheading Example
30531 N.A.
30532
30533
30534 @subheading The @code{-symbol-type} Command
30535 @findex -symbol-type
30536
30537 @subsubheading Synopsis
30538
30539 @smallexample
30540 -symbol-type @var{variable}
30541 @end smallexample
30542
30543 Show type of @var{variable}.
30544
30545 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30546
30547 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ptype}, @code{gdbtk} has
30548 @samp{gdb_obj_variable}.
30549
30550 @subsubheading Example
30551 N.A.
30552 @end ignore
30553
30554
30555 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30556 @node GDB/MI File Commands
30557 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Commands
30558
30559 This section describes the GDB/MI commands to specify executable file names
30560 and to read in and obtain symbol table information.
30561
30562 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-and-symbols} Command
30563 @findex -file-exec-and-symbols
30564
30565 @subsubheading Synopsis
30566
30567 @smallexample
30568 -file-exec-and-symbols @var{file}
30569 @end smallexample
30570
30571 Specify the executable file to be debugged. This file is the one from
30572 which the symbol table is also read. If no file is specified, the
30573 command clears the executable and symbol information. If breakpoints
30574 are set when using this command with no arguments, @value{GDBN} will produce
30575 error messages. Otherwise, no output is produced, except a completion
30576 notification.
30577
30578 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30579
30580 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{file}.
30581
30582 @subsubheading Example
30583
30584 @smallexample
30585 (gdb)
30586 -file-exec-and-symbols /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
30587 ^done
30588 (gdb)
30589 @end smallexample
30590
30591
30592 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-file} Command
30593 @findex -file-exec-file
30594
30595 @subsubheading Synopsis
30596
30597 @smallexample
30598 -file-exec-file @var{file}
30599 @end smallexample
30600
30601 Specify the executable file to be debugged. Unlike
30602 @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols}, the symbol table is @emph{not} read
30603 from this file. If used without argument, @value{GDBN} clears the information
30604 about the executable file. No output is produced, except a completion
30605 notification.
30606
30607 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30608
30609 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{exec-file}.
30610
30611 @subsubheading Example
30612
30613 @smallexample
30614 (gdb)
30615 -file-exec-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
30616 ^done
30617 (gdb)
30618 @end smallexample
30619
30620
30621 @ignore
30622 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-sections} Command
30623 @findex -file-list-exec-sections
30624
30625 @subsubheading Synopsis
30626
30627 @smallexample
30628 -file-list-exec-sections
30629 @end smallexample
30630
30631 List the sections of the current executable file.
30632
30633 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30634
30635 The @value{GDBN} command @samp{info file} shows, among the rest, the same
30636 information as this command. @code{gdbtk} has a corresponding command
30637 @samp{gdb_load_info}.
30638
30639 @subsubheading Example
30640 N.A.
30641 @end ignore
30642
30643
30644 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-file} Command
30645 @findex -file-list-exec-source-file
30646
30647 @subsubheading Synopsis
30648
30649 @smallexample
30650 -file-list-exec-source-file
30651 @end smallexample
30652
30653 List the line number, the current source file, and the absolute path
30654 to the current source file for the current executable. The macro
30655 information field has a value of @samp{1} or @samp{0} depending on
30656 whether or not the file includes preprocessor macro information.
30657
30658 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30659
30660 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info source}
30661
30662 @subsubheading Example
30663
30664 @smallexample
30665 (gdb)
30666 123-file-list-exec-source-file
30667 123^done,line="1",file="foo.c",fullname="/home/bar/foo.c,macro-info="1"
30668 (gdb)
30669 @end smallexample
30670
30671
30672 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-files} Command
30673 @findex -file-list-exec-source-files
30674
30675 @subsubheading Synopsis
30676
30677 @smallexample
30678 -file-list-exec-source-files
30679 @end smallexample
30680
30681 List the source files for the current executable.
30682
30683 It will always output the filename, but only when @value{GDBN} can find
30684 the absolute file name of a source file, will it output the fullname.
30685
30686 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30687
30688 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info sources}.
30689 @code{gdbtk} has an analogous command @samp{gdb_listfiles}.
30690
30691 @subsubheading Example
30692 @smallexample
30693 (gdb)
30694 -file-list-exec-source-files
30695 ^done,files=[
30696 @{file=foo.c,fullname=/home/foo.c@},
30697 @{file=/home/bar.c,fullname=/home/bar.c@},
30698 @{file=gdb_could_not_find_fullpath.c@}]
30699 (gdb)
30700 @end smallexample
30701
30702 @ignore
30703 @subheading The @code{-file-list-shared-libraries} Command
30704 @findex -file-list-shared-libraries
30705
30706 @subsubheading Synopsis
30707
30708 @smallexample
30709 -file-list-shared-libraries
30710 @end smallexample
30711
30712 List the shared libraries in the program.
30713
30714 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30715
30716 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info shared}.
30717
30718 @subsubheading Example
30719 N.A.
30720
30721
30722 @subheading The @code{-file-list-symbol-files} Command
30723 @findex -file-list-symbol-files
30724
30725 @subsubheading Synopsis
30726
30727 @smallexample
30728 -file-list-symbol-files
30729 @end smallexample
30730
30731 List symbol files.
30732
30733 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30734
30735 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info file} (part of it).
30736
30737 @subsubheading Example
30738 N.A.
30739 @end ignore
30740
30741
30742 @subheading The @code{-file-symbol-file} Command
30743 @findex -file-symbol-file
30744
30745 @subsubheading Synopsis
30746
30747 @smallexample
30748 -file-symbol-file @var{file}
30749 @end smallexample
30750
30751 Read symbol table info from the specified @var{file} argument. When
30752 used without arguments, clears @value{GDBN}'s symbol table info. No output is
30753 produced, except for a completion notification.
30754
30755 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30756
30757 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{symbol-file}.
30758
30759 @subsubheading Example
30760
30761 @smallexample
30762 (gdb)
30763 -file-symbol-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
30764 ^done
30765 (gdb)
30766 @end smallexample
30767
30768 @ignore
30769 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30770 @node GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands
30771 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Memory Overlay Commands
30772
30773 The memory overlay commands are not implemented.
30774
30775 @c @subheading -overlay-auto
30776
30777 @c @subheading -overlay-list-mapping-state
30778
30779 @c @subheading -overlay-list-overlays
30780
30781 @c @subheading -overlay-map
30782
30783 @c @subheading -overlay-off
30784
30785 @c @subheading -overlay-on
30786
30787 @c @subheading -overlay-unmap
30788
30789 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30790 @node GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands
30791 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Signal Handling Commands
30792
30793 Signal handling commands are not implemented.
30794
30795 @c @subheading -signal-handle
30796
30797 @c @subheading -signal-list-handle-actions
30798
30799 @c @subheading -signal-list-signal-types
30800 @end ignore
30801
30802
30803 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30804 @node GDB/MI Target Manipulation
30805 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Target Manipulation Commands
30806
30807
30808 @subheading The @code{-target-attach} Command
30809 @findex -target-attach
30810
30811 @subsubheading Synopsis
30812
30813 @smallexample
30814 -target-attach @var{pid} | @var{gid} | @var{file}
30815 @end smallexample
30816
30817 Attach to a process @var{pid} or a file @var{file} outside of
30818 @value{GDBN}, or a thread group @var{gid}. If attaching to a thread
30819 group, the id previously returned by
30820 @samp{-list-thread-groups --available} must be used.
30821
30822 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30823
30824 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{attach}.
30825
30826 @subsubheading Example
30827 @smallexample
30828 (gdb)
30829 -target-attach 34
30830 =thread-created,id="1"
30831 *stopped,thread-id="1",frame=@{addr="0xb7f7e410",func="bar",args=[]@}
30832 ^done
30833 (gdb)
30834 @end smallexample
30835
30836 @ignore
30837 @subheading The @code{-target-compare-sections} Command
30838 @findex -target-compare-sections
30839
30840 @subsubheading Synopsis
30841
30842 @smallexample
30843 -target-compare-sections [ @var{section} ]
30844 @end smallexample
30845
30846 Compare data of section @var{section} on target to the exec file.
30847 Without the argument, all sections are compared.
30848
30849 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30850
30851 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{compare-sections}.
30852
30853 @subsubheading Example
30854 N.A.
30855 @end ignore
30856
30857
30858 @subheading The @code{-target-detach} Command
30859 @findex -target-detach
30860
30861 @subsubheading Synopsis
30862
30863 @smallexample
30864 -target-detach [ @var{pid} | @var{gid} ]
30865 @end smallexample
30866
30867 Detach from the remote target which normally resumes its execution.
30868 If either @var{pid} or @var{gid} is specified, detaches from either
30869 the specified process, or specified thread group. There's no output.
30870
30871 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30872
30873 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{detach}.
30874
30875 @subsubheading Example
30876
30877 @smallexample
30878 (gdb)
30879 -target-detach
30880 ^done
30881 (gdb)
30882 @end smallexample
30883
30884
30885 @subheading The @code{-target-disconnect} Command
30886 @findex -target-disconnect
30887
30888 @subsubheading Synopsis
30889
30890 @smallexample
30891 -target-disconnect
30892 @end smallexample
30893
30894 Disconnect from the remote target. There's no output and the target is
30895 generally not resumed.
30896
30897 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30898
30899 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disconnect}.
30900
30901 @subsubheading Example
30902
30903 @smallexample
30904 (gdb)
30905 -target-disconnect
30906 ^done
30907 (gdb)
30908 @end smallexample
30909
30910
30911 @subheading The @code{-target-download} Command
30912 @findex -target-download
30913
30914 @subsubheading Synopsis
30915
30916 @smallexample
30917 -target-download
30918 @end smallexample
30919
30920 Loads the executable onto the remote target.
30921 It prints out an update message every half second, which includes the fields:
30922
30923 @table @samp
30924 @item section
30925 The name of the section.
30926 @item section-sent
30927 The size of what has been sent so far for that section.
30928 @item section-size
30929 The size of the section.
30930 @item total-sent
30931 The total size of what was sent so far (the current and the previous sections).
30932 @item total-size
30933 The size of the overall executable to download.
30934 @end table
30935
30936 @noindent
30937 Each message is sent as status record (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, ,
30938 @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax}).
30939
30940 In addition, it prints the name and size of the sections, as they are
30941 downloaded. These messages include the following fields:
30942
30943 @table @samp
30944 @item section
30945 The name of the section.
30946 @item section-size
30947 The size of the section.
30948 @item total-size
30949 The size of the overall executable to download.
30950 @end table
30951
30952 @noindent
30953 At the end, a summary is printed.
30954
30955 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30956
30957 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{load}.
30958
30959 @subsubheading Example
30960
30961 Note: each status message appears on a single line. Here the messages
30962 have been broken down so that they can fit onto a page.
30963
30964 @smallexample
30965 (gdb)
30966 -target-download
30967 +download,@{section=".text",section-size="6668",total-size="9880"@}
30968 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="512",section-size="6668",
30969 total-sent="512",total-size="9880"@}
30970 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1024",section-size="6668",
30971 total-sent="1024",total-size="9880"@}
30972 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1536",section-size="6668",
30973 total-sent="1536",total-size="9880"@}
30974 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2048",section-size="6668",
30975 total-sent="2048",total-size="9880"@}
30976 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2560",section-size="6668",
30977 total-sent="2560",total-size="9880"@}
30978 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3072",section-size="6668",
30979 total-sent="3072",total-size="9880"@}
30980 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3584",section-size="6668",
30981 total-sent="3584",total-size="9880"@}
30982 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4096",section-size="6668",
30983 total-sent="4096",total-size="9880"@}
30984 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4608",section-size="6668",
30985 total-sent="4608",total-size="9880"@}
30986 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5120",section-size="6668",
30987 total-sent="5120",total-size="9880"@}
30988 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5632",section-size="6668",
30989 total-sent="5632",total-size="9880"@}
30990 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6144",section-size="6668",
30991 total-sent="6144",total-size="9880"@}
30992 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6656",section-size="6668",
30993 total-sent="6656",total-size="9880"@}
30994 +download,@{section=".init",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
30995 +download,@{section=".fini",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
30996 +download,@{section=".data",section-size="3156",total-size="9880"@}
30997 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="512",section-size="3156",
30998 total-sent="7236",total-size="9880"@}
30999 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1024",section-size="3156",
31000 total-sent="7748",total-size="9880"@}
31001 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1536",section-size="3156",
31002 total-sent="8260",total-size="9880"@}
31003 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2048",section-size="3156",
31004 total-sent="8772",total-size="9880"@}
31005 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2560",section-size="3156",
31006 total-sent="9284",total-size="9880"@}
31007 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="3072",section-size="3156",
31008 total-sent="9796",total-size="9880"@}
31009 ^done,address="0x10004",load-size="9880",transfer-rate="6586",
31010 write-rate="429"
31011 (gdb)
31012 @end smallexample
31013
31014
31015 @ignore
31016 @subheading The @code{-target-exec-status} Command
31017 @findex -target-exec-status
31018
31019 @subsubheading Synopsis
31020
31021 @smallexample
31022 -target-exec-status
31023 @end smallexample
31024
31025 Provide information on the state of the target (whether it is running or
31026 not, for instance).
31027
31028 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31029
31030 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
31031
31032 @subsubheading Example
31033 N.A.
31034
31035
31036 @subheading The @code{-target-list-available-targets} Command
31037 @findex -target-list-available-targets
31038
31039 @subsubheading Synopsis
31040
31041 @smallexample
31042 -target-list-available-targets
31043 @end smallexample
31044
31045 List the possible targets to connect to.
31046
31047 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31048
31049 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{help target}.
31050
31051 @subsubheading Example
31052 N.A.
31053
31054
31055 @subheading The @code{-target-list-current-targets} Command
31056 @findex -target-list-current-targets
31057
31058 @subsubheading Synopsis
31059
31060 @smallexample
31061 -target-list-current-targets
31062 @end smallexample
31063
31064 Describe the current target.
31065
31066 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31067
31068 The corresponding information is printed by @samp{info file} (among
31069 other things).
31070
31071 @subsubheading Example
31072 N.A.
31073
31074
31075 @subheading The @code{-target-list-parameters} Command
31076 @findex -target-list-parameters
31077
31078 @subsubheading Synopsis
31079
31080 @smallexample
31081 -target-list-parameters
31082 @end smallexample
31083
31084 @c ????
31085 @end ignore
31086
31087 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31088
31089 No equivalent.
31090
31091 @subsubheading Example
31092 N.A.
31093
31094
31095 @subheading The @code{-target-select} Command
31096 @findex -target-select
31097
31098 @subsubheading Synopsis
31099
31100 @smallexample
31101 -target-select @var{type} @var{parameters @dots{}}
31102 @end smallexample
31103
31104 Connect @value{GDBN} to the remote target. This command takes two args:
31105
31106 @table @samp
31107 @item @var{type}
31108 The type of target, for instance @samp{remote}, etc.
31109 @item @var{parameters}
31110 Device names, host names and the like. @xref{Target Commands, ,
31111 Commands for Managing Targets}, for more details.
31112 @end table
31113
31114 The output is a connection notification, followed by the address at
31115 which the target program is, in the following form:
31116
31117 @smallexample
31118 ^connected,addr="@var{address}",func="@var{function name}",
31119 args=[@var{arg list}]
31120 @end smallexample
31121
31122 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31123
31124 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{target}.
31125
31126 @subsubheading Example
31127
31128 @smallexample
31129 (gdb)
31130 -target-select remote /dev/ttya
31131 ^connected,addr="0xfe00a300",func="??",args=[]
31132 (gdb)
31133 @end smallexample
31134
31135 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31136 @node GDB/MI File Transfer Commands
31137 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Transfer Commands
31138
31139
31140 @subheading The @code{-target-file-put} Command
31141 @findex -target-file-put
31142
31143 @subsubheading Synopsis
31144
31145 @smallexample
31146 -target-file-put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
31147 @end smallexample
31148
31149 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
31150 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
31151
31152 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31153
31154 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote put}.
31155
31156 @subsubheading Example
31157
31158 @smallexample
31159 (gdb)
31160 -target-file-put localfile remotefile
31161 ^done
31162 (gdb)
31163 @end smallexample
31164
31165
31166 @subheading The @code{-target-file-get} Command
31167 @findex -target-file-get
31168
31169 @subsubheading Synopsis
31170
31171 @smallexample
31172 -target-file-get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
31173 @end smallexample
31174
31175 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
31176 on the host system.
31177
31178 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31179
31180 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote get}.
31181
31182 @subsubheading Example
31183
31184 @smallexample
31185 (gdb)
31186 -target-file-get remotefile localfile
31187 ^done
31188 (gdb)
31189 @end smallexample
31190
31191
31192 @subheading The @code{-target-file-delete} Command
31193 @findex -target-file-delete
31194
31195 @subsubheading Synopsis
31196
31197 @smallexample
31198 -target-file-delete @var{targetfile}
31199 @end smallexample
31200
31201 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
31202
31203 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31204
31205 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote delete}.
31206
31207 @subsubheading Example
31208
31209 @smallexample
31210 (gdb)
31211 -target-file-delete remotefile
31212 ^done
31213 (gdb)
31214 @end smallexample
31215
31216
31217 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31218 @node GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands
31219 @section Miscellaneous @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
31220
31221 @c @subheading -gdb-complete
31222
31223 @subheading The @code{-gdb-exit} Command
31224 @findex -gdb-exit
31225
31226 @subsubheading Synopsis
31227
31228 @smallexample
31229 -gdb-exit
31230 @end smallexample
31231
31232 Exit @value{GDBN} immediately.
31233
31234 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31235
31236 Approximately corresponds to @samp{quit}.
31237
31238 @subsubheading Example
31239
31240 @smallexample
31241 (gdb)
31242 -gdb-exit
31243 ^exit
31244 @end smallexample
31245
31246
31247 @ignore
31248 @subheading The @code{-exec-abort} Command
31249 @findex -exec-abort
31250
31251 @subsubheading Synopsis
31252
31253 @smallexample
31254 -exec-abort
31255 @end smallexample
31256
31257 Kill the inferior running program.
31258
31259 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31260
31261 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{kill}.
31262
31263 @subsubheading Example
31264 N.A.
31265 @end ignore
31266
31267
31268 @subheading The @code{-gdb-set} Command
31269 @findex -gdb-set
31270
31271 @subsubheading Synopsis
31272
31273 @smallexample
31274 -gdb-set
31275 @end smallexample
31276
31277 Set an internal @value{GDBN} variable.
31278 @c IS THIS A DOLLAR VARIABLE? OR SOMETHING LIKE ANNOTATE ?????
31279
31280 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31281
31282 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set}.
31283
31284 @subsubheading Example
31285
31286 @smallexample
31287 (gdb)
31288 -gdb-set $foo=3
31289 ^done
31290 (gdb)
31291 @end smallexample
31292
31293
31294 @subheading The @code{-gdb-show} Command
31295 @findex -gdb-show
31296
31297 @subsubheading Synopsis
31298
31299 @smallexample
31300 -gdb-show
31301 @end smallexample
31302
31303 Show the current value of a @value{GDBN} variable.
31304
31305 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31306
31307 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show}.
31308
31309 @subsubheading Example
31310
31311 @smallexample
31312 (gdb)
31313 -gdb-show annotate
31314 ^done,value="0"
31315 (gdb)
31316 @end smallexample
31317
31318 @c @subheading -gdb-source
31319
31320
31321 @subheading The @code{-gdb-version} Command
31322 @findex -gdb-version
31323
31324 @subsubheading Synopsis
31325
31326 @smallexample
31327 -gdb-version
31328 @end smallexample
31329
31330 Show version information for @value{GDBN}. Used mostly in testing.
31331
31332 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31333
31334 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{show version}. @value{GDBN} by
31335 default shows this information when you start an interactive session.
31336
31337 @subsubheading Example
31338
31339 @c This example modifies the actual output from GDB to avoid overfull
31340 @c box in TeX.
31341 @smallexample
31342 (gdb)
31343 -gdb-version
31344 ~GNU gdb 5.2.1
31345 ~Copyright 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
31346 ~GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License, and
31347 ~you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under
31348 ~ certain conditions.
31349 ~Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
31350 ~There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty" for
31351 ~ details.
31352 ~This GDB was configured as
31353 "--host=sparc-sun-solaris2.5.1 --target=ppc-eabi".
31354 ^done
31355 (gdb)
31356 @end smallexample
31357
31358 @subheading The @code{-list-features} Command
31359 @findex -list-features
31360
31361 Returns a list of particular features of the MI protocol that
31362 this version of gdb implements. A feature can be a command,
31363 or a new field in an output of some command, or even an
31364 important bugfix. While a frontend can sometimes detect presence
31365 of a feature at runtime, it is easier to perform detection at debugger
31366 startup.
31367
31368 The command returns a list of strings, with each string naming an
31369 available feature. Each returned string is just a name, it does not
31370 have any internal structure. The list of possible feature names
31371 is given below.
31372
31373 Example output:
31374
31375 @smallexample
31376 (gdb) -list-features
31377 ^done,result=["feature1","feature2"]
31378 @end smallexample
31379
31380 The current list of features is:
31381
31382 @table @samp
31383 @item frozen-varobjs
31384 Indicates support for the @code{-var-set-frozen} command, as well
31385 as possible presense of the @code{frozen} field in the output
31386 of @code{-varobj-create}.
31387 @item pending-breakpoints
31388 Indicates support for the @option{-f} option to the @code{-break-insert}
31389 command.
31390 @item python
31391 Indicates Python scripting support, Python-based
31392 pretty-printing commands, and possible presence of the
31393 @samp{display_hint} field in the output of @code{-var-list-children}
31394 @item thread-info
31395 Indicates support for the @code{-thread-info} command.
31396 @item data-read-memory-bytes
31397 Indicates support for the @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} and the
31398 @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} commands.
31399 @item breakpoint-notifications
31400 Indicates that changes to breakpoints and breakpoints created via the
31401 CLI will be announced via async records.
31402 @item ada-task-info
31403 Indicates support for the @code{-ada-task-info} command.
31404 @end table
31405
31406 @subheading The @code{-list-target-features} Command
31407 @findex -list-target-features
31408
31409 Returns a list of particular features that are supported by the
31410 target. Those features affect the permitted MI commands, but
31411 unlike the features reported by the @code{-list-features} command, the
31412 features depend on which target GDB is using at the moment. Whenever
31413 a target can change, due to commands such as @code{-target-select},
31414 @code{-target-attach} or @code{-exec-run}, the list of target features
31415 may change, and the frontend should obtain it again.
31416 Example output:
31417
31418 @smallexample
31419 (gdb) -list-features
31420 ^done,result=["async"]
31421 @end smallexample
31422
31423 The current list of features is:
31424
31425 @table @samp
31426 @item async
31427 Indicates that the target is capable of asynchronous command
31428 execution, which means that @value{GDBN} will accept further commands
31429 while the target is running.
31430
31431 @item reverse
31432 Indicates that the target is capable of reverse execution.
31433 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
31434
31435 @end table
31436
31437 @subheading The @code{-list-thread-groups} Command
31438 @findex -list-thread-groups
31439
31440 @subheading Synopsis
31441
31442 @smallexample
31443 -list-thread-groups [ --available ] [ --recurse 1 ] [ @var{group} ... ]
31444 @end smallexample
31445
31446 Lists thread groups (@pxref{Thread groups}). When a single thread
31447 group is passed as the argument, lists the children of that group.
31448 When several thread group are passed, lists information about those
31449 thread groups. Without any parameters, lists information about all
31450 top-level thread groups.
31451
31452 Normally, thread groups that are being debugged are reported.
31453 With the @samp{--available} option, @value{GDBN} reports thread groups
31454 available on the target.
31455
31456 The output of this command may have either a @samp{threads} result or
31457 a @samp{groups} result. The @samp{thread} result has a list of tuples
31458 as value, with each tuple describing a thread (@pxref{GDB/MI Thread
31459 Information}). The @samp{groups} result has a list of tuples as value,
31460 each tuple describing a thread group. If top-level groups are
31461 requested (that is, no parameter is passed), or when several groups
31462 are passed, the output always has a @samp{groups} result. The format
31463 of the @samp{group} result is described below.
31464
31465 To reduce the number of roundtrips it's possible to list thread groups
31466 together with their children, by passing the @samp{--recurse} option
31467 and the recursion depth. Presently, only recursion depth of 1 is
31468 permitted. If this option is present, then every reported thread group
31469 will also include its children, either as @samp{group} or
31470 @samp{threads} field.
31471
31472 In general, any combination of option and parameters is permitted, with
31473 the following caveats:
31474
31475 @itemize @bullet
31476 @item
31477 When a single thread group is passed, the output will typically
31478 be the @samp{threads} result. Because threads may not contain
31479 anything, the @samp{recurse} option will be ignored.
31480
31481 @item
31482 When the @samp{--available} option is passed, limited information may
31483 be available. In particular, the list of threads of a process might
31484 be inaccessible. Further, specifying specific thread groups might
31485 not give any performance advantage over listing all thread groups.
31486 The frontend should assume that @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}
31487 is always an expensive operation and cache the results.
31488
31489 @end itemize
31490
31491 The @samp{groups} result is a list of tuples, where each tuple may
31492 have the following fields:
31493
31494 @table @code
31495 @item id
31496 Identifier of the thread group. This field is always present.
31497 The identifier is an opaque string; frontends should not try to
31498 convert it to an integer, even though it might look like one.
31499
31500 @item type
31501 The type of the thread group. At present, only @samp{process} is a
31502 valid type.
31503
31504 @item pid
31505 The target-specific process identifier. This field is only present
31506 for thread groups of type @samp{process} and only if the process exists.
31507
31508 @item num_children
31509 The number of children this thread group has. This field may be
31510 absent for an available thread group.
31511
31512 @item threads
31513 This field has a list of tuples as value, each tuple describing a
31514 thread. It may be present if the @samp{--recurse} option is
31515 specified, and it's actually possible to obtain the threads.
31516
31517 @item cores
31518 This field is a list of integers, each identifying a core that one
31519 thread of the group is running on. This field may be absent if
31520 such information is not available.
31521
31522 @item executable
31523 The name of the executable file that corresponds to this thread group.
31524 The field is only present for thread groups of type @samp{process},
31525 and only if there is a corresponding executable file.
31526
31527 @end table
31528
31529 @subheading Example
31530
31531 @smallexample
31532 @value{GDBP}
31533 -list-thread-groups
31534 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2"@}]
31535 -list-thread-groups 17
31536 ^done,threads=[@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
31537 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
31538 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
31539 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
31540 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}]]
31541 -list-thread-groups --available
31542 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2]@}]
31543 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1
31544 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
31545 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
31546 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},..]
31547 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1 17 18
31548 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
31549 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
31550 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},...]
31551 @end smallexample
31552
31553
31554 @subheading The @code{-add-inferior} Command
31555 @findex -add-inferior
31556
31557 @subheading Synopsis
31558
31559 @smallexample
31560 -add-inferior
31561 @end smallexample
31562
31563 Creates a new inferior (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). The created
31564 inferior is not associated with any executable. Such association may
31565 be established with the @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols} command
31566 (@pxref{GDB/MI File Commands}). The command response has a single
31567 field, @samp{thread-group}, whose value is the identifier of the
31568 thread group corresponding to the new inferior.
31569
31570 @subheading Example
31571
31572 @smallexample
31573 @value{GDBP}
31574 -add-inferior
31575 ^done,thread-group="i3"
31576 @end smallexample
31577
31578 @subheading The @code{-interpreter-exec} Command
31579 @findex -interpreter-exec
31580
31581 @subheading Synopsis
31582
31583 @smallexample
31584 -interpreter-exec @var{interpreter} @var{command}
31585 @end smallexample
31586 @anchor{-interpreter-exec}
31587
31588 Execute the specified @var{command} in the given @var{interpreter}.
31589
31590 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
31591
31592 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interpreter-exec}.
31593
31594 @subheading Example
31595
31596 @smallexample
31597 (gdb)
31598 -interpreter-exec console "break main"
31599 &"During symbol reading, couldn't parse type; debugger out of date?.\n"
31600 &"During symbol reading, bad structure-type format.\n"
31601 ~"Breakpoint 1 at 0x8074fc6: file ../../src/gdb/main.c, line 743.\n"
31602 ^done
31603 (gdb)
31604 @end smallexample
31605
31606 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-set} Command
31607 @findex -inferior-tty-set
31608
31609 @subheading Synopsis
31610
31611 @smallexample
31612 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
31613 @end smallexample
31614
31615 Set terminal for future runs of the program being debugged.
31616
31617 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
31618
31619 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set inferior-tty} /dev/pts/1.
31620
31621 @subheading Example
31622
31623 @smallexample
31624 (gdb)
31625 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
31626 ^done
31627 (gdb)
31628 @end smallexample
31629
31630 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-show} Command
31631 @findex -inferior-tty-show
31632
31633 @subheading Synopsis
31634
31635 @smallexample
31636 -inferior-tty-show
31637 @end smallexample
31638
31639 Show terminal for future runs of program being debugged.
31640
31641 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
31642
31643 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show inferior-tty}.
31644
31645 @subheading Example
31646
31647 @smallexample
31648 (gdb)
31649 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
31650 ^done
31651 (gdb)
31652 -inferior-tty-show
31653 ^done,inferior_tty_terminal="/dev/pts/1"
31654 (gdb)
31655 @end smallexample
31656
31657 @subheading The @code{-enable-timings} Command
31658 @findex -enable-timings
31659
31660 @subheading Synopsis
31661
31662 @smallexample
31663 -enable-timings [yes | no]
31664 @end smallexample
31665
31666 Toggle the printing of the wallclock, user and system times for an MI
31667 command as a field in its output. This command is to help frontend
31668 developers optimize the performance of their code. No argument is
31669 equivalent to @samp{yes}.
31670
31671 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
31672
31673 No equivalent.
31674
31675 @subheading Example
31676
31677 @smallexample
31678 (gdb)
31679 -enable-timings
31680 ^done
31681 (gdb)
31682 -break-insert main
31683 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
31684 addr="0x080484ed",func="main",file="myprog.c",
31685 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73",times="0"@},
31686 time=@{wallclock="0.05185",user="0.00800",system="0.00000"@}
31687 (gdb)
31688 -enable-timings no
31689 ^done
31690 (gdb)
31691 -exec-run
31692 ^running
31693 (gdb)
31694 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
31695 frame=@{addr="0x080484ed",func="main",args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},
31696 @{name="argv",value="0xbfb60364"@}],file="myprog.c",
31697 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73"@}
31698 (gdb)
31699 @end smallexample
31700
31701 @node Annotations
31702 @chapter @value{GDBN} Annotations
31703
31704 This chapter describes annotations in @value{GDBN}. Annotations were
31705 designed to interface @value{GDBN} to graphical user interfaces or other
31706 similar programs which want to interact with @value{GDBN} at a
31707 relatively high level.
31708
31709 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
31710 (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
31711
31712 @ignore
31713 This is Edition @value{EDITION}, @value{DATE}.
31714 @end ignore
31715
31716 @menu
31717 * Annotations Overview:: What annotations are; the general syntax.
31718 * Server Prefix:: Issuing a command without affecting user state.
31719 * Prompting:: Annotations marking @value{GDBN}'s need for input.
31720 * Errors:: Annotations for error messages.
31721 * Invalidation:: Some annotations describe things now invalid.
31722 * Annotations for Running::
31723 Whether the program is running, how it stopped, etc.
31724 * Source Annotations:: Annotations describing source code.
31725 @end menu
31726
31727 @node Annotations Overview
31728 @section What is an Annotation?
31729 @cindex annotations
31730
31731 Annotations start with a newline character, two @samp{control-z}
31732 characters, and the name of the annotation. If there is no additional
31733 information associated with this annotation, the name of the annotation
31734 is followed immediately by a newline. If there is additional
31735 information, the name of the annotation is followed by a space, the
31736 additional information, and a newline. The additional information
31737 cannot contain newline characters.
31738
31739 Any output not beginning with a newline and two @samp{control-z}
31740 characters denotes literal output from @value{GDBN}. Currently there is
31741 no need for @value{GDBN} to output a newline followed by two
31742 @samp{control-z} characters, but if there was such a need, the
31743 annotations could be extended with an @samp{escape} annotation which
31744 means those three characters as output.
31745
31746 The annotation @var{level}, which is specified using the
31747 @option{--annotate} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}), controls
31748 how much information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt,
31749 values of expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0
31750 is for no annotations, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a
31751 subprocess of @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable
31752 for programs that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 annotations have
31753 been made obsolete (@pxref{Limitations, , Limitations of the Annotation
31754 Interface, annotate, GDB's Obsolete Annotations}).
31755
31756 @table @code
31757 @kindex set annotate
31758 @item set annotate @var{level}
31759 The @value{GDBN} command @code{set annotate} sets the level of
31760 annotations to the specified @var{level}.
31761
31762 @item show annotate
31763 @kindex show annotate
31764 Show the current annotation level.
31765 @end table
31766
31767 This chapter describes level 3 annotations.
31768
31769 A simple example of starting up @value{GDBN} with annotations is:
31770
31771 @smallexample
31772 $ @kbd{gdb --annotate=3}
31773 GNU gdb 6.0
31774 Copyright 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
31775 GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License,
31776 and you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it
31777 under certain conditions.
31778 Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
31779 There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty"
31780 for details.
31781 This GDB was configured as "i386-pc-linux-gnu"
31782
31783 ^Z^Zpre-prompt
31784 (@value{GDBP})
31785 ^Z^Zprompt
31786 @kbd{quit}
31787
31788 ^Z^Zpost-prompt
31789 $
31790 @end smallexample
31791
31792 Here @samp{quit} is input to @value{GDBN}; the rest is output from
31793 @value{GDBN}. The three lines beginning @samp{^Z^Z} (where @samp{^Z}
31794 denotes a @samp{control-z} character) are annotations; the rest is
31795 output from @value{GDBN}.
31796
31797 @node Server Prefix
31798 @section The Server Prefix
31799 @cindex server prefix
31800
31801 If you prefix a command with @samp{server } then it will not affect
31802 the command history, nor will it affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which
31803 command to repeat if @key{RET} is pressed on a line by itself. This
31804 means that commands can be run behind a user's back by a front-end in
31805 a transparent manner.
31806
31807 The @code{server } prefix does not affect the recording of values into
31808 the value history; to print a value without recording it into the
31809 value history, use the @code{output} command instead of the
31810 @code{print} command.
31811
31812 Using this prefix also disables confirmation requests
31813 (@pxref{confirmation requests}).
31814
31815 @node Prompting
31816 @section Annotation for @value{GDBN} Input
31817
31818 @cindex annotations for prompts
31819 When @value{GDBN} prompts for input, it annotates this fact so it is possible
31820 to know when to send output, when the output from a given command is
31821 over, etc.
31822
31823 Different kinds of input each have a different @dfn{input type}. Each
31824 input type has three annotations: a @code{pre-} annotation, which
31825 denotes the beginning of any prompt which is being output, a plain
31826 annotation, which denotes the end of the prompt, and then a @code{post-}
31827 annotation which denotes the end of any echo which may (or may not) be
31828 associated with the input. For example, the @code{prompt} input type
31829 features the following annotations:
31830
31831 @smallexample
31832 ^Z^Zpre-prompt
31833 ^Z^Zprompt
31834 ^Z^Zpost-prompt
31835 @end smallexample
31836
31837 The input types are
31838
31839 @table @code
31840 @findex pre-prompt annotation
31841 @findex prompt annotation
31842 @findex post-prompt annotation
31843 @item prompt
31844 When @value{GDBN} is prompting for a command (the main @value{GDBN} prompt).
31845
31846 @findex pre-commands annotation
31847 @findex commands annotation
31848 @findex post-commands annotation
31849 @item commands
31850 When @value{GDBN} prompts for a set of commands, like in the @code{commands}
31851 command. The annotations are repeated for each command which is input.
31852
31853 @findex pre-overload-choice annotation
31854 @findex overload-choice annotation
31855 @findex post-overload-choice annotation
31856 @item overload-choice
31857 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to select between various overloaded functions.
31858
31859 @findex pre-query annotation
31860 @findex query annotation
31861 @findex post-query annotation
31862 @item query
31863 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to confirm a potentially dangerous operation.
31864
31865 @findex pre-prompt-for-continue annotation
31866 @findex prompt-for-continue annotation
31867 @findex post-prompt-for-continue annotation
31868 @item prompt-for-continue
31869 When @value{GDBN} is asking the user to press return to continue. Note: Don't
31870 expect this to work well; instead use @code{set height 0} to disable
31871 prompting. This is because the counting of lines is buggy in the
31872 presence of annotations.
31873 @end table
31874
31875 @node Errors
31876 @section Errors
31877 @cindex annotations for errors, warnings and interrupts
31878
31879 @findex quit annotation
31880 @smallexample
31881 ^Z^Zquit
31882 @end smallexample
31883
31884 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an interrupt.
31885
31886 @findex error annotation
31887 @smallexample
31888 ^Z^Zerror
31889 @end smallexample
31890
31891 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an error.
31892
31893 Quit and error annotations indicate that any annotations which @value{GDBN} was
31894 in the middle of may end abruptly. For example, if a
31895 @code{value-history-begin} annotation is followed by a @code{error}, one
31896 cannot expect to receive the matching @code{value-history-end}. One
31897 cannot expect not to receive it either, however; an error annotation
31898 does not necessarily mean that @value{GDBN} is immediately returning all the way
31899 to the top level.
31900
31901 @findex error-begin annotation
31902 A quit or error annotation may be preceded by
31903
31904 @smallexample
31905 ^Z^Zerror-begin
31906 @end smallexample
31907
31908 Any output between that and the quit or error annotation is the error
31909 message.
31910
31911 Warning messages are not yet annotated.
31912 @c If we want to change that, need to fix warning(), type_error(),
31913 @c range_error(), and possibly other places.
31914
31915 @node Invalidation
31916 @section Invalidation Notices
31917
31918 @cindex annotations for invalidation messages
31919 The following annotations say that certain pieces of state may have
31920 changed.
31921
31922 @table @code
31923 @findex frames-invalid annotation
31924 @item ^Z^Zframes-invalid
31925
31926 The frames (for example, output from the @code{backtrace} command) may
31927 have changed.
31928
31929 @findex breakpoints-invalid annotation
31930 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoints-invalid
31931
31932 The breakpoints may have changed. For example, the user just added or
31933 deleted a breakpoint.
31934 @end table
31935
31936 @node Annotations for Running
31937 @section Running the Program
31938 @cindex annotations for running programs
31939
31940 @findex starting annotation
31941 @findex stopping annotation
31942 When the program starts executing due to a @value{GDBN} command such as
31943 @code{step} or @code{continue},
31944
31945 @smallexample
31946 ^Z^Zstarting
31947 @end smallexample
31948
31949 is output. When the program stops,
31950
31951 @smallexample
31952 ^Z^Zstopped
31953 @end smallexample
31954
31955 is output. Before the @code{stopped} annotation, a variety of
31956 annotations describe how the program stopped.
31957
31958 @table @code
31959 @findex exited annotation
31960 @item ^Z^Zexited @var{exit-status}
31961 The program exited, and @var{exit-status} is the exit status (zero for
31962 successful exit, otherwise nonzero).
31963
31964 @findex signalled annotation
31965 @findex signal-name annotation
31966 @findex signal-name-end annotation
31967 @findex signal-string annotation
31968 @findex signal-string-end annotation
31969 @item ^Z^Zsignalled
31970 The program exited with a signal. After the @code{^Z^Zsignalled}, the
31971 annotation continues:
31972
31973 @smallexample
31974 @var{intro-text}
31975 ^Z^Zsignal-name
31976 @var{name}
31977 ^Z^Zsignal-name-end
31978 @var{middle-text}
31979 ^Z^Zsignal-string
31980 @var{string}
31981 ^Z^Zsignal-string-end
31982 @var{end-text}
31983 @end smallexample
31984
31985 @noindent
31986 where @var{name} is the name of the signal, such as @code{SIGILL} or
31987 @code{SIGSEGV}, and @var{string} is the explanation of the signal, such
31988 as @code{Illegal Instruction} or @code{Segmentation fault}.
31989 @var{intro-text}, @var{middle-text}, and @var{end-text} are for the
31990 user's benefit and have no particular format.
31991
31992 @findex signal annotation
31993 @item ^Z^Zsignal
31994 The syntax of this annotation is just like @code{signalled}, but @value{GDBN} is
31995 just saying that the program received the signal, not that it was
31996 terminated with it.
31997
31998 @findex breakpoint annotation
31999 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoint @var{number}
32000 The program hit breakpoint number @var{number}.
32001
32002 @findex watchpoint annotation
32003 @item ^Z^Zwatchpoint @var{number}
32004 The program hit watchpoint number @var{number}.
32005 @end table
32006
32007 @node Source Annotations
32008 @section Displaying Source
32009 @cindex annotations for source display
32010
32011 @findex source annotation
32012 The following annotation is used instead of displaying source code:
32013
32014 @smallexample
32015 ^Z^Zsource @var{filename}:@var{line}:@var{character}:@var{middle}:@var{addr}
32016 @end smallexample
32017
32018 where @var{filename} is an absolute file name indicating which source
32019 file, @var{line} is the line number within that file (where 1 is the
32020 first line in the file), @var{character} is the character position
32021 within the file (where 0 is the first character in the file) (for most
32022 debug formats this will necessarily point to the beginning of a line),
32023 @var{middle} is @samp{middle} if @var{addr} is in the middle of the
32024 line, or @samp{beg} if @var{addr} is at the beginning of the line, and
32025 @var{addr} is the address in the target program associated with the
32026 source which is being displayed. @var{addr} is in the form @samp{0x}
32027 followed by one or more lowercase hex digits (note that this does not
32028 depend on the language).
32029
32030 @node JIT Interface
32031 @chapter JIT Compilation Interface
32032 @cindex just-in-time compilation
32033 @cindex JIT compilation interface
32034
32035 This chapter documents @value{GDBN}'s @dfn{just-in-time} (JIT) compilation
32036 interface. A JIT compiler is a program or library that generates native
32037 executable code at runtime and executes it, usually in order to achieve good
32038 performance while maintaining platform independence.
32039
32040 Programs that use JIT compilation are normally difficult to debug because
32041 portions of their code are generated at runtime, instead of being loaded from
32042 object files, which is where @value{GDBN} normally finds the program's symbols
32043 and debug information. In order to debug programs that use JIT compilation,
32044 @value{GDBN} has an interface that allows the program to register in-memory
32045 symbol files with @value{GDBN} at runtime.
32046
32047 If you are using @value{GDBN} to debug a program that uses this interface, then
32048 it should work transparently so long as you have not stripped the binary. If
32049 you are developing a JIT compiler, then the interface is documented in the rest
32050 of this chapter. At this time, the only known client of this interface is the
32051 LLVM JIT.
32052
32053 Broadly speaking, the JIT interface mirrors the dynamic loader interface. The
32054 JIT compiler communicates with @value{GDBN} by writing data into a global
32055 variable and calling a fuction at a well-known symbol. When @value{GDBN}
32056 attaches, it reads a linked list of symbol files from the global variable to
32057 find existing code, and puts a breakpoint in the function so that it can find
32058 out about additional code.
32059
32060 @menu
32061 * Declarations:: Relevant C struct declarations
32062 * Registering Code:: Steps to register code
32063 * Unregistering Code:: Steps to unregister code
32064 * Custom Debug Info:: Emit debug information in a custom format
32065 @end menu
32066
32067 @node Declarations
32068 @section JIT Declarations
32069
32070 These are the relevant struct declarations that a C program should include to
32071 implement the interface:
32072
32073 @smallexample
32074 typedef enum
32075 @{
32076 JIT_NOACTION = 0,
32077 JIT_REGISTER_FN,
32078 JIT_UNREGISTER_FN
32079 @} jit_actions_t;
32080
32081 struct jit_code_entry
32082 @{
32083 struct jit_code_entry *next_entry;
32084 struct jit_code_entry *prev_entry;
32085 const char *symfile_addr;
32086 uint64_t symfile_size;
32087 @};
32088
32089 struct jit_descriptor
32090 @{
32091 uint32_t version;
32092 /* This type should be jit_actions_t, but we use uint32_t
32093 to be explicit about the bitwidth. */
32094 uint32_t action_flag;
32095 struct jit_code_entry *relevant_entry;
32096 struct jit_code_entry *first_entry;
32097 @};
32098
32099 /* GDB puts a breakpoint in this function. */
32100 void __attribute__((noinline)) __jit_debug_register_code() @{ @};
32101
32102 /* Make sure to specify the version statically, because the
32103 debugger may check the version before we can set it. */
32104 struct jit_descriptor __jit_debug_descriptor = @{ 1, 0, 0, 0 @};
32105 @end smallexample
32106
32107 If the JIT is multi-threaded, then it is important that the JIT synchronize any
32108 modifications to this global data properly, which can easily be done by putting
32109 a global mutex around modifications to these structures.
32110
32111 @node Registering Code
32112 @section Registering Code
32113
32114 To register code with @value{GDBN}, the JIT should follow this protocol:
32115
32116 @itemize @bullet
32117 @item
32118 Generate an object file in memory with symbols and other desired debug
32119 information. The file must include the virtual addresses of the sections.
32120
32121 @item
32122 Create a code entry for the file, which gives the start and size of the symbol
32123 file.
32124
32125 @item
32126 Add it to the linked list in the JIT descriptor.
32127
32128 @item
32129 Point the relevant_entry field of the descriptor at the entry.
32130
32131 @item
32132 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_REGISTER} and call
32133 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
32134 @end itemize
32135
32136 When @value{GDBN} is attached and the breakpoint fires, @value{GDBN} uses the
32137 @code{relevant_entry} pointer so it doesn't have to walk the list looking for
32138 new code. However, the linked list must still be maintained in order to allow
32139 @value{GDBN} to attach to a running process and still find the symbol files.
32140
32141 @node Unregistering Code
32142 @section Unregistering Code
32143
32144 If code is freed, then the JIT should use the following protocol:
32145
32146 @itemize @bullet
32147 @item
32148 Remove the code entry corresponding to the code from the linked list.
32149
32150 @item
32151 Point the @code{relevant_entry} field of the descriptor at the code entry.
32152
32153 @item
32154 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_UNREGISTER} and call
32155 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
32156 @end itemize
32157
32158 If the JIT frees or recompiles code without unregistering it, then @value{GDBN}
32159 and the JIT will leak the memory used for the associated symbol files.
32160
32161 @node Custom Debug Info
32162 @section Custom Debug Info
32163 @cindex custom JIT debug info
32164 @cindex JIT debug info reader
32165
32166 Generating debug information in platform-native file formats (like ELF
32167 or COFF) may be an overkill for JIT compilers; especially if all the
32168 debug info is used for is displaying a meaningful backtrace. The
32169 issue can be resolved by having the JIT writers decide on a debug info
32170 format and also provide a reader that parses the debug info generated
32171 by the JIT compiler. This section gives a brief overview on writing
32172 such a parser. More specific details can be found in the source file
32173 @file{gdb/jit-reader.in}, which is also installed as a header at
32174 @file{@var{includedir}/gdb/jit-reader.h} for easy inclusion.
32175
32176 The reader is implemented as a shared object (so this functionality is
32177 not available on platforms which don't allow loading shared objects at
32178 runtime). Two @value{GDBN} commands, @code{jit-reader-load} and
32179 @code{jit-reader-unload} are provided, to be used to load and unload
32180 the readers from a preconfigured directory. Once loaded, the shared
32181 object is used the parse the debug information emitted by the JIT
32182 compiler.
32183
32184 @menu
32185 * Using JIT Debug Info Readers:: How to use supplied readers correctly
32186 * Writing JIT Debug Info Readers:: Creating a debug-info reader
32187 @end menu
32188
32189 @node Using JIT Debug Info Readers
32190 @subsection Using JIT Debug Info Readers
32191 @kindex jit-reader-load
32192 @kindex jit-reader-unload
32193
32194 Readers can be loaded and unloaded using the @code{jit-reader-load}
32195 and @code{jit-reader-unload} commands.
32196
32197 @table @code
32198 @item jit-reader-load @var{reader-name}
32199 Load the JIT reader named @var{reader-name}. On a UNIX system, this
32200 will usually load @file{@var{libdir}/gdb/@var{reader-name}}, where
32201 @var{libdir} is the system library directory, usually
32202 @file{/usr/local/lib}. Only one reader can be active at a time;
32203 trying to load a second reader when one is already loaded will result
32204 in @value{GDBN} reporting an error. A new JIT reader can be loaded by
32205 first unloading the current one using @code{jit-reader-load} and then
32206 invoking @code{jit-reader-load}.
32207
32208 @item jit-reader-unload
32209 Unload the currently loaded JIT reader.
32210
32211 @end table
32212
32213 @node Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
32214 @subsection Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
32215 @cindex writing JIT debug info readers
32216
32217 As mentioned, a reader is essentially a shared object conforming to a
32218 certain ABI. This ABI is described in @file{jit-reader.h}.
32219
32220 @file{jit-reader.h} defines the structures, macros and functions
32221 required to write a reader. It is installed (along with
32222 @value{GDBN}), in @file{@var{includedir}/gdb} where @var{includedir} is
32223 the system include directory.
32224
32225 Readers need to be released under a GPL compatible license. A reader
32226 can be declared as released under such a license by placing the macro
32227 @code{GDB_DECLARE_GPL_COMPATIBLE_READER} in a source file.
32228
32229 The entry point for readers is the symbol @code{gdb_init_reader},
32230 which is expected to be a function with the prototype
32231
32232 @findex gdb_init_reader
32233 @smallexample
32234 extern struct gdb_reader_funcs *gdb_init_reader (void);
32235 @end smallexample
32236
32237 @cindex @code{struct gdb_reader_funcs}
32238
32239 @code{struct gdb_reader_funcs} contains a set of pointers to callback
32240 functions. These functions are executed to read the debug info
32241 generated by the JIT compiler (@code{read}), to unwind stack frames
32242 (@code{unwind}) and to create canonical frame IDs
32243 (@code{get_Frame_id}). It also has a callback that is called when the
32244 reader is being unloaded (@code{destroy}). The struct looks like this
32245
32246 @smallexample
32247 struct gdb_reader_funcs
32248 @{
32249 /* Must be set to GDB_READER_INTERFACE_VERSION. */
32250 int reader_version;
32251
32252 /* For use by the reader. */
32253 void *priv_data;
32254
32255 gdb_read_debug_info *read;
32256 gdb_unwind_frame *unwind;
32257 gdb_get_frame_id *get_frame_id;
32258 gdb_destroy_reader *destroy;
32259 @};
32260 @end smallexample
32261
32262 @cindex @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks}
32263 @cindex @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}
32264
32265 The callbacks are provided with another set of callbacks by
32266 @value{GDBN} to do their job. For @code{read}, these callbacks are
32267 passed in a @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} and for @code{unwind}
32268 and @code{get_frame_id}, in a @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}.
32269 @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} has callbacks to create new object
32270 files and new symbol tables inside those object files. @code{struct
32271 gdb_unwind_callbacks} has callbacks to read registers off the current
32272 frame and to write out the values of the registers in the previous
32273 frame. Both have a callback (@code{target_read}) to read bytes off the
32274 target's address space.
32275
32276 @node GDB Bugs
32277 @chapter Reporting Bugs in @value{GDBN}
32278 @cindex bugs in @value{GDBN}
32279 @cindex reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
32280
32281 Your bug reports play an essential role in making @value{GDBN} reliable.
32282
32283 Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it
32284 may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help
32285 the entire community by making the next version of @value{GDBN} work better. Bug
32286 reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @value{GDBN}.
32287
32288 In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
32289 information that enables us to fix the bug.
32290
32291 @menu
32292 * Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
32293 * Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
32294 @end menu
32295
32296 @node Bug Criteria
32297 @section Have You Found a Bug?
32298 @cindex bug criteria
32299
32300 If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
32301
32302 @itemize @bullet
32303 @cindex fatal signal
32304 @cindex debugger crash
32305 @cindex crash of debugger
32306 @item
32307 If the debugger gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
32308 @value{GDBN} bug. Reliable debuggers never crash.
32309
32310 @cindex error on valid input
32311 @item
32312 If @value{GDBN} produces an error message for valid input, that is a
32313 bug. (Note that if you're cross debugging, the problem may also be
32314 somewhere in the connection to the target.)
32315
32316 @cindex invalid input
32317 @item
32318 If @value{GDBN} does not produce an error message for invalid input,
32319 that is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of
32320 ``invalid input'' might be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support
32321 for traditional practice''.
32322
32323 @item
32324 If you are an experienced user of debugging tools, your suggestions
32325 for improvement of @value{GDBN} are welcome in any case.
32326 @end itemize
32327
32328 @node Bug Reporting
32329 @section How to Report Bugs
32330 @cindex bug reports
32331 @cindex @value{GDBN} bugs, reporting
32332
32333 A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products.
32334 If you obtained @value{GDBN} from a support organization, we recommend you
32335 contact that organization first.
32336
32337 You can find contact information for many support companies and
32338 individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
32339 distribution.
32340 @c should add a web page ref...
32341
32342 @ifset BUGURL
32343 @ifset BUGURL_DEFAULT
32344 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
32345 @value{GDBN}. The preferred method is to submit them directly using
32346 @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/, @value{GDBN}'s Bugs web
32347 page}. Alternatively, the @email{bug-gdb@@gnu.org, e-mail gateway} can
32348 be used.
32349
32350 @strong{Do not send bug reports to @samp{info-gdb}, or to
32351 @samp{help-gdb}, or to any newsgroups.} Most users of @value{GDBN} do
32352 not want to receive bug reports. Those that do have arranged to receive
32353 @samp{bug-gdb}.
32354
32355 The mailing list @samp{bug-gdb} has a newsgroup @samp{gnu.gdb.bug} which
32356 serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
32357 the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
32358 newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
32359 problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
32360 path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
32361 we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
32362 bug reports to the mailing list.
32363 @end ifset
32364 @ifclear BUGURL_DEFAULT
32365 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
32366 @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.
32367 @end ifclear
32368 @end ifset
32369
32370 The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
32371 @strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
32372 fact or leave it out, state it!
32373
32374 Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
32375 problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
32376 assume that the name of the variable you use in an example does not matter.
32377 Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a
32378 stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where that
32379 name is stored in memory; perhaps, if the name were different, the contents
32380 of that location would fool the debugger into doing the right thing despite
32381 the bug. Play it safe and give a specific, complete example. That is the
32382 easiest thing for you to do, and the most helpful.
32383
32384 Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the
32385 bug. It may be that the bug has been reported previously, but neither
32386 you nor we can know that unless your bug report is complete and
32387 self-contained.
32388
32389 Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
32390 bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
32391 @emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
32392 bugs properly.
32393
32394 To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
32395
32396 @itemize @bullet
32397 @item
32398 The version of @value{GDBN}. @value{GDBN} announces it if you start
32399 with no arguments; you can also print it at any time using @code{show
32400 version}.
32401
32402 Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
32403 the bug in the current version of @value{GDBN}.
32404
32405 @item
32406 The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
32407 version number.
32408
32409 @item
32410 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @value{GDBN}---e.g.@:
32411 ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1''.
32412
32413 @item
32414 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the program you are
32415 debugging---e.g.@: ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1'', or ``HP92453-01 A.10.32.03 HP
32416 C Compiler''. For @value{NGCC}, you can say @kbd{@value{GCC} --version}
32417 to get this information; for other compilers, see the documentation for
32418 those compilers.
32419
32420 @item
32421 The command arguments you gave the compiler to compile your example and
32422 observe the bug. For example, did you use @samp{-O}? To guarantee
32423 you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy of the
32424 Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
32425
32426 If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
32427 and then we might not encounter the bug.
32428
32429 @item
32430 A complete input script, and all necessary source files, that will
32431 reproduce the bug.
32432
32433 @item
32434 A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
32435 incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
32436
32437 Of course, if the bug is that @value{GDBN} gets a fatal signal, then we
32438 will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
32439 not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
32440 a chance to make a mistake.
32441
32442 Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
32443 say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
32444 copy of @value{GDBN} is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
32445 the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
32446 crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
32447 ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
32448 us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
32449 to draw any conclusion from our observations.
32450
32451 @pindex script
32452 @cindex recording a session script
32453 To collect all this information, you can use a session recording program
32454 such as @command{script}, which is available on many Unix systems.
32455 Just run your @value{GDBN} session inside @command{script} and then
32456 include the @file{typescript} file with your bug report.
32457
32458 Another way to record a @value{GDBN} session is to run @value{GDBN}
32459 inside Emacs and then save the entire buffer to a file.
32460
32461 @item
32462 If you wish to suggest changes to the @value{GDBN} source, send us context
32463 diffs. If you even discuss something in the @value{GDBN} source, refer to
32464 it by context, not by line number.
32465
32466 The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
32467 sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
32468
32469 @end itemize
32470
32471 Here are some things that are not necessary:
32472
32473 @itemize @bullet
32474 @item
32475 A description of the envelope of the bug.
32476
32477 Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
32478 which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
32479 changes will not affect it.
32480
32481 This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
32482 will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
32483 with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
32484 We recommend that you save your time for something else.
32485
32486 Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
32487 of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
32488 output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
32489 less time, and so on.
32490
32491 However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
32492 report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
32493
32494 @item
32495 A patch for the bug.
32496
32497 A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
32498 the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
32499 a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
32500 to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
32501
32502 Sometimes with a program as complicated as @value{GDBN} it is very hard to
32503 construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path
32504 through the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able
32505 to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
32506
32507 And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
32508 patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
32509 help us to understand.
32510
32511 @item
32512 A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
32513
32514 Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
32515 things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
32516 @end itemize
32517
32518 @c The readline documentation is distributed with the readline code
32519 @c and consists of the two following files:
32520 @c rluser.texi
32521 @c hsuser.texi
32522 @c Use -I with makeinfo to point to the appropriate directory,
32523 @c environment var TEXINPUTS with TeX.
32524 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
32525 @include rluser.texi
32526 @include hsuser.texi
32527 @end ifclear
32528
32529 @node In Memoriam
32530 @appendix In Memoriam
32531
32532 The @value{GDBN} project mourns the loss of the following long-time
32533 contributors:
32534
32535 @table @code
32536 @item Fred Fish
32537 Fred was a long-standing contributor to @value{GDBN} (1991-2006), and
32538 to Free Software in general. Outside of @value{GDBN}, he was known in
32539 the Amiga world for his series of Fish Disks, and the GeekGadget project.
32540
32541 @item Michael Snyder
32542 Michael was one of the Global Maintainers of the @value{GDBN} project,
32543 with contributions recorded as early as 1996, until 2011. In addition
32544 to his day to day participation, he was a large driving force behind
32545 adding Reverse Debugging to @value{GDBN}.
32546 @end table
32547
32548 Beyond their technical contributions to the project, they were also
32549 enjoyable members of the Free Software Community. We will miss them.
32550
32551 @node Formatting Documentation
32552 @appendix Formatting Documentation
32553
32554 @cindex @value{GDBN} reference card
32555 @cindex reference card
32556 The @value{GDBN} 4 release includes an already-formatted reference card, ready
32557 for printing with PostScript or Ghostscript, in the @file{gdb}
32558 subdirectory of the main source directory@footnote{In
32559 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/refcard.ps} of the version @value{GDBVN}
32560 release.}. If you can use PostScript or Ghostscript with your printer,
32561 you can print the reference card immediately with @file{refcard.ps}.
32562
32563 The release also includes the source for the reference card. You
32564 can format it, using @TeX{}, by typing:
32565
32566 @smallexample
32567 make refcard.dvi
32568 @end smallexample
32569
32570 The @value{GDBN} reference card is designed to print in @dfn{landscape}
32571 mode on US ``letter'' size paper;
32572 that is, on a sheet 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches
32573 high. You will need to specify this form of printing as an option to
32574 your @sc{dvi} output program.
32575
32576 @cindex documentation
32577
32578 All the documentation for @value{GDBN} comes as part of the machine-readable
32579 distribution. The documentation is written in Texinfo format, which is
32580 a documentation system that uses a single source file to produce both
32581 on-line information and a printed manual. You can use one of the Info
32582 formatting commands to create the on-line version of the documentation
32583 and @TeX{} (or @code{texi2roff}) to typeset the printed version.
32584
32585 @value{GDBN} includes an already formatted copy of the on-line Info
32586 version of this manual in the @file{gdb} subdirectory. The main Info
32587 file is @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/gdb.info}, and it refers to
32588 subordinate files matching @samp{gdb.info*} in the same directory. If
32589 necessary, you can print out these files, or read them with any editor;
32590 but they are easier to read using the @code{info} subsystem in @sc{gnu}
32591 Emacs or the standalone @code{info} program, available as part of the
32592 @sc{gnu} Texinfo distribution.
32593
32594 If you want to format these Info files yourself, you need one of the
32595 Info formatting programs, such as @code{texinfo-format-buffer} or
32596 @code{makeinfo}.
32597
32598 If you have @code{makeinfo} installed, and are in the top level
32599 @value{GDBN} source directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, in the case of
32600 version @value{GDBVN}), you can make the Info file by typing:
32601
32602 @smallexample
32603 cd gdb
32604 make gdb.info
32605 @end smallexample
32606
32607 If you want to typeset and print copies of this manual, you need @TeX{},
32608 a program to print its @sc{dvi} output files, and @file{texinfo.tex}, the
32609 Texinfo definitions file.
32610
32611 @TeX{} is a typesetting program; it does not print files directly, but
32612 produces output files called @sc{dvi} files. To print a typeset
32613 document, you need a program to print @sc{dvi} files. If your system
32614 has @TeX{} installed, chances are it has such a program. The precise
32615 command to use depends on your system; @kbd{lpr -d} is common; another
32616 (for PostScript devices) is @kbd{dvips}. The @sc{dvi} print command may
32617 require a file name without any extension or a @samp{.dvi} extension.
32618
32619 @TeX{} also requires a macro definitions file called
32620 @file{texinfo.tex}. This file tells @TeX{} how to typeset a document
32621 written in Texinfo format. On its own, @TeX{} cannot either read or
32622 typeset a Texinfo file. @file{texinfo.tex} is distributed with GDB
32623 and is located in the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}/texinfo}
32624 directory.
32625
32626 If you have @TeX{} and a @sc{dvi} printer program installed, you can
32627 typeset and print this manual. First switch to the @file{gdb}
32628 subdirectory of the main source directory (for example, to
32629 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb}) and type:
32630
32631 @smallexample
32632 make gdb.dvi
32633 @end smallexample
32634
32635 Then give @file{gdb.dvi} to your @sc{dvi} printing program.
32636
32637 @node Installing GDB
32638 @appendix Installing @value{GDBN}
32639 @cindex installation
32640
32641 @menu
32642 * Requirements:: Requirements for building @value{GDBN}
32643 * Running Configure:: Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} script
32644 * Separate Objdir:: Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
32645 * Config Names:: Specifying names for hosts and targets
32646 * Configure Options:: Summary of options for configure
32647 * System-wide configuration:: Having a system-wide init file
32648 @end menu
32649
32650 @node Requirements
32651 @section Requirements for Building @value{GDBN}
32652 @cindex building @value{GDBN}, requirements for
32653
32654 Building @value{GDBN} requires various tools and packages to be available.
32655 Other packages will be used only if they are found.
32656
32657 @heading Tools/Packages Necessary for Building @value{GDBN}
32658 @table @asis
32659 @item ISO C90 compiler
32660 @value{GDBN} is written in ISO C90. It should be buildable with any
32661 working C90 compiler, e.g.@: GCC.
32662
32663 @end table
32664
32665 @heading Tools/Packages Optional for Building @value{GDBN}
32666 @table @asis
32667 @item Expat
32668 @anchor{Expat}
32669 @value{GDBN} can use the Expat XML parsing library. This library may be
32670 included with your operating system distribution; if it is not, you
32671 can get the latest version from @url{http://expat.sourceforge.net}.
32672 The @file{configure} script will search for this library in several
32673 standard locations; if it is installed in an unusual path, you can
32674 use the @option{--with-libexpat-prefix} option to specify its location.
32675
32676 Expat is used for:
32677
32678 @itemize @bullet
32679 @item
32680 Remote protocol memory maps (@pxref{Memory Map Format})
32681 @item
32682 Target descriptions (@pxref{Target Descriptions})
32683 @item
32684 Remote shared library lists (@xref{Library List Format},
32685 or alternatively @pxref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets})
32686 @item
32687 MS-Windows shared libraries (@pxref{Shared Libraries})
32688 @item
32689 Traceframe info (@pxref{Traceframe Info Format})
32690 @end itemize
32691
32692 @item zlib
32693 @cindex compressed debug sections
32694 @value{GDBN} will use the @samp{zlib} library, if available, to read
32695 compressed debug sections. Some linkers, such as GNU gold, are capable
32696 of producing binaries with compressed debug sections. If @value{GDBN}
32697 is compiled with @samp{zlib}, it will be able to read the debug
32698 information in such binaries.
32699
32700 The @samp{zlib} library is likely included with your operating system
32701 distribution; if it is not, you can get the latest version from
32702 @url{http://zlib.net}.
32703
32704 @item iconv
32705 @value{GDBN}'s features related to character sets (@pxref{Character
32706 Sets}) require a functioning @code{iconv} implementation. If you are
32707 on a GNU system, then this is provided by the GNU C Library. Some
32708 other systems also provide a working @code{iconv}.
32709
32710 If @value{GDBN} is using the @code{iconv} program which is installed
32711 in a non-standard place, you will need to tell @value{GDBN} where to find it.
32712 This is done with @option{--with-iconv-bin} which specifies the
32713 directory that contains the @code{iconv} program.
32714
32715 On systems without @code{iconv}, you can install GNU Libiconv. If you
32716 have previously installed Libiconv, you can use the
32717 @option{--with-libiconv-prefix} option to configure.
32718
32719 @value{GDBN}'s top-level @file{configure} and @file{Makefile} will
32720 arrange to build Libiconv if a directory named @file{libiconv} appears
32721 in the top-most source directory. If Libiconv is built this way, and
32722 if the operating system does not provide a suitable @code{iconv}
32723 implementation, then the just-built library will automatically be used
32724 by @value{GDBN}. One easy way to set this up is to download GNU
32725 Libiconv, unpack it, and then rename the directory holding the
32726 Libiconv source code to @samp{libiconv}.
32727 @end table
32728
32729 @node Running Configure
32730 @section Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} Script
32731 @cindex configuring @value{GDBN}
32732 @value{GDBN} comes with a @file{configure} script that automates the process
32733 of preparing @value{GDBN} for installation; you can then use @code{make} to
32734 build the @code{gdb} program.
32735 @iftex
32736 @c irrelevant in info file; it's as current as the code it lives with.
32737 @footnote{If you have a more recent version of @value{GDBN} than @value{GDBVN},
32738 look at the @file{README} file in the sources; we may have improved the
32739 installation procedures since publishing this manual.}
32740 @end iftex
32741
32742 The @value{GDBN} distribution includes all the source code you need for
32743 @value{GDBN} in a single directory, whose name is usually composed by
32744 appending the version number to @samp{gdb}.
32745
32746 For example, the @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN} distribution is in the
32747 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory. That directory contains:
32748
32749 @table @code
32750 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure @r{(and supporting files)}
32751 script for configuring @value{GDBN} and all its supporting libraries
32752
32753 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb
32754 the source specific to @value{GDBN} itself
32755
32756 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
32757 source for the Binary File Descriptor library
32758
32759 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/include
32760 @sc{gnu} include files
32761
32762 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/libiberty
32763 source for the @samp{-liberty} free software library
32764
32765 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/opcodes
32766 source for the library of opcode tables and disassemblers
32767
32768 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/readline
32769 source for the @sc{gnu} command-line interface
32770
32771 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/glob
32772 source for the @sc{gnu} filename pattern-matching subroutine
32773
32774 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/mmalloc
32775 source for the @sc{gnu} memory-mapped malloc package
32776 @end table
32777
32778 The simplest way to configure and build @value{GDBN} is to run @file{configure}
32779 from the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory, which in
32780 this example is the @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory.
32781
32782 First switch to the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory
32783 if you are not already in it; then run @file{configure}. Pass the
32784 identifier for the platform on which @value{GDBN} will run as an
32785 argument.
32786
32787 For example:
32788
32789 @smallexample
32790 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
32791 ./configure @var{host}
32792 make
32793 @end smallexample
32794
32795 @noindent
32796 where @var{host} is an identifier such as @samp{sun4} or
32797 @samp{decstation}, that identifies the platform where @value{GDBN} will run.
32798 (You can often leave off @var{host}; @file{configure} tries to guess the
32799 correct value by examining your system.)
32800
32801 Running @samp{configure @var{host}} and then running @code{make} builds the
32802 @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, @file{mmalloc}, and @file{libiberty}
32803 libraries, then @code{gdb} itself. The configured source files, and the
32804 binaries, are left in the corresponding source directories.
32805
32806 @need 750
32807 @file{configure} is a Bourne-shell (@code{/bin/sh}) script; if your
32808 system does not recognize this automatically when you run a different
32809 shell, you may need to run @code{sh} on it explicitly:
32810
32811 @smallexample
32812 sh configure @var{host}
32813 @end smallexample
32814
32815 If you run @file{configure} from a directory that contains source
32816 directories for multiple libraries or programs, such as the
32817 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} source directory for version @value{GDBVN},
32818 @file{configure}
32819 creates configuration files for every directory level underneath (unless
32820 you tell it not to, with the @samp{--norecursion} option).
32821
32822 You should run the @file{configure} script from the top directory in the
32823 source tree, the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory. If you run
32824 @file{configure} from one of the subdirectories, you will configure only
32825 that subdirectory. That is usually not what you want. In particular,
32826 if you run the first @file{configure} from the @file{gdb} subdirectory
32827 of the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory, you will omit the
32828 configuration of @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, and other sibling
32829 directories of the @file{gdb} subdirectory. This leads to build errors
32830 about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
32831
32832 You can install @code{@value{GDBP}} anywhere; it has no hardwired paths.
32833 However, you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by
32834 the @samp{SHELL} environment variable) is publicly readable. Remember
32835 that @value{GDBN} uses the shell to start your program---some systems refuse to
32836 let @value{GDBN} debug child processes whose programs are not readable.
32837
32838 @node Separate Objdir
32839 @section Compiling @value{GDBN} in Another Directory
32840
32841 If you want to run @value{GDBN} versions for several host or target machines,
32842 you need a different @code{gdb} compiled for each combination of
32843 host and target. @file{configure} is designed to make this easy by
32844 allowing you to generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory,
32845 rather than in the source directory. If your @code{make} program
32846 handles the @samp{VPATH} feature (@sc{gnu} @code{make} does), running
32847 @code{make} in each of these directories builds the @code{gdb}
32848 program specified there.
32849
32850 To build @code{gdb} in a separate directory, run @file{configure}
32851 with the @samp{--srcdir} option to specify where to find the source.
32852 (You also need to specify a path to find @file{configure}
32853 itself from your working directory. If the path to @file{configure}
32854 would be the same as the argument to @samp{--srcdir}, you can leave out
32855 the @samp{--srcdir} option; it is assumed.)
32856
32857 For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, you can build @value{GDBN} in a
32858 separate directory for a Sun 4 like this:
32859
32860 @smallexample
32861 @group
32862 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
32863 mkdir ../gdb-sun4
32864 cd ../gdb-sun4
32865 ../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure sun4
32866 make
32867 @end group
32868 @end smallexample
32869
32870 When @file{configure} builds a configuration using a remote source
32871 directory, it creates a tree for the binaries with the same structure
32872 (and using the same names) as the tree under the source directory. In
32873 the example, you'd find the Sun 4 library @file{libiberty.a} in the
32874 directory @file{gdb-sun4/libiberty}, and @value{GDBN} itself in
32875 @file{gdb-sun4/gdb}.
32876
32877 Make sure that your path to the @file{configure} script has just one
32878 instance of @file{gdb} in it. If your path to @file{configure} looks
32879 like @file{../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/configure}, you are configuring only
32880 one subdirectory of @value{GDBN}, not the whole package. This leads to
32881 build errors about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
32882
32883 One popular reason to build several @value{GDBN} configurations in separate
32884 directories is to configure @value{GDBN} for cross-compiling (where
32885 @value{GDBN} runs on one machine---the @dfn{host}---while debugging
32886 programs that run on another machine---the @dfn{target}).
32887 You specify a cross-debugging target by
32888 giving the @samp{--target=@var{target}} option to @file{configure}.
32889
32890 When you run @code{make} to build a program or library, you must run
32891 it in a configured directory---whatever directory you were in when you
32892 called @file{configure} (or one of its subdirectories).
32893
32894 The @code{Makefile} that @file{configure} generates in each source
32895 directory also runs recursively. If you type @code{make} in a source
32896 directory such as @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} (or in a separate configured
32897 directory configured with @samp{--srcdir=@var{dirname}/gdb-@value{GDBVN}}), you
32898 will build all the required libraries, and then build GDB.
32899
32900 When you have multiple hosts or targets configured in separate
32901 directories, you can run @code{make} on them in parallel (for example,
32902 if they are NFS-mounted on each of the hosts); they will not interfere
32903 with each other.
32904
32905 @node Config Names
32906 @section Specifying Names for Hosts and Targets
32907
32908 The specifications used for hosts and targets in the @file{configure}
32909 script are based on a three-part naming scheme, but some short predefined
32910 aliases are also supported. The full naming scheme encodes three pieces
32911 of information in the following pattern:
32912
32913 @smallexample
32914 @var{architecture}-@var{vendor}-@var{os}
32915 @end smallexample
32916
32917 For example, you can use the alias @code{sun4} as a @var{host} argument,
32918 or as the value for @var{target} in a @code{--target=@var{target}}
32919 option. The equivalent full name is @samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}.
32920
32921 The @file{configure} script accompanying @value{GDBN} does not provide
32922 any query facility to list all supported host and target names or
32923 aliases. @file{configure} calls the Bourne shell script
32924 @code{config.sub} to map abbreviations to full names; you can read the
32925 script, if you wish, or you can use it to test your guesses on
32926 abbreviations---for example:
32927
32928 @smallexample
32929 % sh config.sub i386-linux
32930 i386-pc-linux-gnu
32931 % sh config.sub alpha-linux
32932 alpha-unknown-linux-gnu
32933 % sh config.sub hp9k700
32934 hppa1.1-hp-hpux
32935 % sh config.sub sun4
32936 sparc-sun-sunos4.1.1
32937 % sh config.sub sun3
32938 m68k-sun-sunos4.1.1
32939 % sh config.sub i986v
32940 Invalid configuration `i986v': machine `i986v' not recognized
32941 @end smallexample
32942
32943 @noindent
32944 @code{config.sub} is also distributed in the @value{GDBN} source
32945 directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, for version @value{GDBVN}).
32946
32947 @node Configure Options
32948 @section @file{configure} Options
32949
32950 Here is a summary of the @file{configure} options and arguments that
32951 are most often useful for building @value{GDBN}. @file{configure} also has
32952 several other options not listed here. @inforef{What Configure
32953 Does,,configure.info}, for a full explanation of @file{configure}.
32954
32955 @smallexample
32956 configure @r{[}--help@r{]}
32957 @r{[}--prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
32958 @r{[}--exec-prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
32959 @r{[}--srcdir=@var{dirname}@r{]}
32960 @r{[}--norecursion@r{]} @r{[}--rm@r{]}
32961 @r{[}--target=@var{target}@r{]}
32962 @var{host}
32963 @end smallexample
32964
32965 @noindent
32966 You may introduce options with a single @samp{-} rather than
32967 @samp{--} if you prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use
32968 @samp{--}.
32969
32970 @table @code
32971 @item --help
32972 Display a quick summary of how to invoke @file{configure}.
32973
32974 @item --prefix=@var{dir}
32975 Configure the source to install programs and files under directory
32976 @file{@var{dir}}.
32977
32978 @item --exec-prefix=@var{dir}
32979 Configure the source to install programs under directory
32980 @file{@var{dir}}.
32981
32982 @c avoid splitting the warning from the explanation:
32983 @need 2000
32984 @item --srcdir=@var{dirname}
32985 @strong{Warning: using this option requires @sc{gnu} @code{make}, or another
32986 @code{make} that implements the @code{VPATH} feature.}@*
32987 Use this option to make configurations in directories separate from the
32988 @value{GDBN} source directories. Among other things, you can use this to
32989 build (or maintain) several configurations simultaneously, in separate
32990 directories. @file{configure} writes configuration-specific files in
32991 the current directory, but arranges for them to use the source in the
32992 directory @var{dirname}. @file{configure} creates directories under
32993 the working directory in parallel to the source directories below
32994 @var{dirname}.
32995
32996 @item --norecursion
32997 Configure only the directory level where @file{configure} is executed; do not
32998 propagate configuration to subdirectories.
32999
33000 @item --target=@var{target}
33001 Configure @value{GDBN} for cross-debugging programs running on the specified
33002 @var{target}. Without this option, @value{GDBN} is configured to debug
33003 programs that run on the same machine (@var{host}) as @value{GDBN} itself.
33004
33005 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available targets.
33006
33007 @item @var{host} @dots{}
33008 Configure @value{GDBN} to run on the specified @var{host}.
33009
33010 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available hosts.
33011 @end table
33012
33013 There are many other options available as well, but they are generally
33014 needed for special purposes only.
33015
33016 @node System-wide configuration
33017 @section System-wide configuration and settings
33018 @cindex system-wide init file
33019
33020 @value{GDBN} can be configured to have a system-wide init file;
33021 this file will be read and executed at startup (@pxref{Startup, , What
33022 @value{GDBN} does during startup}).
33023
33024 Here is the corresponding configure option:
33025
33026 @table @code
33027 @item --with-system-gdbinit=@var{file}
33028 Specify that the default location of the system-wide init file is
33029 @var{file}.
33030 @end table
33031
33032 If @value{GDBN} has been configured with the option @option{--prefix=$prefix},
33033 it may be subject to relocation. Two possible cases:
33034
33035 @itemize @bullet
33036 @item
33037 If the default location of this init file contains @file{$prefix},
33038 it will be subject to relocation. Suppose that the configure options
33039 are @option{--prefix=$prefix --with-system-gdbinit=$prefix/etc/gdbinit};
33040 if @value{GDBN} is moved from @file{$prefix} to @file{$install}, the system
33041 init file is looked for as @file{$install/etc/gdbinit} instead of
33042 @file{$prefix/etc/gdbinit}.
33043
33044 @item
33045 By contrast, if the default location does not contain the prefix,
33046 it will not be relocated. E.g.@: if @value{GDBN} has been configured with
33047 @option{--prefix=/usr/local --with-system-gdbinit=/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
33048 then @value{GDBN} will always look for @file{/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
33049 wherever @value{GDBN} is installed.
33050 @end itemize
33051
33052 @node Maintenance Commands
33053 @appendix Maintenance Commands
33054 @cindex maintenance commands
33055 @cindex internal commands
33056
33057 In addition to commands intended for @value{GDBN} users, @value{GDBN}
33058 includes a number of commands intended for @value{GDBN} developers,
33059 that are not documented elsewhere in this manual. These commands are
33060 provided here for reference. (For commands that turn on debugging
33061 messages, see @ref{Debugging Output}.)
33062
33063 @table @code
33064 @kindex maint agent
33065 @kindex maint agent-eval
33066 @item maint agent @var{expression}
33067 @itemx maint agent-eval @var{expression}
33068 Translate the given @var{expression} into remote agent bytecodes.
33069 This command is useful for debugging the Agent Expression mechanism
33070 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}). The @samp{agent} version produces an
33071 expression useful for data collection, such as by tracepoints, while
33072 @samp{maint agent-eval} produces an expression that evaluates directly
33073 to a result. For instance, a collection expression for @code{globa +
33074 globb} will include bytecodes to record four bytes of memory at each
33075 of the addresses of @code{globa} and @code{globb}, while discarding
33076 the result of the addition, while an evaluation expression will do the
33077 addition and return the sum.
33078
33079 @kindex maint info breakpoints
33080 @item @anchor{maint info breakpoints}maint info breakpoints
33081 Using the same format as @samp{info breakpoints}, display both the
33082 breakpoints you've set explicitly, and those @value{GDBN} is using for
33083 internal purposes. Internal breakpoints are shown with negative
33084 breakpoint numbers. The type column identifies what kind of breakpoint
33085 is shown:
33086
33087 @table @code
33088 @item breakpoint
33089 Normal, explicitly set breakpoint.
33090
33091 @item watchpoint
33092 Normal, explicitly set watchpoint.
33093
33094 @item longjmp
33095 Internal breakpoint, used to handle correctly stepping through
33096 @code{longjmp} calls.
33097
33098 @item longjmp resume
33099 Internal breakpoint at the target of a @code{longjmp}.
33100
33101 @item until
33102 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{until} command.
33103
33104 @item finish
33105 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{finish} command.
33106
33107 @item shlib events
33108 Shared library events.
33109
33110 @end table
33111
33112 @kindex set displaced-stepping
33113 @kindex show displaced-stepping
33114 @cindex displaced stepping support
33115 @cindex out-of-line single-stepping
33116 @item set displaced-stepping
33117 @itemx show displaced-stepping
33118 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will do @dfn{displaced stepping}
33119 if the target supports it. Displaced stepping is a way to single-step
33120 over breakpoints without removing them from the inferior, by executing
33121 an out-of-line copy of the instruction that was originally at the
33122 breakpoint location. It is also known as out-of-line single-stepping.
33123
33124 @table @code
33125 @item set displaced-stepping on
33126 If the target architecture supports it, @value{GDBN} will use
33127 displaced stepping to step over breakpoints.
33128
33129 @item set displaced-stepping off
33130 @value{GDBN} will not use displaced stepping to step over breakpoints,
33131 even if such is supported by the target architecture.
33132
33133 @cindex non-stop mode, and @samp{set displaced-stepping}
33134 @item set displaced-stepping auto
33135 This is the default mode. @value{GDBN} will use displaced stepping
33136 only if non-stop mode is active (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) and the target
33137 architecture supports displaced stepping.
33138 @end table
33139
33140 @kindex maint check-symtabs
33141 @item maint check-symtabs
33142 Check the consistency of psymtabs and symtabs.
33143
33144 @kindex maint cplus first_component
33145 @item maint cplus first_component @var{name}
33146 Print the first C@t{++} class/namespace component of @var{name}.
33147
33148 @kindex maint cplus namespace
33149 @item maint cplus namespace
33150 Print the list of possible C@t{++} namespaces.
33151
33152 @kindex maint demangle
33153 @item maint demangle @var{name}
33154 Demangle a C@t{++} or Objective-C mangled @var{name}.
33155
33156 @kindex maint deprecate
33157 @kindex maint undeprecate
33158 @cindex deprecated commands
33159 @item maint deprecate @var{command} @r{[}@var{replacement}@r{]}
33160 @itemx maint undeprecate @var{command}
33161 Deprecate or undeprecate the named @var{command}. Deprecated commands
33162 cause @value{GDBN} to issue a warning when you use them. The optional
33163 argument @var{replacement} says which newer command should be used in
33164 favor of the deprecated one; if it is given, @value{GDBN} will mention
33165 the replacement as part of the warning.
33166
33167 @kindex maint dump-me
33168 @item maint dump-me
33169 @cindex @code{SIGQUIT} signal, dump core of @value{GDBN}
33170 Cause a fatal signal in the debugger and force it to dump its core.
33171 This is supported only on systems which support aborting a program
33172 with the @code{SIGQUIT} signal.
33173
33174 @kindex maint internal-error
33175 @kindex maint internal-warning
33176 @item maint internal-error @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
33177 @itemx maint internal-warning @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
33178 Cause @value{GDBN} to call the internal function @code{internal_error}
33179 or @code{internal_warning} and hence behave as though an internal error
33180 or internal warning has been detected. In addition to reporting the
33181 internal problem, these functions give the user the opportunity to
33182 either quit @value{GDBN} or create a core file of the current
33183 @value{GDBN} session.
33184
33185 These commands take an optional parameter @var{message-text} that is
33186 used as the text of the error or warning message.
33187
33188 Here's an example of using @code{internal-error}:
33189
33190 @smallexample
33191 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint internal-error testing, 1, 2}
33192 @dots{}/maint.c:121: internal-error: testing, 1, 2
33193 A problem internal to GDB has been detected. Further
33194 debugging may prove unreliable.
33195 Quit this debugging session? (y or n) @kbd{n}
33196 Create a core file? (y or n) @kbd{n}
33197 (@value{GDBP})
33198 @end smallexample
33199
33200 @cindex @value{GDBN} internal error
33201 @cindex internal errors, control of @value{GDBN} behavior
33202
33203 @kindex maint set internal-error
33204 @kindex maint show internal-error
33205 @kindex maint set internal-warning
33206 @kindex maint show internal-warning
33207 @item maint set internal-error @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
33208 @itemx maint show internal-error @var{action}
33209 @itemx maint set internal-warning @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
33210 @itemx maint show internal-warning @var{action}
33211 When @value{GDBN} reports an internal problem (error or warning) it
33212 gives the user the opportunity to both quit @value{GDBN} and create a
33213 core file of the current @value{GDBN} session. These commands let you
33214 override the default behaviour for each particular @var{action},
33215 described in the table below.
33216
33217 @table @samp
33218 @item quit
33219 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
33220 quit. The default is to ask the user what to do.
33221
33222 @item corefile
33223 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
33224 create a core file. The default is to ask the user what to do.
33225 @end table
33226
33227 @kindex maint packet
33228 @item maint packet @var{text}
33229 If @value{GDBN} is talking to an inferior via the serial protocol,
33230 then this command sends the string @var{text} to the inferior, and
33231 displays the response packet. @value{GDBN} supplies the initial
33232 @samp{$} character, the terminating @samp{#} character, and the
33233 checksum.
33234
33235 @kindex maint print architecture
33236 @item maint print architecture @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
33237 Print the entire architecture configuration. The optional argument
33238 @var{file} names the file where the output goes.
33239
33240 @kindex maint print c-tdesc
33241 @item maint print c-tdesc
33242 Print the current target description (@pxref{Target Descriptions}) as
33243 a C source file. The created source file can be used in @value{GDBN}
33244 when an XML parser is not available to parse the description.
33245
33246 @kindex maint print dummy-frames
33247 @item maint print dummy-frames
33248 Prints the contents of @value{GDBN}'s internal dummy-frame stack.
33249
33250 @smallexample
33251 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{b add}
33252 @dots{}
33253 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{print add(2,3)}
33254 Breakpoint 2, add (a=2, b=3) at @dots{}
33255 58 return (a + b);
33256 The program being debugged stopped while in a function called from GDB.
33257 @dots{}
33258 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print dummy-frames}
33259 0x1a57c80: pc=0x01014068 fp=0x0200bddc sp=0x0200bdd6
33260 top=0x0200bdd4 id=@{stack=0x200bddc,code=0x101405c@}
33261 call_lo=0x01014000 call_hi=0x01014001
33262 (@value{GDBP})
33263 @end smallexample
33264
33265 Takes an optional file parameter.
33266
33267 @kindex maint print registers
33268 @kindex maint print raw-registers
33269 @kindex maint print cooked-registers
33270 @kindex maint print register-groups
33271 @kindex maint print remote-registers
33272 @item maint print registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
33273 @itemx maint print raw-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
33274 @itemx maint print cooked-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
33275 @itemx maint print register-groups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
33276 @itemx maint print remote-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
33277 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register data structures.
33278
33279 The command @code{maint print raw-registers} includes the contents of
33280 the raw register cache; the command @code{maint print
33281 cooked-registers} includes the (cooked) value of all registers,
33282 including registers which aren't available on the target nor visible
33283 to user; the command @code{maint print register-groups} includes the
33284 groups that each register is a member of; and the command @code{maint
33285 print remote-registers} includes the remote target's register numbers
33286 and offsets in the `G' packets. @xref{Registers,, Registers, gdbint,
33287 @value{GDBN} Internals}.
33288
33289 These commands take an optional parameter, a file name to which to
33290 write the information.
33291
33292 @kindex maint print reggroups
33293 @item maint print reggroups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
33294 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register group data structures. The
33295 optional argument @var{file} tells to what file to write the
33296 information.
33297
33298 The register groups info looks like this:
33299
33300 @smallexample
33301 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print reggroups}
33302 Group Type
33303 general user
33304 float user
33305 all user
33306 vector user
33307 system user
33308 save internal
33309 restore internal
33310 @end smallexample
33311
33312 @kindex flushregs
33313 @item flushregs
33314 This command forces @value{GDBN} to flush its internal register cache.
33315
33316 @kindex maint print objfiles
33317 @cindex info for known object files
33318 @item maint print objfiles
33319 Print a dump of all known object files. For each object file, this
33320 command prints its name, address in memory, and all of its psymtabs
33321 and symtabs.
33322
33323 @kindex maint print section-scripts
33324 @cindex info for known .debug_gdb_scripts-loaded scripts
33325 @item maint print section-scripts [@var{regexp}]
33326 Print a dump of scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_section} section.
33327 If @var{regexp} is specified, only print scripts loaded by object files
33328 matching @var{regexp}.
33329 For each script, this command prints its name as specified in the objfile,
33330 and the full path if known.
33331 @xref{.debug_gdb_scripts section}.
33332
33333 @kindex maint print statistics
33334 @cindex bcache statistics
33335 @item maint print statistics
33336 This command prints, for each object file in the program, various data
33337 about that object file followed by the byte cache (@dfn{bcache})
33338 statistics for the object file. The objfile data includes the number
33339 of minimal, partial, full, and stabs symbols, the number of types
33340 defined by the objfile, the number of as yet unexpanded psym tables,
33341 the number of line tables and string tables, and the amount of memory
33342 used by the various tables. The bcache statistics include the counts,
33343 sizes, and counts of duplicates of all and unique objects, max,
33344 average, and median entry size, total memory used and its overhead and
33345 savings, and various measures of the hash table size and chain
33346 lengths.
33347
33348 @kindex maint print target-stack
33349 @cindex target stack description
33350 @item maint print target-stack
33351 A @dfn{target} is an interface between the debugger and a particular
33352 kind of file or process. Targets can be stacked in @dfn{strata},
33353 so that more than one target can potentially respond to a request.
33354 In particular, memory accesses will walk down the stack of targets
33355 until they find a target that is interested in handling that particular
33356 address.
33357
33358 This command prints a short description of each layer that was pushed on
33359 the @dfn{target stack}, starting from the top layer down to the bottom one.
33360
33361 @kindex maint print type
33362 @cindex type chain of a data type
33363 @item maint print type @var{expr}
33364 Print the type chain for a type specified by @var{expr}. The argument
33365 can be either a type name or a symbol. If it is a symbol, the type of
33366 that symbol is described. The type chain produced by this command is
33367 a recursive definition of the data type as stored in @value{GDBN}'s
33368 data structures, including its flags and contained types.
33369
33370 @kindex maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
33371 @kindex maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
33372 @item maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
33373 @item maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
33374 Control the behavior of @code{info address} when using DWARF debugging
33375 information.
33376
33377 The default is @code{off}, which means that @value{GDBN} should try to
33378 describe a variable's location in an easily readable format. When
33379 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will instead display the DWARF location
33380 expression in an assembly-like format. Note that some locations are
33381 too complex for @value{GDBN} to describe simply; in this case you will
33382 always see the disassembly form.
33383
33384 Here is an example of the resulting disassembly:
33385
33386 @smallexample
33387 (gdb) info addr argc
33388 Symbol "argc" is a complex DWARF expression:
33389 1: DW_OP_fbreg 0
33390 @end smallexample
33391
33392 For more information on these expressions, see
33393 @uref{http://www.dwarfstd.org/, the DWARF standard}.
33394
33395 @kindex maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
33396 @kindex maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
33397 @item maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
33398 @itemx maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
33399 Control the DWARF 2 compilation unit cache.
33400
33401 @cindex DWARF 2 compilation units cache
33402 In object files with inter-compilation-unit references, such as those
33403 produced by the GCC option @samp{-feliminate-dwarf2-dups}, the DWARF 2
33404 reader needs to frequently refer to previously read compilation units.
33405 This setting controls how long a compilation unit will remain in the
33406 cache if it is not referenced. A higher limit means that cached
33407 compilation units will be stored in memory longer, and more total
33408 memory will be used. Setting it to zero disables caching, which will
33409 slow down @value{GDBN} startup, but reduce memory consumption.
33410
33411 @kindex maint set profile
33412 @kindex maint show profile
33413 @cindex profiling GDB
33414 @item maint set profile
33415 @itemx maint show profile
33416 Control profiling of @value{GDBN}.
33417
33418 Profiling will be disabled until you use the @samp{maint set profile}
33419 command to enable it. When you enable profiling, the system will begin
33420 collecting timing and execution count data; when you disable profiling or
33421 exit @value{GDBN}, the results will be written to a log file. Remember that
33422 if you use profiling, @value{GDBN} will overwrite the profiling log file
33423 (often called @file{gmon.out}). If you have a record of important profiling
33424 data in a @file{gmon.out} file, be sure to move it to a safe location.
33425
33426 Configuring with @samp{--enable-profiling} arranges for @value{GDBN} to be
33427 compiled with the @samp{-pg} compiler option.
33428
33429 @kindex maint set show-debug-regs
33430 @kindex maint show show-debug-regs
33431 @cindex hardware debug registers
33432 @item maint set show-debug-regs
33433 @itemx maint show show-debug-regs
33434 Control whether to show variables that mirror the hardware debug
33435 registers. Use @code{ON} to enable, @code{OFF} to disable. If
33436 enabled, the debug registers values are shown when @value{GDBN} inserts or
33437 removes a hardware breakpoint or watchpoint, and when the inferior
33438 triggers a hardware-assisted breakpoint or watchpoint.
33439
33440 @kindex maint set show-all-tib
33441 @kindex maint show show-all-tib
33442 @item maint set show-all-tib
33443 @itemx maint show show-all-tib
33444 Control whether to show all non zero areas within a 1k block starting
33445 at thread local base, when using the @samp{info w32 thread-information-block}
33446 command.
33447
33448 @kindex maint space
33449 @cindex memory used by commands
33450 @item maint space
33451 Control whether to display memory usage for each command. If set to a
33452 nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much memory each command
33453 took, following the command's own output. This can also be requested
33454 by invoking @value{GDBN} with the @option{--statistics} command-line
33455 switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
33456
33457 @kindex maint time
33458 @cindex time of command execution
33459 @item maint time
33460 Control whether to display the execution time of @value{GDBN} for each command.
33461 If set to a nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much time it
33462 took to execute each command, following the command's own output.
33463 Both CPU time and wallclock time are printed.
33464 Printing both is useful when trying to determine whether the cost is
33465 CPU or, e.g., disk/network, latency.
33466 Note that the CPU time printed is for @value{GDBN} only, it does not include
33467 the execution time of the inferior because there's no mechanism currently
33468 to compute how much time was spent by @value{GDBN} and how much time was
33469 spent by the program been debugged.
33470 This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
33471 @option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
33472
33473 @kindex maint translate-address
33474 @item maint translate-address @r{[}@var{section}@r{]} @var{addr}
33475 Find the symbol stored at the location specified by the address
33476 @var{addr} and an optional section name @var{section}. If found,
33477 @value{GDBN} prints the name of the closest symbol and an offset from
33478 the symbol's location to the specified address. This is similar to
33479 the @code{info address} command (@pxref{Symbols}), except that this
33480 command also allows to find symbols in other sections.
33481
33482 If section was not specified, the section in which the symbol was found
33483 is also printed. For dynamically linked executables, the name of
33484 executable or shared library containing the symbol is printed as well.
33485
33486 @end table
33487
33488 The following command is useful for non-interactive invocations of
33489 @value{GDBN}, such as in the test suite.
33490
33491 @table @code
33492 @item set watchdog @var{nsec}
33493 @kindex set watchdog
33494 @cindex watchdog timer
33495 @cindex timeout for commands
33496 Set the maximum number of seconds @value{GDBN} will wait for the
33497 target operation to finish. If this time expires, @value{GDBN}
33498 reports and error and the command is aborted.
33499
33500 @item show watchdog
33501 Show the current setting of the target wait timeout.
33502 @end table
33503
33504 @node Remote Protocol
33505 @appendix @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol
33506
33507 @menu
33508 * Overview::
33509 * Packets::
33510 * Stop Reply Packets::
33511 * General Query Packets::
33512 * Architecture-Specific Protocol Details::
33513 * Tracepoint Packets::
33514 * Host I/O Packets::
33515 * Interrupts::
33516 * Notification Packets::
33517 * Remote Non-Stop::
33518 * Packet Acknowledgment::
33519 * Examples::
33520 * File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension::
33521 * Library List Format::
33522 * Library List Format for SVR4 Targets::
33523 * Memory Map Format::
33524 * Thread List Format::
33525 * Traceframe Info Format::
33526 @end menu
33527
33528 @node Overview
33529 @section Overview
33530
33531 There may be occasions when you need to know something about the
33532 protocol---for example, if there is only one serial port to your target
33533 machine, you might want your program to do something special if it
33534 recognizes a packet meant for @value{GDBN}.
33535
33536 In the examples below, @samp{->} and @samp{<-} are used to indicate
33537 transmitted and received data, respectively.
33538
33539 @cindex protocol, @value{GDBN} remote serial
33540 @cindex serial protocol, @value{GDBN} remote
33541 @cindex remote serial protocol
33542 All @value{GDBN} commands and responses (other than acknowledgments
33543 and notifications, see @ref{Notification Packets}) are sent as a
33544 @var{packet}. A @var{packet} is introduced with the character
33545 @samp{$}, the actual @var{packet-data}, and the terminating character
33546 @samp{#} followed by a two-digit @var{checksum}:
33547
33548 @smallexample
33549 @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
33550 @end smallexample
33551 @noindent
33552
33553 @cindex checksum, for @value{GDBN} remote
33554 @noindent
33555 The two-digit @var{checksum} is computed as the modulo 256 sum of all
33556 characters between the leading @samp{$} and the trailing @samp{#} (an
33557 eight bit unsigned checksum).
33558
33559 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0 the protocol
33560 specification also included an optional two-digit @var{sequence-id}:
33561
33562 @smallexample
33563 @code{$}@var{sequence-id}@code{:}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
33564 @end smallexample
33565
33566 @cindex sequence-id, for @value{GDBN} remote
33567 @noindent
33568 That @var{sequence-id} was appended to the acknowledgment. @value{GDBN}
33569 has never output @var{sequence-id}s. Stubs that handle packets added
33570 since @value{GDBN} 5.0 must not accept @var{sequence-id}.
33571
33572 When either the host or the target machine receives a packet, the first
33573 response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
33574 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request
33575 retransmission):
33576
33577 @smallexample
33578 -> @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
33579 <- @code{+}
33580 @end smallexample
33581 @noindent
33582
33583 The @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments can be disabled
33584 once a connection is established.
33585 @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}, for details.
33586
33587 The host (@value{GDBN}) sends @var{command}s, and the target (the
33588 debugging stub incorporated in your program) sends a @var{response}. In
33589 the case of step and continue @var{command}s, the response is only sent
33590 when the operation has completed, and the target has again stopped all
33591 threads in all attached processes. This is the default all-stop mode
33592 behavior, but the remote protocol also supports @value{GDBN}'s non-stop
33593 execution mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}, for details.
33594
33595 @var{packet-data} consists of a sequence of characters with the
33596 exception of @samp{#} and @samp{$} (see @samp{X} packet for additional
33597 exceptions).
33598
33599 @cindex remote protocol, field separator
33600 Fields within the packet should be separated using @samp{,} @samp{;} or
33601 @samp{:}. Except where otherwise noted all numbers are represented in
33602 @sc{hex} with leading zeros suppressed.
33603
33604 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0, the character
33605 @samp{:} could not appear as the third character in a packet (as it
33606 would potentially conflict with the @var{sequence-id}).
33607
33608 @cindex remote protocol, binary data
33609 @anchor{Binary Data}
33610 Binary data in most packets is encoded either as two hexadecimal
33611 digits per byte of binary data. This allowed the traditional remote
33612 protocol to work over connections which were only seven-bit clean.
33613 Some packets designed more recently assume an eight-bit clean
33614 connection, and use a more efficient encoding to send and receive
33615 binary data.
33616
33617 The binary data representation uses @code{7d} (@sc{ascii} @samp{@}})
33618 as an escape character. Any escaped byte is transmitted as the escape
33619 character followed by the original character XORed with @code{0x20}.
33620 For example, the byte @code{0x7d} would be transmitted as the two
33621 bytes @code{0x7d 0x5d}. The bytes @code{0x23} (@sc{ascii} @samp{#}),
33622 @code{0x24} (@sc{ascii} @samp{$}), and @code{0x7d} (@sc{ascii}
33623 @samp{@}}) must always be escaped. Responses sent by the stub
33624 must also escape @code{0x2a} (@sc{ascii} @samp{*}), so that it
33625 is not interpreted as the start of a run-length encoded sequence
33626 (described next).
33627
33628 Response @var{data} can be run-length encoded to save space.
33629 Run-length encoding replaces runs of identical characters with one
33630 instance of the repeated character, followed by a @samp{*} and a
33631 repeat count. The repeat count is itself sent encoded, to avoid
33632 binary characters in @var{data}: a value of @var{n} is sent as
33633 @code{@var{n}+29}. For a repeat count greater or equal to 3, this
33634 produces a printable @sc{ascii} character, e.g.@: a space (@sc{ascii}
33635 code 32) for a repeat count of 3. (This is because run-length
33636 encoding starts to win for counts 3 or more.) Thus, for example,
33637 @samp{0* } is a run-length encoding of ``0000'': the space character
33638 after @samp{*} means repeat the leading @code{0} @w{@code{32 - 29 =
33639 3}} more times.
33640
33641 The printable characters @samp{#} and @samp{$} or with a numeric value
33642 greater than 126 must not be used. Runs of six repeats (@samp{#}) or
33643 seven repeats (@samp{$}) can be expanded using a repeat count of only
33644 five (@samp{"}). For example, @samp{00000000} can be encoded as
33645 @samp{0*"00}.
33646
33647 The error response returned for some packets includes a two character
33648 error number. That number is not well defined.
33649
33650 @cindex empty response, for unsupported packets
33651 For any @var{command} not supported by the stub, an empty response
33652 (@samp{$#00}) should be returned. That way it is possible to extend the
33653 protocol. A newer @value{GDBN} can tell if a packet is supported based
33654 on that response.
33655
33656 At a minimum, a stub is required to support the @samp{g} and @samp{G}
33657 commands for register access, and the @samp{m} and @samp{M} commands
33658 for memory access. Stubs that only control single-threaded targets
33659 can implement run control with the @samp{c} (continue), and @samp{s}
33660 (step) commands. Stubs that support multi-threading targets should
33661 support the @samp{vCont} command. All other commands are optional.
33662
33663 @node Packets
33664 @section Packets
33665
33666 The following table provides a complete list of all currently defined
33667 @var{command}s and their corresponding response @var{data}.
33668 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for details about the File
33669 I/O extension of the remote protocol.
33670
33671 Each packet's description has a template showing the packet's overall
33672 syntax, followed by an explanation of the packet's meaning. We
33673 include spaces in some of the templates for clarity; these are not
33674 part of the packet's syntax. No @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to
33675 separate its components. For example, a template like @samp{foo
33676 @var{bar} @var{baz}} describes a packet beginning with the three ASCII
33677 bytes @samp{foo}, followed by a @var{bar}, followed directly by a
33678 @var{baz}. @value{GDBN} does not transmit a space character between the
33679 @samp{foo} and the @var{bar}, or between the @var{bar} and the
33680 @var{baz}.
33681
33682 @cindex @var{thread-id}, in remote protocol
33683 @anchor{thread-id syntax}
33684 Several packets and replies include a @var{thread-id} field to identify
33685 a thread. Normally these are positive numbers with a target-specific
33686 interpretation, formatted as big-endian hex strings. A @var{thread-id}
33687 can also be a literal @samp{-1} to indicate all threads, or @samp{0} to
33688 pick any thread.
33689
33690 In addition, the remote protocol supports a multiprocess feature in
33691 which the @var{thread-id} syntax is extended to optionally include both
33692 process and thread ID fields, as @samp{p@var{pid}.@var{tid}}.
33693 The @var{pid} (process) and @var{tid} (thread) components each have the
33694 format described above: a positive number with target-specific
33695 interpretation formatted as a big-endian hex string, literal @samp{-1}
33696 to indicate all processes or threads (respectively), or @samp{0} to
33697 indicate an arbitrary process or thread. Specifying just a process, as
33698 @samp{p@var{pid}}, is equivalent to @samp{p@var{pid}.-1}. It is an
33699 error to specify all processes but a specific thread, such as
33700 @samp{p-1.@var{tid}}. Note that the @samp{p} prefix is @emph{not} used
33701 for those packets and replies explicitly documented to include a process
33702 ID, rather than a @var{thread-id}.
33703
33704 The multiprocess @var{thread-id} syntax extensions are only used if both
33705 @value{GDBN} and the stub report support for the @samp{multiprocess}
33706 feature using @samp{qSupported}. @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for
33707 more information.
33708
33709 Note that all packet forms beginning with an upper- or lower-case
33710 letter, other than those described here, are reserved for future use.
33711
33712 Here are the packet descriptions.
33713
33714 @table @samp
33715
33716 @item !
33717 @cindex @samp{!} packet
33718 @anchor{extended mode}
33719 Enable extended mode. In extended mode, the remote server is made
33720 persistent. The @samp{R} packet is used to restart the program being
33721 debugged.
33722
33723 Reply:
33724 @table @samp
33725 @item OK
33726 The remote target both supports and has enabled extended mode.
33727 @end table
33728
33729 @item ?
33730 @cindex @samp{?} packet
33731 Indicate the reason the target halted. The reply is the same as for
33732 step and continue. This packet has a special interpretation when the
33733 target is in non-stop mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}.
33734
33735 Reply:
33736 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
33737
33738 @item A @var{arglen},@var{argnum},@var{arg},@dots{}
33739 @cindex @samp{A} packet
33740 Initialized @code{argv[]} array passed into program. @var{arglen}
33741 specifies the number of bytes in the hex encoded byte stream
33742 @var{arg}. See @code{gdbserver} for more details.
33743
33744 Reply:
33745 @table @samp
33746 @item OK
33747 The arguments were set.
33748 @item E @var{NN}
33749 An error occurred.
33750 @end table
33751
33752 @item b @var{baud}
33753 @cindex @samp{b} packet
33754 (Don't use this packet; its behavior is not well-defined.)
33755 Change the serial line speed to @var{baud}.
33756
33757 JTC: @emph{When does the transport layer state change? When it's
33758 received, or after the ACK is transmitted. In either case, there are
33759 problems if the command or the acknowledgment packet is dropped.}
33760
33761 Stan: @emph{If people really wanted to add something like this, and get
33762 it working for the first time, they ought to modify ser-unix.c to send
33763 some kind of out-of-band message to a specially-setup stub and have the
33764 switch happen "in between" packets, so that from remote protocol's point
33765 of view, nothing actually happened.}
33766
33767 @item B @var{addr},@var{mode}
33768 @cindex @samp{B} packet
33769 Set (@var{mode} is @samp{S}) or clear (@var{mode} is @samp{C}) a
33770 breakpoint at @var{addr}.
33771
33772 Don't use this packet. Use the @samp{Z} and @samp{z} packets instead
33773 (@pxref{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}).
33774
33775 @cindex @samp{bc} packet
33776 @anchor{bc}
33777 @item bc
33778 Backward continue. Execute the target system in reverse. No parameter.
33779 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
33780
33781 Reply:
33782 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
33783
33784 @cindex @samp{bs} packet
33785 @anchor{bs}
33786 @item bs
33787 Backward single step. Execute one instruction in reverse. No parameter.
33788 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
33789
33790 Reply:
33791 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
33792
33793 @item c @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
33794 @cindex @samp{c} packet
33795 Continue. @var{addr} is address to resume. If @var{addr} is omitted,
33796 resume at current address.
33797
33798 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
33799 packet}.
33800
33801 Reply:
33802 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
33803
33804 @item C @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
33805 @cindex @samp{C} packet
33806 Continue with signal @var{sig} (hex signal number). If
33807 @samp{;@var{addr}} is omitted, resume at same address.
33808
33809 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
33810 packet}.
33811
33812 Reply:
33813 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
33814
33815 @item d
33816 @cindex @samp{d} packet
33817 Toggle debug flag.
33818
33819 Don't use this packet; instead, define a general set packet
33820 (@pxref{General Query Packets}).
33821
33822 @item D
33823 @itemx D;@var{pid}
33824 @cindex @samp{D} packet
33825 The first form of the packet is used to detach @value{GDBN} from the
33826 remote system. It is sent to the remote target
33827 before @value{GDBN} disconnects via the @code{detach} command.
33828
33829 The second form, including a process ID, is used when multiprocess
33830 protocol extensions are enabled (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}), to
33831 detach only a specific process. The @var{pid} is specified as a
33832 big-endian hex string.
33833
33834 Reply:
33835 @table @samp
33836 @item OK
33837 for success
33838 @item E @var{NN}
33839 for an error
33840 @end table
33841
33842 @item F @var{RC},@var{EE},@var{CF};@var{XX}
33843 @cindex @samp{F} packet
33844 A reply from @value{GDBN} to an @samp{F} packet sent by the target.
33845 This is part of the File-I/O protocol extension. @xref{File-I/O
33846 Remote Protocol Extension}, for the specification.
33847
33848 @item g
33849 @anchor{read registers packet}
33850 @cindex @samp{g} packet
33851 Read general registers.
33852
33853 Reply:
33854 @table @samp
33855 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
33856 Each byte of register data is described by two hex digits. The bytes
33857 with the register are transmitted in target byte order. The size of
33858 each register and their position within the @samp{g} packet are
33859 determined by the @value{GDBN} internal gdbarch functions
33860 @code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE} and @code{gdbarch_register_name}. The
33861 specification of several standard @samp{g} packets is specified below.
33862
33863 When reading registers from a trace frame (@pxref{Analyze Collected
33864 Data,,Using the Collected Data}), the stub may also return a string of
33865 literal @samp{x}'s in place of the register data digits, to indicate
33866 that the corresponding register has not been collected, thus its value
33867 is unavailable. For example, for an architecture with 4 registers of
33868 4 bytes each, the following reply indicates to @value{GDBN} that
33869 registers 0 and 2 have not been collected, while registers 1 and 3
33870 have been collected, and both have zero value:
33871
33872 @smallexample
33873 -> @code{g}
33874 <- @code{xxxxxxxx00000000xxxxxxxx00000000}
33875 @end smallexample
33876
33877 @item E @var{NN}
33878 for an error.
33879 @end table
33880
33881 @item G @var{XX@dots{}}
33882 @cindex @samp{G} packet
33883 Write general registers. @xref{read registers packet}, for a
33884 description of the @var{XX@dots{}} data.
33885
33886 Reply:
33887 @table @samp
33888 @item OK
33889 for success
33890 @item E @var{NN}
33891 for an error
33892 @end table
33893
33894 @item H @var{op} @var{thread-id}
33895 @cindex @samp{H} packet
33896 Set thread for subsequent operations (@samp{m}, @samp{M}, @samp{g},
33897 @samp{G}, et.al.). @var{op} depends on the operation to be performed:
33898 it should be @samp{c} for step and continue operations (note that this
33899 is deprecated, supporting the @samp{vCont} command is a better
33900 option), @samp{g} for other operations. The thread designator
33901 @var{thread-id} has the format and interpretation described in
33902 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
33903
33904 Reply:
33905 @table @samp
33906 @item OK
33907 for success
33908 @item E @var{NN}
33909 for an error
33910 @end table
33911
33912 @c FIXME: JTC:
33913 @c 'H': How restrictive (or permissive) is the thread model. If a
33914 @c thread is selected and stopped, are other threads allowed
33915 @c to continue to execute? As I mentioned above, I think the
33916 @c semantics of each command when a thread is selected must be
33917 @c described. For example:
33918 @c
33919 @c 'g': If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
33920 @c selected, returns the register block from that thread;
33921 @c otherwise returns current registers.
33922 @c
33923 @c 'G' If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
33924 @c selected, sets the registers of the register block of
33925 @c that thread; otherwise sets current registers.
33926
33927 @item i @r{[}@var{addr}@r{[},@var{nnn}@r{]]}
33928 @anchor{cycle step packet}
33929 @cindex @samp{i} packet
33930 Step the remote target by a single clock cycle. If @samp{,@var{nnn}} is
33931 present, cycle step @var{nnn} cycles. If @var{addr} is present, cycle
33932 step starting at that address.
33933
33934 @item I
33935 @cindex @samp{I} packet
33936 Signal, then cycle step. @xref{step with signal packet}. @xref{cycle
33937 step packet}.
33938
33939 @item k
33940 @cindex @samp{k} packet
33941 Kill request.
33942
33943 FIXME: @emph{There is no description of how to operate when a specific
33944 thread context has been selected (i.e.@: does 'k' kill only that
33945 thread?)}.
33946
33947 @item m @var{addr},@var{length}
33948 @cindex @samp{m} packet
33949 Read @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
33950 Note that @var{addr} may not be aligned to any particular boundary.
33951
33952 The stub need not use any particular size or alignment when gathering
33953 data from memory for the response; even if @var{addr} is word-aligned
33954 and @var{length} is a multiple of the word size, the stub is free to
33955 use byte accesses, or not. For this reason, this packet may not be
33956 suitable for accessing memory-mapped I/O devices.
33957 @cindex alignment of remote memory accesses
33958 @cindex size of remote memory accesses
33959 @cindex memory, alignment and size of remote accesses
33960
33961 Reply:
33962 @table @samp
33963 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
33964 Memory contents; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit hexadecimal
33965 number. The reply may contain fewer bytes than requested if the
33966 server was able to read only part of the region of memory.
33967 @item E @var{NN}
33968 @var{NN} is errno
33969 @end table
33970
33971 @item M @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
33972 @cindex @samp{M} packet
33973 Write @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
33974 @var{XX@dots{}} is the data; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit
33975 hexadecimal number.
33976
33977 Reply:
33978 @table @samp
33979 @item OK
33980 for success
33981 @item E @var{NN}
33982 for an error (this includes the case where only part of the data was
33983 written).
33984 @end table
33985
33986 @item p @var{n}
33987 @cindex @samp{p} packet
33988 Read the value of register @var{n}; @var{n} is in hex.
33989 @xref{read registers packet}, for a description of how the returned
33990 register value is encoded.
33991
33992 Reply:
33993 @table @samp
33994 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
33995 the register's value
33996 @item E @var{NN}
33997 for an error
33998 @item
33999 Indicating an unrecognized @var{query}.
34000 @end table
34001
34002 @item P @var{n@dots{}}=@var{r@dots{}}
34003 @anchor{write register packet}
34004 @cindex @samp{P} packet
34005 Write register @var{n@dots{}} with value @var{r@dots{}}. The register
34006 number @var{n} is in hexadecimal, and @var{r@dots{}} contains two hex
34007 digits for each byte in the register (target byte order).
34008
34009 Reply:
34010 @table @samp
34011 @item OK
34012 for success
34013 @item E @var{NN}
34014 for an error
34015 @end table
34016
34017 @item q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
34018 @itemx Q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
34019 @cindex @samp{q} packet
34020 @cindex @samp{Q} packet
34021 General query (@samp{q}) and set (@samp{Q}). These packets are
34022 described fully in @ref{General Query Packets}.
34023
34024 @item r
34025 @cindex @samp{r} packet
34026 Reset the entire system.
34027
34028 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{R} packet instead.
34029
34030 @item R @var{XX}
34031 @cindex @samp{R} packet
34032 Restart the program being debugged. @var{XX}, while needed, is ignored.
34033 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
34034
34035 The @samp{R} packet has no reply.
34036
34037 @item s @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
34038 @cindex @samp{s} packet
34039 Single step. @var{addr} is the address at which to resume. If
34040 @var{addr} is omitted, resume at same address.
34041
34042 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
34043 packet}.
34044
34045 Reply:
34046 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
34047
34048 @item S @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
34049 @anchor{step with signal packet}
34050 @cindex @samp{S} packet
34051 Step with signal. This is analogous to the @samp{C} packet, but
34052 requests a single-step, rather than a normal resumption of execution.
34053
34054 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
34055 packet}.
34056
34057 Reply:
34058 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
34059
34060 @item t @var{addr}:@var{PP},@var{MM}
34061 @cindex @samp{t} packet
34062 Search backwards starting at address @var{addr} for a match with pattern
34063 @var{PP} and mask @var{MM}. @var{PP} and @var{MM} are 4 bytes.
34064 @var{addr} must be at least 3 digits.
34065
34066 @item T @var{thread-id}
34067 @cindex @samp{T} packet
34068 Find out if the thread @var{thread-id} is alive. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
34069
34070 Reply:
34071 @table @samp
34072 @item OK
34073 thread is still alive
34074 @item E @var{NN}
34075 thread is dead
34076 @end table
34077
34078 @item v
34079 Packets starting with @samp{v} are identified by a multi-letter name,
34080 up to the first @samp{;} or @samp{?} (or the end of the packet).
34081
34082 @item vAttach;@var{pid}
34083 @cindex @samp{vAttach} packet
34084 Attach to a new process with the specified process ID @var{pid}.
34085 The process ID is a
34086 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. In all-stop mode, all
34087 threads in the attached process are stopped; in non-stop mode, it may be
34088 attached without being stopped if that is supported by the target.
34089
34090 @c In non-stop mode, on a successful vAttach, the stub should set the
34091 @c current thread to a thread of the newly-attached process. After
34092 @c attaching, GDB queries for the attached process's thread ID with qC.
34093 @c Also note that, from a user perspective, whether or not the
34094 @c target is stopped on attach in non-stop mode depends on whether you
34095 @c use the foreground or background version of the attach command, not
34096 @c on what vAttach does; GDB does the right thing with respect to either
34097 @c stopping or restarting threads.
34098
34099 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
34100
34101 Reply:
34102 @table @samp
34103 @item E @var{nn}
34104 for an error
34105 @item @r{Any stop packet}
34106 for success in all-stop mode (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
34107 @item OK
34108 for success in non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop})
34109 @end table
34110
34111 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@r{[}:@var{thread-id}@r{]]}@dots{}
34112 @cindex @samp{vCont} packet
34113 @anchor{vCont packet}
34114 Resume the inferior, specifying different actions for each thread.
34115 If an action is specified with no @var{thread-id}, then it is applied to any
34116 threads that don't have a specific action specified; if no default action is
34117 specified then other threads should remain stopped in all-stop mode and
34118 in their current state in non-stop mode.
34119 Specifying multiple
34120 default actions is an error; specifying no actions is also an error.
34121 Thread IDs are specified using the syntax described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
34122
34123 Currently supported actions are:
34124
34125 @table @samp
34126 @item c
34127 Continue.
34128 @item C @var{sig}
34129 Continue with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
34130 @item s
34131 Step.
34132 @item S @var{sig}
34133 Step with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
34134 @item t
34135 Stop.
34136 @end table
34137
34138 The optional argument @var{addr} normally associated with the
34139 @samp{c}, @samp{C}, @samp{s}, and @samp{S} packets is
34140 not supported in @samp{vCont}.
34141
34142 The @samp{t} action is only relevant in non-stop mode
34143 (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}) and may be ignored by the stub otherwise.
34144 A stop reply should be generated for any affected thread not already stopped.
34145 When a thread is stopped by means of a @samp{t} action,
34146 the corresponding stop reply should indicate that the thread has stopped with
34147 signal @samp{0}, regardless of whether the target uses some other signal
34148 as an implementation detail.
34149
34150 The stub must support @samp{vCont} if it reports support for
34151 multiprocess extensions (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}). Note that in
34152 this case @samp{vCont} actions can be specified to apply to all threads
34153 in a process by using the @samp{p@var{pid}.-1} form of the
34154 @var{thread-id}.
34155
34156 Reply:
34157 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
34158
34159 @item vCont?
34160 @cindex @samp{vCont?} packet
34161 Request a list of actions supported by the @samp{vCont} packet.
34162
34163 Reply:
34164 @table @samp
34165 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@dots{}@r{]}
34166 The @samp{vCont} packet is supported. Each @var{action} is a supported
34167 command in the @samp{vCont} packet.
34168 @item
34169 The @samp{vCont} packet is not supported.
34170 @end table
34171
34172 @item vFile:@var{operation}:@var{parameter}@dots{}
34173 @cindex @samp{vFile} packet
34174 Perform a file operation on the target system. For details,
34175 see @ref{Host I/O Packets}.
34176
34177 @item vFlashErase:@var{addr},@var{length}
34178 @cindex @samp{vFlashErase} packet
34179 Direct the stub to erase @var{length} bytes of flash starting at
34180 @var{addr}. The region may enclose any number of flash blocks, but
34181 its start and end must fall on block boundaries, as indicated by the
34182 flash block size appearing in the memory map (@pxref{Memory Map
34183 Format}). @value{GDBN} groups flash memory programming operations
34184 together, and sends a @samp{vFlashDone} request after each group; the
34185 stub is allowed to delay erase operation until the @samp{vFlashDone}
34186 packet is received.
34187
34188 Reply:
34189 @table @samp
34190 @item OK
34191 for success
34192 @item E @var{NN}
34193 for an error
34194 @end table
34195
34196 @item vFlashWrite:@var{addr}:@var{XX@dots{}}
34197 @cindex @samp{vFlashWrite} packet
34198 Direct the stub to write data to flash address @var{addr}. The data
34199 is passed in binary form using the same encoding as for the @samp{X}
34200 packet (@pxref{Binary Data}). The memory ranges specified by
34201 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets preceding a @samp{vFlashDone} packet must
34202 not overlap, and must appear in order of increasing addresses
34203 (although @samp{vFlashErase} packets for higher addresses may already
34204 have been received; the ordering is guaranteed only between
34205 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets). If a packet writes to an address that was
34206 neither erased by a preceding @samp{vFlashErase} packet nor by some other
34207 target-specific method, the results are unpredictable.
34208
34209
34210 Reply:
34211 @table @samp
34212 @item OK
34213 for success
34214 @item E.memtype
34215 for vFlashWrite addressing non-flash memory
34216 @item E @var{NN}
34217 for an error
34218 @end table
34219
34220 @item vFlashDone
34221 @cindex @samp{vFlashDone} packet
34222 Indicate to the stub that flash programming operation is finished.
34223 The stub is permitted to delay or batch the effects of a group of
34224 @samp{vFlashErase} and @samp{vFlashWrite} packets until a
34225 @samp{vFlashDone} packet is received. The contents of the affected
34226 regions of flash memory are unpredictable until the @samp{vFlashDone}
34227 request is completed.
34228
34229 @item vKill;@var{pid}
34230 @cindex @samp{vKill} packet
34231 Kill the process with the specified process ID. @var{pid} is a
34232 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. This packet is used in
34233 preference to @samp{k} when multiprocess protocol extensions are
34234 supported; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
34235
34236 Reply:
34237 @table @samp
34238 @item E @var{nn}
34239 for an error
34240 @item OK
34241 for success
34242 @end table
34243
34244 @item vRun;@var{filename}@r{[};@var{argument}@r{]}@dots{}
34245 @cindex @samp{vRun} packet
34246 Run the program @var{filename}, passing it each @var{argument} on its
34247 command line. The file and arguments are hex-encoded strings. If
34248 @var{filename} is an empty string, the stub may use a default program
34249 (e.g.@: the last program run). The program is created in the stopped
34250 state.
34251
34252 @c FIXME: What about non-stop mode?
34253
34254 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
34255
34256 Reply:
34257 @table @samp
34258 @item E @var{nn}
34259 for an error
34260 @item @r{Any stop packet}
34261 for success (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
34262 @end table
34263
34264 @item vStopped
34265 @anchor{vStopped packet}
34266 @cindex @samp{vStopped} packet
34267
34268 In non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}), acknowledge a previous stop
34269 reply and prompt for the stub to report another one.
34270
34271 Reply:
34272 @table @samp
34273 @item @r{Any stop packet}
34274 if there is another unreported stop event (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
34275 @item OK
34276 if there are no unreported stop events
34277 @end table
34278
34279 @item X @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
34280 @anchor{X packet}
34281 @cindex @samp{X} packet
34282 Write data to memory, where the data is transmitted in binary.
34283 @var{addr} is address, @var{length} is number of bytes,
34284 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
34285
34286 Reply:
34287 @table @samp
34288 @item OK
34289 for success
34290 @item E @var{NN}
34291 for an error
34292 @end table
34293
34294 @item z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
34295 @itemx Z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
34296 @anchor{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}
34297 @cindex @samp{z} packet
34298 @cindex @samp{Z} packets
34299 Insert (@samp{Z}) or remove (@samp{z}) a @var{type} breakpoint or
34300 watchpoint starting at address @var{address} of kind @var{kind}.
34301
34302 Each breakpoint and watchpoint packet @var{type} is documented
34303 separately.
34304
34305 @emph{Implementation notes: A remote target shall return an empty string
34306 for an unrecognized breakpoint or watchpoint packet @var{type}. A
34307 remote target shall support either both or neither of a given
34308 @samp{Z@var{type}@dots{}} and @samp{z@var{type}@dots{}} packet pair. To
34309 avoid potential problems with duplicate packets, the operations should
34310 be implemented in an idempotent way.}
34311
34312 @item z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
34313 @itemx Z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}@r{[};@var{cond_list}@dots{}@r{]}
34314 @cindex @samp{z0} packet
34315 @cindex @samp{Z0} packet
34316 Insert (@samp{Z0}) or remove (@samp{z0}) a memory breakpoint at address
34317 @var{addr} of type @var{kind}.
34318
34319 A memory breakpoint is implemented by replacing the instruction at
34320 @var{addr} with a software breakpoint or trap instruction. The
34321 @var{kind} is target-specific and typically indicates the size of
34322 the breakpoint in bytes that should be inserted. E.g., the @sc{arm}
34323 and @sc{mips} can insert either a 2 or 4 byte breakpoint. Some
34324 architectures have additional meanings for @var{kind};
34325 @var{cond_list} is an optional list of conditional expressions in bytecode
34326 form that should be evaluated on the target's side. These are the
34327 conditions that should be taken into consideration when deciding if
34328 the breakpoint trigger should be reported back to @var{GDBN}.
34329
34330 The @var{cond_list} parameter is comprised of a series of expressions,
34331 concatenated without separators. Each expression has the following form:
34332
34333 @table @samp
34334
34335 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
34336 @var{len} is the length of the bytecode expression and @var{expr} is the
34337 actual conditional expression in bytecode form.
34338
34339 @end table
34340
34341 see @ref{Architecture-Specific Protocol Details}.
34342
34343 @emph{Implementation note: It is possible for a target to copy or move
34344 code that contains memory breakpoints (e.g., when implementing
34345 overlays). The behavior of this packet, in the presence of such a
34346 target, is not defined.}
34347
34348 Reply:
34349 @table @samp
34350 @item OK
34351 success
34352 @item
34353 not supported
34354 @item E @var{NN}
34355 for an error
34356 @end table
34357
34358 @item z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
34359 @itemx Z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}@r{[};@var{cond_list}@dots{}@r{]}
34360 @cindex @samp{z1} packet
34361 @cindex @samp{Z1} packet
34362 Insert (@samp{Z1}) or remove (@samp{z1}) a hardware breakpoint at
34363 address @var{addr}.
34364
34365 A hardware breakpoint is implemented using a mechanism that is not
34366 dependant on being able to modify the target's memory. @var{kind}
34367 and @var{cond_list} have the same meaning as in @samp{Z0} packets.
34368
34369 @emph{Implementation note: A hardware breakpoint is not affected by code
34370 movement.}
34371
34372 Reply:
34373 @table @samp
34374 @item OK
34375 success
34376 @item
34377 not supported
34378 @item E @var{NN}
34379 for an error
34380 @end table
34381
34382 @item z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
34383 @itemx Z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
34384 @cindex @samp{z2} packet
34385 @cindex @samp{Z2} packet
34386 Insert (@samp{Z2}) or remove (@samp{z2}) a write watchpoint at @var{addr}.
34387 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
34388
34389 Reply:
34390 @table @samp
34391 @item OK
34392 success
34393 @item
34394 not supported
34395 @item E @var{NN}
34396 for an error
34397 @end table
34398
34399 @item z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
34400 @itemx Z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
34401 @cindex @samp{z3} packet
34402 @cindex @samp{Z3} packet
34403 Insert (@samp{Z3}) or remove (@samp{z3}) a read watchpoint at @var{addr}.
34404 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
34405
34406 Reply:
34407 @table @samp
34408 @item OK
34409 success
34410 @item
34411 not supported
34412 @item E @var{NN}
34413 for an error
34414 @end table
34415
34416 @item z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
34417 @itemx Z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
34418 @cindex @samp{z4} packet
34419 @cindex @samp{Z4} packet
34420 Insert (@samp{Z4}) or remove (@samp{z4}) an access watchpoint at @var{addr}.
34421 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
34422
34423 Reply:
34424 @table @samp
34425 @item OK
34426 success
34427 @item
34428 not supported
34429 @item E @var{NN}
34430 for an error
34431 @end table
34432
34433 @end table
34434
34435 @node Stop Reply Packets
34436 @section Stop Reply Packets
34437 @cindex stop reply packets
34438
34439 The @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}, @samp{s}, @samp{vCont},
34440 @samp{vAttach}, @samp{vRun}, @samp{vStopped}, and @samp{?} packets can
34441 receive any of the below as a reply. Except for @samp{?}
34442 and @samp{vStopped}, that reply is only returned
34443 when the target halts. In the below the exact meaning of @dfn{signal
34444 number} is defined by the header @file{include/gdb/signals.h} in the
34445 @value{GDBN} source code.
34446
34447 As in the description of request packets, we include spaces in the
34448 reply templates for clarity; these are not part of the reply packet's
34449 syntax. No @value{GDBN} stop reply packet uses spaces to separate its
34450 components.
34451
34452 @table @samp
34453
34454 @item S @var{AA}
34455 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
34456 number). This is equivalent to a @samp{T} response with no
34457 @var{n}:@var{r} pairs.
34458
34459 @item T @var{AA} @var{n1}:@var{r1};@var{n2}:@var{r2};@dots{}
34460 @cindex @samp{T} packet reply
34461 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
34462 number). This is equivalent to an @samp{S} response, except that the
34463 @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pairs can carry values of important registers
34464 and other information directly in the stop reply packet, reducing
34465 round-trip latency. Single-step and breakpoint traps are reported
34466 this way. Each @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair is interpreted as follows:
34467
34468 @itemize @bullet
34469 @item
34470 If @var{n} is a hexadecimal number, it is a register number, and the
34471 corresponding @var{r} gives that register's value. @var{r} is a
34472 series of bytes in target byte order, with each byte given by a
34473 two-digit hex number.
34474
34475 @item
34476 If @var{n} is @samp{thread}, then @var{r} is the @var{thread-id} of
34477 the stopped thread, as specified in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
34478
34479 @item
34480 If @var{n} is @samp{core}, then @var{r} is the hexadecimal number of
34481 the core on which the stop event was detected.
34482
34483 @item
34484 If @var{n} is a recognized @dfn{stop reason}, it describes a more
34485 specific event that stopped the target. The currently defined stop
34486 reasons are listed below. @var{aa} should be @samp{05}, the trap
34487 signal. At most one stop reason should be present.
34488
34489 @item
34490 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} should ignore this @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair
34491 and go on to the next; this allows us to extend the protocol in the
34492 future.
34493 @end itemize
34494
34495 The currently defined stop reasons are:
34496
34497 @table @samp
34498 @item watch
34499 @itemx rwatch
34500 @itemx awatch
34501 The packet indicates a watchpoint hit, and @var{r} is the data address, in
34502 hex.
34503
34504 @cindex shared library events, remote reply
34505 @item library
34506 The packet indicates that the loaded libraries have changed.
34507 @value{GDBN} should use @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} to fetch a new
34508 list of loaded libraries. @var{r} is ignored.
34509
34510 @cindex replay log events, remote reply
34511 @item replaylog
34512 The packet indicates that the target cannot continue replaying
34513 logged execution events, because it has reached the end (or the
34514 beginning when executing backward) of the log. The value of @var{r}
34515 will be either @samp{begin} or @samp{end}. @xref{Reverse Execution},
34516 for more information.
34517 @end table
34518
34519 @item W @var{AA}
34520 @itemx W @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
34521 The process exited, and @var{AA} is the exit status. This is only
34522 applicable to certain targets.
34523
34524 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the exited
34525 process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported support for
34526 multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
34527 The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
34528
34529 @item X @var{AA}
34530 @itemx X @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
34531 The process terminated with signal @var{AA}.
34532
34533 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the
34534 terminated process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported
34535 support for multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess
34536 extensions}. The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
34537
34538 @item O @var{XX}@dots{}
34539 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data, to be
34540 written as the program's console output. This can happen at any time
34541 while the program is running and the debugger should continue to wait
34542 for @samp{W}, @samp{T}, etc. This reply is not permitted in non-stop mode.
34543
34544 @item F @var{call-id},@var{parameter}@dots{}
34545 @var{call-id} is the identifier which says which host system call should
34546 be called. This is just the name of the function. Translation into the
34547 correct system call is only applicable as it's defined in @value{GDBN}.
34548 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for a list of implemented
34549 system calls.
34550
34551 @samp{@var{parameter}@dots{}} is a list of parameters as defined for
34552 this very system call.
34553
34554 The target replies with this packet when it expects @value{GDBN} to
34555 call a host system call on behalf of the target. @value{GDBN} replies
34556 with an appropriate @samp{F} packet and keeps up waiting for the next
34557 reply packet from the target. The latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
34558 or @samp{s} action is expected to be continued. @xref{File-I/O Remote
34559 Protocol Extension}, for more details.
34560
34561 @end table
34562
34563 @node General Query Packets
34564 @section General Query Packets
34565 @cindex remote query requests
34566
34567 Packets starting with @samp{q} are @dfn{general query packets};
34568 packets starting with @samp{Q} are @dfn{general set packets}. General
34569 query and set packets are a semi-unified form for retrieving and
34570 sending information to and from the stub.
34571
34572 The initial letter of a query or set packet is followed by a name
34573 indicating what sort of thing the packet applies to. For example,
34574 @value{GDBN} may use a @samp{qSymbol} packet to exchange symbol
34575 definitions with the stub. These packet names follow some
34576 conventions:
34577
34578 @itemize @bullet
34579 @item
34580 The name must not contain commas, colons or semicolons.
34581 @item
34582 Most @value{GDBN} query and set packets have a leading upper case
34583 letter.
34584 @item
34585 The names of custom vendor packets should use a company prefix, in
34586 lower case, followed by a period. For example, packets designed at
34587 the Acme Corporation might begin with @samp{qacme.foo} (for querying
34588 foos) or @samp{Qacme.bar} (for setting bars).
34589 @end itemize
34590
34591 The name of a query or set packet should be separated from any
34592 parameters by a @samp{:}; the parameters themselves should be
34593 separated by @samp{,} or @samp{;}. Stubs must be careful to match the
34594 full packet name, and check for a separator or the end of the packet,
34595 in case two packet names share a common prefix. New packets should not begin
34596 with @samp{qC}, @samp{qP}, or @samp{qL}@footnote{The @samp{qP} and @samp{qL}
34597 packets predate these conventions, and have arguments without any terminator
34598 for the packet name; we suspect they are in widespread use in places that
34599 are difficult to upgrade. The @samp{qC} packet has no arguments, but some
34600 existing stubs (e.g.@: RedBoot) are known to not check for the end of the
34601 packet.}.
34602
34603 Like the descriptions of the other packets, each description here
34604 has a template showing the packet's overall syntax, followed by an
34605 explanation of the packet's meaning. We include spaces in some of the
34606 templates for clarity; these are not part of the packet's syntax. No
34607 @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to separate its components.
34608
34609 Here are the currently defined query and set packets:
34610
34611 @table @samp
34612
34613 @item QAllow:@var{op}:@var{val}@dots{}
34614 @cindex @samp{QAllow} packet
34615 Specify which operations @value{GDBN} expects to request of the
34616 target, as a semicolon-separated list of operation name and value
34617 pairs. Possible values for @var{op} include @samp{WriteReg},
34618 @samp{WriteMem}, @samp{InsertBreak}, @samp{InsertTrace},
34619 @samp{InsertFastTrace}, and @samp{Stop}. @var{val} is either 0,
34620 indicating that @value{GDBN} will not request the operation, or 1,
34621 indicating that it may. (The target can then use this to set up its
34622 own internals optimally, for instance if the debugger never expects to
34623 insert breakpoints, it may not need to install its own trap handler.)
34624
34625 @item qC
34626 @cindex current thread, remote request
34627 @cindex @samp{qC} packet
34628 Return the current thread ID.
34629
34630 Reply:
34631 @table @samp
34632 @item QC @var{thread-id}
34633 Where @var{thread-id} is a thread ID as documented in
34634 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
34635 @item @r{(anything else)}
34636 Any other reply implies the old thread ID.
34637 @end table
34638
34639 @item qCRC:@var{addr},@var{length}
34640 @cindex CRC of memory block, remote request
34641 @cindex @samp{qCRC} packet
34642 Compute the CRC checksum of a block of memory using CRC-32 defined in
34643 IEEE 802.3. The CRC is computed byte at a time, taking the most
34644 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern code
34645 @code{0xffffffff} is used to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC.
34646
34647 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC used in validating separate debug
34648 files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files, , Debugging Information in Separate
34649 Files}). However the algorithm is slightly different. When validating
34650 separate debug files, the CRC is computed taking the @emph{least}
34651 significant bit of each byte first, and the final result is inverted to
34652 detect trailing zeros.
34653
34654 Reply:
34655 @table @samp
34656 @item E @var{NN}
34657 An error (such as memory fault)
34658 @item C @var{crc32}
34659 The specified memory region's checksum is @var{crc32}.
34660 @end table
34661
34662 @item QDisableRandomization:@var{value}
34663 @cindex disable address space randomization, remote request
34664 @cindex @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet
34665 Some target operating systems will randomize the virtual address space
34666 of the inferior process as a security feature, but provide a feature
34667 to disable such randomization, e.g.@: to allow for a more deterministic
34668 debugging experience. On such systems, this packet with a @var{value}
34669 of 1 directs the target to disable address space randomization for
34670 processes subsequently started via @samp{vRun} packets, while a packet
34671 with a @var{value} of 0 tells the target to enable address space
34672 randomization.
34673
34674 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
34675
34676 Reply:
34677 @table @samp
34678 @item OK
34679 The request succeeded.
34680
34681 @item E @var{nn}
34682 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
34683
34684 @item
34685 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QDisableRandomization} is not supported
34686 by the stub.
34687 @end table
34688
34689 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
34690 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
34691 This should only be done on targets that actually support disabling
34692 address space randomization.
34693
34694 @item qfThreadInfo
34695 @itemx qsThreadInfo
34696 @cindex list active threads, remote request
34697 @cindex @samp{qfThreadInfo} packet
34698 @cindex @samp{qsThreadInfo} packet
34699 Obtain a list of all active thread IDs from the target (OS). Since there
34700 may be too many active threads to fit into one reply packet, this query
34701 works iteratively: it may require more than one query/reply sequence to
34702 obtain the entire list of threads. The first query of the sequence will
34703 be the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query; subsequent queries in the
34704 sequence will be the @samp{qsThreadInfo} query.
34705
34706 NOTE: This packet replaces the @samp{qL} query (see below).
34707
34708 Reply:
34709 @table @samp
34710 @item m @var{thread-id}
34711 A single thread ID
34712 @item m @var{thread-id},@var{thread-id}@dots{}
34713 a comma-separated list of thread IDs
34714 @item l
34715 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
34716 @end table
34717
34718 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
34719 more thread IDs, separated by commas.
34720 @value{GDBN} will respond to each reply with a request for more thread
34721 ids (using the @samp{qs} form of the query), until the target responds
34722 with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for @dfn{last}).
34723 Refer to @ref{thread-id syntax}, for the format of the @var{thread-id}
34724 fields.
34725
34726 @item qGetTLSAddr:@var{thread-id},@var{offset},@var{lm}
34727 @cindex get thread-local storage address, remote request
34728 @cindex @samp{qGetTLSAddr} packet
34729 Fetch the address associated with thread local storage specified
34730 by @var{thread-id}, @var{offset}, and @var{lm}.
34731
34732 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the
34733 thread for which to fetch the TLS address. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
34734
34735 @var{offset} is the (big endian, hex encoded) offset associated with the
34736 thread local variable. (This offset is obtained from the debug
34737 information associated with the variable.)
34738
34739 @var{lm} is the (big endian, hex encoded) OS/ABI-specific encoding of the
34740 load module associated with the thread local storage. For example,
34741 a @sc{gnu}/Linux system will pass the link map address of the shared
34742 object associated with the thread local storage under consideration.
34743 Other operating environments may choose to represent the load module
34744 differently, so the precise meaning of this parameter will vary.
34745
34746 Reply:
34747 @table @samp
34748 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
34749 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the address of the thread
34750 local storage requested.
34751
34752 @item E @var{nn}
34753 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
34754
34755 @item
34756 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTLSAddr} is not supported by the stub.
34757 @end table
34758
34759 @item qGetTIBAddr:@var{thread-id}
34760 @cindex get thread information block address
34761 @cindex @samp{qGetTIBAddr} packet
34762 Fetch address of the Windows OS specific Thread Information Block.
34763
34764 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the thread.
34765
34766 Reply:
34767 @table @samp
34768 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
34769 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the linear address of the
34770 thread information block.
34771
34772 @item E @var{nn}
34773 An error occured. This means that either the thread was not found, or the
34774 address could not be retrieved.
34775
34776 @item
34777 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTIBAddr} is not supported by the stub.
34778 @end table
34779
34780 @item qL @var{startflag} @var{threadcount} @var{nextthread}
34781 Obtain thread information from RTOS. Where: @var{startflag} (one hex
34782 digit) is one to indicate the first query and zero to indicate a
34783 subsequent query; @var{threadcount} (two hex digits) is the maximum
34784 number of threads the response packet can contain; and @var{nextthread}
34785 (eight hex digits), for subsequent queries (@var{startflag} is zero), is
34786 returned in the response as @var{argthread}.
34787
34788 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query instead (see above).
34789
34790 Reply:
34791 @table @samp
34792 @item qM @var{count} @var{done} @var{argthread} @var{thread}@dots{}
34793 Where: @var{count} (two hex digits) is the number of threads being
34794 returned; @var{done} (one hex digit) is zero to indicate more threads
34795 and one indicates no further threads; @var{argthreadid} (eight hex
34796 digits) is @var{nextthread} from the request packet; @var{thread}@dots{}
34797 is a sequence of thread IDs from the target. @var{threadid} (eight hex
34798 digits). See @code{remote.c:parse_threadlist_response()}.
34799 @end table
34800
34801 @item qOffsets
34802 @cindex section offsets, remote request
34803 @cindex @samp{qOffsets} packet
34804 Get section offsets that the target used when relocating the downloaded
34805 image.
34806
34807 Reply:
34808 @table @samp
34809 @item Text=@var{xxx};Data=@var{yyy}@r{[};Bss=@var{zzz}@r{]}
34810 Relocate the @code{Text} section by @var{xxx} from its original address.
34811 Relocate the @code{Data} section by @var{yyy} from its original address.
34812 If the object file format provides segment information (e.g.@: @sc{elf}
34813 @samp{PT_LOAD} program headers), @value{GDBN} will relocate entire
34814 segments by the supplied offsets.
34815
34816 @emph{Note: while a @code{Bss} offset may be included in the response,
34817 @value{GDBN} ignores this and instead applies the @code{Data} offset
34818 to the @code{Bss} section.}
34819
34820 @item TextSeg=@var{xxx}@r{[};DataSeg=@var{yyy}@r{]}
34821 Relocate the first segment of the object file, which conventionally
34822 contains program code, to a starting address of @var{xxx}. If
34823 @samp{DataSeg} is specified, relocate the second segment, which
34824 conventionally contains modifiable data, to a starting address of
34825 @var{yyy}. @value{GDBN} will report an error if the object file
34826 does not contain segment information, or does not contain at least
34827 as many segments as mentioned in the reply. Extra segments are
34828 kept at fixed offsets relative to the last relocated segment.
34829 @end table
34830
34831 @item qP @var{mode} @var{thread-id}
34832 @cindex thread information, remote request
34833 @cindex @samp{qP} packet
34834 Returns information on @var{thread-id}. Where: @var{mode} is a hex
34835 encoded 32 bit mode; @var{thread-id} is a thread ID
34836 (@pxref{thread-id syntax}).
34837
34838 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} query instead
34839 (see below).
34840
34841 Reply: see @code{remote.c:remote_unpack_thread_info_response()}.
34842
34843 @item QNonStop:1
34844 @item QNonStop:0
34845 @cindex non-stop mode, remote request
34846 @cindex @samp{QNonStop} packet
34847 @anchor{QNonStop}
34848 Enter non-stop (@samp{QNonStop:1}) or all-stop (@samp{QNonStop:0}) mode.
34849 @xref{Remote Non-Stop}, for more information.
34850
34851 Reply:
34852 @table @samp
34853 @item OK
34854 The request succeeded.
34855
34856 @item E @var{nn}
34857 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
34858
34859 @item
34860 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QNonStop} is not supported by
34861 the stub.
34862 @end table
34863
34864 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
34865 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
34866 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set non-stop} command;
34867 @pxref{Non-Stop Mode}.
34868
34869 @item QPassSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
34870 @cindex pass signals to inferior, remote request
34871 @cindex @samp{QPassSignals} packet
34872 @anchor{QPassSignals}
34873 Each listed @var{signal} should be passed directly to the inferior process.
34874 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
34875 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
34876 strictly greater than the previous item. These signals do not need to stop
34877 the inferior, or be reported to @value{GDBN}. All other signals should be
34878 reported to @value{GDBN}. Multiple @samp{QPassSignals} packets do not
34879 combine; any earlier @samp{QPassSignals} list is completely replaced by the
34880 new list. This packet improves performance when using @samp{handle
34881 @var{signal} nostop noprint pass}.
34882
34883 Reply:
34884 @table @samp
34885 @item OK
34886 The request succeeded.
34887
34888 @item E @var{nn}
34889 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
34890
34891 @item
34892 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QPassSignals} is not supported by
34893 the stub.
34894 @end table
34895
34896 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote pass-signals}
34897 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote pass-signals}).
34898 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
34899 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
34900
34901 @item qRcmd,@var{command}
34902 @cindex execute remote command, remote request
34903 @cindex @samp{qRcmd} packet
34904 @var{command} (hex encoded) is passed to the local interpreter for
34905 execution. Invalid commands should be reported using the output
34906 string. Before the final result packet, the target may also respond
34907 with a number of intermediate @samp{O@var{output}} console output
34908 packets. @emph{Implementors should note that providing access to a
34909 stubs's interpreter may have security implications}.
34910
34911 Reply:
34912 @table @samp
34913 @item OK
34914 A command response with no output.
34915 @item @var{OUTPUT}
34916 A command response with the hex encoded output string @var{OUTPUT}.
34917 @item E @var{NN}
34918 Indicate a badly formed request.
34919 @item
34920 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qRcmd} is not recognized.
34921 @end table
34922
34923 (Note that the @code{qRcmd} packet's name is separated from the
34924 command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
34925 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
34926 packets.)
34927
34928 @item qSearch:memory:@var{address};@var{length};@var{search-pattern}
34929 @cindex searching memory, in remote debugging
34930 @cindex @samp{qSearch:memory} packet
34931 @anchor{qSearch memory}
34932 Search @var{length} bytes at @var{address} for @var{search-pattern}.
34933 @var{address} and @var{length} are encoded in hex.
34934 @var{search-pattern} is a sequence of bytes, hex encoded.
34935
34936 Reply:
34937 @table @samp
34938 @item 0
34939 The pattern was not found.
34940 @item 1,address
34941 The pattern was found at @var{address}.
34942 @item E @var{NN}
34943 A badly formed request or an error was encountered while searching memory.
34944 @item
34945 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSearch:memory} is not recognized.
34946 @end table
34947
34948 @item QStartNoAckMode
34949 @cindex @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet
34950 @anchor{QStartNoAckMode}
34951 Request that the remote stub disable the normal @samp{+}/@samp{-}
34952 protocol acknowledgments (@pxref{Packet Acknowledgment}).
34953
34954 Reply:
34955 @table @samp
34956 @item OK
34957 The stub has switched to no-acknowledgment mode.
34958 @value{GDBN} acknowledges this reponse,
34959 but neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or expect further
34960 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments in the current connection.
34961 @item
34962 An empty reply indicates that the stub does not support no-acknowledgment mode.
34963 @end table
34964
34965 @item qSupported @r{[}:@var{gdbfeature} @r{[};@var{gdbfeature}@r{]}@dots{} @r{]}
34966 @cindex supported packets, remote query
34967 @cindex features of the remote protocol
34968 @cindex @samp{qSupported} packet
34969 @anchor{qSupported}
34970 Tell the remote stub about features supported by @value{GDBN}, and
34971 query the stub for features it supports. This packet allows
34972 @value{GDBN} and the remote stub to take advantage of each others'
34973 features. @samp{qSupported} also consolidates multiple feature probes
34974 at startup, to improve @value{GDBN} performance---a single larger
34975 packet performs better than multiple smaller probe packets on
34976 high-latency links. Some features may enable behavior which must not
34977 be on by default, e.g.@: because it would confuse older clients or
34978 stubs. Other features may describe packets which could be
34979 automatically probed for, but are not. These features must be
34980 reported before @value{GDBN} will use them. This ``default
34981 unsupported'' behavior is not appropriate for all packets, but it
34982 helps to keep the initial connection time under control with new
34983 versions of @value{GDBN} which support increasing numbers of packets.
34984
34985 Reply:
34986 @table @samp
34987 @item @var{stubfeature} @r{[};@var{stubfeature}@r{]}@dots{}
34988 The stub supports or does not support each returned @var{stubfeature},
34989 depending on the form of each @var{stubfeature} (see below for the
34990 possible forms).
34991 @item
34992 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSupported} is not recognized,
34993 or that no features needed to be reported to @value{GDBN}.
34994 @end table
34995
34996 The allowed forms for each feature (either a @var{gdbfeature} in the
34997 @samp{qSupported} packet, or a @var{stubfeature} in the response)
34998 are:
34999
35000 @table @samp
35001 @item @var{name}=@var{value}
35002 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and associated
35003 with the specified @var{value}. The format of @var{value} depends
35004 on the feature, but it must not include a semicolon.
35005 @item @var{name}+
35006 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and does not
35007 need an associated value.
35008 @item @var{name}-
35009 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is not supported.
35010 @item @var{name}?
35011 The remote protocol feature @var{name} may be supported, and
35012 @value{GDBN} should auto-detect support in some other way when it is
35013 needed. This form will not be used for @var{gdbfeature} notifications,
35014 but may be used for @var{stubfeature} responses.
35015 @end table
35016
35017 Whenever the stub receives a @samp{qSupported} request, the
35018 supplied set of @value{GDBN} features should override any previous
35019 request. This allows @value{GDBN} to put the stub in a known
35020 state, even if the stub had previously been communicating with
35021 a different version of @value{GDBN}.
35022
35023 The following values of @var{gdbfeature} (for the packet sent by @value{GDBN})
35024 are defined:
35025
35026 @table @samp
35027 @item multiprocess
35028 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports multiprocess
35029 extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
35030 extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
35031 including @samp{multiprocess+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
35032 @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for details.
35033
35034 @item xmlRegisters
35035 This feature indicates that @value{GDBN} supports the XML target
35036 description. If the stub sees @samp{xmlRegisters=} with target
35037 specific strings separated by a comma, it will report register
35038 description.
35039
35040 @item qRelocInsn
35041 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports the
35042 @samp{qRelocInsn} packet (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
35043 instruction reply packet}).
35044 @end table
35045
35046 Stubs should ignore any unknown values for
35047 @var{gdbfeature}. Any @value{GDBN} which sends a @samp{qSupported}
35048 packet supports receiving packets of unlimited length (earlier
35049 versions of @value{GDBN} may reject overly long responses). Additional values
35050 for @var{gdbfeature} may be defined in the future to let the stub take
35051 advantage of new features in @value{GDBN}, e.g.@: incompatible
35052 improvements in the remote protocol---the @samp{multiprocess} feature is
35053 an example of such a feature. The stub's reply should be independent
35054 of the @var{gdbfeature} entries sent by @value{GDBN}; first @value{GDBN}
35055 describes all the features it supports, and then the stub replies with
35056 all the features it supports.
35057
35058 Similarly, @value{GDBN} will silently ignore unrecognized stub feature
35059 responses, as long as each response uses one of the standard forms.
35060
35061 Some features are flags. A stub which supports a flag feature
35062 should respond with a @samp{+} form response. Other features
35063 require values, and the stub should respond with an @samp{=}
35064 form response.
35065
35066 Each feature has a default value, which @value{GDBN} will use if
35067 @samp{qSupported} is not available or if the feature is not mentioned
35068 in the @samp{qSupported} response. The default values are fixed; a
35069 stub is free to omit any feature responses that match the defaults.
35070
35071 Not all features can be probed, but for those which can, the probing
35072 mechanism is useful: in some cases, a stub's internal
35073 architecture may not allow the protocol layer to know some information
35074 about the underlying target in advance. This is especially common in
35075 stubs which may be configured for multiple targets.
35076
35077 These are the currently defined stub features and their properties:
35078
35079 @multitable @columnfractions 0.35 0.2 0.12 0.2
35080 @c NOTE: The first row should be @headitem, but we do not yet require
35081 @c a new enough version of Texinfo (4.7) to use @headitem.
35082 @item Feature Name
35083 @tab Value Required
35084 @tab Default
35085 @tab Probe Allowed
35086
35087 @item @samp{PacketSize}
35088 @tab Yes
35089 @tab @samp{-}
35090 @tab No
35091
35092 @item @samp{qXfer:auxv:read}
35093 @tab No
35094 @tab @samp{-}
35095 @tab Yes
35096
35097 @item @samp{qXfer:features:read}
35098 @tab No
35099 @tab @samp{-}
35100 @tab Yes
35101
35102 @item @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
35103 @tab No
35104 @tab @samp{-}
35105 @tab Yes
35106
35107 @item @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
35108 @tab No
35109 @tab @samp{-}
35110 @tab Yes
35111
35112 @item @samp{qXfer:sdata:read}
35113 @tab No
35114 @tab @samp{-}
35115 @tab Yes
35116
35117 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:read}
35118 @tab No
35119 @tab @samp{-}
35120 @tab Yes
35121
35122 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:write}
35123 @tab No
35124 @tab @samp{-}
35125 @tab Yes
35126
35127 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read}
35128 @tab No
35129 @tab @samp{-}
35130 @tab Yes
35131
35132 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write}
35133 @tab No
35134 @tab @samp{-}
35135 @tab Yes
35136
35137 @item @samp{qXfer:threads:read}
35138 @tab No
35139 @tab @samp{-}
35140 @tab Yes
35141
35142 @item @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
35143 @tab No
35144 @tab @samp{-}
35145 @tab Yes
35146
35147 @item @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
35148 @tab No
35149 @tab @samp{-}
35150 @tab Yes
35151
35152 @item @samp{QNonStop}
35153 @tab No
35154 @tab @samp{-}
35155 @tab Yes
35156
35157 @item @samp{QPassSignals}
35158 @tab No
35159 @tab @samp{-}
35160 @tab Yes
35161
35162 @item @samp{QStartNoAckMode}
35163 @tab No
35164 @tab @samp{-}
35165 @tab Yes
35166
35167 @item @samp{multiprocess}
35168 @tab No
35169 @tab @samp{-}
35170 @tab No
35171
35172 @item @samp{ConditionalBreakpoints}
35173 @tab No
35174 @tab @samp{-}
35175 @tab No
35176
35177 @item @samp{ConditionalTracepoints}
35178 @tab No
35179 @tab @samp{-}
35180 @tab No
35181
35182 @item @samp{ReverseContinue}
35183 @tab No
35184 @tab @samp{-}
35185 @tab No
35186
35187 @item @samp{ReverseStep}
35188 @tab No
35189 @tab @samp{-}
35190 @tab No
35191
35192 @item @samp{TracepointSource}
35193 @tab No
35194 @tab @samp{-}
35195 @tab No
35196
35197 @item @samp{QAllow}
35198 @tab No
35199 @tab @samp{-}
35200 @tab No
35201
35202 @item @samp{QDisableRandomization}
35203 @tab No
35204 @tab @samp{-}
35205 @tab No
35206
35207 @item @samp{EnableDisableTracepoints}
35208 @tab No
35209 @tab @samp{-}
35210 @tab No
35211
35212 @item @samp{tracenz}
35213 @tab No
35214 @tab @samp{-}
35215 @tab No
35216
35217 @end multitable
35218
35219 These are the currently defined stub features, in more detail:
35220
35221 @table @samp
35222 @cindex packet size, remote protocol
35223 @item PacketSize=@var{bytes}
35224 The remote stub can accept packets up to at least @var{bytes} in
35225 length. @value{GDBN} will send packets up to this size for bulk
35226 transfers, and will never send larger packets. This is a limit on the
35227 data characters in the packet, including the frame and checksum.
35228 There is no trailing NUL byte in a remote protocol packet; if the stub
35229 stores packets in a NUL-terminated format, it should allow an extra
35230 byte in its buffer for the NUL. If this stub feature is not supported,
35231 @value{GDBN} guesses based on the size of the @samp{g} packet response.
35232
35233 @item qXfer:auxv:read
35234 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet
35235 (@pxref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}).
35236
35237 @item qXfer:features:read
35238 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:features:read} packet
35239 (@pxref{qXfer target description read}).
35240
35241 @item qXfer:libraries:read
35242 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet
35243 (@pxref{qXfer library list read}).
35244
35245 @item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read
35246 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet
35247 (@pxref{qXfer svr4 library list read}).
35248
35249 @item qXfer:memory-map:read
35250 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read} packet
35251 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}).
35252
35253 @item qXfer:sdata:read
35254 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:sdata:read} packet
35255 (@pxref{qXfer sdata read}).
35256
35257 @item qXfer:spu:read
35258 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:read} packet
35259 (@pxref{qXfer spu read}).
35260
35261 @item qXfer:spu:write
35262 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:write} packet
35263 (@pxref{qXfer spu write}).
35264
35265 @item qXfer:siginfo:read
35266 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read} packet
35267 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo read}).
35268
35269 @item qXfer:siginfo:write
35270 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write} packet
35271 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo write}).
35272
35273 @item qXfer:threads:read
35274 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
35275 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}).
35276
35277 @item qXfer:traceframe-info:read
35278 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
35279 packet (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}).
35280
35281 @item qXfer:fdpic:read
35282 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
35283 packet (@pxref{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}).
35284
35285 @item QNonStop
35286 The remote stub understands the @samp{QNonStop} packet
35287 (@pxref{QNonStop}).
35288
35289 @item QPassSignals
35290 The remote stub understands the @samp{QPassSignals} packet
35291 (@pxref{QPassSignals}).
35292
35293 @item QStartNoAckMode
35294 The remote stub understands the @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet and
35295 prefers to operate in no-acknowledgment mode. @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}.
35296
35297 @item multiprocess
35298 @anchor{multiprocess extensions}
35299 @cindex multiprocess extensions, in remote protocol
35300 The remote stub understands the multiprocess extensions to the remote
35301 protocol syntax. The multiprocess extensions affect the syntax of
35302 thread IDs in both packets and replies (@pxref{thread-id syntax}), and
35303 add process IDs to the @samp{D} packet and @samp{W} and @samp{X}
35304 replies. Note that reporting this feature indicates support for the
35305 syntactic extensions only, not that the stub necessarily supports
35306 debugging of more than one process at a time. The stub must not use
35307 multiprocess extensions in packet replies unless @value{GDBN} has also
35308 indicated it supports them in its @samp{qSupported} request.
35309
35310 @item qXfer:osdata:read
35311 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet
35312 ((@pxref{qXfer osdata read}).
35313
35314 @item ConditionalBreakpoints
35315 The target accepts and implements evaluation of conditional expressions
35316 defined for breakpoints. The target will only report breakpoint triggers
35317 when such conditions are true (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
35318
35319 @item ConditionalTracepoints
35320 The remote stub accepts and implements conditional expressions defined
35321 for tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoint Conditions}).
35322
35323 @item ReverseContinue
35324 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse continue packet
35325 (@pxref{bc}).
35326
35327 @item ReverseStep
35328 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse step packet
35329 (@pxref{bs}).
35330
35331 @item TracepointSource
35332 The remote stub understands the @samp{QTDPsrc} packet that supplies
35333 the source form of tracepoint definitions.
35334
35335 @item QAllow
35336 The remote stub understands the @samp{QAllow} packet.
35337
35338 @item QDisableRandomization
35339 The remote stub understands the @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet.
35340
35341 @item StaticTracepoint
35342 @cindex static tracepoints, in remote protocol
35343 The remote stub supports static tracepoints.
35344
35345 @item InstallInTrace
35346 @anchor{install tracepoint in tracing}
35347 The remote stub supports installing tracepoint in tracing.
35348
35349 @item EnableDisableTracepoints
35350 The remote stub supports the @samp{QTEnable} (@pxref{QTEnable}) and
35351 @samp{QTDisable} (@pxref{QTDisable}) packets that allow tracepoints
35352 to be enabled and disabled while a trace experiment is running.
35353
35354 @item tracenz
35355 @cindex string tracing, in remote protocol
35356 The remote stub supports the @samp{tracenz} bytecode for collecting strings.
35357 See @ref{Bytecode Descriptions} for details about the bytecode.
35358
35359 @end table
35360
35361 @item qSymbol::
35362 @cindex symbol lookup, remote request
35363 @cindex @samp{qSymbol} packet
35364 Notify the target that @value{GDBN} is prepared to serve symbol lookup
35365 requests. Accept requests from the target for the values of symbols.
35366
35367 Reply:
35368 @table @samp
35369 @item OK
35370 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
35371 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
35372 The target requests the value of symbol @var{sym_name} (hex encoded).
35373 @value{GDBN} may provide the value by using the
35374 @samp{qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}} message, described
35375 below.
35376 @end table
35377
35378 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}
35379 Set the value of @var{sym_name} to @var{sym_value}.
35380
35381 @var{sym_name} (hex encoded) is the name of a symbol whose value the
35382 target has previously requested.
35383
35384 @var{sym_value} (hex) is the value for symbol @var{sym_name}. If
35385 @value{GDBN} cannot supply a value for @var{sym_name}, then this field
35386 will be empty.
35387
35388 Reply:
35389 @table @samp
35390 @item OK
35391 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
35392 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
35393 The target requests the value of a new symbol @var{sym_name} (hex
35394 encoded). @value{GDBN} will continue to supply the values of symbols
35395 (if available), until the target ceases to request them.
35396 @end table
35397
35398 @item qTBuffer
35399 @item QTBuffer
35400 @item QTDisconnected
35401 @itemx QTDP
35402 @itemx QTDPsrc
35403 @itemx QTDV
35404 @itemx qTfP
35405 @itemx qTfV
35406 @itemx QTFrame
35407 @itemx qTMinFTPILen
35408
35409 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
35410
35411 @item qThreadExtraInfo,@var{thread-id}
35412 @cindex thread attributes info, remote request
35413 @cindex @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} packet
35414 Obtain a printable string description of a thread's attributes from
35415 the target OS. @var{thread-id} is a thread ID;
35416 see @ref{thread-id syntax}. This
35417 string may contain anything that the target OS thinks is interesting
35418 for @value{GDBN} to tell the user about the thread. The string is
35419 displayed in @value{GDBN}'s @code{info threads} display. Some
35420 examples of possible thread extra info strings are @samp{Runnable}, or
35421 @samp{Blocked on Mutex}.
35422
35423 Reply:
35424 @table @samp
35425 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
35426 Where @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is a hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data,
35427 comprising the printable string containing the extra information about
35428 the thread's attributes.
35429 @end table
35430
35431 (Note that the @code{qThreadExtraInfo} packet's name is separated from
35432 the command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
35433 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
35434 packets.)
35435
35436 @item QTNotes
35437 @item qTP
35438 @item QTSave
35439 @item qTsP
35440 @item qTsV
35441 @itemx QTStart
35442 @itemx QTStop
35443 @itemx QTEnable
35444 @itemx QTDisable
35445 @itemx QTinit
35446 @itemx QTro
35447 @itemx qTStatus
35448 @itemx qTV
35449 @itemx qTfSTM
35450 @itemx qTsSTM
35451 @itemx qTSTMat
35452 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
35453
35454 @item qXfer:@var{object}:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
35455 @cindex read special object, remote request
35456 @cindex @samp{qXfer} packet
35457 @anchor{qXfer read}
35458 Read uninterpreted bytes from the target's special data area
35459 identified by the keyword @var{object}. Request @var{length} bytes
35460 starting at @var{offset} bytes into the data. The content and
35461 encoding of @var{annex} is specific to @var{object}; it can supply
35462 additional details about what data to access.
35463
35464 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
35465 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:read:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
35466 formats, listed below.
35467
35468 @table @samp
35469 @item qXfer:auxv:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
35470 @anchor{qXfer auxiliary vector read}
35471 Access the target's @dfn{auxiliary vector}. @xref{OS Information,
35472 auxiliary vector}. Note @var{annex} must be empty.
35473
35474 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35475 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35476
35477 @item qXfer:features:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
35478 @anchor{qXfer target description read}
35479 Access the @dfn{target description}. @xref{Target Descriptions}. The
35480 annex specifies which XML document to access. The main description is
35481 always loaded from the @samp{target.xml} annex.
35482
35483 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35484 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35485
35486 @item qXfer:libraries:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
35487 @anchor{qXfer library list read}
35488 Access the target's list of loaded libraries. @xref{Library List Format}.
35489 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
35490 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
35491
35492 Targets which maintain a list of libraries in the program's memory do
35493 not need to implement this packet; it is designed for platforms where
35494 the operating system manages the list of loaded libraries.
35495
35496 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35497 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35498
35499 @item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
35500 @anchor{qXfer svr4 library list read}
35501 Access the target's list of loaded libraries when the target is an SVR4
35502 platform. @xref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets}. The annex part
35503 of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
35504
35505 This packet is optional for better performance on SVR4 targets.
35506 @value{GDBN} uses memory read packets to read the SVR4 library list otherwise.
35507
35508 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35509 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35510
35511 @item qXfer:memory-map:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
35512 @anchor{qXfer memory map read}
35513 Access the target's @dfn{memory-map}. @xref{Memory Map Format}. The
35514 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
35515 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
35516
35517 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35518 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35519
35520 @item qXfer:sdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
35521 @anchor{qXfer sdata read}
35522
35523 Read contents of the extra collected static tracepoint marker
35524 information. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must
35525 be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}). @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint
35526 Action Lists}.
35527
35528 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35529 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
35530 (@pxref{qSupported}).
35531
35532 @item qXfer:siginfo:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
35533 @anchor{qXfer siginfo read}
35534 Read contents of the extra signal information on the target
35535 system. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
35536 empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
35537
35538 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35539 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
35540 (@pxref{qSupported}).
35541
35542 @item qXfer:spu:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
35543 @anchor{qXfer spu read}
35544 Read contents of an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
35545 annex specifies which file to read; it must be of the form
35546 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
35547 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
35548 in that context to be accessed.
35549
35550 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35551 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
35552 (@pxref{qSupported}).
35553
35554 @item qXfer:threads:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
35555 @anchor{qXfer threads read}
35556 Access the list of threads on target. @xref{Thread List Format}. The
35557 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
35558 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
35559
35560 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35561 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35562
35563 @item qXfer:traceframe-info:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
35564 @anchor{qXfer traceframe info read}
35565
35566 Return a description of the current traceframe's contents.
35567 @xref{Traceframe Info Format}. The annex part of the generic
35568 @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
35569
35570 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35571 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35572
35573 @item qXfer:fdpic:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
35574 @anchor{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}
35575 Read contents of @code{loadmap}s on the target system. The
35576 annex, either @samp{exec} or @samp{interp}, specifies which @code{loadmap},
35577 executable @code{loadmap} or interpreter @code{loadmap} to read.
35578
35579 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35580 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35581
35582 @item qXfer:osdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
35583 @anchor{qXfer osdata read}
35584 Access the target's @dfn{operating system information}.
35585 @xref{Operating System Information}.
35586
35587 @end table
35588
35589 Reply:
35590 @table @samp
35591 @item m @var{data}
35592 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the
35593 target. There may be more data at a higher address (although
35594 it is permitted to return @samp{m} even for the last valid
35595 block of data, as long as at least one byte of data was read).
35596 @var{data} may have fewer bytes than the @var{length} in the
35597 request.
35598
35599 @item l @var{data}
35600 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the target.
35601 There is no more data to be read. @var{data} may have fewer bytes
35602 than the @var{length} in the request.
35603
35604 @item l
35605 The @var{offset} in the request is at the end of the data.
35606 There is no more data to be read.
35607
35608 @item E00
35609 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
35610
35611 @item E @var{nn}
35612 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered reading the data.
35613 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
35614
35615 @item
35616 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not recognized by
35617 the stub, or that the object does not support reading.
35618 @end table
35619
35620 @item qXfer:@var{object}:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
35621 @cindex write data into object, remote request
35622 @anchor{qXfer write}
35623 Write uninterpreted bytes into the target's special data area
35624 identified by the keyword @var{object}, starting at @var{offset} bytes
35625 into the data. @var{data}@dots{} is the binary-encoded data
35626 (@pxref{Binary Data}) to be written. The content and encoding of @var{annex}
35627 is specific to @var{object}; it can supply additional details about what data
35628 to access.
35629
35630 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
35631 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:write:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
35632 formats, listed below.
35633
35634 @table @samp
35635 @item qXfer:siginfo:write::@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
35636 @anchor{qXfer siginfo write}
35637 Write @var{data} to the extra signal information on the target system.
35638 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
35639 empty (@pxref{qXfer write}).
35640
35641 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35642 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
35643 (@pxref{qSupported}).
35644
35645 @item qXfer:spu:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
35646 @anchor{qXfer spu write}
35647 Write @var{data} to an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
35648 annex specifies which file to write; it must be of the form
35649 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
35650 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
35651 in that context to be accessed.
35652
35653 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
35654 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
35655 @end table
35656
35657 Reply:
35658 @table @samp
35659 @item @var{nn}
35660 @var{nn} (hex encoded) is the number of bytes written.
35661 This may be fewer bytes than supplied in the request.
35662
35663 @item E00
35664 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
35665
35666 @item E @var{nn}
35667 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered writing the data.
35668 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
35669
35670 @item
35671 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not
35672 recognized by the stub, or that the object does not support writing.
35673 @end table
35674
35675 @item qXfer:@var{object}:@var{operation}:@dots{}
35676 Requests of this form may be added in the future. When a stub does
35677 not recognize the @var{object} keyword, or its support for
35678 @var{object} does not recognize the @var{operation} keyword, the stub
35679 must respond with an empty packet.
35680
35681 @item qAttached:@var{pid}
35682 @cindex query attached, remote request
35683 @cindex @samp{qAttached} packet
35684 Return an indication of whether the remote server attached to an
35685 existing process or created a new process. When the multiprocess
35686 protocol extensions are supported (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}),
35687 @var{pid} is an integer in hexadecimal format identifying the target
35688 process. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} will omit the @var{pid} field and
35689 the query packet will be simplified as @samp{qAttached}.
35690
35691 This query is used, for example, to know whether the remote process
35692 should be detached or killed when a @value{GDBN} session is ended with
35693 the @code{quit} command.
35694
35695 Reply:
35696 @table @samp
35697 @item 1
35698 The remote server attached to an existing process.
35699 @item 0
35700 The remote server created a new process.
35701 @item E @var{NN}
35702 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
35703 @end table
35704
35705 @end table
35706
35707 @node Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
35708 @section Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
35709
35710 This section describes how the remote protocol is applied to specific
35711 target architectures. Also see @ref{Standard Target Features}, for
35712 details of XML target descriptions for each architecture.
35713
35714 @subsection ARM
35715
35716 @subsubsection Breakpoint Kinds
35717
35718 These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
35719
35720 @table @r
35721
35722 @item 2
35723 16-bit Thumb mode breakpoint.
35724
35725 @item 3
35726 32-bit Thumb mode (Thumb-2) breakpoint.
35727
35728 @item 4
35729 32-bit ARM mode breakpoint.
35730
35731 @end table
35732
35733 @subsection MIPS
35734
35735 @subsubsection Register Packet Format
35736
35737 The following @code{g}/@code{G} packets have previously been defined.
35738 In the below, some thirty-two bit registers are transferred as
35739 sixty-four bits. Those registers should be zero/sign extended (which?)
35740 to fill the space allocated. Register bytes are transferred in target
35741 byte order. The two nibbles within a register byte are transferred
35742 most-significant - least-significant.
35743
35744 @table @r
35745
35746 @item MIPS32
35747
35748 All registers are transferred as thirty-two bit quantities in the order:
35749 32 general-purpose; sr; lo; hi; bad; cause; pc; 32 floating-point
35750 registers; fsr; fir; fp.
35751
35752 @item MIPS64
35753
35754 All registers are transferred as sixty-four bit quantities (including
35755 thirty-two bit registers such as @code{sr}). The ordering is the same
35756 as @code{MIPS32}.
35757
35758 @end table
35759
35760 @node Tracepoint Packets
35761 @section Tracepoint Packets
35762 @cindex tracepoint packets
35763 @cindex packets, tracepoint
35764
35765 Here we describe the packets @value{GDBN} uses to implement
35766 tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
35767
35768 @table @samp
35769
35770 @item QTDP:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{ena}:@var{step}:@var{pass}[:F@var{flen}][:X@var{len},@var{bytes}]@r{[}-@r{]}
35771 Create a new tracepoint, number @var{n}, at @var{addr}. If @var{ena}
35772 is @samp{E}, then the tracepoint is enabled; if it is @samp{D}, then
35773 the tracepoint is disabled. @var{step} is the tracepoint's step
35774 count, and @var{pass} is its pass count. If an @samp{F} is present,
35775 then the tracepoint is to be a fast tracepoint, and the @var{flen} is
35776 the number of bytes that the target should copy elsewhere to make room
35777 for the tracepoint. If an @samp{X} is present, it introduces a
35778 tracepoint condition, which consists of a hexadecimal length, followed
35779 by a comma and hex-encoded bytes, in a manner similar to action
35780 encodings as described below. If the trailing @samp{-} is present,
35781 further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow to specify this tracepoint's
35782 actions.
35783
35784 Replies:
35785 @table @samp
35786 @item OK
35787 The packet was understood and carried out.
35788 @item qRelocInsn
35789 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
35790 @item
35791 The packet was not recognized.
35792 @end table
35793
35794 @item QTDP:-@var{n}:@var{addr}:@r{[}S@r{]}@var{action}@dots{}@r{[}-@r{]}
35795 Define actions to be taken when a tracepoint is hit. @var{n} and
35796 @var{addr} must be the same as in the initial @samp{QTDP} packet for
35797 this tracepoint. This packet may only be sent immediately after
35798 another @samp{QTDP} packet that ended with a @samp{-}. If the
35799 trailing @samp{-} is present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow,
35800 specifying more actions for this tracepoint.
35801
35802 In the series of action packets for a given tracepoint, at most one
35803 can have an @samp{S} before its first @var{action}. If such a packet
35804 is sent, it and the following packets define ``while-stepping''
35805 actions. Any prior packets define ordinary actions --- that is, those
35806 taken when the tracepoint is first hit. If no action packet has an
35807 @samp{S}, then all the packets in the series specify ordinary
35808 tracepoint actions.
35809
35810 The @samp{@var{action}@dots{}} portion of the packet is a series of
35811 actions, concatenated without separators. Each action has one of the
35812 following forms:
35813
35814 @table @samp
35815
35816 @item R @var{mask}
35817 Collect the registers whose bits are set in @var{mask}. @var{mask} is
35818 a hexadecimal number whose @var{i}'th bit is set if register number
35819 @var{i} should be collected. (The least significant bit is numbered
35820 zero.) Note that @var{mask} may be any number of digits long; it may
35821 not fit in a 32-bit word.
35822
35823 @item M @var{basereg},@var{offset},@var{len}
35824 Collect @var{len} bytes of memory starting at the address in register
35825 number @var{basereg}, plus @var{offset}. If @var{basereg} is
35826 @samp{-1}, then the range has a fixed address: @var{offset} is the
35827 address of the lowest byte to collect. The @var{basereg},
35828 @var{offset}, and @var{len} parameters are all unsigned hexadecimal
35829 values (the @samp{-1} value for @var{basereg} is a special case).
35830
35831 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
35832 Evaluate @var{expr}, whose length is @var{len}, and collect memory as
35833 it directs. @var{expr} is an agent expression, as described in
35834 @ref{Agent Expressions}. Each byte of the expression is encoded as a
35835 two-digit hex number in the packet; @var{len} is the number of bytes
35836 in the expression (and thus one-half the number of hex digits in the
35837 packet).
35838
35839 @end table
35840
35841 Any number of actions may be packed together in a single @samp{QTDP}
35842 packet, as long as the packet does not exceed the maximum packet
35843 length (400 bytes, for many stubs). There may be only one @samp{R}
35844 action per tracepoint, and it must precede any @samp{M} or @samp{X}
35845 actions. Any registers referred to by @samp{M} and @samp{X} actions
35846 must be collected by a preceding @samp{R} action. (The
35847 ``while-stepping'' actions are treated as if they were attached to a
35848 separate tracepoint, as far as these restrictions are concerned.)
35849
35850 Replies:
35851 @table @samp
35852 @item OK
35853 The packet was understood and carried out.
35854 @item qRelocInsn
35855 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
35856 @item
35857 The packet was not recognized.
35858 @end table
35859
35860 @item QTDPsrc:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{type}:@var{start}:@var{slen}:@var{bytes}
35861 @cindex @samp{QTDPsrc} packet
35862 Specify a source string of tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr}.
35863 This is useful to get accurate reproduction of the tracepoints
35864 originally downloaded at the beginning of the trace run. @var{type}
35865 is the name of the tracepoint part, such as @samp{cond} for the
35866 tracepoint's conditional expression (see below for a list of types), while
35867 @var{bytes} is the string, encoded in hexadecimal.
35868
35869 @var{start} is the offset of the @var{bytes} within the overall source
35870 string, while @var{slen} is the total length of the source string.
35871 This is intended for handling source strings that are longer than will
35872 fit in a single packet.
35873 @c Add detailed example when this info is moved into a dedicated
35874 @c tracepoint descriptions section.
35875
35876 The available string types are @samp{at} for the location,
35877 @samp{cond} for the conditional, and @samp{cmd} for an action command.
35878 @value{GDBN} sends a separate packet for each command in the action
35879 list, in the same order in which the commands are stored in the list.
35880
35881 The target does not need to do anything with source strings except
35882 report them back as part of the replies to the @samp{qTfP}/@samp{qTsP}
35883 query packets.
35884
35885 Although this packet is optional, and @value{GDBN} will only send it
35886 if the target replies with @samp{TracepointSource} @xref{General
35887 Query Packets}, it makes both disconnected tracing and trace files
35888 much easier to use. Otherwise the user must be careful that the
35889 tracepoints in effect while looking at trace frames are identical to
35890 the ones in effect during the trace run; even a small discrepancy
35891 could cause @samp{tdump} not to work, or a particular trace frame not
35892 be found.
35893
35894 @item QTDV:@var{n}:@var{value}
35895 @cindex define trace state variable, remote request
35896 @cindex @samp{QTDV} packet
35897 Create a new trace state variable, number @var{n}, with an initial
35898 value of @var{value}, which is a 64-bit signed integer. Both @var{n}
35899 and @var{value} are encoded as hexadecimal values. @value{GDBN} has
35900 the option of not using this packet for initial values of zero; the
35901 target should simply create the trace state variables as they are
35902 mentioned in expressions.
35903
35904 @item QTFrame:@var{n}
35905 Select the @var{n}'th tracepoint frame from the buffer, and use the
35906 register and memory contents recorded there to answer subsequent
35907 request packets from @value{GDBN}.
35908
35909 A successful reply from the stub indicates that the stub has found the
35910 requested frame. The response is a series of parts, concatenated
35911 without separators, describing the frame we selected. Each part has
35912 one of the following forms:
35913
35914 @table @samp
35915 @item F @var{f}
35916 The selected frame is number @var{n} in the trace frame buffer;
35917 @var{f} is a hexadecimal number. If @var{f} is @samp{-1}, then there
35918 was no frame matching the criteria in the request packet.
35919
35920 @item T @var{t}
35921 The selected trace frame records a hit of tracepoint number @var{t};
35922 @var{t} is a hexadecimal number.
35923
35924 @end table
35925
35926 @item QTFrame:pc:@var{addr}
35927 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
35928 currently selected frame whose PC is @var{addr};
35929 @var{addr} is a hexadecimal number.
35930
35931 @item QTFrame:tdp:@var{t}
35932 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
35933 currently selected frame that is a hit of tracepoint @var{t}; @var{t}
35934 is a hexadecimal number.
35935
35936 @item QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}
35937 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
35938 currently selected frame whose PC is between @var{start} (inclusive)
35939 and @var{end} (inclusive); @var{start} and @var{end} are hexadecimal
35940 numbers.
35941
35942 @item QTFrame:outside:@var{start}:@var{end}
35943 Like @samp{QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}}, but select the first
35944 frame @emph{outside} the given range of addresses (exclusive).
35945
35946 @item qTMinFTPILen
35947 This packet requests the minimum length of instruction at which a fast
35948 tracepoint (@pxref{Set Tracepoints}) may be placed. For instance, on
35949 the 32-bit x86 architecture, it is possible to use a 4-byte jump, but
35950 it depends on the target system being able to create trampolines in
35951 the first 64K of memory, which might or might not be possible for that
35952 system. So the reply to this packet will be 4 if it is able to
35953 arrange for that.
35954
35955 Replies:
35956
35957 @table @samp
35958 @item 0
35959 The minimum instruction length is currently unknown.
35960 @item @var{length}
35961 The minimum instruction length is @var{length}, where @var{length} is greater
35962 or equal to 1. @var{length} is a hexadecimal number. A reply of 1 means
35963 that a fast tracepoint may be placed on any instruction regardless of size.
35964 @item E
35965 An error has occurred.
35966 @item
35967 An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the stub.
35968 @end table
35969
35970 @item QTStart
35971 Begin the tracepoint experiment. Begin collecting data from
35972 tracepoint hits in the trace frame buffer. This packet supports the
35973 @samp{qRelocInsn} reply (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
35974 instruction reply packet}).
35975
35976 @item QTStop
35977 End the tracepoint experiment. Stop collecting trace frames.
35978
35979 @item QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
35980 @anchor{QTEnable}
35981 Enable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
35982 experiment. If the tracepoint was previously disabled, then collection
35983 of data from it will resume.
35984
35985 @item QTDisable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
35986 @anchor{QTDisable}
35987 Disable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
35988 experiment. No more data will be collected from the tracepoint unless
35989 @samp{QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}} is subsequently issued.
35990
35991 @item QTinit
35992 Clear the table of tracepoints, and empty the trace frame buffer.
35993
35994 @item QTro:@var{start1},@var{end1}:@var{start2},@var{end2}:@dots{}
35995 Establish the given ranges of memory as ``transparent''. The stub
35996 will answer requests for these ranges from memory's current contents,
35997 if they were not collected as part of the tracepoint hit.
35998
35999 @value{GDBN} uses this to mark read-only regions of memory, like those
36000 containing program code. Since these areas never change, they should
36001 still have the same contents they did when the tracepoint was hit, so
36002 there's no reason for the stub to refuse to provide their contents.
36003
36004 @item QTDisconnected:@var{value}
36005 Set the choice to what to do with the tracing run when @value{GDBN}
36006 disconnects from the target. A @var{value} of 1 directs the target to
36007 continue the tracing run, while 0 tells the target to stop tracing if
36008 @value{GDBN} is no longer in the picture.
36009
36010 @item qTStatus
36011 Ask the stub if there is a trace experiment running right now.
36012
36013 The reply has the form:
36014
36015 @table @samp
36016
36017 @item T@var{running}@r{[};@var{field}@r{]}@dots{}
36018 @var{running} is a single digit @code{1} if the trace is presently
36019 running, or @code{0} if not. It is followed by semicolon-separated
36020 optional fields that an agent may use to report additional status.
36021
36022 @end table
36023
36024 If the trace is not running, the agent may report any of several
36025 explanations as one of the optional fields:
36026
36027 @table @samp
36028
36029 @item tnotrun:0
36030 No trace has been run yet.
36031
36032 @item tstop[:@var{text}]:0
36033 The trace was stopped by a user-originated stop command. The optional
36034 @var{text} field is a user-supplied string supplied as part of the
36035 stop command (for instance, an explanation of why the trace was
36036 stopped manually). It is hex-encoded.
36037
36038 @item tfull:0
36039 The trace stopped because the trace buffer filled up.
36040
36041 @item tdisconnected:0
36042 The trace stopped because @value{GDBN} disconnected from the target.
36043
36044 @item tpasscount:@var{tpnum}
36045 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} exceeded its pass count.
36046
36047 @item terror:@var{text}:@var{tpnum}
36048 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} had an error. The
36049 string @var{text} is available to describe the nature of the error
36050 (for instance, a divide by zero in the condition expression).
36051 @var{text} is hex encoded.
36052
36053 @item tunknown:0
36054 The trace stopped for some other reason.
36055
36056 @end table
36057
36058 Additional optional fields supply statistical and other information.
36059 Although not required, they are extremely useful for users monitoring
36060 the progress of a trace run. If a trace has stopped, and these
36061 numbers are reported, they must reflect the state of the just-stopped
36062 trace.
36063
36064 @table @samp
36065
36066 @item tframes:@var{n}
36067 The number of trace frames in the buffer.
36068
36069 @item tcreated:@var{n}
36070 The total number of trace frames created during the run. This may
36071 be larger than the trace frame count, if the buffer is circular.
36072
36073 @item tsize:@var{n}
36074 The total size of the trace buffer, in bytes.
36075
36076 @item tfree:@var{n}
36077 The number of bytes still unused in the buffer.
36078
36079 @item circular:@var{n}
36080 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
36081 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
36082 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
36083 and may fill up.
36084
36085 @item disconn:@var{n}
36086 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
36087 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
36088 that the trace run will stop.
36089
36090 @end table
36091
36092 @item qTP:@var{tp}:@var{addr}
36093 @cindex tracepoint status, remote request
36094 @cindex @samp{qTP} packet
36095 Ask the stub for the current state of tracepoint number @var{tp} at
36096 address @var{addr}.
36097
36098 Replies:
36099 @table @samp
36100 @item V@var{hits}:@var{usage}
36101 The tracepoint has been hit @var{hits} times so far during the trace
36102 run, and accounts for @var{usage} in the trace buffer. Note that
36103 @code{while-stepping} steps are not counted as separate hits, but the
36104 steps' space consumption is added into the usage number.
36105
36106 @end table
36107
36108 @item qTV:@var{var}
36109 @cindex trace state variable value, remote request
36110 @cindex @samp{qTV} packet
36111 Ask the stub for the value of the trace state variable number @var{var}.
36112
36113 Replies:
36114 @table @samp
36115 @item V@var{value}
36116 The value of the variable is @var{value}. This will be the current
36117 value of the variable if the user is examining a running target, or a
36118 saved value if the variable was collected in the trace frame that the
36119 user is looking at. Note that multiple requests may result in
36120 different reply values, such as when requesting values while the
36121 program is running.
36122
36123 @item U
36124 The value of the variable is unknown. This would occur, for example,
36125 if the user is examining a trace frame in which the requested variable
36126 was not collected.
36127 @end table
36128
36129 @item qTfP
36130 @itemx qTsP
36131 These packets request data about tracepoints that are being used by
36132 the target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfP} to get the first piece
36133 of data, and multiple @code{qTsP} to get additional pieces. Replies
36134 to these packets generally take the form of the @code{QTDP} packets
36135 that define tracepoints. (FIXME add detailed syntax)
36136
36137 @item qTfV
36138 @itemx qTsV
36139 These packets request data about trace state variables that are on the
36140 target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfV} to get the first vari of data,
36141 and multiple @code{qTsV} to get additional variables. Replies to
36142 these packets follow the syntax of the @code{QTDV} packets that define
36143 trace state variables.
36144
36145 @item qTfSTM
36146 @itemx qTsSTM
36147 These packets request data about static tracepoint markers that exist
36148 in the target program. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfSTM} to get the
36149 first piece of data, and multiple @code{qTsSTM} to get additional
36150 pieces. Replies to these packets take the following form:
36151
36152 Reply:
36153 @table @samp
36154 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}
36155 A single marker
36156 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra},@var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}@dots{}
36157 a comma-separated list of markers
36158 @item l
36159 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
36160 @item E @var{nn}
36161 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
36162 @item
36163 An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the
36164 stub.
36165 @end table
36166
36167 @var{address} is encoded in hex.
36168 @var{id} and @var{extra} are strings encoded in hex.
36169
36170 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
36171 more markers, separated by commas. @value{GDBN} will respond to each
36172 reply with a request for more markers (using the @samp{qs} form of the
36173 query), until the target responds with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for
36174 @dfn{last}).
36175
36176 @item qTSTMat:@var{address}
36177 This packets requests data about static tracepoint markers in the
36178 target program at @var{address}. Replies to this packet follow the
36179 syntax of the @samp{qTfSTM} and @code{qTsSTM} packets that list static
36180 tracepoint markers.
36181
36182 @item QTSave:@var{filename}
36183 This packet directs the target to save trace data to the file name
36184 @var{filename} in the target's filesystem. @var{filename} is encoded
36185 as a hex string; the interpretation of the file name (relative vs
36186 absolute, wild cards, etc) is up to the target.
36187
36188 @item qTBuffer:@var{offset},@var{len}
36189 Return up to @var{len} bytes of the current contents of trace buffer,
36190 starting at @var{offset}. The trace buffer is treated as if it were
36191 a contiguous collection of traceframes, as per the trace file format.
36192 The reply consists as many hex-encoded bytes as the target can deliver
36193 in a packet; it is not an error to return fewer than were asked for.
36194 A reply consisting of just @code{l} indicates that no bytes are
36195 available.
36196
36197 @item QTBuffer:circular:@var{value}
36198 This packet directs the target to use a circular trace buffer if
36199 @var{value} is 1, or a linear buffer if the value is 0.
36200
36201 @item QTNotes:@r{[}@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@r{[};@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@dots{}
36202 This packet adds optional textual notes to the trace run. Allowable
36203 types include @code{user}, @code{notes}, and @code{tstop}, the
36204 @var{text} fields are arbitrary strings, hex-encoded.
36205
36206 @end table
36207
36208 @subsection Relocate instruction reply packet
36209 When installing fast tracepoints in memory, the target may need to
36210 relocate the instruction currently at the tracepoint address to a
36211 different address in memory. For most instructions, a simple copy is
36212 enough, but, for example, call instructions that implicitly push the
36213 return address on the stack, and relative branches or other
36214 PC-relative instructions require offset adjustment, so that the effect
36215 of executing the instruction at a different address is the same as if
36216 it had executed in the original location.
36217
36218 In response to several of the tracepoint packets, the target may also
36219 respond with a number of intermediate @samp{qRelocInsn} request
36220 packets before the final result packet, to have @value{GDBN} handle
36221 this relocation operation. If a packet supports this mechanism, its
36222 documentation will explicitly say so. See for example the above
36223 descriptions for the @samp{QTStart} and @samp{QTDP} packets. The
36224 format of the request is:
36225
36226 @table @samp
36227 @item qRelocInsn:@var{from};@var{to}
36228
36229 This requests @value{GDBN} to copy instruction at address @var{from}
36230 to address @var{to}, possibly adjusted so that executing the
36231 instruction at @var{to} has the same effect as executing it at
36232 @var{from}. @value{GDBN} writes the adjusted instruction to target
36233 memory starting at @var{to}.
36234 @end table
36235
36236 Replies:
36237 @table @samp
36238 @item qRelocInsn:@var{adjusted_size}
36239 Informs the stub the relocation is complete. @var{adjusted_size} is
36240 the length in bytes of resulting relocated instruction sequence.
36241 @item E @var{NN}
36242 A badly formed request was detected, or an error was encountered while
36243 relocating the instruction.
36244 @end table
36245
36246 @node Host I/O Packets
36247 @section Host I/O Packets
36248 @cindex Host I/O, remote protocol
36249 @cindex file transfer, remote protocol
36250
36251 The @dfn{Host I/O} packets allow @value{GDBN} to perform I/O
36252 operations on the far side of a remote link. For example, Host I/O is
36253 used to upload and download files to a remote target with its own
36254 filesystem. Host I/O uses the same constant values and data structure
36255 layout as the target-initiated File-I/O protocol. However, the
36256 Host I/O packets are structured differently. The target-initiated
36257 protocol relies on target memory to store parameters and buffers.
36258 Host I/O requests are initiated by @value{GDBN}, and the
36259 target's memory is not involved. @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol
36260 Extension}, for more details on the target-initiated protocol.
36261
36262 The Host I/O request packets all encode a single operation along with
36263 its arguments. They have this format:
36264
36265 @table @samp
36266
36267 @item vFile:@var{operation}: @var{parameter}@dots{}
36268 @var{operation} is the name of the particular request; the target
36269 should compare the entire packet name up to the second colon when checking
36270 for a supported operation. The format of @var{parameter} depends on
36271 the operation. Numbers are always passed in hexadecimal. Negative
36272 numbers have an explicit minus sign (i.e.@: two's complement is not
36273 used). Strings (e.g.@: filenames) are encoded as a series of
36274 hexadecimal bytes. The last argument to a system call may be a
36275 buffer of escaped binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
36276
36277 @end table
36278
36279 The valid responses to Host I/O packets are:
36280
36281 @table @samp
36282
36283 @item F @var{result} [, @var{errno}] [; @var{attachment}]
36284 @var{result} is the integer value returned by this operation, usually
36285 non-negative for success and -1 for errors. If an error has occured,
36286 @var{errno} will be included in the result. @var{errno} will have a
36287 value defined by the File-I/O protocol (@pxref{Errno Values}). For
36288 operations which return data, @var{attachment} supplies the data as a
36289 binary buffer. Binary buffers in response packets are escaped in the
36290 normal way (@pxref{Binary Data}). See the individual packet
36291 documentation for the interpretation of @var{result} and
36292 @var{attachment}.
36293
36294 @item
36295 An empty response indicates that this operation is not recognized.
36296
36297 @end table
36298
36299 These are the supported Host I/O operations:
36300
36301 @table @samp
36302 @item vFile:open: @var{pathname}, @var{flags}, @var{mode}
36303 Open a file at @var{pathname} and return a file descriptor for it, or
36304 return -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string,
36305 @var{flags} is an integer indicating a mask of open flags
36306 (@pxref{Open Flags}), and @var{mode} is an integer indicating a mask
36307 of mode bits to use if the file is created (@pxref{mode_t Values}).
36308 @xref{open}, for details of the open flags and mode values.
36309
36310 @item vFile:close: @var{fd}
36311 Close the open file corresponding to @var{fd} and return 0, or
36312 -1 if an error occurs.
36313
36314 @item vFile:pread: @var{fd}, @var{count}, @var{offset}
36315 Read data from the open file corresponding to @var{fd}. Up to
36316 @var{count} bytes will be read from the file, starting at @var{offset}
36317 relative to the start of the file. The target may read fewer bytes;
36318 common reasons include packet size limits and an end-of-file
36319 condition. The number of bytes read is returned. Zero should only be
36320 returned for a successful read at the end of the file, or if
36321 @var{count} was zero.
36322
36323 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
36324 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
36325 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
36326 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
36327 some characters were escaped.
36328
36329 @item vFile:pwrite: @var{fd}, @var{offset}, @var{data}
36330 Write @var{data} (a binary buffer) to the open file corresponding
36331 to @var{fd}. Start the write at @var{offset} from the start of the
36332 file. Unlike many @code{write} system calls, there is no
36333 separate @var{count} argument; the length of @var{data} in the
36334 packet is used. @samp{vFile:write} returns the number of bytes written,
36335 which may be shorter than the length of @var{data}, or -1 if an
36336 error occurred.
36337
36338 @item vFile:unlink: @var{pathname}
36339 Delete the file at @var{pathname} on the target. Return 0,
36340 or -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string.
36341
36342 @item vFile:readlink: @var{filename}
36343 Read value of symbolic link @var{filename} on the target. Return
36344 the number of bytes read, or -1 if an error occurs.
36345
36346 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
36347 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
36348 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
36349 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
36350 some characters were escaped.
36351
36352 @end table
36353
36354 @node Interrupts
36355 @section Interrupts
36356 @cindex interrupts (remote protocol)
36357
36358 When a program on the remote target is running, @value{GDBN} may
36359 attempt to interrupt it by sending a @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or
36360 a @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g},
36361 control of which is specified via @value{GDBN}'s @samp{interrupt-sequence}.
36362
36363 The precise meaning of @code{BREAK} is defined by the transport
36364 mechanism and may, in fact, be undefined. @value{GDBN} does not
36365 currently define a @code{BREAK} mechanism for any of the network
36366 interfaces except for TCP, in which case @value{GDBN} sends the
36367 @code{telnet} BREAK sequence.
36368
36369 @samp{Ctrl-C}, on the other hand, is defined and implemented for all
36370 transport mechanisms. It is represented by sending the single byte
36371 @code{0x03} without any of the usual packet overhead described in
36372 the Overview section (@pxref{Overview}). When a @code{0x03} byte is
36373 transmitted as part of a packet, it is considered to be packet data
36374 and does @emph{not} represent an interrupt. E.g., an @samp{X} packet
36375 (@pxref{X packet}), used for binary downloads, may include an unescaped
36376 @code{0x03} as part of its packet.
36377
36378 @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g} is also known as Magic SysRq g.
36379 When Linux kernel receives this sequence from serial port,
36380 it stops execution and connects to gdb.
36381
36382 Stubs are not required to recognize these interrupt mechanisms and the
36383 precise meaning associated with receipt of the interrupt is
36384 implementation defined. If the target supports debugging of multiple
36385 threads and/or processes, it should attempt to interrupt all
36386 currently-executing threads and processes.
36387 If the stub is successful at interrupting the
36388 running program, it should send one of the stop
36389 reply packets (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}) to @value{GDBN} as a result
36390 of successfully stopping the program in all-stop mode, and a stop reply
36391 for each stopped thread in non-stop mode.
36392 Interrupts received while the
36393 program is stopped are discarded.
36394
36395 @node Notification Packets
36396 @section Notification Packets
36397 @cindex notification packets
36398 @cindex packets, notification
36399
36400 The @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol includes @dfn{notifications},
36401 packets that require no acknowledgment. Both the GDB and the stub
36402 may send notifications (although the only notifications defined at
36403 present are sent by the stub). Notifications carry information
36404 without incurring the round-trip latency of an acknowledgment, and so
36405 are useful for low-impact communications where occasional packet loss
36406 is not a problem.
36407
36408 A notification packet has the form @samp{% @var{data} #
36409 @var{checksum}}, where @var{data} is the content of the notification,
36410 and @var{checksum} is a checksum of @var{data}, computed and formatted
36411 as for ordinary @value{GDBN} packets. A notification's @var{data}
36412 never contains @samp{$}, @samp{%} or @samp{#} characters. Upon
36413 receiving a notification, the recipient sends no @samp{+} or @samp{-}
36414 to acknowledge the notification's receipt or to report its corruption.
36415
36416 Every notification's @var{data} begins with a name, which contains no
36417 colon characters, followed by a colon character.
36418
36419 Recipients should silently ignore corrupted notifications and
36420 notifications they do not understand. Recipients should restart
36421 timeout periods on receipt of a well-formed notification, whether or
36422 not they understand it.
36423
36424 Senders should only send the notifications described here when this
36425 protocol description specifies that they are permitted. In the
36426 future, we may extend the protocol to permit existing notifications in
36427 new contexts; this rule helps older senders avoid confusing newer
36428 recipients.
36429
36430 (Older versions of @value{GDBN} ignore bytes received until they see
36431 the @samp{$} byte that begins an ordinary packet, so new stubs may
36432 transmit notifications without fear of confusing older clients. There
36433 are no notifications defined for @value{GDBN} to send at the moment, but we
36434 assume that most older stubs would ignore them, as well.)
36435
36436 The following notification packets from the stub to @value{GDBN} are
36437 defined:
36438
36439 @table @samp
36440 @item Stop: @var{reply}
36441 Report an asynchronous stop event in non-stop mode.
36442 The @var{reply} has the form of a stop reply, as
36443 described in @ref{Stop Reply Packets}. Refer to @ref{Remote Non-Stop},
36444 for information on how these notifications are acknowledged by
36445 @value{GDBN}.
36446 @end table
36447
36448 @node Remote Non-Stop
36449 @section Remote Protocol Support for Non-Stop Mode
36450
36451 @value{GDBN}'s remote protocol supports non-stop debugging of
36452 multi-threaded programs, as described in @ref{Non-Stop Mode}. If the stub
36453 supports non-stop mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN} by including
36454 @samp{QNonStop+} in its @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36455
36456 @value{GDBN} typically sends a @samp{QNonStop} packet only when
36457 establishing a new connection with the stub. Entering non-stop mode
36458 does not alter the state of any currently-running threads, but targets
36459 must stop all threads in any already-attached processes when entering
36460 all-stop mode. @value{GDBN} uses the @samp{?} packet as necessary to
36461 probe the target state after a mode change.
36462
36463 In non-stop mode, when an attached process encounters an event that
36464 would otherwise be reported with a stop reply, it uses the
36465 asynchronous notification mechanism (@pxref{Notification Packets}) to
36466 inform @value{GDBN}. In contrast to all-stop mode, where all threads
36467 in all processes are stopped when a stop reply is sent, in non-stop
36468 mode only the thread reporting the stop event is stopped. That is,
36469 when reporting a @samp{S} or @samp{T} response to indicate completion
36470 of a step operation, hitting a breakpoint, or a fault, only the
36471 affected thread is stopped; any other still-running threads continue
36472 to run. When reporting a @samp{W} or @samp{X} response, all running
36473 threads belonging to other attached processes continue to run.
36474
36475 Only one stop reply notification at a time may be pending; if
36476 additional stop events occur before @value{GDBN} has acknowledged the
36477 previous notification, they must be queued by the stub for later
36478 synchronous transmission in response to @samp{vStopped} packets from
36479 @value{GDBN}. Because the notification mechanism is unreliable,
36480 the stub is permitted to resend a stop reply notification
36481 if it believes @value{GDBN} may not have received it. @value{GDBN}
36482 ignores additional stop reply notifications received before it has
36483 finished processing a previous notification and the stub has completed
36484 sending any queued stop events.
36485
36486 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} must be prepared to receive a stop reply
36487 notification at any time. Specifically, they may appear when
36488 @value{GDBN} is not otherwise reading input from the stub, or when
36489 @value{GDBN} is expecting to read a normal synchronous response or a
36490 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgment to a packet it has sent.
36491 Notification packets are distinct from any other communication from
36492 the stub so there is no ambiguity.
36493
36494 After receiving a stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall
36495 acknowledge it by sending a @samp{vStopped} packet (@pxref{vStopped packet})
36496 as a regular, synchronous request to the stub. Such acknowledgment
36497 is not required to happen immediately, as @value{GDBN} is permitted to
36498 send other, unrelated packets to the stub first, which the stub should
36499 process normally.
36500
36501 Upon receiving a @samp{vStopped} packet, if the stub has other queued
36502 stop events to report to @value{GDBN}, it shall respond by sending a
36503 normal stop reply response. @value{GDBN} shall then send another
36504 @samp{vStopped} packet to solicit further responses; again, it is
36505 permitted to send other, unrelated packets as well which the stub
36506 should process normally.
36507
36508 If the stub receives a @samp{vStopped} packet and there are no
36509 additional stop events to report, the stub shall return an @samp{OK}
36510 response. At this point, if further stop events occur, the stub shall
36511 send a new stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall accept the
36512 notification, and the process shall be repeated.
36513
36514 In non-stop mode, the target shall respond to the @samp{?} packet as
36515 follows. First, any incomplete stop reply notification/@samp{vStopped}
36516 sequence in progress is abandoned. The target must begin a new
36517 sequence reporting stop events for all stopped threads, whether or not
36518 it has previously reported those events to @value{GDBN}. The first
36519 stop reply is sent as a synchronous reply to the @samp{?} packet, and
36520 subsequent stop replies are sent as responses to @samp{vStopped} packets
36521 using the mechanism described above. The target must not send
36522 asynchronous stop reply notifications until the sequence is complete.
36523 If all threads are running when the target receives the @samp{?} packet,
36524 or if the target is not attached to any process, it shall respond
36525 @samp{OK}.
36526
36527 @node Packet Acknowledgment
36528 @section Packet Acknowledgment
36529
36530 @cindex acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
36531 @cindex packet acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
36532 By default, when either the host or the target machine receives a packet,
36533 the first response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
36534 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request retransmission).
36535 This mechanism allows the @value{GDBN} remote protocol to operate over
36536 unreliable transport mechanisms, such as a serial line.
36537
36538 In cases where the transport mechanism is itself reliable (such as a pipe or
36539 TCP connection), the @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are redundant.
36540 It may be desirable to disable them in that case to reduce communication
36541 overhead, or for other reasons. This can be accomplished by means of the
36542 @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet; @pxref{QStartNoAckMode}.
36543
36544 When in no-acknowledgment mode, neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or
36545 expect @samp{+}/@samp{-} protocol acknowledgments. The packet
36546 and response format still includes the normal checksum, as described in
36547 @ref{Overview}, but the checksum may be ignored by the receiver.
36548
36549 If the stub supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and prefers to operate in
36550 no-acknowledgment mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN}
36551 by including @samp{QStartNoAckMode+} in its response to @samp{qSupported};
36552 @pxref{qSupported}.
36553 If @value{GDBN} also supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and it has not been
36554 disabled via the @code{set remote noack-packet off} command
36555 (@pxref{Remote Configuration}),
36556 @value{GDBN} may then send a @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet to the stub.
36557 Only then may the stub actually turn off packet acknowledgments.
36558 @value{GDBN} sends a final @samp{+} acknowledgment of the stub's @samp{OK}
36559 response, which can be safely ignored by the stub.
36560
36561 Note that @code{set remote noack-packet} command only affects negotiation
36562 between @value{GDBN} and the stub when subsequent connections are made;
36563 it does not affect the protocol acknowledgment state for any current
36564 connection.
36565 Since @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are enabled by default when a
36566 new connection is established,
36567 there is also no protocol request to re-enable the acknowledgments
36568 for the current connection, once disabled.
36569
36570 @node Examples
36571 @section Examples
36572
36573 Example sequence of a target being re-started. Notice how the restart
36574 does not get any direct output:
36575
36576 @smallexample
36577 -> @code{R00}
36578 <- @code{+}
36579 @emph{target restarts}
36580 -> @code{?}
36581 <- @code{+}
36582 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
36583 -> @code{+}
36584 @end smallexample
36585
36586 Example sequence of a target being stepped by a single instruction:
36587
36588 @smallexample
36589 -> @code{G1445@dots{}}
36590 <- @code{+}
36591 -> @code{s}
36592 <- @code{+}
36593 @emph{time passes}
36594 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
36595 -> @code{+}
36596 -> @code{g}
36597 <- @code{+}
36598 <- @code{1455@dots{}}
36599 -> @code{+}
36600 @end smallexample
36601
36602 @node File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
36603 @section File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
36604 @cindex File-I/O remote protocol extension
36605
36606 @menu
36607 * File-I/O Overview::
36608 * Protocol Basics::
36609 * The F Request Packet::
36610 * The F Reply Packet::
36611 * The Ctrl-C Message::
36612 * Console I/O::
36613 * List of Supported Calls::
36614 * Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes::
36615 * Constants::
36616 * File-I/O Examples::
36617 @end menu
36618
36619 @node File-I/O Overview
36620 @subsection File-I/O Overview
36621 @cindex file-i/o overview
36622
36623 The @dfn{File I/O remote protocol extension} (short: File-I/O) allows the
36624 target to use the host's file system and console I/O to perform various
36625 system calls. System calls on the target system are translated into a
36626 remote protocol packet to the host system, which then performs the needed
36627 actions and returns a response packet to the target system.
36628 This simulates file system operations even on targets that lack file systems.
36629
36630 The protocol is defined to be independent of both the host and target systems.
36631 It uses its own internal representation of datatypes and values. Both
36632 @value{GDBN} and the target's @value{GDBN} stub are responsible for
36633 translating the system-dependent value representations into the internal
36634 protocol representations when data is transmitted.
36635
36636 The communication is synchronous. A system call is possible only when
36637 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
36638 or @samp{s} packets. While @value{GDBN} handles the request for a system call,
36639 the target is stopped to allow deterministic access to the target's
36640 memory. Therefore File-I/O is not interruptible by target signals. On
36641 the other hand, it is possible to interrupt File-I/O by a user interrupt
36642 (@samp{Ctrl-C}) within @value{GDBN}.
36643
36644 The target's request to perform a host system call does not finish
36645 the latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} action. That means,
36646 after finishing the system call, the target returns to continuing the
36647 previous activity (continue, step). No additional continue or step
36648 request from @value{GDBN} is required.
36649
36650 @smallexample
36651 (@value{GDBP}) continue
36652 <- target requests 'system call X'
36653 target is stopped, @value{GDBN} executes system call
36654 -> @value{GDBN} returns result
36655 ... target continues, @value{GDBN} returns to wait for the target
36656 <- target hits breakpoint and sends a Txx packet
36657 @end smallexample
36658
36659 The protocol only supports I/O on the console and to regular files on
36660 the host file system. Character or block special devices, pipes,
36661 named pipes, sockets or any other communication method on the host
36662 system are not supported by this protocol.
36663
36664 File I/O is not supported in non-stop mode.
36665
36666 @node Protocol Basics
36667 @subsection Protocol Basics
36668 @cindex protocol basics, file-i/o
36669
36670 The File-I/O protocol uses the @code{F} packet as the request as well
36671 as reply packet. Since a File-I/O system call can only occur when
36672 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the continuing or stepping target,
36673 the File-I/O request is a reply that @value{GDBN} has to expect as a result
36674 of a previous @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} packet.
36675 This @code{F} packet contains all information needed to allow @value{GDBN}
36676 to call the appropriate host system call:
36677
36678 @itemize @bullet
36679 @item
36680 A unique identifier for the requested system call.
36681
36682 @item
36683 All parameters to the system call. Pointers are given as addresses
36684 in the target memory address space. Pointers to strings are given as
36685 pointer/length pair. Numerical values are given as they are.
36686 Numerical control flags are given in a protocol-specific representation.
36687
36688 @end itemize
36689
36690 At this point, @value{GDBN} has to perform the following actions.
36691
36692 @itemize @bullet
36693 @item
36694 If the parameters include pointer values to data needed as input to a
36695 system call, @value{GDBN} requests this data from the target with a
36696 standard @code{m} packet request. This additional communication has to be
36697 expected by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{m}
36698 packet.
36699
36700 @item
36701 @value{GDBN} translates all value from protocol representation to host
36702 representation as needed. Datatypes are coerced into the host types.
36703
36704 @item
36705 @value{GDBN} calls the system call.
36706
36707 @item
36708 It then coerces datatypes back to protocol representation.
36709
36710 @item
36711 If the system call is expected to return data in buffer space specified
36712 by pointer parameters to the call, the data is transmitted to the
36713 target using a @code{M} or @code{X} packet. This packet has to be expected
36714 by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{M} or @code{X}
36715 packet.
36716
36717 @end itemize
36718
36719 Eventually @value{GDBN} replies with another @code{F} packet which contains all
36720 necessary information for the target to continue. This at least contains
36721
36722 @itemize @bullet
36723 @item
36724 Return value.
36725
36726 @item
36727 @code{errno}, if has been changed by the system call.
36728
36729 @item
36730 ``Ctrl-C'' flag.
36731
36732 @end itemize
36733
36734 After having done the needed type and value coercion, the target continues
36735 the latest continue or step action.
36736
36737 @node The F Request Packet
36738 @subsection The @code{F} Request Packet
36739 @cindex file-i/o request packet
36740 @cindex @code{F} request packet
36741
36742 The @code{F} request packet has the following format:
36743
36744 @table @samp
36745 @item F@var{call-id},@var{parameter@dots{}}
36746
36747 @var{call-id} is the identifier to indicate the host system call to be called.
36748 This is just the name of the function.
36749
36750 @var{parameter@dots{}} are the parameters to the system call.
36751 Parameters are hexadecimal integer values, either the actual values in case
36752 of scalar datatypes, pointers to target buffer space in case of compound
36753 datatypes and unspecified memory areas, or pointer/length pairs in case
36754 of string parameters. These are appended to the @var{call-id} as a
36755 comma-delimited list. All values are transmitted in ASCII
36756 string representation, pointer/length pairs separated by a slash.
36757
36758 @end table
36759
36760
36761
36762 @node The F Reply Packet
36763 @subsection The @code{F} Reply Packet
36764 @cindex file-i/o reply packet
36765 @cindex @code{F} reply packet
36766
36767 The @code{F} reply packet has the following format:
36768
36769 @table @samp
36770
36771 @item F@var{retcode},@var{errno},@var{Ctrl-C flag};@var{call-specific attachment}
36772
36773 @var{retcode} is the return code of the system call as hexadecimal value.
36774
36775 @var{errno} is the @code{errno} set by the call, in protocol-specific
36776 representation.
36777 This parameter can be omitted if the call was successful.
36778
36779 @var{Ctrl-C flag} is only sent if the user requested a break. In this
36780 case, @var{errno} must be sent as well, even if the call was successful.
36781 The @var{Ctrl-C flag} itself consists of the character @samp{C}:
36782
36783 @smallexample
36784 F0,0,C
36785 @end smallexample
36786
36787 @noindent
36788 or, if the call was interrupted before the host call has been performed:
36789
36790 @smallexample
36791 F-1,4,C
36792 @end smallexample
36793
36794 @noindent
36795 assuming 4 is the protocol-specific representation of @code{EINTR}.
36796
36797 @end table
36798
36799
36800 @node The Ctrl-C Message
36801 @subsection The @samp{Ctrl-C} Message
36802 @cindex ctrl-c message, in file-i/o protocol
36803
36804 If the @samp{Ctrl-C} flag is set in the @value{GDBN}
36805 reply packet (@pxref{The F Reply Packet}),
36806 the target should behave as if it had
36807 gotten a break message. The meaning for the target is ``system call
36808 interrupted by @code{SIGINT}''. Consequentially, the target should actually stop
36809 (as with a break message) and return to @value{GDBN} with a @code{T02}
36810 packet.
36811
36812 It's important for the target to know in which
36813 state the system call was interrupted. There are two possible cases:
36814
36815 @itemize @bullet
36816 @item
36817 The system call hasn't been performed on the host yet.
36818
36819 @item
36820 The system call on the host has been finished.
36821
36822 @end itemize
36823
36824 These two states can be distinguished by the target by the value of the
36825 returned @code{errno}. If it's the protocol representation of @code{EINTR}, the system
36826 call hasn't been performed. This is equivalent to the @code{EINTR} handling
36827 on POSIX systems. In any other case, the target may presume that the
36828 system call has been finished --- successfully or not --- and should behave
36829 as if the break message arrived right after the system call.
36830
36831 @value{GDBN} must behave reliably. If the system call has not been called
36832 yet, @value{GDBN} may send the @code{F} reply immediately, setting @code{EINTR} as
36833 @code{errno} in the packet. If the system call on the host has been finished
36834 before the user requests a break, the full action must be finished by
36835 @value{GDBN}. This requires sending @code{M} or @code{X} packets as necessary.
36836 The @code{F} packet may only be sent when either nothing has happened
36837 or the full action has been completed.
36838
36839 @node Console I/O
36840 @subsection Console I/O
36841 @cindex console i/o as part of file-i/o
36842
36843 By default and if not explicitly closed by the target system, the file
36844 descriptors 0, 1 and 2 are connected to the @value{GDBN} console. Output
36845 on the @value{GDBN} console is handled as any other file output operation
36846 (@code{write(1, @dots{})} or @code{write(2, @dots{})}). Console input is handled
36847 by @value{GDBN} so that after the target read request from file descriptor
36848 0 all following typing is buffered until either one of the following
36849 conditions is met:
36850
36851 @itemize @bullet
36852 @item
36853 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The behaviour is as explained above, and the
36854 @code{read}
36855 system call is treated as finished.
36856
36857 @item
36858 The user presses @key{RET}. This is treated as end of input with a trailing
36859 newline.
36860
36861 @item
36862 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-d}. This is treated as end of input. No trailing
36863 character (neither newline nor @samp{Ctrl-D}) is appended to the input.
36864
36865 @end itemize
36866
36867 If the user has typed more characters than fit in the buffer given to
36868 the @code{read} call, the trailing characters are buffered in @value{GDBN} until
36869 either another @code{read(0, @dots{})} is requested by the target, or debugging
36870 is stopped at the user's request.
36871
36872
36873 @node List of Supported Calls
36874 @subsection List of Supported Calls
36875 @cindex list of supported file-i/o calls
36876
36877 @menu
36878 * open::
36879 * close::
36880 * read::
36881 * write::
36882 * lseek::
36883 * rename::
36884 * unlink::
36885 * stat/fstat::
36886 * gettimeofday::
36887 * isatty::
36888 * system::
36889 @end menu
36890
36891 @node open
36892 @unnumberedsubsubsec open
36893 @cindex open, file-i/o system call
36894
36895 @table @asis
36896 @item Synopsis:
36897 @smallexample
36898 int open(const char *pathname, int flags);
36899 int open(const char *pathname, int flags, mode_t mode);
36900 @end smallexample
36901
36902 @item Request:
36903 @samp{Fopen,@var{pathptr}/@var{len},@var{flags},@var{mode}}
36904
36905 @noindent
36906 @var{flags} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
36907
36908 @table @code
36909 @item O_CREAT
36910 If the file does not exist it will be created. The host
36911 rules apply as far as file ownership and time stamps
36912 are concerned.
36913
36914 @item O_EXCL
36915 When used with @code{O_CREAT}, if the file already exists it is
36916 an error and open() fails.
36917
36918 @item O_TRUNC
36919 If the file already exists and the open mode allows
36920 writing (@code{O_RDWR} or @code{O_WRONLY} is given) it will be
36921 truncated to zero length.
36922
36923 @item O_APPEND
36924 The file is opened in append mode.
36925
36926 @item O_RDONLY
36927 The file is opened for reading only.
36928
36929 @item O_WRONLY
36930 The file is opened for writing only.
36931
36932 @item O_RDWR
36933 The file is opened for reading and writing.
36934 @end table
36935
36936 @noindent
36937 Other bits are silently ignored.
36938
36939
36940 @noindent
36941 @var{mode} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
36942
36943 @table @code
36944 @item S_IRUSR
36945 User has read permission.
36946
36947 @item S_IWUSR
36948 User has write permission.
36949
36950 @item S_IRGRP
36951 Group has read permission.
36952
36953 @item S_IWGRP
36954 Group has write permission.
36955
36956 @item S_IROTH
36957 Others have read permission.
36958
36959 @item S_IWOTH
36960 Others have write permission.
36961 @end table
36962
36963 @noindent
36964 Other bits are silently ignored.
36965
36966
36967 @item Return value:
36968 @code{open} returns the new file descriptor or -1 if an error
36969 occurred.
36970
36971 @item Errors:
36972
36973 @table @code
36974 @item EEXIST
36975 @var{pathname} already exists and @code{O_CREAT} and @code{O_EXCL} were used.
36976
36977 @item EISDIR
36978 @var{pathname} refers to a directory.
36979
36980 @item EACCES
36981 The requested access is not allowed.
36982
36983 @item ENAMETOOLONG
36984 @var{pathname} was too long.
36985
36986 @item ENOENT
36987 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
36988
36989 @item ENODEV
36990 @var{pathname} refers to a device, pipe, named pipe or socket.
36991
36992 @item EROFS
36993 @var{pathname} refers to a file on a read-only filesystem and
36994 write access was requested.
36995
36996 @item EFAULT
36997 @var{pathname} is an invalid pointer value.
36998
36999 @item ENOSPC
37000 No space on device to create the file.
37001
37002 @item EMFILE
37003 The process already has the maximum number of files open.
37004
37005 @item ENFILE
37006 The limit on the total number of files open on the system
37007 has been reached.
37008
37009 @item EINTR
37010 The call was interrupted by the user.
37011 @end table
37012
37013 @end table
37014
37015 @node close
37016 @unnumberedsubsubsec close
37017 @cindex close, file-i/o system call
37018
37019 @table @asis
37020 @item Synopsis:
37021 @smallexample
37022 int close(int fd);
37023 @end smallexample
37024
37025 @item Request:
37026 @samp{Fclose,@var{fd}}
37027
37028 @item Return value:
37029 @code{close} returns zero on success, or -1 if an error occurred.
37030
37031 @item Errors:
37032
37033 @table @code
37034 @item EBADF
37035 @var{fd} isn't a valid open file descriptor.
37036
37037 @item EINTR
37038 The call was interrupted by the user.
37039 @end table
37040
37041 @end table
37042
37043 @node read
37044 @unnumberedsubsubsec read
37045 @cindex read, file-i/o system call
37046
37047 @table @asis
37048 @item Synopsis:
37049 @smallexample
37050 int read(int fd, void *buf, unsigned int count);
37051 @end smallexample
37052
37053 @item Request:
37054 @samp{Fread,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
37055
37056 @item Return value:
37057 On success, the number of bytes read is returned.
37058 Zero indicates end of file. If count is zero, read
37059 returns zero as well. On error, -1 is returned.
37060
37061 @item Errors:
37062
37063 @table @code
37064 @item EBADF
37065 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
37066 reading.
37067
37068 @item EFAULT
37069 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
37070
37071 @item EINTR
37072 The call was interrupted by the user.
37073 @end table
37074
37075 @end table
37076
37077 @node write
37078 @unnumberedsubsubsec write
37079 @cindex write, file-i/o system call
37080
37081 @table @asis
37082 @item Synopsis:
37083 @smallexample
37084 int write(int fd, const void *buf, unsigned int count);
37085 @end smallexample
37086
37087 @item Request:
37088 @samp{Fwrite,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
37089
37090 @item Return value:
37091 On success, the number of bytes written are returned.
37092 Zero indicates nothing was written. On error, -1
37093 is returned.
37094
37095 @item Errors:
37096
37097 @table @code
37098 @item EBADF
37099 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
37100 writing.
37101
37102 @item EFAULT
37103 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
37104
37105 @item EFBIG
37106 An attempt was made to write a file that exceeds the
37107 host-specific maximum file size allowed.
37108
37109 @item ENOSPC
37110 No space on device to write the data.
37111
37112 @item EINTR
37113 The call was interrupted by the user.
37114 @end table
37115
37116 @end table
37117
37118 @node lseek
37119 @unnumberedsubsubsec lseek
37120 @cindex lseek, file-i/o system call
37121
37122 @table @asis
37123 @item Synopsis:
37124 @smallexample
37125 long lseek (int fd, long offset, int flag);
37126 @end smallexample
37127
37128 @item Request:
37129 @samp{Flseek,@var{fd},@var{offset},@var{flag}}
37130
37131 @var{flag} is one of:
37132
37133 @table @code
37134 @item SEEK_SET
37135 The offset is set to @var{offset} bytes.
37136
37137 @item SEEK_CUR
37138 The offset is set to its current location plus @var{offset}
37139 bytes.
37140
37141 @item SEEK_END
37142 The offset is set to the size of the file plus @var{offset}
37143 bytes.
37144 @end table
37145
37146 @item Return value:
37147 On success, the resulting unsigned offset in bytes from
37148 the beginning of the file is returned. Otherwise, a
37149 value of -1 is returned.
37150
37151 @item Errors:
37152
37153 @table @code
37154 @item EBADF
37155 @var{fd} is not a valid open file descriptor.
37156
37157 @item ESPIPE
37158 @var{fd} is associated with the @value{GDBN} console.
37159
37160 @item EINVAL
37161 @var{flag} is not a proper value.
37162
37163 @item EINTR
37164 The call was interrupted by the user.
37165 @end table
37166
37167 @end table
37168
37169 @node rename
37170 @unnumberedsubsubsec rename
37171 @cindex rename, file-i/o system call
37172
37173 @table @asis
37174 @item Synopsis:
37175 @smallexample
37176 int rename(const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
37177 @end smallexample
37178
37179 @item Request:
37180 @samp{Frename,@var{oldpathptr}/@var{len},@var{newpathptr}/@var{len}}
37181
37182 @item Return value:
37183 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
37184
37185 @item Errors:
37186
37187 @table @code
37188 @item EISDIR
37189 @var{newpath} is an existing directory, but @var{oldpath} is not a
37190 directory.
37191
37192 @item EEXIST
37193 @var{newpath} is a non-empty directory.
37194
37195 @item EBUSY
37196 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} is a directory that is in use by some
37197 process.
37198
37199 @item EINVAL
37200 An attempt was made to make a directory a subdirectory
37201 of itself.
37202
37203 @item ENOTDIR
37204 A component used as a directory in @var{oldpath} or new
37205 path is not a directory. Or @var{oldpath} is a directory
37206 and @var{newpath} exists but is not a directory.
37207
37208 @item EFAULT
37209 @var{oldpathptr} or @var{newpathptr} are invalid pointer values.
37210
37211 @item EACCES
37212 No access to the file or the path of the file.
37213
37214 @item ENAMETOOLONG
37215
37216 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} was too long.
37217
37218 @item ENOENT
37219 A directory component in @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} does not exist.
37220
37221 @item EROFS
37222 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
37223
37224 @item ENOSPC
37225 The device containing the file has no room for the new
37226 directory entry.
37227
37228 @item EINTR
37229 The call was interrupted by the user.
37230 @end table
37231
37232 @end table
37233
37234 @node unlink
37235 @unnumberedsubsubsec unlink
37236 @cindex unlink, file-i/o system call
37237
37238 @table @asis
37239 @item Synopsis:
37240 @smallexample
37241 int unlink(const char *pathname);
37242 @end smallexample
37243
37244 @item Request:
37245 @samp{Funlink,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len}}
37246
37247 @item Return value:
37248 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
37249
37250 @item Errors:
37251
37252 @table @code
37253 @item EACCES
37254 No access to the file or the path of the file.
37255
37256 @item EPERM
37257 The system does not allow unlinking of directories.
37258
37259 @item EBUSY
37260 The file @var{pathname} cannot be unlinked because it's
37261 being used by another process.
37262
37263 @item EFAULT
37264 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
37265
37266 @item ENAMETOOLONG
37267 @var{pathname} was too long.
37268
37269 @item ENOENT
37270 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
37271
37272 @item ENOTDIR
37273 A component of the path is not a directory.
37274
37275 @item EROFS
37276 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
37277
37278 @item EINTR
37279 The call was interrupted by the user.
37280 @end table
37281
37282 @end table
37283
37284 @node stat/fstat
37285 @unnumberedsubsubsec stat/fstat
37286 @cindex fstat, file-i/o system call
37287 @cindex stat, file-i/o system call
37288
37289 @table @asis
37290 @item Synopsis:
37291 @smallexample
37292 int stat(const char *pathname, struct stat *buf);
37293 int fstat(int fd, struct stat *buf);
37294 @end smallexample
37295
37296 @item Request:
37297 @samp{Fstat,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len},@var{bufptr}}@*
37298 @samp{Ffstat,@var{fd},@var{bufptr}}
37299
37300 @item Return value:
37301 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
37302
37303 @item Errors:
37304
37305 @table @code
37306 @item EBADF
37307 @var{fd} is not a valid open file.
37308
37309 @item ENOENT
37310 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist or the
37311 path is an empty string.
37312
37313 @item ENOTDIR
37314 A component of the path is not a directory.
37315
37316 @item EFAULT
37317 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
37318
37319 @item EACCES
37320 No access to the file or the path of the file.
37321
37322 @item ENAMETOOLONG
37323 @var{pathname} was too long.
37324
37325 @item EINTR
37326 The call was interrupted by the user.
37327 @end table
37328
37329 @end table
37330
37331 @node gettimeofday
37332 @unnumberedsubsubsec gettimeofday
37333 @cindex gettimeofday, file-i/o system call
37334
37335 @table @asis
37336 @item Synopsis:
37337 @smallexample
37338 int gettimeofday(struct timeval *tv, void *tz);
37339 @end smallexample
37340
37341 @item Request:
37342 @samp{Fgettimeofday,@var{tvptr},@var{tzptr}}
37343
37344 @item Return value:
37345 On success, 0 is returned, -1 otherwise.
37346
37347 @item Errors:
37348
37349 @table @code
37350 @item EINVAL
37351 @var{tz} is a non-NULL pointer.
37352
37353 @item EFAULT
37354 @var{tvptr} and/or @var{tzptr} is an invalid pointer value.
37355 @end table
37356
37357 @end table
37358
37359 @node isatty
37360 @unnumberedsubsubsec isatty
37361 @cindex isatty, file-i/o system call
37362
37363 @table @asis
37364 @item Synopsis:
37365 @smallexample
37366 int isatty(int fd);
37367 @end smallexample
37368
37369 @item Request:
37370 @samp{Fisatty,@var{fd}}
37371
37372 @item Return value:
37373 Returns 1 if @var{fd} refers to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise.
37374
37375 @item Errors:
37376
37377 @table @code
37378 @item EINTR
37379 The call was interrupted by the user.
37380 @end table
37381
37382 @end table
37383
37384 Note that the @code{isatty} call is treated as a special case: it returns
37385 1 to the target if the file descriptor is attached
37386 to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise. Implementing through system calls
37387 would require implementing @code{ioctl} and would be more complex than
37388 needed.
37389
37390
37391 @node system
37392 @unnumberedsubsubsec system
37393 @cindex system, file-i/o system call
37394
37395 @table @asis
37396 @item Synopsis:
37397 @smallexample
37398 int system(const char *command);
37399 @end smallexample
37400
37401 @item Request:
37402 @samp{Fsystem,@var{commandptr}/@var{len}}
37403
37404 @item Return value:
37405 If @var{len} is zero, the return value indicates whether a shell is
37406 available. A zero return value indicates a shell is not available.
37407 For non-zero @var{len}, the value returned is -1 on error and the
37408 return status of the command otherwise. Only the exit status of the
37409 command is returned, which is extracted from the host's @code{system}
37410 return value by calling @code{WEXITSTATUS(retval)}. In case
37411 @file{/bin/sh} could not be executed, 127 is returned.
37412
37413 @item Errors:
37414
37415 @table @code
37416 @item EINTR
37417 The call was interrupted by the user.
37418 @end table
37419
37420 @end table
37421
37422 @value{GDBN} takes over the full task of calling the necessary host calls
37423 to perform the @code{system} call. The return value of @code{system} on
37424 the host is simplified before it's returned
37425 to the target. Any termination signal information from the child process
37426 is discarded, and the return value consists
37427 entirely of the exit status of the called command.
37428
37429 Due to security concerns, the @code{system} call is by default refused
37430 by @value{GDBN}. The user has to allow this call explicitly with the
37431 @code{set remote system-call-allowed 1} command.
37432
37433 @table @code
37434 @item set remote system-call-allowed
37435 @kindex set remote system-call-allowed
37436 Control whether to allow the @code{system} calls in the File I/O
37437 protocol for the remote target. The default is zero (disabled).
37438
37439 @item show remote system-call-allowed
37440 @kindex show remote system-call-allowed
37441 Show whether the @code{system} calls are allowed in the File I/O
37442 protocol.
37443 @end table
37444
37445 @node Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
37446 @subsection Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
37447 @cindex protocol-specific representation of datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
37448
37449 @menu
37450 * Integral Datatypes::
37451 * Pointer Values::
37452 * Memory Transfer::
37453 * struct stat::
37454 * struct timeval::
37455 @end menu
37456
37457 @node Integral Datatypes
37458 @unnumberedsubsubsec Integral Datatypes
37459 @cindex integral datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
37460
37461 The integral datatypes used in the system calls are @code{int},
37462 @code{unsigned int}, @code{long}, @code{unsigned long},
37463 @code{mode_t}, and @code{time_t}.
37464
37465 @code{int}, @code{unsigned int}, @code{mode_t} and @code{time_t} are
37466 implemented as 32 bit values in this protocol.
37467
37468 @code{long} and @code{unsigned long} are implemented as 64 bit types.
37469
37470 @xref{Limits}, for corresponding MIN and MAX values (similar to those
37471 in @file{limits.h}) to allow range checking on host and target.
37472
37473 @code{time_t} datatypes are defined as seconds since the Epoch.
37474
37475 All integral datatypes transferred as part of a memory read or write of a
37476 structured datatype e.g.@: a @code{struct stat} have to be given in big endian
37477 byte order.
37478
37479 @node Pointer Values
37480 @unnumberedsubsubsec Pointer Values
37481 @cindex pointer values, in file-i/o protocol
37482
37483 Pointers to target data are transmitted as they are. An exception
37484 is made for pointers to buffers for which the length isn't
37485 transmitted as part of the function call, namely strings. Strings
37486 are transmitted as a pointer/length pair, both as hex values, e.g.@:
37487
37488 @smallexample
37489 @code{1aaf/12}
37490 @end smallexample
37491
37492 @noindent
37493 which is a pointer to data of length 18 bytes at position 0x1aaf.
37494 The length is defined as the full string length in bytes, including
37495 the trailing null byte. For example, the string @code{"hello world"}
37496 at address 0x123456 is transmitted as
37497
37498 @smallexample
37499 @code{123456/d}
37500 @end smallexample
37501
37502 @node Memory Transfer
37503 @unnumberedsubsubsec Memory Transfer
37504 @cindex memory transfer, in file-i/o protocol
37505
37506 Structured data which is transferred using a memory read or write (for
37507 example, a @code{struct stat}) is expected to be in a protocol-specific format
37508 with all scalar multibyte datatypes being big endian. Translation to
37509 this representation needs to be done both by the target before the @code{F}
37510 packet is sent, and by @value{GDBN} before
37511 it transfers memory to the target. Transferred pointers to structured
37512 data should point to the already-coerced data at any time.
37513
37514
37515 @node struct stat
37516 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct stat
37517 @cindex struct stat, in file-i/o protocol
37518
37519 The buffer of type @code{struct stat} used by the target and @value{GDBN}
37520 is defined as follows:
37521
37522 @smallexample
37523 struct stat @{
37524 unsigned int st_dev; /* device */
37525 unsigned int st_ino; /* inode */
37526 mode_t st_mode; /* protection */
37527 unsigned int st_nlink; /* number of hard links */
37528 unsigned int st_uid; /* user ID of owner */
37529 unsigned int st_gid; /* group ID of owner */
37530 unsigned int st_rdev; /* device type (if inode device) */
37531 unsigned long st_size; /* total size, in bytes */
37532 unsigned long st_blksize; /* blocksize for filesystem I/O */
37533 unsigned long st_blocks; /* number of blocks allocated */
37534 time_t st_atime; /* time of last access */
37535 time_t st_mtime; /* time of last modification */
37536 time_t st_ctime; /* time of last change */
37537 @};
37538 @end smallexample
37539
37540 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
37541 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
37542 structure is of size 64 bytes.
37543
37544 The values of several fields have a restricted meaning and/or
37545 range of values.
37546
37547 @table @code
37548
37549 @item st_dev
37550 A value of 0 represents a file, 1 the console.
37551
37552 @item st_ino
37553 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
37554
37555 @item st_mode
37556 Valid mode bits are described in @ref{Constants}. Any other
37557 bits have currently no meaning for the target.
37558
37559 @item st_uid
37560 @itemx st_gid
37561 @itemx st_rdev
37562 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
37563
37564 @item st_atime
37565 @itemx st_mtime
37566 @itemx st_ctime
37567 These values have a host and file system dependent
37568 accuracy. Especially on Windows hosts, the file system may not
37569 support exact timing values.
37570 @end table
37571
37572 The target gets a @code{struct stat} of the above representation and is
37573 responsible for coercing it to the target representation before
37574 continuing.
37575
37576 Note that due to size differences between the host, target, and protocol
37577 representations of @code{struct stat} members, these members could eventually
37578 get truncated on the target.
37579
37580 @node struct timeval
37581 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct timeval
37582 @cindex struct timeval, in file-i/o protocol
37583
37584 The buffer of type @code{struct timeval} used by the File-I/O protocol
37585 is defined as follows:
37586
37587 @smallexample
37588 struct timeval @{
37589 time_t tv_sec; /* second */
37590 long tv_usec; /* microsecond */
37591 @};
37592 @end smallexample
37593
37594 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
37595 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
37596 structure is of size 8 bytes.
37597
37598 @node Constants
37599 @subsection Constants
37600 @cindex constants, in file-i/o protocol
37601
37602 The following values are used for the constants inside of the
37603 protocol. @value{GDBN} and target are responsible for translating these
37604 values before and after the call as needed.
37605
37606 @menu
37607 * Open Flags::
37608 * mode_t Values::
37609 * Errno Values::
37610 * Lseek Flags::
37611 * Limits::
37612 @end menu
37613
37614 @node Open Flags
37615 @unnumberedsubsubsec Open Flags
37616 @cindex open flags, in file-i/o protocol
37617
37618 All values are given in hexadecimal representation.
37619
37620 @smallexample
37621 O_RDONLY 0x0
37622 O_WRONLY 0x1
37623 O_RDWR 0x2
37624 O_APPEND 0x8
37625 O_CREAT 0x200
37626 O_TRUNC 0x400
37627 O_EXCL 0x800
37628 @end smallexample
37629
37630 @node mode_t Values
37631 @unnumberedsubsubsec mode_t Values
37632 @cindex mode_t values, in file-i/o protocol
37633
37634 All values are given in octal representation.
37635
37636 @smallexample
37637 S_IFREG 0100000
37638 S_IFDIR 040000
37639 S_IRUSR 0400
37640 S_IWUSR 0200
37641 S_IXUSR 0100
37642 S_IRGRP 040
37643 S_IWGRP 020
37644 S_IXGRP 010
37645 S_IROTH 04
37646 S_IWOTH 02
37647 S_IXOTH 01
37648 @end smallexample
37649
37650 @node Errno Values
37651 @unnumberedsubsubsec Errno Values
37652 @cindex errno values, in file-i/o protocol
37653
37654 All values are given in decimal representation.
37655
37656 @smallexample
37657 EPERM 1
37658 ENOENT 2
37659 EINTR 4
37660 EBADF 9
37661 EACCES 13
37662 EFAULT 14
37663 EBUSY 16
37664 EEXIST 17
37665 ENODEV 19
37666 ENOTDIR 20
37667 EISDIR 21
37668 EINVAL 22
37669 ENFILE 23
37670 EMFILE 24
37671 EFBIG 27
37672 ENOSPC 28
37673 ESPIPE 29
37674 EROFS 30
37675 ENAMETOOLONG 91
37676 EUNKNOWN 9999
37677 @end smallexample
37678
37679 @code{EUNKNOWN} is used as a fallback error value if a host system returns
37680 any error value not in the list of supported error numbers.
37681
37682 @node Lseek Flags
37683 @unnumberedsubsubsec Lseek Flags
37684 @cindex lseek flags, in file-i/o protocol
37685
37686 @smallexample
37687 SEEK_SET 0
37688 SEEK_CUR 1
37689 SEEK_END 2
37690 @end smallexample
37691
37692 @node Limits
37693 @unnumberedsubsubsec Limits
37694 @cindex limits, in file-i/o protocol
37695
37696 All values are given in decimal representation.
37697
37698 @smallexample
37699 INT_MIN -2147483648
37700 INT_MAX 2147483647
37701 UINT_MAX 4294967295
37702 LONG_MIN -9223372036854775808
37703 LONG_MAX 9223372036854775807
37704 ULONG_MAX 18446744073709551615
37705 @end smallexample
37706
37707 @node File-I/O Examples
37708 @subsection File-I/O Examples
37709 @cindex file-i/o examples
37710
37711 Example sequence of a write call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
37712 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be written:
37713
37714 @smallexample
37715 <- @code{Fwrite,3,1234,6}
37716 @emph{request memory read from target}
37717 -> @code{m1234,6}
37718 <- XXXXXX
37719 @emph{return "6 bytes written"}
37720 -> @code{F6}
37721 @end smallexample
37722
37723 Example sequence of a read call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
37724 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be read:
37725
37726 @smallexample
37727 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
37728 @emph{request memory write to target}
37729 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
37730 @emph{return "6 bytes read"}
37731 -> @code{F6}
37732 @end smallexample
37733
37734 Example sequence of a read call, call fails on the host due to invalid
37735 file descriptor (@code{EBADF}):
37736
37737 @smallexample
37738 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
37739 -> @code{F-1,9}
37740 @end smallexample
37741
37742 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} before syscall on
37743 host is called:
37744
37745 @smallexample
37746 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
37747 -> @code{F-1,4,C}
37748 <- @code{T02}
37749 @end smallexample
37750
37751 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} after syscall on
37752 host is called:
37753
37754 @smallexample
37755 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
37756 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
37757 <- @code{T02}
37758 @end smallexample
37759
37760 @node Library List Format
37761 @section Library List Format
37762 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
37763
37764 On some platforms, a dynamic loader (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) runs in the
37765 same process as your application to manage libraries. In this case,
37766 @value{GDBN} can use the loader's symbol table and normal memory
37767 operations to maintain a list of shared libraries. On other
37768 platforms, the operating system manages loaded libraries.
37769 @value{GDBN} can not retrieve the list of currently loaded libraries
37770 through memory operations, so it uses the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
37771 packet (@pxref{qXfer library list read}) instead. The remote stub
37772 queries the target's operating system and reports which libraries
37773 are loaded.
37774
37775 The @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet returns an XML document which
37776 lists loaded libraries and their offsets. Each library has an
37777 associated name and one or more segment or section base addresses,
37778 which report where the library was loaded in memory.
37779
37780 For the common case of libraries that are fully linked binaries, the
37781 library should have a list of segments. If the target supports
37782 dynamic linking of a relocatable object file, its library XML element
37783 should instead include a list of allocated sections. The segment or
37784 section bases are start addresses, not relocation offsets; they do not
37785 depend on the library's link-time base addresses.
37786
37787 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
37788 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
37789
37790 A simple memory map, with one loaded library relocated by a single
37791 offset, looks like this:
37792
37793 @smallexample
37794 <library-list>
37795 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6">
37796 <segment address="0x10000000"/>
37797 </library>
37798 </library-list>
37799 @end smallexample
37800
37801 Another simple memory map, with one loaded library with three
37802 allocated sections (.text, .data, .bss), looks like this:
37803
37804 @smallexample
37805 <library-list>
37806 <library name="sharedlib.o">
37807 <section address="0x10000000"/>
37808 <section address="0x20000000"/>
37809 <section address="0x30000000"/>
37810 </library>
37811 </library-list>
37812 @end smallexample
37813
37814 The format of a library list is described by this DTD:
37815
37816 @smallexample
37817 <!-- library-list: Root element with versioning -->
37818 <!ELEMENT library-list (library)*>
37819 <!ATTLIST library-list version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
37820 <!ELEMENT library (segment*, section*)>
37821 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
37822 <!ELEMENT segment EMPTY>
37823 <!ATTLIST segment address CDATA #REQUIRED>
37824 <!ELEMENT section EMPTY>
37825 <!ATTLIST section address CDATA #REQUIRED>
37826 @end smallexample
37827
37828 In addition, segments and section descriptors cannot be mixed within a
37829 single library element, and you must supply at least one segment or
37830 section for each library.
37831
37832 @node Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
37833 @section Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
37834 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
37835
37836 On SVR4 platforms @value{GDBN} can use the symbol table of a dynamic loader
37837 (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) and normal memory operations to maintain a list of
37838 shared libraries. Still a special library list provided by this packet is
37839 more efficient for the @value{GDBN} remote protocol.
37840
37841 The @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet returns an XML document which lists
37842 loaded libraries and their SVR4 linker parameters. For each library on SVR4
37843 target, the following parameters are reported:
37844
37845 @itemize @minus
37846 @item
37847 @code{name}, the absolute file name from the @code{l_name} field of
37848 @code{struct link_map}.
37849 @item
37850 @code{lm} with address of @code{struct link_map} used for TLS
37851 (Thread Local Storage) access.
37852 @item
37853 @code{l_addr}, the displacement as read from the field @code{l_addr} of
37854 @code{struct link_map}. For prelinked libraries this is not an absolute
37855 memory address. It is a displacement of absolute memory address against
37856 address the file was prelinked to during the library load.
37857 @item
37858 @code{l_ld}, which is memory address of the @code{PT_DYNAMIC} segment
37859 @end itemize
37860
37861 Additionally the single @code{main-lm} attribute specifies address of
37862 @code{struct link_map} used for the main executable. This parameter is used
37863 for TLS access and its presence is optional.
37864
37865 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
37866 SVR4 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
37867
37868 A simple memory map, with two loaded libraries (which do not use prelink),
37869 looks like this:
37870
37871 @smallexample
37872 <library-list-svr4 version="1.0" main-lm="0xe4f8f8">
37873 <library name="/lib/ld-linux.so.2" lm="0xe4f51c" l_addr="0xe2d000"
37874 l_ld="0xe4eefc"/>
37875 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6" lm="0xe4fbe8" l_addr="0x154000"
37876 l_ld="0x152350"/>
37877 </library-list-svr>
37878 @end smallexample
37879
37880 The format of an SVR4 library list is described by this DTD:
37881
37882 @smallexample
37883 <!-- library-list-svr4: Root element with versioning -->
37884 <!ELEMENT library-list-svr4 (library)*>
37885 <!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
37886 <!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 main-lm CDATA #IMPLIED>
37887 <!ELEMENT library EMPTY>
37888 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
37889 <!ATTLIST library lm CDATA #REQUIRED>
37890 <!ATTLIST library l_addr CDATA #REQUIRED>
37891 <!ATTLIST library l_ld CDATA #REQUIRED>
37892 @end smallexample
37893
37894 @node Memory Map Format
37895 @section Memory Map Format
37896 @cindex memory map format
37897
37898 To be able to write into flash memory, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain a
37899 memory map from the target. This section describes the format of the
37900 memory map.
37901
37902 The memory map is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
37903 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}) packet and is an XML document that
37904 lists memory regions.
37905
37906 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
37907 memory maps. @xref{Expat}.
37908
37909 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
37910
37911 @smallexample
37912 <?xml version="1.0"?>
37913 <!DOCTYPE memory-map
37914 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
37915 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-memory-map.dtd">
37916 <memory-map>
37917 region...
37918 </memory-map>
37919 @end smallexample
37920
37921 Each region can be either:
37922
37923 @itemize
37924
37925 @item
37926 A region of RAM starting at @var{addr} and extending for @var{length}
37927 bytes from there:
37928
37929 @smallexample
37930 <memory type="ram" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
37931 @end smallexample
37932
37933
37934 @item
37935 A region of read-only memory:
37936
37937 @smallexample
37938 <memory type="rom" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
37939 @end smallexample
37940
37941
37942 @item
37943 A region of flash memory, with erasure blocks @var{blocksize}
37944 bytes in length:
37945
37946 @smallexample
37947 <memory type="flash" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}">
37948 <property name="blocksize">@var{blocksize}</property>
37949 </memory>
37950 @end smallexample
37951
37952 @end itemize
37953
37954 Regions must not overlap. @value{GDBN} assumes that areas of memory not covered
37955 by the memory map are RAM, and uses the ordinary @samp{M} and @samp{X}
37956 packets to write to addresses in such ranges.
37957
37958 The formal DTD for memory map format is given below:
37959
37960 @smallexample
37961 <!-- ................................................... -->
37962 <!-- Memory Map XML DTD ................................ -->
37963 <!-- File: memory-map.dtd .............................. -->
37964 <!-- .................................... .............. -->
37965 <!-- memory-map.dtd -->
37966 <!-- memory-map: Root element with versioning -->
37967 <!ELEMENT memory-map (memory | property)>
37968 <!ATTLIST memory-map version CDATA #FIXED "1.0.0">
37969 <!ELEMENT memory (property)>
37970 <!-- memory: Specifies a memory region,
37971 and its type, or device. -->
37972 <!ATTLIST memory type CDATA #REQUIRED
37973 start CDATA #REQUIRED
37974 length CDATA #REQUIRED
37975 device CDATA #IMPLIED>
37976 <!-- property: Generic attribute tag -->
37977 <!ELEMENT property (#PCDATA | property)*>
37978 <!ATTLIST property name CDATA #REQUIRED>
37979 @end smallexample
37980
37981 @node Thread List Format
37982 @section Thread List Format
37983 @cindex thread list format
37984
37985 To efficiently update the list of threads and their attributes,
37986 @value{GDBN} issues the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
37987 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}) and obtains the XML document with
37988 the following structure:
37989
37990 @smallexample
37991 <?xml version="1.0"?>
37992 <threads>
37993 <thread id="id" core="0">
37994 ... description ...
37995 </thread>
37996 </threads>
37997 @end smallexample
37998
37999 Each @samp{thread} element must have the @samp{id} attribute that
38000 identifies the thread (@pxref{thread-id syntax}). The
38001 @samp{core} attribute, if present, specifies which processor core
38002 the thread was last executing on. The content of the of @samp{thread}
38003 element is interpreted as human-readable auxilliary information.
38004
38005 @node Traceframe Info Format
38006 @section Traceframe Info Format
38007 @cindex traceframe info format
38008
38009 To be able to know which objects in the inferior can be examined when
38010 inspecting a tracepoint hit, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain the list of
38011 memory ranges, registers and trace state variables that have been
38012 collected in a traceframe.
38013
38014 This list is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
38015 (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}) packet and is an XML document.
38016
38017 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
38018 traceframe info discovery. @xref{Expat}.
38019
38020 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
38021
38022 @smallexample
38023 <?xml version="1.0"?>
38024 <!DOCTYPE traceframe-info
38025 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
38026 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-traceframe-info.dtd">
38027 <traceframe-info>
38028 block...
38029 </traceframe-info>
38030 @end smallexample
38031
38032 Each traceframe block can be either:
38033
38034 @itemize
38035
38036 @item
38037 A region of collected memory starting at @var{addr} and extending for
38038 @var{length} bytes from there:
38039
38040 @smallexample
38041 <memory start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
38042 @end smallexample
38043
38044 @end itemize
38045
38046 The formal DTD for the traceframe info format is given below:
38047
38048 @smallexample
38049 <!ELEMENT traceframe-info (memory)* >
38050 <!ATTLIST traceframe-info version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
38051
38052 <!ELEMENT memory EMPTY>
38053 <!ATTLIST memory start CDATA #REQUIRED
38054 length CDATA #REQUIRED>
38055 @end smallexample
38056
38057 @include agentexpr.texi
38058
38059 @node Target Descriptions
38060 @appendix Target Descriptions
38061 @cindex target descriptions
38062
38063 One of the challenges of using @value{GDBN} to debug embedded systems
38064 is that there are so many minor variants of each processor
38065 architecture in use. It is common practice for vendors to start with
38066 a standard processor core --- ARM, PowerPC, or MIPS, for example ---
38067 and then make changes to adapt it to a particular market niche. Some
38068 architectures have hundreds of variants, available from dozens of
38069 vendors. This leads to a number of problems:
38070
38071 @itemize @bullet
38072 @item
38073 With so many different customized processors, it is difficult for
38074 the @value{GDBN} maintainers to keep up with the changes.
38075 @item
38076 Since individual variants may have short lifetimes or limited
38077 audiences, it may not be worthwhile to carry information about every
38078 variant in the @value{GDBN} source tree.
38079 @item
38080 When @value{GDBN} does support the architecture of the embedded system
38081 at hand, the task of finding the correct architecture name to give the
38082 @command{set architecture} command can be error-prone.
38083 @end itemize
38084
38085 To address these problems, the @value{GDBN} remote protocol allows a
38086 target system to not only identify itself to @value{GDBN}, but to
38087 actually describe its own features. This lets @value{GDBN} support
38088 processor variants it has never seen before --- to the extent that the
38089 descriptions are accurate, and that @value{GDBN} understands them.
38090
38091 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
38092 target descriptions. @xref{Expat}.
38093
38094 @menu
38095 * Retrieving Descriptions:: How descriptions are fetched from a target.
38096 * Target Description Format:: The contents of a target description.
38097 * Predefined Target Types:: Standard types available for target
38098 descriptions.
38099 * Standard Target Features:: Features @value{GDBN} knows about.
38100 @end menu
38101
38102 @node Retrieving Descriptions
38103 @section Retrieving Descriptions
38104
38105 Target descriptions can be read from the target automatically, or
38106 specified by the user manually. The default behavior is to read the
38107 description from the target. @value{GDBN} retrieves it via the remote
38108 protocol using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{General Query Packets,
38109 qXfer}). The @var{annex} in the @samp{qXfer} packet will be
38110 @samp{target.xml}. The contents of the @samp{target.xml} annex are an
38111 XML document, of the form described in @ref{Target Description
38112 Format}.
38113
38114 Alternatively, you can specify a file to read for the target description.
38115 If a file is set, the target will not be queried. The commands to
38116 specify a file are:
38117
38118 @table @code
38119 @cindex set tdesc filename
38120 @item set tdesc filename @var{path}
38121 Read the target description from @var{path}.
38122
38123 @cindex unset tdesc filename
38124 @item unset tdesc filename
38125 Do not read the XML target description from a file. @value{GDBN}
38126 will use the description supplied by the current target.
38127
38128 @cindex show tdesc filename
38129 @item show tdesc filename
38130 Show the filename to read for a target description, if any.
38131 @end table
38132
38133
38134 @node Target Description Format
38135 @section Target Description Format
38136 @cindex target descriptions, XML format
38137
38138 A target description annex is an @uref{http://www.w3.org/XML/, XML}
38139 document which complies with the Document Type Definition provided in
38140 the @value{GDBN} sources in @file{gdb/features/gdb-target.dtd}. This
38141 means you can use generally available tools like @command{xmllint} to
38142 check that your feature descriptions are well-formed and valid.
38143 However, to help people unfamiliar with XML write descriptions for
38144 their targets, we also describe the grammar here.
38145
38146 Target descriptions can identify the architecture of the remote target
38147 and (for some architectures) provide information about custom register
38148 sets. They can also identify the OS ABI of the remote target.
38149 @value{GDBN} can use this information to autoconfigure for your
38150 target, or to warn you if you connect to an unsupported target.
38151
38152 Here is a simple target description:
38153
38154 @smallexample
38155 <target version="1.0">
38156 <architecture>i386:x86-64</architecture>
38157 </target>
38158 @end smallexample
38159
38160 @noindent
38161 This minimal description only says that the target uses
38162 the x86-64 architecture.
38163
38164 A target description has the following overall form, with [ ] marking
38165 optional elements and @dots{} marking repeatable elements. The elements
38166 are explained further below.
38167
38168 @smallexample
38169 <?xml version="1.0"?>
38170 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "gdb-target.dtd">
38171 <target version="1.0">
38172 @r{[}@var{architecture}@r{]}
38173 @r{[}@var{osabi}@r{]}
38174 @r{[}@var{compatible}@r{]}
38175 @r{[}@var{feature}@dots{}@r{]}
38176 </target>
38177 @end smallexample
38178
38179 @noindent
38180 The description is generally insensitive to whitespace and line
38181 breaks, under the usual common-sense rules. The XML version
38182 declaration and document type declaration can generally be omitted
38183 (@value{GDBN} does not require them), but specifying them may be
38184 useful for XML validation tools. The @samp{version} attribute for
38185 @samp{<target>} may also be omitted, but we recommend
38186 including it; if future versions of @value{GDBN} use an incompatible
38187 revision of @file{gdb-target.dtd}, they will detect and report
38188 the version mismatch.
38189
38190 @subsection Inclusion
38191 @cindex target descriptions, inclusion
38192 @cindex XInclude
38193 @ifnotinfo
38194 @cindex <xi:include>
38195 @end ifnotinfo
38196
38197 It can sometimes be valuable to split a target description up into
38198 several different annexes, either for organizational purposes, or to
38199 share files between different possible target descriptions. You can
38200 divide a description into multiple files by replacing any element of
38201 the target description with an inclusion directive of the form:
38202
38203 @smallexample
38204 <xi:include href="@var{document}"/>
38205 @end smallexample
38206
38207 @noindent
38208 When @value{GDBN} encounters an element of this form, it will retrieve
38209 the named XML @var{document}, and replace the inclusion directive with
38210 the contents of that document. If the current description was read
38211 using @samp{qXfer}, then so will be the included document;
38212 @var{document} will be interpreted as the name of an annex. If the
38213 current description was read from a file, @value{GDBN} will look for
38214 @var{document} as a file in the same directory where it found the
38215 original description.
38216
38217 @subsection Architecture
38218 @cindex <architecture>
38219
38220 An @samp{<architecture>} element has this form:
38221
38222 @smallexample
38223 <architecture>@var{arch}</architecture>
38224 @end smallexample
38225
38226 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
38227 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
38228
38229 @subsection OS ABI
38230 @cindex @code{<osabi>}
38231
38232 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
38233 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
38234
38235 An @samp{<osabi>} element has this form:
38236
38237 @smallexample
38238 <osabi>@var{abi-name}</osabi>
38239 @end smallexample
38240
38241 @var{abi-name} is an OS ABI name from the same selection accepted by
38242 @w{@code{set osabi}} (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
38243
38244 @subsection Compatible Architecture
38245 @cindex @code{<compatible>}
38246
38247 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
38248 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
38249
38250 A @samp{<compatible>} element has this form:
38251
38252 @smallexample
38253 <compatible>@var{arch}</compatible>
38254 @end smallexample
38255
38256 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
38257 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
38258
38259 A @samp{<compatible>} element is used to specify that the target
38260 is able to run binaries in some other than the main target architecture
38261 given by the @samp{<architecture>} element. For example, on the
38262 Cell Broadband Engine, the main architecture is @code{powerpc:common}
38263 or @code{powerpc:common64}, but the system is able to run binaries
38264 in the @code{spu} architecture as well. The way to describe this
38265 capability with @samp{<compatible>} is as follows:
38266
38267 @smallexample
38268 <architecture>powerpc:common</architecture>
38269 <compatible>spu</compatible>
38270 @end smallexample
38271
38272 @subsection Features
38273 @cindex <feature>
38274
38275 Each @samp{<feature>} describes some logical portion of the target
38276 system. Features are currently used to describe available CPU
38277 registers and the types of their contents. A @samp{<feature>} element
38278 has this form:
38279
38280 @smallexample
38281 <feature name="@var{name}">
38282 @r{[}@var{type}@dots{}@r{]}
38283 @var{reg}@dots{}
38284 </feature>
38285 @end smallexample
38286
38287 @noindent
38288 Each feature's name should be unique within the description. The name
38289 of a feature does not matter unless @value{GDBN} has some special
38290 knowledge of the contents of that feature; if it does, the feature
38291 should have its standard name. @xref{Standard Target Features}.
38292
38293 @subsection Types
38294
38295 Any register's value is a collection of bits which @value{GDBN} must
38296 interpret. The default interpretation is a two's complement integer,
38297 but other types can be requested by name in the register description.
38298 Some predefined types are provided by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Predefined
38299 Target Types}), and the description can define additional composite types.
38300
38301 Each type element must have an @samp{id} attribute, which gives
38302 a unique (within the containing @samp{<feature>}) name to the type.
38303 Types must be defined before they are used.
38304
38305 @cindex <vector>
38306 Some targets offer vector registers, which can be treated as arrays
38307 of scalar elements. These types are written as @samp{<vector>} elements,
38308 specifying the array element type, @var{type}, and the number of elements,
38309 @var{count}:
38310
38311 @smallexample
38312 <vector id="@var{id}" type="@var{type}" count="@var{count}"/>
38313 @end smallexample
38314
38315 @cindex <union>
38316 If a register's value is usefully viewed in multiple ways, define it
38317 with a union type containing the useful representations. The
38318 @samp{<union>} element contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements,
38319 each of which has a @var{name} and a @var{type}:
38320
38321 @smallexample
38322 <union id="@var{id}">
38323 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
38324 @dots{}
38325 </union>
38326 @end smallexample
38327
38328 @cindex <struct>
38329 If a register's value is composed from several separate values, define
38330 it with a structure type. There are two forms of the @samp{<struct>}
38331 element; a @samp{<struct>} element must either contain only bitfields
38332 or contain no bitfields. If the structure contains only bitfields,
38333 its total size in bytes must be specified, each bitfield must have an
38334 explicit start and end, and bitfields are automatically assigned an
38335 integer type. The field's @var{start} should be less than or
38336 equal to its @var{end}, and zero represents the least significant bit.
38337
38338 @smallexample
38339 <struct id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
38340 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
38341 @dots{}
38342 </struct>
38343 @end smallexample
38344
38345 If the structure contains no bitfields, then each field has an
38346 explicit type, and no implicit padding is added.
38347
38348 @smallexample
38349 <struct id="@var{id}">
38350 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
38351 @dots{}
38352 </struct>
38353 @end smallexample
38354
38355 @cindex <flags>
38356 If a register's value is a series of single-bit flags, define it with
38357 a flags type. The @samp{<flags>} element has an explicit @var{size}
38358 and contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements. Each field has a
38359 @var{name}, a @var{start}, and an @var{end}. Only single-bit flags
38360 are supported.
38361
38362 @smallexample
38363 <flags id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
38364 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
38365 @dots{}
38366 </flags>
38367 @end smallexample
38368
38369 @subsection Registers
38370 @cindex <reg>
38371
38372 Each register is represented as an element with this form:
38373
38374 @smallexample
38375 <reg name="@var{name}"
38376 bitsize="@var{size}"
38377 @r{[}regnum="@var{num}"@r{]}
38378 @r{[}save-restore="@var{save-restore}"@r{]}
38379 @r{[}type="@var{type}"@r{]}
38380 @r{[}group="@var{group}"@r{]}/>
38381 @end smallexample
38382
38383 @noindent
38384 The components are as follows:
38385
38386 @table @var
38387
38388 @item name
38389 The register's name; it must be unique within the target description.
38390
38391 @item bitsize
38392 The register's size, in bits.
38393
38394 @item regnum
38395 The register's number. If omitted, a register's number is one greater
38396 than that of the previous register (either in the current feature or in
38397 a preceding feature); the first register in the target description
38398 defaults to zero. This register number is used to read or write
38399 the register; e.g.@: it is used in the remote @code{p} and @code{P}
38400 packets, and registers appear in the @code{g} and @code{G} packets
38401 in order of increasing register number.
38402
38403 @item save-restore
38404 Whether the register should be preserved across inferior function
38405 calls; this must be either @code{yes} or @code{no}. The default is
38406 @code{yes}, which is appropriate for most registers except for
38407 some system control registers; this is not related to the target's
38408 ABI.
38409
38410 @item type
38411 The type of the register. @var{type} may be a predefined type, a type
38412 defined in the current feature, or one of the special types @code{int}
38413 and @code{float}. @code{int} is an integer type of the correct size
38414 for @var{bitsize}, and @code{float} is a floating point type (in the
38415 architecture's normal floating point format) of the correct size for
38416 @var{bitsize}. The default is @code{int}.
38417
38418 @item group
38419 The register group to which this register belongs. @var{group} must
38420 be either @code{general}, @code{float}, or @code{vector}. If no
38421 @var{group} is specified, @value{GDBN} will not display the register
38422 in @code{info registers}.
38423
38424 @end table
38425
38426 @node Predefined Target Types
38427 @section Predefined Target Types
38428 @cindex target descriptions, predefined types
38429
38430 Type definitions in the self-description can build up composite types
38431 from basic building blocks, but can not define fundamental types. Instead,
38432 standard identifiers are provided by @value{GDBN} for the fundamental
38433 types. The currently supported types are:
38434
38435 @table @code
38436
38437 @item int8
38438 @itemx int16
38439 @itemx int32
38440 @itemx int64
38441 @itemx int128
38442 Signed integer types holding the specified number of bits.
38443
38444 @item uint8
38445 @itemx uint16
38446 @itemx uint32
38447 @itemx uint64
38448 @itemx uint128
38449 Unsigned integer types holding the specified number of bits.
38450
38451 @item code_ptr
38452 @itemx data_ptr
38453 Pointers to unspecified code and data. The program counter and
38454 any dedicated return address register may be marked as code
38455 pointers; printing a code pointer converts it into a symbolic
38456 address. The stack pointer and any dedicated address registers
38457 may be marked as data pointers.
38458
38459 @item ieee_single
38460 Single precision IEEE floating point.
38461
38462 @item ieee_double
38463 Double precision IEEE floating point.
38464
38465 @item arm_fpa_ext
38466 The 12-byte extended precision format used by ARM FPA registers.
38467
38468 @item i387_ext
38469 The 10-byte extended precision format used by x87 registers.
38470
38471 @item i386_eflags
38472 32bit @sc{eflags} register used by x86.
38473
38474 @item i386_mxcsr
38475 32bit @sc{mxcsr} register used by x86.
38476
38477 @end table
38478
38479 @node Standard Target Features
38480 @section Standard Target Features
38481 @cindex target descriptions, standard features
38482
38483 A target description must contain either no registers or all the
38484 target's registers. If the description contains no registers, then
38485 @value{GDBN} will assume a default register layout, selected based on
38486 the architecture. If the description contains any registers, the
38487 default layout will not be used; the standard registers must be
38488 described in the target description, in such a way that @value{GDBN}
38489 can recognize them.
38490
38491 This is accomplished by giving specific names to feature elements
38492 which contain standard registers. @value{GDBN} will look for features
38493 with those names and verify that they contain the expected registers;
38494 if any known feature is missing required registers, or if any required
38495 feature is missing, @value{GDBN} will reject the target
38496 description. You can add additional registers to any of the
38497 standard features --- @value{GDBN} will display them just as if
38498 they were added to an unrecognized feature.
38499
38500 This section lists the known features and their expected contents.
38501 Sample XML documents for these features are included in the
38502 @value{GDBN} source tree, in the directory @file{gdb/features}.
38503
38504 Names recognized by @value{GDBN} should include the name of the
38505 company or organization which selected the name, and the overall
38506 architecture to which the feature applies; so e.g.@: the feature
38507 containing ARM core registers is named @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}.
38508
38509 The names of registers are not case sensitive for the purpose
38510 of recognizing standard features, but @value{GDBN} will only display
38511 registers using the capitalization used in the description.
38512
38513 @menu
38514 * ARM Features::
38515 * i386 Features::
38516 * MIPS Features::
38517 * M68K Features::
38518 * PowerPC Features::
38519 * TIC6x Features::
38520 @end menu
38521
38522
38523 @node ARM Features
38524 @subsection ARM Features
38525 @cindex target descriptions, ARM features
38526
38527 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core} feature is required for non-M-profile
38528 ARM targets.
38529 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp},
38530 @samp{lr}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
38531
38532 For M-profile targets (e.g. Cortex-M3), the @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}
38533 feature is replaced by @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.m-profile}. It should contain
38534 registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp}, @samp{lr}, @samp{pc},
38535 and @samp{xpsr}.
38536
38537 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.fpa} feature is optional. If present, it
38538 should contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f7} and @samp{fps}.
38539
38540 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.xscale.iwmmxt} feature is optional. If present,
38541 it should contain at least registers @samp{wR0} through @samp{wR15} and
38542 @samp{wCGR0} through @samp{wCGR3}. The @samp{wCID}, @samp{wCon},
38543 @samp{wCSSF}, and @samp{wCASF} registers are optional.
38544
38545 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} feature is optional. If present, it
38546 should contain at least registers @samp{d0} through @samp{d15}. If
38547 they are present, @samp{d16} through @samp{d31} should also be included.
38548 @value{GDBN} will synthesize the single-precision registers from
38549 halves of the double-precision registers.
38550
38551 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.neon} feature is optional. It does not
38552 need to contain registers; it instructs @value{GDBN} to display the
38553 VFP double-precision registers as vectors and to synthesize the
38554 quad-precision registers from pairs of double-precision registers.
38555 If this feature is present, @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} must also
38556 be present and include 32 double-precision registers.
38557
38558 @node i386 Features
38559 @subsection i386 Features
38560 @cindex target descriptions, i386 features
38561
38562 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.core} feature is required for i386/amd64
38563 targets. It should describe the following registers:
38564
38565 @itemize @minus
38566 @item
38567 @samp{eax} through @samp{edi} plus @samp{eip} for i386
38568 @item
38569 @samp{rax} through @samp{r15} plus @samp{rip} for amd64
38570 @item
38571 @samp{eflags}, @samp{cs}, @samp{ss}, @samp{ds}, @samp{es},
38572 @samp{fs}, @samp{gs}
38573 @item
38574 @samp{st0} through @samp{st7}
38575 @item
38576 @samp{fctrl}, @samp{fstat}, @samp{ftag}, @samp{fiseg}, @samp{fioff},
38577 @samp{foseg}, @samp{fooff} and @samp{fop}
38578 @end itemize
38579
38580 The register sets may be different, depending on the target.
38581
38582 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature is optional. It should
38583 describe registers:
38584
38585 @itemize @minus
38586 @item
38587 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm7} for i386
38588 @item
38589 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm15} for amd64
38590 @item
38591 @samp{mxcsr}
38592 @end itemize
38593
38594 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.avx} feature is optional and requires the
38595 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature. It should
38596 describe the upper 128 bits of @sc{ymm} registers:
38597
38598 @itemize @minus
38599 @item
38600 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm7h} for i386
38601 @item
38602 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm15h} for amd64
38603 @end itemize
38604
38605 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.linux} feature is optional. It should
38606 describe a single register, @samp{orig_eax}.
38607
38608 @node MIPS Features
38609 @subsection MIPS Features
38610 @cindex target descriptions, MIPS features
38611
38612 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cpu} feature is required for MIPS targets.
38613 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31}, @samp{lo},
38614 @samp{hi}, and @samp{pc}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending
38615 on the target.
38616
38617 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cp0} feature is also required. It should
38618 contain at least the @samp{status}, @samp{badvaddr}, and @samp{cause}
38619 registers. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
38620
38621 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.fpu} feature is currently required, though
38622 it may be optional in a future version of @value{GDBN}. It should
38623 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31}, @samp{fcsr}, and
38624 @samp{fir}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
38625
38626 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.linux} feature is optional. It should
38627 contain a single register, @samp{restart}, which is used by the
38628 Linux kernel to control restartable syscalls.
38629
38630 @node M68K Features
38631 @subsection M68K Features
38632 @cindex target descriptions, M68K features
38633
38634 @table @code
38635 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.m68k.core}
38636 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.core}
38637 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.fido.core}
38638 One of those features must be always present.
38639 The feature that is present determines which flavor of m68k is
38640 used. The feature that is present should contain registers
38641 @samp{d0} through @samp{d7}, @samp{a0} through @samp{a5}, @samp{fp},
38642 @samp{sp}, @samp{ps} and @samp{pc}.
38643
38644 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.fp}
38645 This feature is optional. If present, it should contain registers
38646 @samp{fp0} through @samp{fp7}, @samp{fpcontrol}, @samp{fpstatus} and
38647 @samp{fpiaddr}.
38648 @end table
38649
38650 @node PowerPC Features
38651 @subsection PowerPC Features
38652 @cindex target descriptions, PowerPC features
38653
38654 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} feature is required for PowerPC
38655 targets. It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31},
38656 @samp{pc}, @samp{msr}, @samp{cr}, @samp{lr}, @samp{ctr}, and
38657 @samp{xer}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
38658
38659 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.fpu} feature is optional. It should
38660 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31} and @samp{fpscr}.
38661
38662 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.altivec} feature is optional. It should
38663 contain registers @samp{vr0} through @samp{vr31}, @samp{vscr},
38664 and @samp{vrsave}.
38665
38666 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.vsx} feature is optional. It should
38667 contain registers @samp{vs0h} through @samp{vs31h}. @value{GDBN}
38668 will combine these registers with the floating point registers
38669 (@samp{f0} through @samp{f31}) and the altivec registers (@samp{vr0}
38670 through @samp{vr31}) to present the 128-bit wide registers @samp{vs0}
38671 through @samp{vs63}, the set of vector registers for POWER7.
38672
38673 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.spe} feature is optional. It should
38674 contain registers @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}, @samp{acc}, and
38675 @samp{spefscr}. SPE targets should provide 32-bit registers in
38676 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} and provide the upper halves in
38677 @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}. @value{GDBN} will combine
38678 these to present registers @samp{ev0} through @samp{ev31} to the
38679 user.
38680
38681 @node TIC6x Features
38682 @subsection TMS320C6x Features
38683 @cindex target descriptions, TIC6x features
38684 @cindex target descriptions, TMS320C6x features
38685 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.core} feature is required for TMS320C6x
38686 targets. It should contain registers @samp{A0} through @samp{A15},
38687 registers @samp{B0} through @samp{B15}, @samp{CSR} and @samp{PC}.
38688
38689 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.gp} feature is optional. It should
38690 contain registers @samp{A16} through @samp{A31} and @samp{B16}
38691 through @samp{B31}.
38692
38693 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.c6xp} feature is optional. It should
38694 contain registers @samp{TSR}, @samp{ILC} and @samp{RILC}.
38695
38696 @node Operating System Information
38697 @appendix Operating System Information
38698 @cindex operating system information
38699
38700 @menu
38701 * Process list::
38702 @end menu
38703
38704 Users of @value{GDBN} often wish to obtain information about the state of
38705 the operating system running on the target---for example the list of
38706 processes, or the list of open files. This section describes the
38707 mechanism that makes it possible. This mechanism is similar to the
38708 target features mechanism (@pxref{Target Descriptions}), but focuses
38709 on a different aspect of target.
38710
38711 Operating system information is retrived from the target via the
38712 remote protocol, using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{qXfer osdata
38713 read}). The object name in the request should be @samp{osdata}, and
38714 the @var{annex} identifies the data to be fetched.
38715
38716 @node Process list
38717 @appendixsection Process list
38718 @cindex operating system information, process list
38719
38720 When requesting the process list, the @var{annex} field in the
38721 @samp{qXfer} request should be @samp{processes}. The returned data is
38722 an XML document. The formal syntax of this document is defined in
38723 @file{gdb/features/osdata.dtd}.
38724
38725 An example document is:
38726
38727 @smallexample
38728 <?xml version="1.0"?>
38729 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "osdata.dtd">
38730 <osdata type="processes">
38731 <item>
38732 <column name="pid">1</column>
38733 <column name="user">root</column>
38734 <column name="command">/sbin/init</column>
38735 <column name="cores">1,2,3</column>
38736 </item>
38737 </osdata>
38738 @end smallexample
38739
38740 Each item should include a column whose name is @samp{pid}. The value
38741 of that column should identify the process on the target. The
38742 @samp{user} and @samp{command} columns are optional, and will be
38743 displayed by @value{GDBN}. The @samp{cores} column, if present,
38744 should contain a comma-separated list of cores that this process
38745 is running on. Target may provide additional columns,
38746 which @value{GDBN} currently ignores.
38747
38748 @node Trace File Format
38749 @appendix Trace File Format
38750 @cindex trace file format
38751
38752 The trace file comes in three parts: a header, a textual description
38753 section, and a trace frame section with binary data.
38754
38755 The header has the form @code{\x7fTRACE0\n}. The first byte is
38756 @code{0x7f} so as to indicate that the file contains binary data,
38757 while the @code{0} is a version number that may have different values
38758 in the future.
38759
38760 The description section consists of multiple lines of @sc{ascii} text
38761 separated by newline characters (@code{0xa}). The lines may include a
38762 variety of optional descriptive or context-setting information, such
38763 as tracepoint definitions or register set size. @value{GDBN} will
38764 ignore any line that it does not recognize. An empty line marks the end
38765 of this section.
38766
38767 @c FIXME add some specific types of data
38768
38769 The trace frame section consists of a number of consecutive frames.
38770 Each frame begins with a two-byte tracepoint number, followed by a
38771 four-byte size giving the amount of data in the frame. The data in
38772 the frame consists of a number of blocks, each introduced by a
38773 character indicating its type (at least register, memory, and trace
38774 state variable). The data in this section is raw binary, not a
38775 hexadecimal or other encoding; its endianness matches the target's
38776 endianness.
38777
38778 @c FIXME bi-arch may require endianness/arch info in description section
38779
38780 @table @code
38781 @item R @var{bytes}
38782 Register block. The number and ordering of bytes matches that of a
38783 @code{g} packet in the remote protocol. Note that these are the
38784 actual bytes, in target order and @value{GDBN} register order, not a
38785 hexadecimal encoding.
38786
38787 @item M @var{address} @var{length} @var{bytes}...
38788 Memory block. This is a contiguous block of memory, at the 8-byte
38789 address @var{address}, with a 2-byte length @var{length}, followed by
38790 @var{length} bytes.
38791
38792 @item V @var{number} @var{value}
38793 Trace state variable block. This records the 8-byte signed value
38794 @var{value} of trace state variable numbered @var{number}.
38795
38796 @end table
38797
38798 Future enhancements of the trace file format may include additional types
38799 of blocks.
38800
38801 @node Index Section Format
38802 @appendix @code{.gdb_index} section format
38803 @cindex .gdb_index section format
38804 @cindex index section format
38805
38806 This section documents the index section that is created by @code{save
38807 gdb-index} (@pxref{Index Files}). The index section is
38808 DWARF-specific; some knowledge of DWARF is assumed in this
38809 description.
38810
38811 The mapped index file format is designed to be directly
38812 @code{mmap}able on any architecture. In most cases, a datum is
38813 represented using a little-endian 32-bit integer value, called an
38814 @code{offset_type}. Big endian machines must byte-swap the values
38815 before using them. Exceptions to this rule are noted. The data is
38816 laid out such that alignment is always respected.
38817
38818 A mapped index consists of several areas, laid out in order.
38819
38820 @enumerate
38821 @item
38822 The file header. This is a sequence of values, of @code{offset_type}
38823 unless otherwise noted:
38824
38825 @enumerate
38826 @item
38827 The version number, currently 5. Versions 1, 2 and 3 are obsolete.
38828 Version 4 differs by its hashing function.
38829
38830 @item
38831 The offset, from the start of the file, of the CU list.
38832
38833 @item
38834 The offset, from the start of the file, of the types CU list. Note
38835 that this area can be empty, in which case this offset will be equal
38836 to the next offset.
38837
38838 @item
38839 The offset, from the start of the file, of the address area.
38840
38841 @item
38842 The offset, from the start of the file, of the symbol table.
38843
38844 @item
38845 The offset, from the start of the file, of the constant pool.
38846 @end enumerate
38847
38848 @item
38849 The CU list. This is a sequence of pairs of 64-bit little-endian
38850 values, sorted by the CU offset. The first element in each pair is
38851 the offset of a CU in the @code{.debug_info} section. The second
38852 element in each pair is the length of that CU. References to a CU
38853 elsewhere in the map are done using a CU index, which is just the
38854 0-based index into this table. Note that if there are type CUs, then
38855 conceptually CUs and type CUs form a single list for the purposes of
38856 CU indices.
38857
38858 @item
38859 The types CU list. This is a sequence of triplets of 64-bit
38860 little-endian values. In a triplet, the first value is the CU offset,
38861 the second value is the type offset in the CU, and the third value is
38862 the type signature. The types CU list is not sorted.
38863
38864 @item
38865 The address area. The address area consists of a sequence of address
38866 entries. Each address entry has three elements:
38867
38868 @enumerate
38869 @item
38870 The low address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value.
38871
38872 @item
38873 The high address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value. Like
38874 @code{DW_AT_high_pc}, the value is one byte beyond the end.
38875
38876 @item
38877 The CU index. This is an @code{offset_type} value.
38878 @end enumerate
38879
38880 @item
38881 The symbol table. This is an open-addressed hash table. The size of
38882 the hash table is always a power of 2.
38883
38884 Each slot in the hash table consists of a pair of @code{offset_type}
38885 values. The first value is the offset of the symbol's name in the
38886 constant pool. The second value is the offset of the CU vector in the
38887 constant pool.
38888
38889 If both values are 0, then this slot in the hash table is empty. This
38890 is ok because while 0 is a valid constant pool index, it cannot be a
38891 valid index for both a string and a CU vector.
38892
38893 The hash value for a table entry is computed by applying an
38894 iterative hash function to the symbol's name. Starting with an
38895 initial value of @code{r = 0}, each (unsigned) character @samp{c} in
38896 the string is incorporated into the hash using the formula depending on the
38897 index version:
38898
38899 @table @asis
38900 @item Version 4
38901 The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + c - 113}.
38902
38903 @item Version 5
38904 The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + tolower (c) - 113}.
38905 @end table
38906
38907 The terminating @samp{\0} is not incorporated into the hash.
38908
38909 The step size used in the hash table is computed via
38910 @code{((hash * 17) & (size - 1)) | 1}, where @samp{hash} is the hash
38911 value, and @samp{size} is the size of the hash table. The step size
38912 is used to find the next candidate slot when handling a hash
38913 collision.
38914
38915 The names of C@t{++} symbols in the hash table are canonicalized. We
38916 don't currently have a simple description of the canonicalization
38917 algorithm; if you intend to create new index sections, you must read
38918 the code.
38919
38920 @item
38921 The constant pool. This is simply a bunch of bytes. It is organized
38922 so that alignment is correct: CU vectors are stored first, followed by
38923 strings.
38924
38925 A CU vector in the constant pool is a sequence of @code{offset_type}
38926 values. The first value is the number of CU indices in the vector.
38927 Each subsequent value is the index of a CU in the CU list. This
38928 element in the hash table is used to indicate which CUs define the
38929 symbol.
38930
38931 A string in the constant pool is zero-terminated.
38932 @end enumerate
38933
38934 @include gpl.texi
38935
38936 @node GNU Free Documentation License
38937 @appendix GNU Free Documentation License
38938 @include fdl.texi
38939
38940 @node Index
38941 @unnumbered Index
38942
38943 @printindex cp
38944
38945 @tex
38946 % I think something like @colophon should be in texinfo. In the
38947 % meantime:
38948 \long\def\colophon{\hbox to0pt{}\vfill
38949 \centerline{The body of this manual is set in}
38950 \centerline{\fontname\tenrm,}
38951 \centerline{with headings in {\bf\fontname\tenbf}}
38952 \centerline{and examples in {\tt\fontname\tentt}.}
38953 \centerline{{\it\fontname\tenit\/},}
38954 \centerline{{\bf\fontname\tenbf}, and}
38955 \centerline{{\sl\fontname\tensl\/}}
38956 \centerline{are used for emphasis.}\vfill}
38957 \page\colophon
38958 % Blame: doc@cygnus.com, 1991.
38959 @end tex
38960
38961 @bye
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