2008-11-18 Paul Pluzhnikov <ppluzhnikov@google.com>
[deliverable/binutils-gdb.git] / gdb / doc / gdb.texinfo
1 \input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
2 @c Copyright (C) 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998,
3 @c 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
4 @c Free Software Foundation, Inc.
5 @c
6 @c %**start of header
7 @c makeinfo ignores cmds prev to setfilename, so its arg cannot make use
8 @c of @set vars. However, you can override filename with makeinfo -o.
9 @setfilename gdb.info
10 @c
11 @include gdb-cfg.texi
12 @c
13 @settitle Debugging with @value{GDBN}
14 @setchapternewpage odd
15 @c %**end of header
16
17 @iftex
18 @c @smallbook
19 @c @cropmarks
20 @end iftex
21
22 @finalout
23 @syncodeindex ky cp
24
25 @c readline appendices use @vindex, @findex and @ftable,
26 @c annotate.texi and gdbmi use @findex.
27 @syncodeindex vr cp
28 @syncodeindex fn cp
29
30 @c !!set GDB manual's edition---not the same as GDB version!
31 @c This is updated by GNU Press.
32 @set EDITION Ninth
33
34 @c !!set GDB edit command default editor
35 @set EDITOR /bin/ex
36
37 @c THIS MANUAL REQUIRES TEXINFO 4.0 OR LATER.
38
39 @c This is a dir.info fragment to support semi-automated addition of
40 @c manuals to an info tree.
41 @dircategory Software development
42 @direntry
43 * Gdb: (gdb). The GNU debugger.
44 @end direntry
45
46 @ifinfo
47 This file documents the @sc{gnu} debugger @value{GDBN}.
48
49
50 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, of @cite{Debugging with
51 @value{GDBN}: the @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger} for @value{GDBN}
52 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
53 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
54 @end ifset
55 Version @value{GDBVN}.
56
57 Copyright (C) 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998,@*
58 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006@*
59 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
60
61 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
62 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1 or
63 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
64 Invariant Sections being ``Free Software'' and ``Free Software Needs
65 Free Documentation'', with the Front-Cover Texts being ``A GNU Manual,''
66 and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below.
67
68 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You are free to copy and modify
69 this GNU Manual. Buying copies from GNU Press supports the FSF in
70 developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
71 @end ifinfo
72
73 @titlepage
74 @title Debugging with @value{GDBN}
75 @subtitle The @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger
76 @sp 1
77 @subtitle @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN}
78 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
79 @sp 1
80 @subtitle @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
81 @end ifset
82 @author Richard Stallman, Roland Pesch, Stan Shebs, et al.
83 @page
84 @tex
85 {\parskip=0pt
86 \hfill (Send bugs and comments on @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.)\par
87 \hfill {\it Debugging with @value{GDBN}}\par
88 \hfill \TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par
89 }
90 @end tex
91
92 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
93 Copyright @copyright{} 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995,
94 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006
95 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
96 @sp 2
97 Published by the Free Software Foundation @*
98 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor,
99 Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA@*
100 ISBN 1-882114-77-9 @*
101
102 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
103 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1 or
104 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
105 Invariant Sections being ``Free Software'' and ``Free Software Needs
106 Free Documentation'', with the Front-Cover Texts being ``A GNU Manual,''
107 and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below.
108
109 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You are free to copy and modify
110 this GNU Manual. Buying copies from GNU Press supports the FSF in
111 developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
112 @page
113 This edition of the GDB manual is dedicated to the memory of Fred
114 Fish. Fred was a long-standing contributor to GDB and to Free
115 software in general. We will miss him.
116 @end titlepage
117 @page
118
119 @ifnottex
120 @node Top, Summary, (dir), (dir)
121
122 @top Debugging with @value{GDBN}
123
124 This file describes @value{GDBN}, the @sc{gnu} symbolic debugger.
125
126 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN}
127 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
128 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
129 @end ifset
130 Version @value{GDBVN}.
131
132 Copyright (C) 1988-2006 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
133
134 This edition of the GDB manual is dedicated to the memory of Fred
135 Fish. Fred was a long-standing contributor to GDB and to Free
136 software in general. We will miss him.
137
138 @menu
139 * Summary:: Summary of @value{GDBN}
140 * Sample Session:: A sample @value{GDBN} session
141
142 * Invocation:: Getting in and out of @value{GDBN}
143 * Commands:: @value{GDBN} commands
144 * Running:: Running programs under @value{GDBN}
145 * Stopping:: Stopping and continuing
146 * Reverse Execution:: Running programs backward
147 * Stack:: Examining the stack
148 * Source:: Examining source files
149 * Data:: Examining data
150 * Macros:: Preprocessor Macros
151 * Tracepoints:: Debugging remote targets non-intrusively
152 * Overlays:: Debugging programs that use overlays
153
154 * Languages:: Using @value{GDBN} with different languages
155
156 * Symbols:: Examining the symbol table
157 * Altering:: Altering execution
158 * GDB Files:: @value{GDBN} files
159 * Targets:: Specifying a debugging target
160 * Remote Debugging:: Debugging remote programs
161 * Configurations:: Configuration-specific information
162 * Controlling GDB:: Controlling @value{GDBN}
163 * Extending GDB:: Extending @value{GDBN}
164 * Interpreters:: Command Interpreters
165 * TUI:: @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
166 * Emacs:: Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
167 * GDB/MI:: @value{GDBN}'s Machine Interface.
168 * Annotations:: @value{GDBN}'s annotation interface.
169
170 * GDB Bugs:: Reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
171
172 * Command Line Editing:: Command Line Editing
173 * Using History Interactively:: Using History Interactively
174 * Formatting Documentation:: How to format and print @value{GDBN} documentation
175 * Installing GDB:: Installing GDB
176 * Maintenance Commands:: Maintenance Commands
177 * Remote Protocol:: GDB Remote Serial Protocol
178 * Agent Expressions:: The GDB Agent Expression Mechanism
179 * Target Descriptions:: How targets can describe themselves to
180 @value{GDBN}
181 * Copying:: GNU General Public License says
182 how you can copy and share GDB
183 * GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation
184 * Index:: Index
185 @end menu
186
187 @end ifnottex
188
189 @contents
190
191 @node Summary
192 @unnumbered Summary of @value{GDBN}
193
194 The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
195 going on ``inside'' another program while it executes---or what another
196 program was doing at the moment it crashed.
197
198 @value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
199 these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
200
201 @itemize @bullet
202 @item
203 Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
204
205 @item
206 Make your program stop on specified conditions.
207
208 @item
209 Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
210
211 @item
212 Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
213 effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
214 @end itemize
215
216 You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C and C@t{++}.
217 For more information, see @ref{Supported Languages,,Supported Languages}.
218 For more information, see @ref{C,,C and C++}.
219
220 @cindex Modula-2
221 Support for Modula-2 is partial. For information on Modula-2, see
222 @ref{Modula-2,,Modula-2}.
223
224 @cindex Pascal
225 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
226 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
227 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
228 syntax.
229
230 @cindex Fortran
231 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, although
232 it may be necessary to refer to some variables with a trailing
233 underscore.
234
235 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Objective-C,
236 using either the Apple/NeXT or the GNU Objective-C runtime.
237
238 @menu
239 * Free Software:: Freely redistributable software
240 * Contributors:: Contributors to GDB
241 @end menu
242
243 @node Free Software
244 @unnumberedsec Free Software
245
246 @value{GDBN} is @dfn{free software}, protected by the @sc{gnu}
247 General Public License
248 (GPL). The GPL gives you the freedom to copy or adapt a licensed
249 program---but every person getting a copy also gets with it the
250 freedom to modify that copy (which means that they must get access to
251 the source code), and the freedom to distribute further copies.
252 Typical software companies use copyrights to limit your freedoms; the
253 Free Software Foundation uses the GPL to preserve these freedoms.
254
255 Fundamentally, the General Public License is a license which says that
256 you have these freedoms and that you cannot take these freedoms away
257 from anyone else.
258
259 @unnumberedsec Free Software Needs Free Documentation
260
261 The biggest deficiency in the free software community today is not in
262 the software---it is the lack of good free documentation that we can
263 include with the free software. Many of our most important
264 programs do not come with free reference manuals and free introductory
265 texts. Documentation is an essential part of any software package;
266 when an important free software package does not come with a free
267 manual and a free tutorial, that is a major gap. We have many such
268 gaps today.
269
270 Consider Perl, for instance. The tutorial manuals that people
271 normally use are non-free. How did this come about? Because the
272 authors of those manuals published them with restrictive terms---no
273 copying, no modification, source files not available---which exclude
274 them from the free software world.
275
276 That wasn't the first time this sort of thing happened, and it was far
277 from the last. Many times we have heard a GNU user eagerly describe a
278 manual that he is writing, his intended contribution to the community,
279 only to learn that he had ruined everything by signing a publication
280 contract to make it non-free.
281
282 Free documentation, like free software, is a matter of freedom, not
283 price. The problem with the non-free manual is not that publishers
284 charge a price for printed copies---that in itself is fine. (The Free
285 Software Foundation sells printed copies of manuals, too.) The
286 problem is the restrictions on the use of the manual. Free manuals
287 are available in source code form, and give you permission to copy and
288 modify. Non-free manuals do not allow this.
289
290 The criteria of freedom for a free manual are roughly the same as for
291 free software. Redistribution (including the normal kinds of
292 commercial redistribution) must be permitted, so that the manual can
293 accompany every copy of the program, both on-line and on paper.
294
295 Permission for modification of the technical content is crucial too.
296 When people modify the software, adding or changing features, if they
297 are conscientious they will change the manual too---so they can
298 provide accurate and clear documentation for the modified program. A
299 manual that leaves you no choice but to write a new manual to document
300 a changed version of the program is not really available to our
301 community.
302
303 Some kinds of limits on the way modification is handled are
304 acceptable. For example, requirements to preserve the original
305 author's copyright notice, the distribution terms, or the list of
306 authors, are ok. It is also no problem to require modified versions
307 to include notice that they were modified. Even entire sections that
308 may not be deleted or changed are acceptable, as long as they deal
309 with nontechnical topics (like this one). These kinds of restrictions
310 are acceptable because they don't obstruct the community's normal use
311 of the manual.
312
313 However, it must be possible to modify all the @emph{technical}
314 content of the manual, and then distribute the result in all the usual
315 media, through all the usual channels. Otherwise, the restrictions
316 obstruct the use of the manual, it is not free, and we need another
317 manual to replace it.
318
319 Please spread the word about this issue. Our community continues to
320 lose manuals to proprietary publishing. If we spread the word that
321 free software needs free reference manuals and free tutorials, perhaps
322 the next person who wants to contribute by writing documentation will
323 realize, before it is too late, that only free manuals contribute to
324 the free software community.
325
326 If you are writing documentation, please insist on publishing it under
327 the GNU Free Documentation License or another free documentation
328 license. Remember that this decision requires your approval---you
329 don't have to let the publisher decide. Some commercial publishers
330 will use a free license if you insist, but they will not propose the
331 option; it is up to you to raise the issue and say firmly that this is
332 what you want. If the publisher you are dealing with refuses, please
333 try other publishers. If you're not sure whether a proposed license
334 is free, write to @email{licensing@@gnu.org}.
335
336 You can encourage commercial publishers to sell more free, copylefted
337 manuals and tutorials by buying them, and particularly by buying
338 copies from the publishers that paid for their writing or for major
339 improvements. Meanwhile, try to avoid buying non-free documentation
340 at all. Check the distribution terms of a manual before you buy it,
341 and insist that whoever seeks your business must respect your freedom.
342 Check the history of the book, and try to reward the publishers that
343 have paid or pay the authors to work on it.
344
345 The Free Software Foundation maintains a list of free documentation
346 published by other publishers, at
347 @url{http://www.fsf.org/doc/other-free-books.html}.
348
349 @node Contributors
350 @unnumberedsec Contributors to @value{GDBN}
351
352 Richard Stallman was the original author of @value{GDBN}, and of many
353 other @sc{gnu} programs. Many others have contributed to its
354 development. This section attempts to credit major contributors. One
355 of the virtues of free software is that everyone is free to contribute
356 to it; with regret, we cannot actually acknowledge everyone here. The
357 file @file{ChangeLog} in the @value{GDBN} distribution approximates a
358 blow-by-blow account.
359
360 Changes much prior to version 2.0 are lost in the mists of time.
361
362 @quotation
363 @emph{Plea:} Additions to this section are particularly welcome. If you
364 or your friends (or enemies, to be evenhanded) have been unfairly
365 omitted from this list, we would like to add your names!
366 @end quotation
367
368 So that they may not regard their many labors as thankless, we
369 particularly thank those who shepherded @value{GDBN} through major
370 releases:
371 Andrew Cagney (releases 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1 and 5.0);
372 Jim Blandy (release 4.18);
373 Jason Molenda (release 4.17);
374 Stan Shebs (release 4.14);
375 Fred Fish (releases 4.16, 4.15, 4.13, 4.12, 4.11, 4.10, and 4.9);
376 Stu Grossman and John Gilmore (releases 4.8, 4.7, 4.6, 4.5, and 4.4);
377 John Gilmore (releases 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, and 3.9);
378 Jim Kingdon (releases 3.5, 3.4, and 3.3);
379 and Randy Smith (releases 3.2, 3.1, and 3.0).
380
381 Richard Stallman, assisted at various times by Peter TerMaat, Chris
382 Hanson, and Richard Mlynarik, handled releases through 2.8.
383
384 Michael Tiemann is the author of most of the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} support
385 in @value{GDBN}, with significant additional contributions from Per
386 Bothner and Daniel Berlin. James Clark wrote the @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
387 demangler. Early work on C@t{++} was by Peter TerMaat (who also did
388 much general update work leading to release 3.0).
389
390 @value{GDBN} uses the BFD subroutine library to examine multiple
391 object-file formats; BFD was a joint project of David V.
392 Henkel-Wallace, Rich Pixley, Steve Chamberlain, and John Gilmore.
393
394 David Johnson wrote the original COFF support; Pace Willison did
395 the original support for encapsulated COFF.
396
397 Brent Benson of Harris Computer Systems contributed DWARF 2 support.
398
399 Adam de Boor and Bradley Davis contributed the ISI Optimum V support.
400 Per Bothner, Noboyuki Hikichi, and Alessandro Forin contributed MIPS
401 support.
402 Jean-Daniel Fekete contributed Sun 386i support.
403 Chris Hanson improved the HP9000 support.
404 Noboyuki Hikichi and Tomoyuki Hasei contributed Sony/News OS 3 support.
405 David Johnson contributed Encore Umax support.
406 Jyrki Kuoppala contributed Altos 3068 support.
407 Jeff Law contributed HP PA and SOM support.
408 Keith Packard contributed NS32K support.
409 Doug Rabson contributed Acorn Risc Machine support.
410 Bob Rusk contributed Harris Nighthawk CX-UX support.
411 Chris Smith contributed Convex support (and Fortran debugging).
412 Jonathan Stone contributed Pyramid support.
413 Michael Tiemann contributed SPARC support.
414 Tim Tucker contributed support for the Gould NP1 and Gould Powernode.
415 Pace Willison contributed Intel 386 support.
416 Jay Vosburgh contributed Symmetry support.
417 Marko Mlinar contributed OpenRISC 1000 support.
418
419 Andreas Schwab contributed M68K @sc{gnu}/Linux support.
420
421 Rich Schaefer and Peter Schauer helped with support of SunOS shared
422 libraries.
423
424 Jay Fenlason and Roland McGrath ensured that @value{GDBN} and GAS agree
425 about several machine instruction sets.
426
427 Patrick Duval, Ted Goldstein, Vikram Koka and Glenn Engel helped develop
428 remote debugging. Intel Corporation, Wind River Systems, AMD, and ARM
429 contributed remote debugging modules for the i960, VxWorks, A29K UDI,
430 and RDI targets, respectively.
431
432 Brian Fox is the author of the readline libraries providing
433 command-line editing and command history.
434
435 Andrew Beers of SUNY Buffalo wrote the language-switching code, the
436 Modula-2 support, and contributed the Languages chapter of this manual.
437
438 Fred Fish wrote most of the support for Unix System Vr4.
439 He also enhanced the command-completion support to cover C@t{++} overloaded
440 symbols.
441
442 Hitachi America (now Renesas America), Ltd. sponsored the support for
443 H8/300, H8/500, and Super-H processors.
444
445 NEC sponsored the support for the v850, Vr4xxx, and Vr5xxx processors.
446
447 Mitsubishi (now Renesas) sponsored the support for D10V, D30V, and M32R/D
448 processors.
449
450 Toshiba sponsored the support for the TX39 Mips processor.
451
452 Matsushita sponsored the support for the MN10200 and MN10300 processors.
453
454 Fujitsu sponsored the support for SPARClite and FR30 processors.
455
456 Kung Hsu, Jeff Law, and Rick Sladkey added support for hardware
457 watchpoints.
458
459 Michael Snyder added support for tracepoints.
460
461 Stu Grossman wrote gdbserver.
462
463 Jim Kingdon, Peter Schauer, Ian Taylor, and Stu Grossman made
464 nearly innumerable bug fixes and cleanups throughout @value{GDBN}.
465
466 The following people at the Hewlett-Packard Company contributed
467 support for the PA-RISC 2.0 architecture, HP-UX 10.20, 10.30, and 11.0
468 (narrow mode), HP's implementation of kernel threads, HP's aC@t{++}
469 compiler, and the Text User Interface (nee Terminal User Interface):
470 Ben Krepp, Richard Title, John Bishop, Susan Macchia, Kathy Mann,
471 Satish Pai, India Paul, Steve Rehrauer, and Elena Zannoni. Kim Haase
472 provided HP-specific information in this manual.
473
474 DJ Delorie ported @value{GDBN} to MS-DOS, for the DJGPP project.
475 Robert Hoehne made significant contributions to the DJGPP port.
476
477 Cygnus Solutions has sponsored @value{GDBN} maintenance and much of its
478 development since 1991. Cygnus engineers who have worked on @value{GDBN}
479 fulltime include Mark Alexander, Jim Blandy, Per Bothner, Kevin
480 Buettner, Edith Epstein, Chris Faylor, Fred Fish, Martin Hunt, Jim
481 Ingham, John Gilmore, Stu Grossman, Kung Hsu, Jim Kingdon, John Metzler,
482 Fernando Nasser, Geoffrey Noer, Dawn Perchik, Rich Pixley, Zdenek
483 Radouch, Keith Seitz, Stan Shebs, David Taylor, and Elena Zannoni. In
484 addition, Dave Brolley, Ian Carmichael, Steve Chamberlain, Nick Clifton,
485 JT Conklin, Stan Cox, DJ Delorie, Ulrich Drepper, Frank Eigler, Doug
486 Evans, Sean Fagan, David Henkel-Wallace, Richard Henderson, Jeff
487 Holcomb, Jeff Law, Jim Lemke, Tom Lord, Bob Manson, Michael Meissner,
488 Jason Merrill, Catherine Moore, Drew Moseley, Ken Raeburn, Gavin
489 Romig-Koch, Rob Savoye, Jamie Smith, Mike Stump, Ian Taylor, Angela
490 Thomas, Michael Tiemann, Tom Tromey, Ron Unrau, Jim Wilson, and David
491 Zuhn have made contributions both large and small.
492
493 Andrew Cagney, Fernando Nasser, and Elena Zannoni, while working for
494 Cygnus Solutions, implemented the original @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
495
496 Jim Blandy added support for preprocessor macros, while working for Red
497 Hat.
498
499 Andrew Cagney designed @value{GDBN}'s architecture vector. Many
500 people including Andrew Cagney, Stephane Carrez, Randolph Chung, Nick
501 Duffek, Richard Henderson, Mark Kettenis, Grace Sainsbury, Kei
502 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Andreas Schwab, Jason
503 Thorpe, Corinna Vinschen, Ulrich Weigand, and Elena Zannoni, helped
504 with the migration of old architectures to this new framework.
505
506 Andrew Cagney completely re-designed and re-implemented @value{GDBN}'s
507 unwinder framework, this consisting of a fresh new design featuring
508 frame IDs, independent frame sniffers, and the sentinel frame. Mark
509 Kettenis implemented the @sc{dwarf 2} unwinder, Jeff Johnston the
510 libunwind unwinder, and Andrew Cagney the dummy, sentinel, tramp, and
511 trad unwinders. The architecture-specific changes, each involving a
512 complete rewrite of the architecture's frame code, were carried out by
513 Jim Blandy, Joel Brobecker, Kevin Buettner, Andrew Cagney, Stephane
514 Carrez, Randolph Chung, Orjan Friberg, Richard Henderson, Daniel
515 Jacobowitz, Jeff Johnston, Mark Kettenis, Theodore A. Roth, Kei
516 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Corinna Vinschen, and Ulrich
517 Weigand.
518
519 Christian Zankel, Ross Morley, Bob Wilson, and Maxim Grigoriev from
520 Tensilica, Inc.@: contributed support for Xtensa processors. Others
521 who have worked on the Xtensa port of @value{GDBN} in the past include
522 Steve Tjiang, John Newlin, and Scott Foehner.
523
524 @node Sample Session
525 @chapter A Sample @value{GDBN} Session
526
527 You can use this manual at your leisure to read all about @value{GDBN}.
528 However, a handful of commands are enough to get started using the
529 debugger. This chapter illustrates those commands.
530
531 @iftex
532 In this sample session, we emphasize user input like this: @b{input},
533 to make it easier to pick out from the surrounding output.
534 @end iftex
535
536 @c FIXME: this example may not be appropriate for some configs, where
537 @c FIXME...primary interest is in remote use.
538
539 One of the preliminary versions of @sc{gnu} @code{m4} (a generic macro
540 processor) exhibits the following bug: sometimes, when we change its
541 quote strings from the default, the commands used to capture one macro
542 definition within another stop working. In the following short @code{m4}
543 session, we define a macro @code{foo} which expands to @code{0000}; we
544 then use the @code{m4} built-in @code{defn} to define @code{bar} as the
545 same thing. However, when we change the open quote string to
546 @code{<QUOTE>} and the close quote string to @code{<UNQUOTE>}, the same
547 procedure fails to define a new synonym @code{baz}:
548
549 @smallexample
550 $ @b{cd gnu/m4}
551 $ @b{./m4}
552 @b{define(foo,0000)}
553
554 @b{foo}
555 0000
556 @b{define(bar,defn(`foo'))}
557
558 @b{bar}
559 0000
560 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
561
562 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
563 @b{baz}
564 @b{Ctrl-d}
565 m4: End of input: 0: fatal error: EOF in string
566 @end smallexample
567
568 @noindent
569 Let us use @value{GDBN} to try to see what is going on.
570
571 @smallexample
572 $ @b{@value{GDBP} m4}
573 @c FIXME: this falsifies the exact text played out, to permit smallbook
574 @c FIXME... format to come out better.
575 @value{GDBN} is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies
576 of it under certain conditions; type "show copying" to see
577 the conditions.
578 There is absolutely no warranty for @value{GDBN}; type "show warranty"
579 for details.
580
581 @value{GDBN} @value{GDBVN}, Copyright 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc...
582 (@value{GDBP})
583 @end smallexample
584
585 @noindent
586 @value{GDBN} reads only enough symbol data to know where to find the
587 rest when needed; as a result, the first prompt comes up very quickly.
588 We now tell @value{GDBN} to use a narrower display width than usual, so
589 that examples fit in this manual.
590
591 @smallexample
592 (@value{GDBP}) @b{set width 70}
593 @end smallexample
594
595 @noindent
596 We need to see how the @code{m4} built-in @code{changequote} works.
597 Having looked at the source, we know the relevant subroutine is
598 @code{m4_changequote}, so we set a breakpoint there with the @value{GDBN}
599 @code{break} command.
600
601 @smallexample
602 (@value{GDBP}) @b{break m4_changequote}
603 Breakpoint 1 at 0x62f4: file builtin.c, line 879.
604 @end smallexample
605
606 @noindent
607 Using the @code{run} command, we start @code{m4} running under @value{GDBN}
608 control; as long as control does not reach the @code{m4_changequote}
609 subroutine, the program runs as usual:
610
611 @smallexample
612 (@value{GDBP}) @b{run}
613 Starting program: /work/Editorial/gdb/gnu/m4/m4
614 @b{define(foo,0000)}
615
616 @b{foo}
617 0000
618 @end smallexample
619
620 @noindent
621 To trigger the breakpoint, we call @code{changequote}. @value{GDBN}
622 suspends execution of @code{m4}, displaying information about the
623 context where it stops.
624
625 @smallexample
626 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
627
628 Breakpoint 1, m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
629 at builtin.c:879
630 879 if (bad_argc(TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[0]),argc,1,3))
631 @end smallexample
632
633 @noindent
634 Now we use the command @code{n} (@code{next}) to advance execution to
635 the next line of the current function.
636
637 @smallexample
638 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
639 882 set_quotes((argc >= 2) ? TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[1])\
640 : nil,
641 @end smallexample
642
643 @noindent
644 @code{set_quotes} looks like a promising subroutine. We can go into it
645 by using the command @code{s} (@code{step}) instead of @code{next}.
646 @code{step} goes to the next line to be executed in @emph{any}
647 subroutine, so it steps into @code{set_quotes}.
648
649 @smallexample
650 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
651 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
652 at input.c:530
653 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
654 @end smallexample
655
656 @noindent
657 The display that shows the subroutine where @code{m4} is now
658 suspended (and its arguments) is called a stack frame display. It
659 shows a summary of the stack. We can use the @code{backtrace}
660 command (which can also be spelled @code{bt}), to see where we are
661 in the stack as a whole: the @code{backtrace} command displays a
662 stack frame for each active subroutine.
663
664 @smallexample
665 (@value{GDBP}) @b{bt}
666 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
667 at input.c:530
668 #1 0x6344 in m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
669 at builtin.c:882
670 #2 0x8174 in expand_macro (sym=0x33320) at macro.c:242
671 #3 0x7a88 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=209696, td=0xf7fffa30)
672 at macro.c:71
673 #4 0x79dc in expand_input () at macro.c:40
674 #5 0x2930 in main (argc=0, argv=0xf7fffb20) at m4.c:195
675 @end smallexample
676
677 @noindent
678 We step through a few more lines to see what happens. The first two
679 times, we can use @samp{s}; the next two times we use @code{n} to avoid
680 falling into the @code{xstrdup} subroutine.
681
682 @smallexample
683 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
684 0x3b5c 532 if (rquote != def_rquote)
685 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
686 0x3b80 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? \
687 def_lquote : xstrdup(lq);
688 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
689 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
690 : xstrdup(rq);
691 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
692 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
693 @end smallexample
694
695 @noindent
696 The last line displayed looks a little odd; we can examine the variables
697 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} to see if they are in fact the new left
698 and right quotes we specified. We use the command @code{p}
699 (@code{print}) to see their values.
700
701 @smallexample
702 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p lquote}
703 $1 = 0x35d40 "<QUOTE>"
704 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p rquote}
705 $2 = 0x35d50 "<UNQUOTE>"
706 @end smallexample
707
708 @noindent
709 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} are indeed the new left and right quotes.
710 To look at some context, we can display ten lines of source
711 surrounding the current line with the @code{l} (@code{list}) command.
712
713 @smallexample
714 (@value{GDBP}) @b{l}
715 533 xfree(rquote);
716 534
717 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? def_lquote\
718 : xstrdup (lq);
719 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
720 : xstrdup (rq);
721 537
722 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
723 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
724 540 @}
725 541
726 542 void
727 @end smallexample
728
729 @noindent
730 Let us step past the two lines that set @code{len_lquote} and
731 @code{len_rquote}, and then examine the values of those variables.
732
733 @smallexample
734 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
735 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
736 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
737 540 @}
738 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote}
739 $3 = 9
740 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote}
741 $4 = 7
742 @end smallexample
743
744 @noindent
745 That certainly looks wrong, assuming @code{len_lquote} and
746 @code{len_rquote} are meant to be the lengths of @code{lquote} and
747 @code{rquote} respectively. We can set them to better values using
748 the @code{p} command, since it can print the value of
749 any expression---and that expression can include subroutine calls and
750 assignments.
751
752 @smallexample
753 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote=strlen(lquote)}
754 $5 = 7
755 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote=strlen(rquote)}
756 $6 = 9
757 @end smallexample
758
759 @noindent
760 Is that enough to fix the problem of using the new quotes with the
761 @code{m4} built-in @code{defn}? We can allow @code{m4} to continue
762 executing with the @code{c} (@code{continue}) command, and then try the
763 example that caused trouble initially:
764
765 @smallexample
766 (@value{GDBP}) @b{c}
767 Continuing.
768
769 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
770
771 baz
772 0000
773 @end smallexample
774
775 @noindent
776 Success! The new quotes now work just as well as the default ones. The
777 problem seems to have been just the two typos defining the wrong
778 lengths. We allow @code{m4} exit by giving it an EOF as input:
779
780 @smallexample
781 @b{Ctrl-d}
782 Program exited normally.
783 @end smallexample
784
785 @noindent
786 The message @samp{Program exited normally.} is from @value{GDBN}; it
787 indicates @code{m4} has finished executing. We can end our @value{GDBN}
788 session with the @value{GDBN} @code{quit} command.
789
790 @smallexample
791 (@value{GDBP}) @b{quit}
792 @end smallexample
793
794 @node Invocation
795 @chapter Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}
796
797 This chapter discusses how to start @value{GDBN}, and how to get out of it.
798 The essentials are:
799 @itemize @bullet
800 @item
801 type @samp{@value{GDBP}} to start @value{GDBN}.
802 @item
803 type @kbd{quit} or @kbd{Ctrl-d} to exit.
804 @end itemize
805
806 @menu
807 * Invoking GDB:: How to start @value{GDBN}
808 * Quitting GDB:: How to quit @value{GDBN}
809 * Shell Commands:: How to use shell commands inside @value{GDBN}
810 * Logging Output:: How to log @value{GDBN}'s output to a file
811 @end menu
812
813 @node Invoking GDB
814 @section Invoking @value{GDBN}
815
816 Invoke @value{GDBN} by running the program @code{@value{GDBP}}. Once started,
817 @value{GDBN} reads commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit.
818
819 You can also run @code{@value{GDBP}} with a variety of arguments and options,
820 to specify more of your debugging environment at the outset.
821
822 The command-line options described here are designed
823 to cover a variety of situations; in some environments, some of these
824 options may effectively be unavailable.
825
826 The most usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument,
827 specifying an executable program:
828
829 @smallexample
830 @value{GDBP} @var{program}
831 @end smallexample
832
833 @noindent
834 You can also start with both an executable program and a core file
835 specified:
836
837 @smallexample
838 @value{GDBP} @var{program} @var{core}
839 @end smallexample
840
841 You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
842 to debug a running process:
843
844 @smallexample
845 @value{GDBP} @var{program} 1234
846 @end smallexample
847
848 @noindent
849 would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
850 named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
851
852 Taking advantage of the second command-line argument requires a fairly
853 complete operating system; when you use @value{GDBN} as a remote
854 debugger attached to a bare board, there may not be any notion of
855 ``process'', and there is often no way to get a core dump. @value{GDBN}
856 will warn you if it is unable to attach or to read core dumps.
857
858 You can optionally have @code{@value{GDBP}} pass any arguments after the
859 executable file to the inferior using @code{--args}. This option stops
860 option processing.
861 @smallexample
862 @value{GDBP} --args gcc -O2 -c foo.c
863 @end smallexample
864 This will cause @code{@value{GDBP}} to debug @code{gcc}, and to set
865 @code{gcc}'s command-line arguments (@pxref{Arguments}) to @samp{-O2 -c foo.c}.
866
867 You can run @code{@value{GDBP}} without printing the front material, which describes
868 @value{GDBN}'s non-warranty, by specifying @code{-silent}:
869
870 @smallexample
871 @value{GDBP} -silent
872 @end smallexample
873
874 @noindent
875 You can further control how @value{GDBN} starts up by using command-line
876 options. @value{GDBN} itself can remind you of the options available.
877
878 @noindent
879 Type
880
881 @smallexample
882 @value{GDBP} -help
883 @end smallexample
884
885 @noindent
886 to display all available options and briefly describe their use
887 (@samp{@value{GDBP} -h} is a shorter equivalent).
888
889 All options and command line arguments you give are processed
890 in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the
891 @samp{-x} option is used.
892
893
894 @menu
895 * File Options:: Choosing files
896 * Mode Options:: Choosing modes
897 * Startup:: What @value{GDBN} does during startup
898 @end menu
899
900 @node File Options
901 @subsection Choosing Files
902
903 When @value{GDBN} starts, it reads any arguments other than options as
904 specifying an executable file and core file (or process ID). This is
905 the same as if the arguments were specified by the @samp{-se} and
906 @samp{-c} (or @samp{-p}) options respectively. (@value{GDBN} reads the
907 first argument that does not have an associated option flag as
908 equivalent to the @samp{-se} option followed by that argument; and the
909 second argument that does not have an associated option flag, if any, as
910 equivalent to the @samp{-c}/@samp{-p} option followed by that argument.)
911 If the second argument begins with a decimal digit, @value{GDBN} will
912 first attempt to attach to it as a process, and if that fails, attempt
913 to open it as a corefile. If you have a corefile whose name begins with
914 a digit, you can prevent @value{GDBN} from treating it as a pid by
915 prefixing it with @file{./}, e.g.@: @file{./12345}.
916
917 If @value{GDBN} has not been configured to included core file support,
918 such as for most embedded targets, then it will complain about a second
919 argument and ignore it.
920
921 Many options have both long and short forms; both are shown in the
922 following list. @value{GDBN} also recognizes the long forms if you truncate
923 them, so long as enough of the option is present to be unambiguous.
924 (If you prefer, you can flag option arguments with @samp{--} rather
925 than @samp{-}, though we illustrate the more usual convention.)
926
927 @c NOTE: the @cindex entries here use double dashes ON PURPOSE. This
928 @c way, both those who look for -foo and --foo in the index, will find
929 @c it.
930
931 @table @code
932 @item -symbols @var{file}
933 @itemx -s @var{file}
934 @cindex @code{--symbols}
935 @cindex @code{-s}
936 Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
937
938 @item -exec @var{file}
939 @itemx -e @var{file}
940 @cindex @code{--exec}
941 @cindex @code{-e}
942 Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when appropriate,
943 and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core dump.
944
945 @item -se @var{file}
946 @cindex @code{--se}
947 Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
948 file.
949
950 @item -core @var{file}
951 @itemx -c @var{file}
952 @cindex @code{--core}
953 @cindex @code{-c}
954 Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
955
956 @item -pid @var{number}
957 @itemx -p @var{number}
958 @cindex @code{--pid}
959 @cindex @code{-p}
960 Connect to process ID @var{number}, as with the @code{attach} command.
961
962 @item -command @var{file}
963 @itemx -x @var{file}
964 @cindex @code{--command}
965 @cindex @code{-x}
966 Execute @value{GDBN} commands from file @var{file}. @xref{Command
967 Files,, Command files}.
968
969 @item -eval-command @var{command}
970 @itemx -ex @var{command}
971 @cindex @code{--eval-command}
972 @cindex @code{-ex}
973 Execute a single @value{GDBN} command.
974
975 This option may be used multiple times to call multiple commands. It may
976 also be interleaved with @samp{-command} as required.
977
978 @smallexample
979 @value{GDBP} -ex 'target sim' -ex 'load' \
980 -x setbreakpoints -ex 'run' a.out
981 @end smallexample
982
983 @item -directory @var{directory}
984 @itemx -d @var{directory}
985 @cindex @code{--directory}
986 @cindex @code{-d}
987 Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source and script files.
988
989 @item -r
990 @itemx -readnow
991 @cindex @code{--readnow}
992 @cindex @code{-r}
993 Read each symbol file's entire symbol table immediately, rather than
994 the default, which is to read it incrementally as it is needed.
995 This makes startup slower, but makes future operations faster.
996
997 @end table
998
999 @node Mode Options
1000 @subsection Choosing Modes
1001
1002 You can run @value{GDBN} in various alternative modes---for example, in
1003 batch mode or quiet mode.
1004
1005 @table @code
1006 @item -nx
1007 @itemx -n
1008 @cindex @code{--nx}
1009 @cindex @code{-n}
1010 Do not execute commands found in any initialization files. Normally,
1011 @value{GDBN} executes the commands in these files after all the command
1012 options and arguments have been processed. @xref{Command Files,,Command
1013 Files}.
1014
1015 @item -quiet
1016 @itemx -silent
1017 @itemx -q
1018 @cindex @code{--quiet}
1019 @cindex @code{--silent}
1020 @cindex @code{-q}
1021 ``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
1022 messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
1023
1024 @item -batch
1025 @cindex @code{--batch}
1026 Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the
1027 command files specified with @samp{-x} (and all commands from
1028 initialization files, if not inhibited with @samp{-n}). Exit with
1029 nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN} commands
1030 in the command files.
1031
1032 Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for
1033 example to download and run a program on another computer; in order to
1034 make this more useful, the message
1035
1036 @smallexample
1037 Program exited normally.
1038 @end smallexample
1039
1040 @noindent
1041 (which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under
1042 @value{GDBN} control terminates) is not issued when running in batch
1043 mode.
1044
1045 @item -batch-silent
1046 @cindex @code{--batch-silent}
1047 Run in batch mode exactly like @samp{-batch}, but totally silently. All
1048 @value{GDBN} output to @code{stdout} is prevented (@code{stderr} is
1049 unaffected). This is much quieter than @samp{-silent} and would be useless
1050 for an interactive session.
1051
1052 This is particularly useful when using targets that give @samp{Loading section}
1053 messages, for example.
1054
1055 Note that targets that give their output via @value{GDBN}, as opposed to
1056 writing directly to @code{stdout}, will also be made silent.
1057
1058 @item -return-child-result
1059 @cindex @code{--return-child-result}
1060 The return code from @value{GDBN} will be the return code from the child
1061 process (the process being debugged), with the following exceptions:
1062
1063 @itemize @bullet
1064 @item
1065 @value{GDBN} exits abnormally. E.g., due to an incorrect argument or an
1066 internal error. In this case the exit code is the same as it would have been
1067 without @samp{-return-child-result}.
1068 @item
1069 The user quits with an explicit value. E.g., @samp{quit 1}.
1070 @item
1071 The child process never runs, or is not allowed to terminate, in which case
1072 the exit code will be -1.
1073 @end itemize
1074
1075 This option is useful in conjunction with @samp{-batch} or @samp{-batch-silent},
1076 when @value{GDBN} is being used as a remote program loader or simulator
1077 interface.
1078
1079 @item -nowindows
1080 @itemx -nw
1081 @cindex @code{--nowindows}
1082 @cindex @code{-nw}
1083 ``No windows''. If @value{GDBN} comes with a graphical user interface
1084 (GUI) built in, then this option tells @value{GDBN} to only use the command-line
1085 interface. If no GUI is available, this option has no effect.
1086
1087 @item -windows
1088 @itemx -w
1089 @cindex @code{--windows}
1090 @cindex @code{-w}
1091 If @value{GDBN} includes a GUI, then this option requires it to be
1092 used if possible.
1093
1094 @item -cd @var{directory}
1095 @cindex @code{--cd}
1096 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
1097 instead of the current directory.
1098
1099 @item -fullname
1100 @itemx -f
1101 @cindex @code{--fullname}
1102 @cindex @code{-f}
1103 @sc{gnu} Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a
1104 subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line
1105 number in a standard, recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is
1106 displayed (which includes each time your program stops). This
1107 recognizable format looks like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by
1108 the file name, line number and character position separated by colons,
1109 and a newline. The Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two
1110 @samp{\032} characters as a signal to display the source code for the
1111 frame.
1112
1113 @item -epoch
1114 @cindex @code{--epoch}
1115 The Epoch Emacs-@value{GDBN} interface sets this option when it runs
1116 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to modify its print
1117 routines so as to allow Epoch to display values of expressions in a
1118 separate window.
1119
1120 @item -annotate @var{level}
1121 @cindex @code{--annotate}
1122 This option sets the @dfn{annotation level} inside @value{GDBN}. Its
1123 effect is identical to using @samp{set annotate @var{level}}
1124 (@pxref{Annotations}). The annotation @var{level} controls how much
1125 information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt, values of
1126 expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0 is the
1127 normal, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a subprocess of
1128 @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable for programs
1129 that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 has been deprecated.
1130
1131 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
1132 (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
1133
1134 @item --args
1135 @cindex @code{--args}
1136 Change interpretation of command line so that arguments following the
1137 executable file are passed as command line arguments to the inferior.
1138 This option stops option processing.
1139
1140 @item -baud @var{bps}
1141 @itemx -b @var{bps}
1142 @cindex @code{--baud}
1143 @cindex @code{-b}
1144 Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
1145 interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
1146
1147 @item -l @var{timeout}
1148 @cindex @code{-l}
1149 Set the timeout (in seconds) of any communication used by @value{GDBN}
1150 for remote debugging.
1151
1152 @item -tty @var{device}
1153 @itemx -t @var{device}
1154 @cindex @code{--tty}
1155 @cindex @code{-t}
1156 Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
1157 @c FIXME: kingdon thinks there is more to -tty. Investigate.
1158
1159 @c resolve the situation of these eventually
1160 @item -tui
1161 @cindex @code{--tui}
1162 Activate the @dfn{Text User Interface} when starting. The Text User
1163 Interface manages several text windows on the terminal, showing
1164 source, assembly, registers and @value{GDBN} command outputs
1165 (@pxref{TUI, ,@value{GDBN} Text User Interface}). Alternatively, the
1166 Text User Interface can be enabled by invoking the program
1167 @samp{@value{GDBTUI}}. Do not use this option if you run @value{GDBN} from
1168 Emacs (@pxref{Emacs, ,Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}).
1169
1170 @c @item -xdb
1171 @c @cindex @code{--xdb}
1172 @c Run in XDB compatibility mode, allowing the use of certain XDB commands.
1173 @c For information, see the file @file{xdb_trans.html}, which is usually
1174 @c installed in the directory @code{/opt/langtools/wdb/doc} on HP-UX
1175 @c systems.
1176
1177 @item -interpreter @var{interp}
1178 @cindex @code{--interpreter}
1179 Use the interpreter @var{interp} for interface with the controlling
1180 program or device. This option is meant to be set by programs which
1181 communicate with @value{GDBN} using it as a back end.
1182 @xref{Interpreters, , Command Interpreters}.
1183
1184 @samp{--interpreter=mi} (or @samp{--interpreter=mi2}) causes
1185 @value{GDBN} to use the @dfn{@sc{gdb/mi} interface} (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,
1186 The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}) included since @value{GDBN} version 6.0. The
1187 previous @sc{gdb/mi} interface, included in @value{GDBN} version 5.3 and
1188 selected with @samp{--interpreter=mi1}, is deprecated. Earlier
1189 @sc{gdb/mi} interfaces are no longer supported.
1190
1191 @item -write
1192 @cindex @code{--write}
1193 Open the executable and core files for both reading and writing. This
1194 is equivalent to the @samp{set write on} command inside @value{GDBN}
1195 (@pxref{Patching}).
1196
1197 @item -statistics
1198 @cindex @code{--statistics}
1199 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print statistics about time and
1200 memory usage after it completes each command and returns to the prompt.
1201
1202 @item -version
1203 @cindex @code{--version}
1204 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print its version number and
1205 no-warranty blurb, and exit.
1206
1207 @end table
1208
1209 @node Startup
1210 @subsection What @value{GDBN} Does During Startup
1211 @cindex @value{GDBN} startup
1212
1213 Here's the description of what @value{GDBN} does during session startup:
1214
1215 @enumerate
1216 @item
1217 Sets up the command interpreter as specified by the command line
1218 (@pxref{Mode Options, interpreter}).
1219
1220 @item
1221 @cindex init file
1222 Reads the @dfn{init file} (if any) in your home directory@footnote{On
1223 DOS/Windows systems, the home directory is the one pointed to by the
1224 @code{HOME} environment variable.} and executes all the commands in
1225 that file.
1226
1227 @item
1228 Processes command line options and operands.
1229
1230 @item
1231 Reads and executes the commands from init file (if any) in the current
1232 working directory. This is only done if the current directory is
1233 different from your home directory. Thus, you can have more than one
1234 init file, one generic in your home directory, and another, specific
1235 to the program you are debugging, in the directory where you invoke
1236 @value{GDBN}.
1237
1238 @item
1239 Reads command files specified by the @samp{-x} option. @xref{Command
1240 Files}, for more details about @value{GDBN} command files.
1241
1242 @item
1243 Reads the command history recorded in the @dfn{history file}.
1244 @xref{Command History}, for more details about the command history and the
1245 files where @value{GDBN} records it.
1246 @end enumerate
1247
1248 Init files use the same syntax as @dfn{command files} (@pxref{Command
1249 Files}) and are processed by @value{GDBN} in the same way. The init
1250 file in your home directory can set options (such as @samp{set
1251 complaints}) that affect subsequent processing of command line options
1252 and operands. Init files are not executed if you use the @samp{-nx}
1253 option (@pxref{Mode Options, ,Choosing Modes}).
1254
1255 @cindex init file name
1256 @cindex @file{.gdbinit}
1257 @cindex @file{gdb.ini}
1258 The @value{GDBN} init files are normally called @file{.gdbinit}.
1259 The DJGPP port of @value{GDBN} uses the name @file{gdb.ini}, due to
1260 the limitations of file names imposed by DOS filesystems. The Windows
1261 ports of @value{GDBN} use the standard name, but if they find a
1262 @file{gdb.ini} file, they warn you about that and suggest to rename
1263 the file to the standard name.
1264
1265
1266 @node Quitting GDB
1267 @section Quitting @value{GDBN}
1268 @cindex exiting @value{GDBN}
1269 @cindex leaving @value{GDBN}
1270
1271 @table @code
1272 @kindex quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1273 @kindex q @r{(@code{quit})}
1274 @item quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1275 @itemx q
1276 To exit @value{GDBN}, use the @code{quit} command (abbreviated
1277 @code{q}), or type an end-of-file character (usually @kbd{Ctrl-d}). If you
1278 do not supply @var{expression}, @value{GDBN} will terminate normally;
1279 otherwise it will terminate using the result of @var{expression} as the
1280 error code.
1281 @end table
1282
1283 @cindex interrupt
1284 An interrupt (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}) does not exit from @value{GDBN}, but rather
1285 terminates the action of any @value{GDBN} command that is in progress and
1286 returns to @value{GDBN} command level. It is safe to type the interrupt
1287 character at any time because @value{GDBN} does not allow it to take effect
1288 until a time when it is safe.
1289
1290 If you have been using @value{GDBN} to control an attached process or
1291 device, you can release it with the @code{detach} command
1292 (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
1293
1294 @node Shell Commands
1295 @section Shell Commands
1296
1297 If you need to execute occasional shell commands during your
1298 debugging session, there is no need to leave or suspend @value{GDBN}; you can
1299 just use the @code{shell} command.
1300
1301 @table @code
1302 @kindex shell
1303 @cindex shell escape
1304 @item shell @var{command string}
1305 Invoke a standard shell to execute @var{command string}.
1306 If it exists, the environment variable @code{SHELL} determines which
1307 shell to run. Otherwise @value{GDBN} uses the default shell
1308 (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix systems, @file{COMMAND.COM} on MS-DOS, etc.).
1309 @end table
1310
1311 The utility @code{make} is often needed in development environments.
1312 You do not have to use the @code{shell} command for this purpose in
1313 @value{GDBN}:
1314
1315 @table @code
1316 @kindex make
1317 @cindex calling make
1318 @item make @var{make-args}
1319 Execute the @code{make} program with the specified
1320 arguments. This is equivalent to @samp{shell make @var{make-args}}.
1321 @end table
1322
1323 @node Logging Output
1324 @section Logging Output
1325 @cindex logging @value{GDBN} output
1326 @cindex save @value{GDBN} output to a file
1327
1328 You may want to save the output of @value{GDBN} commands to a file.
1329 There are several commands to control @value{GDBN}'s logging.
1330
1331 @table @code
1332 @kindex set logging
1333 @item set logging on
1334 Enable logging.
1335 @item set logging off
1336 Disable logging.
1337 @cindex logging file name
1338 @item set logging file @var{file}
1339 Change the name of the current logfile. The default logfile is @file{gdb.txt}.
1340 @item set logging overwrite [on|off]
1341 By default, @value{GDBN} will append to the logfile. Set @code{overwrite} if
1342 you want @code{set logging on} to overwrite the logfile instead.
1343 @item set logging redirect [on|off]
1344 By default, @value{GDBN} output will go to both the terminal and the logfile.
1345 Set @code{redirect} if you want output to go only to the log file.
1346 @kindex show logging
1347 @item show logging
1348 Show the current values of the logging settings.
1349 @end table
1350
1351 @node Commands
1352 @chapter @value{GDBN} Commands
1353
1354 You can abbreviate a @value{GDBN} command to the first few letters of the command
1355 name, if that abbreviation is unambiguous; and you can repeat certain
1356 @value{GDBN} commands by typing just @key{RET}. You can also use the @key{TAB}
1357 key to get @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest of a word in a command (or to
1358 show you the alternatives available, if there is more than one possibility).
1359
1360 @menu
1361 * Command Syntax:: How to give commands to @value{GDBN}
1362 * Completion:: Command completion
1363 * Help:: How to ask @value{GDBN} for help
1364 @end menu
1365
1366 @node Command Syntax
1367 @section Command Syntax
1368
1369 A @value{GDBN} command is a single line of input. There is no limit on
1370 how long it can be. It starts with a command name, which is followed by
1371 arguments whose meaning depends on the command name. For example, the
1372 command @code{step} accepts an argument which is the number of times to
1373 step, as in @samp{step 5}. You can also use the @code{step} command
1374 with no arguments. Some commands do not allow any arguments.
1375
1376 @cindex abbreviation
1377 @value{GDBN} command names may always be truncated if that abbreviation is
1378 unambiguous. Other possible command abbreviations are listed in the
1379 documentation for individual commands. In some cases, even ambiguous
1380 abbreviations are allowed; for example, @code{s} is specially defined as
1381 equivalent to @code{step} even though there are other commands whose
1382 names start with @code{s}. You can test abbreviations by using them as
1383 arguments to the @code{help} command.
1384
1385 @cindex repeating commands
1386 @kindex RET @r{(repeat last command)}
1387 A blank line as input to @value{GDBN} (typing just @key{RET}) means to
1388 repeat the previous command. Certain commands (for example, @code{run})
1389 will not repeat this way; these are commands whose unintentional
1390 repetition might cause trouble and which you are unlikely to want to
1391 repeat. User-defined commands can disable this feature; see
1392 @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
1393
1394 The @code{list} and @code{x} commands, when you repeat them with
1395 @key{RET}, construct new arguments rather than repeating
1396 exactly as typed. This permits easy scanning of source or memory.
1397
1398 @value{GDBN} can also use @key{RET} in another way: to partition lengthy
1399 output, in a way similar to the common utility @code{more}
1400 (@pxref{Screen Size,,Screen Size}). Since it is easy to press one
1401 @key{RET} too many in this situation, @value{GDBN} disables command
1402 repetition after any command that generates this sort of display.
1403
1404 @kindex # @r{(a comment)}
1405 @cindex comment
1406 Any text from a @kbd{#} to the end of the line is a comment; it does
1407 nothing. This is useful mainly in command files (@pxref{Command
1408 Files,,Command Files}).
1409
1410 @cindex repeating command sequences
1411 @kindex Ctrl-o @r{(operate-and-get-next)}
1412 The @kbd{Ctrl-o} binding is useful for repeating a complex sequence of
1413 commands. This command accepts the current line, like @key{RET}, and
1414 then fetches the next line relative to the current line from the history
1415 for editing.
1416
1417 @node Completion
1418 @section Command Completion
1419
1420 @cindex completion
1421 @cindex word completion
1422 @value{GDBN} can fill in the rest of a word in a command for you, if there is
1423 only one possibility; it can also show you what the valid possibilities
1424 are for the next word in a command, at any time. This works for @value{GDBN}
1425 commands, @value{GDBN} subcommands, and the names of symbols in your program.
1426
1427 Press the @key{TAB} key whenever you want @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest
1428 of a word. If there is only one possibility, @value{GDBN} fills in the
1429 word, and waits for you to finish the command (or press @key{RET} to
1430 enter it). For example, if you type
1431
1432 @c FIXME "@key" does not distinguish its argument sufficiently to permit
1433 @c complete accuracy in these examples; space introduced for clarity.
1434 @c If texinfo enhancements make it unnecessary, it would be nice to
1435 @c replace " @key" by "@key" in the following...
1436 @smallexample
1437 (@value{GDBP}) info bre @key{TAB}
1438 @end smallexample
1439
1440 @noindent
1441 @value{GDBN} fills in the rest of the word @samp{breakpoints}, since that is
1442 the only @code{info} subcommand beginning with @samp{bre}:
1443
1444 @smallexample
1445 (@value{GDBP}) info breakpoints
1446 @end smallexample
1447
1448 @noindent
1449 You can either press @key{RET} at this point, to run the @code{info
1450 breakpoints} command, or backspace and enter something else, if
1451 @samp{breakpoints} does not look like the command you expected. (If you
1452 were sure you wanted @code{info breakpoints} in the first place, you
1453 might as well just type @key{RET} immediately after @samp{info bre},
1454 to exploit command abbreviations rather than command completion).
1455
1456 If there is more than one possibility for the next word when you press
1457 @key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} sounds a bell. You can either supply more
1458 characters and try again, or just press @key{TAB} a second time;
1459 @value{GDBN} displays all the possible completions for that word. For
1460 example, you might want to set a breakpoint on a subroutine whose name
1461 begins with @samp{make_}, but when you type @kbd{b make_@key{TAB}} @value{GDBN}
1462 just sounds the bell. Typing @key{TAB} again displays all the
1463 function names in your program that begin with those characters, for
1464 example:
1465
1466 @smallexample
1467 (@value{GDBP}) b make_ @key{TAB}
1468 @exdent @value{GDBN} sounds bell; press @key{TAB} again, to see:
1469 make_a_section_from_file make_environ
1470 make_abs_section make_function_type
1471 make_blockvector make_pointer_type
1472 make_cleanup make_reference_type
1473 make_command make_symbol_completion_list
1474 (@value{GDBP}) b make_
1475 @end smallexample
1476
1477 @noindent
1478 After displaying the available possibilities, @value{GDBN} copies your
1479 partial input (@samp{b make_} in the example) so you can finish the
1480 command.
1481
1482 If you just want to see the list of alternatives in the first place, you
1483 can press @kbd{M-?} rather than pressing @key{TAB} twice. @kbd{M-?}
1484 means @kbd{@key{META} ?}. You can type this either by holding down a
1485 key designated as the @key{META} shift on your keyboard (if there is
1486 one) while typing @kbd{?}, or as @key{ESC} followed by @kbd{?}.
1487
1488 @cindex quotes in commands
1489 @cindex completion of quoted strings
1490 Sometimes the string you need, while logically a ``word'', may contain
1491 parentheses or other characters that @value{GDBN} normally excludes from
1492 its notion of a word. To permit word completion to work in this
1493 situation, you may enclose words in @code{'} (single quote marks) in
1494 @value{GDBN} commands.
1495
1496 The most likely situation where you might need this is in typing the
1497 name of a C@t{++} function. This is because C@t{++} allows function
1498 overloading (multiple definitions of the same function, distinguished
1499 by argument type). For example, when you want to set a breakpoint you
1500 may need to distinguish whether you mean the version of @code{name}
1501 that takes an @code{int} parameter, @code{name(int)}, or the version
1502 that takes a @code{float} parameter, @code{name(float)}. To use the
1503 word-completion facilities in this situation, type a single quote
1504 @code{'} at the beginning of the function name. This alerts
1505 @value{GDBN} that it may need to consider more information than usual
1506 when you press @key{TAB} or @kbd{M-?} to request word completion:
1507
1508 @smallexample
1509 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble( @kbd{M-?}
1510 bubble(double,double) bubble(int,int)
1511 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1512 @end smallexample
1513
1514 In some cases, @value{GDBN} can tell that completing a name requires using
1515 quotes. When this happens, @value{GDBN} inserts the quote for you (while
1516 completing as much as it can) if you do not type the quote in the first
1517 place:
1518
1519 @smallexample
1520 (@value{GDBP}) b bub @key{TAB}
1521 @exdent @value{GDBN} alters your input line to the following, and rings a bell:
1522 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1523 @end smallexample
1524
1525 @noindent
1526 In general, @value{GDBN} can tell that a quote is needed (and inserts it) if
1527 you have not yet started typing the argument list when you ask for
1528 completion on an overloaded symbol.
1529
1530 For more information about overloaded functions, see @ref{C Plus Plus
1531 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}. You can use the command @code{set
1532 overload-resolution off} to disable overload resolution;
1533 see @ref{Debugging C Plus Plus, ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
1534
1535 @cindex completion of structure field names
1536 @cindex structure field name completion
1537 @cindex completion of union field names
1538 @cindex union field name completion
1539 When completing in an expression which looks up a field in a
1540 structure, @value{GDBN} also tries@footnote{The completer can be
1541 confused by certain kinds of invalid expressions. Also, it only
1542 examines the static type of the expression, not the dynamic type.} to
1543 limit completions to the field names available in the type of the
1544 left-hand-side:
1545
1546 @smallexample
1547 (@value{GDBP}) p gdb_stdout.@kbd{M-?}
1548 magic to_delete to_fputs to_put to_rewind
1549 to_data to_flush to_isatty to_read to_write
1550 @end smallexample
1551
1552 @noindent
1553 This is because the @code{gdb_stdout} is a variable of the type
1554 @code{struct ui_file} that is defined in @value{GDBN} sources as
1555 follows:
1556
1557 @smallexample
1558 struct ui_file
1559 @{
1560 int *magic;
1561 ui_file_flush_ftype *to_flush;
1562 ui_file_write_ftype *to_write;
1563 ui_file_fputs_ftype *to_fputs;
1564 ui_file_read_ftype *to_read;
1565 ui_file_delete_ftype *to_delete;
1566 ui_file_isatty_ftype *to_isatty;
1567 ui_file_rewind_ftype *to_rewind;
1568 ui_file_put_ftype *to_put;
1569 void *to_data;
1570 @}
1571 @end smallexample
1572
1573
1574 @node Help
1575 @section Getting Help
1576 @cindex online documentation
1577 @kindex help
1578
1579 You can always ask @value{GDBN} itself for information on its commands,
1580 using the command @code{help}.
1581
1582 @table @code
1583 @kindex h @r{(@code{help})}
1584 @item help
1585 @itemx h
1586 You can use @code{help} (abbreviated @code{h}) with no arguments to
1587 display a short list of named classes of commands:
1588
1589 @smallexample
1590 (@value{GDBP}) help
1591 List of classes of commands:
1592
1593 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1594 breakpoints -- Making program stop at certain points
1595 data -- Examining data
1596 files -- Specifying and examining files
1597 internals -- Maintenance commands
1598 obscure -- Obscure features
1599 running -- Running the program
1600 stack -- Examining the stack
1601 status -- Status inquiries
1602 support -- Support facilities
1603 tracepoints -- Tracing of program execution without
1604 stopping the program
1605 user-defined -- User-defined commands
1606
1607 Type "help" followed by a class name for a list of
1608 commands in that class.
1609 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1610 documentation.
1611 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1612 (@value{GDBP})
1613 @end smallexample
1614 @c the above line break eliminates huge line overfull...
1615
1616 @item help @var{class}
1617 Using one of the general help classes as an argument, you can get a
1618 list of the individual commands in that class. For example, here is the
1619 help display for the class @code{status}:
1620
1621 @smallexample
1622 (@value{GDBP}) help status
1623 Status inquiries.
1624
1625 List of commands:
1626
1627 @c Line break in "show" line falsifies real output, but needed
1628 @c to fit in smallbook page size.
1629 info -- Generic command for showing things
1630 about the program being debugged
1631 show -- Generic command for showing things
1632 about the debugger
1633
1634 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1635 documentation.
1636 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1637 (@value{GDBP})
1638 @end smallexample
1639
1640 @item help @var{command}
1641 With a command name as @code{help} argument, @value{GDBN} displays a
1642 short paragraph on how to use that command.
1643
1644 @kindex apropos
1645 @item apropos @var{args}
1646 The @code{apropos} command searches through all of the @value{GDBN}
1647 commands, and their documentation, for the regular expression specified in
1648 @var{args}. It prints out all matches found. For example:
1649
1650 @smallexample
1651 apropos reload
1652 @end smallexample
1653
1654 @noindent
1655 results in:
1656
1657 @smallexample
1658 @c @group
1659 set symbol-reloading -- Set dynamic symbol table reloading
1660 multiple times in one run
1661 show symbol-reloading -- Show dynamic symbol table reloading
1662 multiple times in one run
1663 @c @end group
1664 @end smallexample
1665
1666 @kindex complete
1667 @item complete @var{args}
1668 The @code{complete @var{args}} command lists all the possible completions
1669 for the beginning of a command. Use @var{args} to specify the beginning of the
1670 command you want completed. For example:
1671
1672 @smallexample
1673 complete i
1674 @end smallexample
1675
1676 @noindent results in:
1677
1678 @smallexample
1679 @group
1680 if
1681 ignore
1682 info
1683 inspect
1684 @end group
1685 @end smallexample
1686
1687 @noindent This is intended for use by @sc{gnu} Emacs.
1688 @end table
1689
1690 In addition to @code{help}, you can use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{info}
1691 and @code{show} to inquire about the state of your program, or the state
1692 of @value{GDBN} itself. Each command supports many topics of inquiry; this
1693 manual introduces each of them in the appropriate context. The listings
1694 under @code{info} and under @code{show} in the Index point to
1695 all the sub-commands. @xref{Index}.
1696
1697 @c @group
1698 @table @code
1699 @kindex info
1700 @kindex i @r{(@code{info})}
1701 @item info
1702 This command (abbreviated @code{i}) is for describing the state of your
1703 program. For example, you can show the arguments passed to a function
1704 with @code{info args}, list the registers currently in use with @code{info
1705 registers}, or list the breakpoints you have set with @code{info breakpoints}.
1706 You can get a complete list of the @code{info} sub-commands with
1707 @w{@code{help info}}.
1708
1709 @kindex set
1710 @item set
1711 You can assign the result of an expression to an environment variable with
1712 @code{set}. For example, you can set the @value{GDBN} prompt to a $-sign with
1713 @code{set prompt $}.
1714
1715 @kindex show
1716 @item show
1717 In contrast to @code{info}, @code{show} is for describing the state of
1718 @value{GDBN} itself.
1719 You can change most of the things you can @code{show}, by using the
1720 related command @code{set}; for example, you can control what number
1721 system is used for displays with @code{set radix}, or simply inquire
1722 which is currently in use with @code{show radix}.
1723
1724 @kindex info set
1725 To display all the settable parameters and their current
1726 values, you can use @code{show} with no arguments; you may also use
1727 @code{info set}. Both commands produce the same display.
1728 @c FIXME: "info set" violates the rule that "info" is for state of
1729 @c FIXME...program. Ck w/ GNU: "info set" to be called something else,
1730 @c FIXME...or change desc of rule---eg "state of prog and debugging session"?
1731 @end table
1732 @c @end group
1733
1734 Here are three miscellaneous @code{show} subcommands, all of which are
1735 exceptional in lacking corresponding @code{set} commands:
1736
1737 @table @code
1738 @kindex show version
1739 @cindex @value{GDBN} version number
1740 @item show version
1741 Show what version of @value{GDBN} is running. You should include this
1742 information in @value{GDBN} bug-reports. If multiple versions of
1743 @value{GDBN} are in use at your site, you may need to determine which
1744 version of @value{GDBN} you are running; as @value{GDBN} evolves, new
1745 commands are introduced, and old ones may wither away. Also, many
1746 system vendors ship variant versions of @value{GDBN}, and there are
1747 variant versions of @value{GDBN} in @sc{gnu}/Linux distributions as well.
1748 The version number is the same as the one announced when you start
1749 @value{GDBN}.
1750
1751 @kindex show copying
1752 @kindex info copying
1753 @cindex display @value{GDBN} copyright
1754 @item show copying
1755 @itemx info copying
1756 Display information about permission for copying @value{GDBN}.
1757
1758 @kindex show warranty
1759 @kindex info warranty
1760 @item show warranty
1761 @itemx info warranty
1762 Display the @sc{gnu} ``NO WARRANTY'' statement, or a warranty,
1763 if your version of @value{GDBN} comes with one.
1764
1765 @end table
1766
1767 @node Running
1768 @chapter Running Programs Under @value{GDBN}
1769
1770 When you run a program under @value{GDBN}, you must first generate
1771 debugging information when you compile it.
1772
1773 You may start @value{GDBN} with its arguments, if any, in an environment
1774 of your choice. If you are doing native debugging, you may redirect
1775 your program's input and output, debug an already running process, or
1776 kill a child process.
1777
1778 @menu
1779 * Compilation:: Compiling for debugging
1780 * Starting:: Starting your program
1781 * Arguments:: Your program's arguments
1782 * Environment:: Your program's environment
1783
1784 * Working Directory:: Your program's working directory
1785 * Input/Output:: Your program's input and output
1786 * Attach:: Debugging an already-running process
1787 * Kill Process:: Killing the child process
1788
1789 * Inferiors:: Debugging multiple inferiors
1790 * Threads:: Debugging programs with multiple threads
1791 * Processes:: Debugging programs with multiple processes
1792 * Checkpoint/Restart:: Setting a @emph{bookmark} to return to later
1793 @end menu
1794
1795 @node Compilation
1796 @section Compiling for Debugging
1797
1798 In order to debug a program effectively, you need to generate
1799 debugging information when you compile it. This debugging information
1800 is stored in the object file; it describes the data type of each
1801 variable or function and the correspondence between source line numbers
1802 and addresses in the executable code.
1803
1804 To request debugging information, specify the @samp{-g} option when you run
1805 the compiler.
1806
1807 Programs that are to be shipped to your customers are compiled with
1808 optimizations, using the @samp{-O} compiler option. However, many
1809 compilers are unable to handle the @samp{-g} and @samp{-O} options
1810 together. Using those compilers, you cannot generate optimized
1811 executables containing debugging information.
1812
1813 @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler, supports @samp{-g} with or
1814 without @samp{-O}, making it possible to debug optimized code. We
1815 recommend that you @emph{always} use @samp{-g} whenever you compile a
1816 program. You may think your program is correct, but there is no sense
1817 in pushing your luck.
1818
1819 @cindex optimized code, debugging
1820 @cindex debugging optimized code
1821 When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
1822 optimizer is rearranging your code; the debugger shows you what is
1823 really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
1824 exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
1825 variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
1826 variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
1827
1828 Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
1829 @samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
1830 doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
1831 please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
1832 @xref{Variables}, for more information about debugging optimized code.
1833
1834 Older versions of the @sc{gnu} C compiler permitted a variant option
1835 @w{@samp{-gg}} for debugging information. @value{GDBN} no longer supports this
1836 format; if your @sc{gnu} C compiler has this option, do not use it.
1837
1838 @value{GDBN} knows about preprocessor macros and can show you their
1839 expansion (@pxref{Macros}). Most compilers do not include information
1840 about preprocessor macros in the debugging information if you specify
1841 the @option{-g} flag alone, because this information is rather large.
1842 Version 3.1 and later of @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C compiler,
1843 provides macro information if you specify the options
1844 @option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-g3}; the former option requests
1845 debugging information in the Dwarf 2 format, and the latter requests
1846 ``extra information''. In the future, we hope to find more compact
1847 ways to represent macro information, so that it can be included with
1848 @option{-g} alone.
1849
1850 @need 2000
1851 @node Starting
1852 @section Starting your Program
1853 @cindex starting
1854 @cindex running
1855
1856 @table @code
1857 @kindex run
1858 @kindex r @r{(@code{run})}
1859 @item run
1860 @itemx r
1861 Use the @code{run} command to start your program under @value{GDBN}.
1862 You must first specify the program name (except on VxWorks) with an
1863 argument to @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Invocation, ,Getting In and Out of
1864 @value{GDBN}}), or by using the @code{file} or @code{exec-file} command
1865 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
1866
1867 @end table
1868
1869 If you are running your program in an execution environment that
1870 supports processes, @code{run} creates an inferior process and makes
1871 that process run your program. In some environments without processes,
1872 @code{run} jumps to the start of your program. Other targets,
1873 like @samp{remote}, are always running. If you get an error
1874 message like this one:
1875
1876 @smallexample
1877 The "remote" target does not support "run".
1878 Try "help target" or "continue".
1879 @end smallexample
1880
1881 @noindent
1882 then use @code{continue} to run your program. You may need @code{load}
1883 first (@pxref{load}).
1884
1885 The execution of a program is affected by certain information it
1886 receives from its superior. @value{GDBN} provides ways to specify this
1887 information, which you must do @emph{before} starting your program. (You
1888 can change it after starting your program, but such changes only affect
1889 your program the next time you start it.) This information may be
1890 divided into four categories:
1891
1892 @table @asis
1893 @item The @emph{arguments.}
1894 Specify the arguments to give your program as the arguments of the
1895 @code{run} command. If a shell is available on your target, the shell
1896 is used to pass the arguments, so that you may use normal conventions
1897 (such as wildcard expansion or variable substitution) in describing
1898 the arguments.
1899 In Unix systems, you can control which shell is used with the
1900 @code{SHELL} environment variable.
1901 @xref{Arguments, ,Your Program's Arguments}.
1902
1903 @item The @emph{environment.}
1904 Your program normally inherits its environment from @value{GDBN}, but you can
1905 use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{set environment} and @code{unset
1906 environment} to change parts of the environment that affect
1907 your program. @xref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}.
1908
1909 @item The @emph{working directory.}
1910 Your program inherits its working directory from @value{GDBN}. You can set
1911 the @value{GDBN} working directory with the @code{cd} command in @value{GDBN}.
1912 @xref{Working Directory, ,Your Program's Working Directory}.
1913
1914 @item The @emph{standard input and output.}
1915 Your program normally uses the same device for standard input and
1916 standard output as @value{GDBN} is using. You can redirect input and output
1917 in the @code{run} command line, or you can use the @code{tty} command to
1918 set a different device for your program.
1919 @xref{Input/Output, ,Your Program's Input and Output}.
1920
1921 @cindex pipes
1922 @emph{Warning:} While input and output redirection work, you cannot use
1923 pipes to pass the output of the program you are debugging to another
1924 program; if you attempt this, @value{GDBN} is likely to wind up debugging the
1925 wrong program.
1926 @end table
1927
1928 When you issue the @code{run} command, your program begins to execute
1929 immediately. @xref{Stopping, ,Stopping and Continuing}, for discussion
1930 of how to arrange for your program to stop. Once your program has
1931 stopped, you may call functions in your program, using the @code{print}
1932 or @code{call} commands. @xref{Data, ,Examining Data}.
1933
1934 If the modification time of your symbol file has changed since the last
1935 time @value{GDBN} read its symbols, @value{GDBN} discards its symbol
1936 table, and reads it again. When it does this, @value{GDBN} tries to retain
1937 your current breakpoints.
1938
1939 @table @code
1940 @kindex start
1941 @item start
1942 @cindex run to main procedure
1943 The name of the main procedure can vary from language to language.
1944 With C or C@t{++}, the main procedure name is always @code{main}, but
1945 other languages such as Ada do not require a specific name for their
1946 main procedure. The debugger provides a convenient way to start the
1947 execution of the program and to stop at the beginning of the main
1948 procedure, depending on the language used.
1949
1950 The @samp{start} command does the equivalent of setting a temporary
1951 breakpoint at the beginning of the main procedure and then invoking
1952 the @samp{run} command.
1953
1954 @cindex elaboration phase
1955 Some programs contain an @dfn{elaboration} phase where some startup code is
1956 executed before the main procedure is called. This depends on the
1957 languages used to write your program. In C@t{++}, for instance,
1958 constructors for static and global objects are executed before
1959 @code{main} is called. It is therefore possible that the debugger stops
1960 before reaching the main procedure. However, the temporary breakpoint
1961 will remain to halt execution.
1962
1963 Specify the arguments to give to your program as arguments to the
1964 @samp{start} command. These arguments will be given verbatim to the
1965 underlying @samp{run} command. Note that the same arguments will be
1966 reused if no argument is provided during subsequent calls to
1967 @samp{start} or @samp{run}.
1968
1969 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration. In
1970 these cases, using the @code{start} command would stop the execution of
1971 your program too late, as the program would have already completed the
1972 elaboration phase. Under these circumstances, insert breakpoints in your
1973 elaboration code before running your program.
1974
1975 @kindex set exec-wrapper
1976 @item set exec-wrapper @var{wrapper}
1977 @itemx show exec-wrapper
1978 @itemx unset exec-wrapper
1979 When @samp{exec-wrapper} is set, the specified wrapper is used to
1980 launch programs for debugging. @value{GDBN} starts your program
1981 with a shell command of the form @kbd{exec @var{wrapper}
1982 @var{program}}. Quoting is added to @var{program} and its
1983 arguments, but not to @var{wrapper}, so you should add quotes if
1984 appropriate for your shell. The wrapper runs until it executes
1985 your program, and then @value{GDBN} takes control.
1986
1987 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
1988 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
1989 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
1990 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
1991
1992 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
1993 the debugged program, without setting the variable in your shell's
1994 environment:
1995
1996 @smallexample
1997 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper env 'LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so'
1998 (@value{GDBP}) run
1999 @end smallexample
2000
2001 This command is available when debugging locally on most targets, excluding
2002 @sc{djgpp}, Cygwin, MS Windows, and QNX Neutrino.
2003
2004 @kindex set disable-randomization
2005 @item set disable-randomization
2006 @itemx set disable-randomization on
2007 This option (enabled by default in @value{GDBN}) will turn off the native
2008 randomization of the virtual address space of the started program. This option
2009 is useful for multiple debugging sessions to make the execution better
2010 reproducible and memory addresses reusable across debugging sessions.
2011
2012 This feature is implemented only on @sc{gnu}/Linux. You can get the same
2013 behavior using
2014
2015 @smallexample
2016 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper setarch `uname -m` -R
2017 @end smallexample
2018
2019 @item set disable-randomization off
2020 Leave the behavior of the started executable unchanged. Some bugs rear their
2021 ugly heads only when the program is loaded at certain addresses. If your bug
2022 disappears when you run the program under @value{GDBN}, that might be because
2023 @value{GDBN} by default disables the address randomization on platforms, such
2024 as @sc{gnu}/Linux, which do that for stand-alone programs. Use @kbd{set
2025 disable-randomization off} to try to reproduce such elusive bugs.
2026
2027 The virtual address space randomization is implemented only on @sc{gnu}/Linux.
2028 It protects the programs against some kinds of security attacks. In these
2029 cases the attacker needs to know the exact location of a concrete executable
2030 code. Randomizing its location makes it impossible to inject jumps misusing
2031 a code at its expected addresses.
2032
2033 Prelinking shared libraries provides a startup performance advantage but it
2034 makes addresses in these libraries predictable for privileged processes by
2035 having just unprivileged access at the target system. Reading the shared
2036 library binary gives enough information for assembling the malicious code
2037 misusing it. Still even a prelinked shared library can get loaded at a new
2038 random address just requiring the regular relocation process during the
2039 startup. Shared libraries not already prelinked are always loaded at
2040 a randomly chosen address.
2041
2042 Position independent executables (PIE) contain position independent code
2043 similar to the shared libraries and therefore such executables get loaded at
2044 a randomly chosen address upon startup. PIE executables always load even
2045 already prelinked shared libraries at a random address. You can build such
2046 executable using @command{gcc -fPIE -pie}.
2047
2048 Heap (malloc storage), stack and custom mmap areas are always placed randomly
2049 (as long as the randomization is enabled).
2050
2051 @item show disable-randomization
2052 Show the current setting of the explicit disable of the native randomization of
2053 the virtual address space of the started program.
2054
2055 @end table
2056
2057 @node Arguments
2058 @section Your Program's Arguments
2059
2060 @cindex arguments (to your program)
2061 The arguments to your program can be specified by the arguments of the
2062 @code{run} command.
2063 They are passed to a shell, which expands wildcard characters and
2064 performs redirection of I/O, and thence to your program. Your
2065 @code{SHELL} environment variable (if it exists) specifies what shell
2066 @value{GDBN} uses. If you do not define @code{SHELL}, @value{GDBN} uses
2067 the default shell (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix).
2068
2069 On non-Unix systems, the program is usually invoked directly by
2070 @value{GDBN}, which emulates I/O redirection via the appropriate system
2071 calls, and the wildcard characters are expanded by the startup code of
2072 the program, not by the shell.
2073
2074 @code{run} with no arguments uses the same arguments used by the previous
2075 @code{run}, or those set by the @code{set args} command.
2076
2077 @table @code
2078 @kindex set args
2079 @item set args
2080 Specify the arguments to be used the next time your program is run. If
2081 @code{set args} has no arguments, @code{run} executes your program
2082 with no arguments. Once you have run your program with arguments,
2083 using @code{set args} before the next @code{run} is the only way to run
2084 it again without arguments.
2085
2086 @kindex show args
2087 @item show args
2088 Show the arguments to give your program when it is started.
2089 @end table
2090
2091 @node Environment
2092 @section Your Program's Environment
2093
2094 @cindex environment (of your program)
2095 The @dfn{environment} consists of a set of environment variables and
2096 their values. Environment variables conventionally record such things as
2097 your user name, your home directory, your terminal type, and your search
2098 path for programs to run. Usually you set up environment variables with
2099 the shell and they are inherited by all the other programs you run. When
2100 debugging, it can be useful to try running your program with a modified
2101 environment without having to start @value{GDBN} over again.
2102
2103 @table @code
2104 @kindex path
2105 @item path @var{directory}
2106 Add @var{directory} to the front of the @code{PATH} environment variable
2107 (the search path for executables) that will be passed to your program.
2108 The value of @code{PATH} used by @value{GDBN} does not change.
2109 You may specify several directory names, separated by whitespace or by a
2110 system-dependent separator character (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on
2111 MS-DOS and MS-Windows). If @var{directory} is already in the path, it
2112 is moved to the front, so it is searched sooner.
2113
2114 You can use the string @samp{$cwd} to refer to whatever is the current
2115 working directory at the time @value{GDBN} searches the path. If you
2116 use @samp{.} instead, it refers to the directory where you executed the
2117 @code{path} command. @value{GDBN} replaces @samp{.} in the
2118 @var{directory} argument (with the current path) before adding
2119 @var{directory} to the search path.
2120 @c 'path' is explicitly nonrepeatable, but RMS points out it is silly to
2121 @c document that, since repeating it would be a no-op.
2122
2123 @kindex show paths
2124 @item show paths
2125 Display the list of search paths for executables (the @code{PATH}
2126 environment variable).
2127
2128 @kindex show environment
2129 @item show environment @r{[}@var{varname}@r{]}
2130 Print the value of environment variable @var{varname} to be given to
2131 your program when it starts. If you do not supply @var{varname},
2132 print the names and values of all environment variables to be given to
2133 your program. You can abbreviate @code{environment} as @code{env}.
2134
2135 @kindex set environment
2136 @item set environment @var{varname} @r{[}=@var{value}@r{]}
2137 Set environment variable @var{varname} to @var{value}. The value
2138 changes for your program only, not for @value{GDBN} itself. @var{value} may
2139 be any string; the values of environment variables are just strings, and
2140 any interpretation is supplied by your program itself. The @var{value}
2141 parameter is optional; if it is eliminated, the variable is set to a
2142 null value.
2143 @c "any string" here does not include leading, trailing
2144 @c blanks. Gnu asks: does anyone care?
2145
2146 For example, this command:
2147
2148 @smallexample
2149 set env USER = foo
2150 @end smallexample
2151
2152 @noindent
2153 tells the debugged program, when subsequently run, that its user is named
2154 @samp{foo}. (The spaces around @samp{=} are used for clarity here; they
2155 are not actually required.)
2156
2157 @kindex unset environment
2158 @item unset environment @var{varname}
2159 Remove variable @var{varname} from the environment to be passed to your
2160 program. This is different from @samp{set env @var{varname} =};
2161 @code{unset environment} removes the variable from the environment,
2162 rather than assigning it an empty value.
2163 @end table
2164
2165 @emph{Warning:} On Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program using
2166 the shell indicated
2167 by your @code{SHELL} environment variable if it exists (or
2168 @code{/bin/sh} if not). If your @code{SHELL} variable names a shell
2169 that runs an initialization file---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell, or
2170 @file{.bashrc} for BASH---any variables you set in that file affect
2171 your program. You may wish to move setting of environment variables to
2172 files that are only run when you sign on, such as @file{.login} or
2173 @file{.profile}.
2174
2175 @node Working Directory
2176 @section Your Program's Working Directory
2177
2178 @cindex working directory (of your program)
2179 Each time you start your program with @code{run}, it inherits its
2180 working directory from the current working directory of @value{GDBN}.
2181 The @value{GDBN} working directory is initially whatever it inherited
2182 from its parent process (typically the shell), but you can specify a new
2183 working directory in @value{GDBN} with the @code{cd} command.
2184
2185 The @value{GDBN} working directory also serves as a default for the commands
2186 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2187 Specify Files}.
2188
2189 @table @code
2190 @kindex cd
2191 @cindex change working directory
2192 @item cd @var{directory}
2193 Set the @value{GDBN} working directory to @var{directory}.
2194
2195 @kindex pwd
2196 @item pwd
2197 Print the @value{GDBN} working directory.
2198 @end table
2199
2200 It is generally impossible to find the current working directory of
2201 the process being debugged (since a program can change its directory
2202 during its run). If you work on a system where @value{GDBN} is
2203 configured with the @file{/proc} support, you can use the @code{info
2204 proc} command (@pxref{SVR4 Process Information}) to find out the
2205 current working directory of the debuggee.
2206
2207 @node Input/Output
2208 @section Your Program's Input and Output
2209
2210 @cindex redirection
2211 @cindex i/o
2212 @cindex terminal
2213 By default, the program you run under @value{GDBN} does input and output to
2214 the same terminal that @value{GDBN} uses. @value{GDBN} switches the terminal
2215 to its own terminal modes to interact with you, but it records the terminal
2216 modes your program was using and switches back to them when you continue
2217 running your program.
2218
2219 @table @code
2220 @kindex info terminal
2221 @item info terminal
2222 Displays information recorded by @value{GDBN} about the terminal modes your
2223 program is using.
2224 @end table
2225
2226 You can redirect your program's input and/or output using shell
2227 redirection with the @code{run} command. For example,
2228
2229 @smallexample
2230 run > outfile
2231 @end smallexample
2232
2233 @noindent
2234 starts your program, diverting its output to the file @file{outfile}.
2235
2236 @kindex tty
2237 @cindex controlling terminal
2238 Another way to specify where your program should do input and output is
2239 with the @code{tty} command. This command accepts a file name as
2240 argument, and causes this file to be the default for future @code{run}
2241 commands. It also resets the controlling terminal for the child
2242 process, for future @code{run} commands. For example,
2243
2244 @smallexample
2245 tty /dev/ttyb
2246 @end smallexample
2247
2248 @noindent
2249 directs that processes started with subsequent @code{run} commands
2250 default to do input and output on the terminal @file{/dev/ttyb} and have
2251 that as their controlling terminal.
2252
2253 An explicit redirection in @code{run} overrides the @code{tty} command's
2254 effect on the input/output device, but not its effect on the controlling
2255 terminal.
2256
2257 When you use the @code{tty} command or redirect input in the @code{run}
2258 command, only the input @emph{for your program} is affected. The input
2259 for @value{GDBN} still comes from your terminal. @code{tty} is an alias
2260 for @code{set inferior-tty}.
2261
2262 @cindex inferior tty
2263 @cindex set inferior controlling terminal
2264 You can use the @code{show inferior-tty} command to tell @value{GDBN} to
2265 display the name of the terminal that will be used for future runs of your
2266 program.
2267
2268 @table @code
2269 @item set inferior-tty /dev/ttyb
2270 @kindex set inferior-tty
2271 Set the tty for the program being debugged to /dev/ttyb.
2272
2273 @item show inferior-tty
2274 @kindex show inferior-tty
2275 Show the current tty for the program being debugged.
2276 @end table
2277
2278 @node Attach
2279 @section Debugging an Already-running Process
2280 @kindex attach
2281 @cindex attach
2282
2283 @table @code
2284 @item attach @var{process-id}
2285 This command attaches to a running process---one that was started
2286 outside @value{GDBN}. (@code{info files} shows your active
2287 targets.) The command takes as argument a process ID. The usual way to
2288 find out the @var{process-id} of a Unix process is with the @code{ps} utility,
2289 or with the @samp{jobs -l} shell command.
2290
2291 @code{attach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} a second time after
2292 executing the command.
2293 @end table
2294
2295 To use @code{attach}, your program must be running in an environment
2296 which supports processes; for example, @code{attach} does not work for
2297 programs on bare-board targets that lack an operating system. You must
2298 also have permission to send the process a signal.
2299
2300 When you use @code{attach}, the debugger finds the program running in
2301 the process first by looking in the current working directory, then (if
2302 the program is not found) by using the source file search path
2303 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}). You can also use
2304 the @code{file} command to load the program. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2305 Specify Files}.
2306
2307 The first thing @value{GDBN} does after arranging to debug the specified
2308 process is to stop it. You can examine and modify an attached process
2309 with all the @value{GDBN} commands that are ordinarily available when
2310 you start processes with @code{run}. You can insert breakpoints; you
2311 can step and continue; you can modify storage. If you would rather the
2312 process continue running, you may use the @code{continue} command after
2313 attaching @value{GDBN} to the process.
2314
2315 @table @code
2316 @kindex detach
2317 @item detach
2318 When you have finished debugging the attached process, you can use the
2319 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control. Detaching
2320 the process continues its execution. After the @code{detach} command,
2321 that process and @value{GDBN} become completely independent once more, and you
2322 are ready to @code{attach} another process or start one with @code{run}.
2323 @code{detach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
2324 executing the command.
2325 @end table
2326
2327 If you exit @value{GDBN} while you have an attached process, you detach
2328 that process. If you use the @code{run} command, you kill that process.
2329 By default, @value{GDBN} asks for confirmation if you try to do either of these
2330 things; you can control whether or not you need to confirm by using the
2331 @code{set confirm} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
2332 Messages}).
2333
2334 @node Kill Process
2335 @section Killing the Child Process
2336
2337 @table @code
2338 @kindex kill
2339 @item kill
2340 Kill the child process in which your program is running under @value{GDBN}.
2341 @end table
2342
2343 This command is useful if you wish to debug a core dump instead of a
2344 running process. @value{GDBN} ignores any core dump file while your program
2345 is running.
2346
2347 On some operating systems, a program cannot be executed outside @value{GDBN}
2348 while you have breakpoints set on it inside @value{GDBN}. You can use the
2349 @code{kill} command in this situation to permit running your program
2350 outside the debugger.
2351
2352 The @code{kill} command is also useful if you wish to recompile and
2353 relink your program, since on many systems it is impossible to modify an
2354 executable file while it is running in a process. In this case, when you
2355 next type @code{run}, @value{GDBN} notices that the file has changed, and
2356 reads the symbol table again (while trying to preserve your current
2357 breakpoint settings).
2358
2359 @node Inferiors
2360 @section Debugging Multiple Inferiors
2361
2362 Some @value{GDBN} targets are able to run multiple processes created
2363 from a single executable. This can happen, for instance, with an
2364 embedded system reporting back several processes via the remote
2365 protocol.
2366
2367 @cindex inferior
2368 @value{GDBN} represents the state of each program execution with an
2369 object called an @dfn{inferior}. An inferior typically corresponds to
2370 a process, but is more general and applies also to targets that do not
2371 have processes. Inferiors may be created before a process runs, and
2372 may (in future) be retained after a process exits. Each run of an
2373 executable creates a new inferior, as does each attachment to an
2374 existing process. Inferiors have unique identifiers that are
2375 different from process ids, and may optionally be named as well.
2376 Usually each inferior will also have its own distinct address space,
2377 although some embedded targets may have several inferiors running in
2378 different parts of a single space.
2379
2380 Each inferior may in turn have multiple threads running in it.
2381
2382 To find out what inferiors exist at any moment, use @code{info inferiors}:
2383
2384 @table @code
2385 @kindex info inferiors
2386 @item info inferiors
2387 Print a list of all inferiors currently being managed by @value{GDBN}.
2388
2389 @kindex set print inferior-events
2390 @cindex print messages on inferior start and exit
2391 @item set print inferior-events
2392 @itemx set print inferior-events on
2393 @itemx set print inferior-events off
2394 The @code{set print inferior-events} command allows you to enable or
2395 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new
2396 inferiors have started or that inferiors have exited or have been
2397 detached. By default, these messages will not be printed.
2398
2399 @kindex show print inferior-events
2400 @item show print inferior-events
2401 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that
2402 inferiors have started, exited or have been detached.
2403 @end table
2404
2405 @node Threads
2406 @section Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads
2407
2408 @cindex threads of execution
2409 @cindex multiple threads
2410 @cindex switching threads
2411 In some operating systems, such as HP-UX and Solaris, a single program
2412 may have more than one @dfn{thread} of execution. The precise semantics
2413 of threads differ from one operating system to another, but in general
2414 the threads of a single program are akin to multiple processes---except
2415 that they share one address space (that is, they can all examine and
2416 modify the same variables). On the other hand, each thread has its own
2417 registers and execution stack, and perhaps private memory.
2418
2419 @value{GDBN} provides these facilities for debugging multi-thread
2420 programs:
2421
2422 @itemize @bullet
2423 @item automatic notification of new threads
2424 @item @samp{thread @var{threadno}}, a command to switch among threads
2425 @item @samp{info threads}, a command to inquire about existing threads
2426 @item @samp{thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{args}},
2427 a command to apply a command to a list of threads
2428 @item thread-specific breakpoints
2429 @item @samp{set print thread-events}, which controls printing of
2430 messages on thread start and exit.
2431 @end itemize
2432
2433 @quotation
2434 @emph{Warning:} These facilities are not yet available on every
2435 @value{GDBN} configuration where the operating system supports threads.
2436 If your @value{GDBN} does not support threads, these commands have no
2437 effect. For example, a system without thread support shows no output
2438 from @samp{info threads}, and always rejects the @code{thread} command,
2439 like this:
2440
2441 @smallexample
2442 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2443 (@value{GDBP}) thread 1
2444 Thread ID 1 not known. Use the "info threads" command to
2445 see the IDs of currently known threads.
2446 @end smallexample
2447 @c FIXME to implementors: how hard would it be to say "sorry, this GDB
2448 @c doesn't support threads"?
2449 @end quotation
2450
2451 @cindex focus of debugging
2452 @cindex current thread
2453 The @value{GDBN} thread debugging facility allows you to observe all
2454 threads while your program runs---but whenever @value{GDBN} takes
2455 control, one thread in particular is always the focus of debugging.
2456 This thread is called the @dfn{current thread}. Debugging commands show
2457 program information from the perspective of the current thread.
2458
2459 @cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message
2460 @cindex thread identifier (system)
2461 @c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2462 @c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2463 @c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2464 Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2465 the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2466 form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2467 whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2468 @sc{gnu}/Linux, you might see
2469
2470 @smallexample
2471 [New Thread 46912507313328 (LWP 25582)]
2472 @end smallexample
2473
2474 @noindent
2475 when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread. In contrast, on an SGI system,
2476 the @var{systag} is simply something like @samp{process 368}, with no
2477 further qualifier.
2478
2479 @c FIXME!! (1) Does the [New...] message appear even for the very first
2480 @c thread of a program, or does it only appear for the
2481 @c second---i.e.@: when it becomes obvious we have a multithread
2482 @c program?
2483 @c (2) *Is* there necessarily a first thread always? Or do some
2484 @c multithread systems permit starting a program with multiple
2485 @c threads ab initio?
2486
2487 @cindex thread number
2488 @cindex thread identifier (GDB)
2489 For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2490 number---always a single integer---with each thread in your program.
2491
2492 @table @code
2493 @kindex info threads
2494 @item info threads
2495 Display a summary of all threads currently in your
2496 program. @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2497
2498 @enumerate
2499 @item
2500 the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2501
2502 @item
2503 the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2504
2505 @item
2506 the current stack frame summary for that thread
2507 @end enumerate
2508
2509 @noindent
2510 An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2511 indicates the current thread.
2512
2513 For example,
2514 @end table
2515 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2516
2517 @smallexample
2518 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2519 3 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2520 2 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2521 * 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
2522 at threadtest.c:68
2523 @end smallexample
2524
2525 On HP-UX systems:
2526
2527 @cindex debugging multithreaded programs (on HP-UX)
2528 @cindex thread identifier (GDB), on HP-UX
2529 For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2530 number---a small integer assigned in thread-creation order---with each
2531 thread in your program.
2532
2533 @cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message, on HP-UX
2534 @cindex thread identifier (system), on HP-UX
2535 @c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2536 @c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2537 @c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2538 Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2539 both @value{GDBN}'s thread number and the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2540 form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2541 whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2542 HP-UX, you see
2543
2544 @smallexample
2545 [New thread 2 (system thread 26594)]
2546 @end smallexample
2547
2548 @noindent
2549 when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread.
2550
2551 @table @code
2552 @kindex info threads (HP-UX)
2553 @item info threads
2554 Display a summary of all threads currently in your
2555 program. @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2556
2557 @enumerate
2558 @item the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2559
2560 @item the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2561
2562 @item the current stack frame summary for that thread
2563 @end enumerate
2564
2565 @noindent
2566 An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2567 indicates the current thread.
2568
2569 For example,
2570 @end table
2571 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2572
2573 @smallexample
2574 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2575 * 3 system thread 26607 worker (wptr=0x7b09c318 "@@") \@*
2576 at quicksort.c:137
2577 2 system thread 26606 0x7b0030d8 in __ksleep () \@*
2578 from /usr/lib/libc.2
2579 1 system thread 27905 0x7b003498 in _brk () \@*
2580 from /usr/lib/libc.2
2581 @end smallexample
2582
2583 On Solaris, you can display more information about user threads with a
2584 Solaris-specific command:
2585
2586 @table @code
2587 @item maint info sol-threads
2588 @kindex maint info sol-threads
2589 @cindex thread info (Solaris)
2590 Display info on Solaris user threads.
2591 @end table
2592
2593 @table @code
2594 @kindex thread @var{threadno}
2595 @item thread @var{threadno}
2596 Make thread number @var{threadno} the current thread. The command
2597 argument @var{threadno} is the internal @value{GDBN} thread number, as
2598 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display.
2599 @value{GDBN} responds by displaying the system identifier of the thread
2600 you selected, and its current stack frame summary:
2601
2602 @smallexample
2603 @c FIXME!! This example made up; find a @value{GDBN} w/threads and get real one
2604 (@value{GDBP}) thread 2
2605 [Switching to process 35 thread 23]
2606 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2607 @end smallexample
2608
2609 @noindent
2610 As with the @samp{[New @dots{}]} message, the form of the text after
2611 @samp{Switching to} depends on your system's conventions for identifying
2612 threads.
2613
2614 @kindex thread apply
2615 @cindex apply command to several threads
2616 @item thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{command}
2617 The @code{thread apply} command allows you to apply the named
2618 @var{command} to one or more threads. Specify the numbers of the
2619 threads that you want affected with the command argument
2620 @var{threadno}. It can be a single thread number, one of the numbers
2621 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display; or it
2622 could be a range of thread numbers, as in @code{2-4}. To apply a
2623 command to all threads, type @kbd{thread apply all @var{command}}.
2624
2625 @kindex set print thread-events
2626 @cindex print messages on thread start and exit
2627 @item set print thread-events
2628 @itemx set print thread-events on
2629 @itemx set print thread-events off
2630 The @code{set print thread-events} command allows you to enable or
2631 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new threads have
2632 started or that threads have exited. By default, these messages will
2633 be printed if detection of these events is supported by the target.
2634 Note that these messages cannot be disabled on all targets.
2635
2636 @kindex show print thread-events
2637 @item show print thread-events
2638 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that threads
2639 have started and exited.
2640 @end table
2641
2642 @xref{Thread Stops,,Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs}, for
2643 more information about how @value{GDBN} behaves when you stop and start
2644 programs with multiple threads.
2645
2646 @xref{Set Watchpoints,,Setting Watchpoints}, for information about
2647 watchpoints in programs with multiple threads.
2648
2649 @node Processes
2650 @section Debugging Programs with Multiple Processes
2651
2652 @cindex fork, debugging programs which call
2653 @cindex multiple processes
2654 @cindex processes, multiple
2655 On most systems, @value{GDBN} has no special support for debugging
2656 programs which create additional processes using the @code{fork}
2657 function. When a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug the
2658 parent process and the child process will run unimpeded. If you have
2659 set a breakpoint in any code which the child then executes, the child
2660 will get a @code{SIGTRAP} signal which (unless it catches the signal)
2661 will cause it to terminate.
2662
2663 However, if you want to debug the child process there is a workaround
2664 which isn't too painful. Put a call to @code{sleep} in the code which
2665 the child process executes after the fork. It may be useful to sleep
2666 only if a certain environment variable is set, or a certain file exists,
2667 so that the delay need not occur when you don't want to run @value{GDBN}
2668 on the child. While the child is sleeping, use the @code{ps} program to
2669 get its process ID. Then tell @value{GDBN} (a new invocation of
2670 @value{GDBN} if you are also debugging the parent process) to attach to
2671 the child process (@pxref{Attach}). From that point on you can debug
2672 the child process just like any other process which you attached to.
2673
2674 On some systems, @value{GDBN} provides support for debugging programs that
2675 create additional processes using the @code{fork} or @code{vfork} functions.
2676 Currently, the only platforms with this feature are HP-UX (11.x and later
2677 only?) and @sc{gnu}/Linux (kernel version 2.5.60 and later).
2678
2679 By default, when a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug
2680 the parent process and the child process will run unimpeded.
2681
2682 If you want to follow the child process instead of the parent process,
2683 use the command @w{@code{set follow-fork-mode}}.
2684
2685 @table @code
2686 @kindex set follow-fork-mode
2687 @item set follow-fork-mode @var{mode}
2688 Set the debugger response to a program call of @code{fork} or
2689 @code{vfork}. A call to @code{fork} or @code{vfork} creates a new
2690 process. The @var{mode} argument can be:
2691
2692 @table @code
2693 @item parent
2694 The original process is debugged after a fork. The child process runs
2695 unimpeded. This is the default.
2696
2697 @item child
2698 The new process is debugged after a fork. The parent process runs
2699 unimpeded.
2700
2701 @end table
2702
2703 @kindex show follow-fork-mode
2704 @item show follow-fork-mode
2705 Display the current debugger response to a @code{fork} or @code{vfork} call.
2706 @end table
2707
2708 @cindex debugging multiple processes
2709 On Linux, if you want to debug both the parent and child processes, use the
2710 command @w{@code{set detach-on-fork}}.
2711
2712 @table @code
2713 @kindex set detach-on-fork
2714 @item set detach-on-fork @var{mode}
2715 Tells gdb whether to detach one of the processes after a fork, or
2716 retain debugger control over them both.
2717
2718 @table @code
2719 @item on
2720 The child process (or parent process, depending on the value of
2721 @code{follow-fork-mode}) will be detached and allowed to run
2722 independently. This is the default.
2723
2724 @item off
2725 Both processes will be held under the control of @value{GDBN}.
2726 One process (child or parent, depending on the value of
2727 @code{follow-fork-mode}) is debugged as usual, while the other
2728 is held suspended.
2729
2730 @end table
2731
2732 @kindex show detach-on-fork
2733 @item show detach-on-fork
2734 Show whether detach-on-fork mode is on/off.
2735 @end table
2736
2737 If you choose to set @samp{detach-on-fork} mode off, then
2738 @value{GDBN} will retain control of all forked processes (including
2739 nested forks). You can list the forked processes under the control of
2740 @value{GDBN} by using the @w{@code{info forks}} command, and switch
2741 from one fork to another by using the @w{@code{fork}} command.
2742
2743 @table @code
2744 @kindex info forks
2745 @item info forks
2746 Print a list of all forked processes under the control of @value{GDBN}.
2747 The listing will include a fork id, a process id, and the current
2748 position (program counter) of the process.
2749
2750 @kindex fork @var{fork-id}
2751 @item fork @var{fork-id}
2752 Make fork number @var{fork-id} the current process. The argument
2753 @var{fork-id} is the internal fork number assigned by @value{GDBN},
2754 as shown in the first field of the @samp{info forks} display.
2755
2756 @kindex process @var{process-id}
2757 @item process @var{process-id}
2758 Make process number @var{process-id} the current process. The
2759 argument @var{process-id} must be one that is listed in the output of
2760 @samp{info forks}.
2761
2762 @end table
2763
2764 To quit debugging one of the forked processes, you can either detach
2765 from it by using the @w{@code{detach fork}} command (allowing it to
2766 run independently), or delete (and kill) it using the
2767 @w{@code{delete fork}} command.
2768
2769 @table @code
2770 @kindex detach fork @var{fork-id}
2771 @item detach fork @var{fork-id}
2772 Detach from the process identified by @value{GDBN} fork number
2773 @var{fork-id}, and remove it from the fork list. The process will be
2774 allowed to run independently.
2775
2776 @kindex delete fork @var{fork-id}
2777 @item delete fork @var{fork-id}
2778 Kill the process identified by @value{GDBN} fork number @var{fork-id},
2779 and remove it from the fork list.
2780
2781 @end table
2782
2783 If you ask to debug a child process and a @code{vfork} is followed by an
2784 @code{exec}, @value{GDBN} executes the new target up to the first
2785 breakpoint in the new target. If you have a breakpoint set on
2786 @code{main} in your original program, the breakpoint will also be set on
2787 the child process's @code{main}.
2788
2789 When a child process is spawned by @code{vfork}, you cannot debug the
2790 child or parent until an @code{exec} call completes.
2791
2792 If you issue a @code{run} command to @value{GDBN} after an @code{exec}
2793 call executes, the new target restarts. To restart the parent process,
2794 use the @code{file} command with the parent executable name as its
2795 argument.
2796
2797 You can use the @code{catch} command to make @value{GDBN} stop whenever
2798 a @code{fork}, @code{vfork}, or @code{exec} call is made. @xref{Set
2799 Catchpoints, ,Setting Catchpoints}.
2800
2801 @node Checkpoint/Restart
2802 @section Setting a @emph{Bookmark} to Return to Later
2803
2804 @cindex checkpoint
2805 @cindex restart
2806 @cindex bookmark
2807 @cindex snapshot of a process
2808 @cindex rewind program state
2809
2810 On certain operating systems@footnote{Currently, only
2811 @sc{gnu}/Linux.}, @value{GDBN} is able to save a @dfn{snapshot} of a
2812 program's state, called a @dfn{checkpoint}, and come back to it
2813 later.
2814
2815 Returning to a checkpoint effectively undoes everything that has
2816 happened in the program since the @code{checkpoint} was saved. This
2817 includes changes in memory, registers, and even (within some limits)
2818 system state. Effectively, it is like going back in time to the
2819 moment when the checkpoint was saved.
2820
2821 Thus, if you're stepping thru a program and you think you're
2822 getting close to the point where things go wrong, you can save
2823 a checkpoint. Then, if you accidentally go too far and miss
2824 the critical statement, instead of having to restart your program
2825 from the beginning, you can just go back to the checkpoint and
2826 start again from there.
2827
2828 This can be especially useful if it takes a lot of time or
2829 steps to reach the point where you think the bug occurs.
2830
2831 To use the @code{checkpoint}/@code{restart} method of debugging:
2832
2833 @table @code
2834 @kindex checkpoint
2835 @item checkpoint
2836 Save a snapshot of the debugged program's current execution state.
2837 The @code{checkpoint} command takes no arguments, but each checkpoint
2838 is assigned a small integer id, similar to a breakpoint id.
2839
2840 @kindex info checkpoints
2841 @item info checkpoints
2842 List the checkpoints that have been saved in the current debugging
2843 session. For each checkpoint, the following information will be
2844 listed:
2845
2846 @table @code
2847 @item Checkpoint ID
2848 @item Process ID
2849 @item Code Address
2850 @item Source line, or label
2851 @end table
2852
2853 @kindex restart @var{checkpoint-id}
2854 @item restart @var{checkpoint-id}
2855 Restore the program state that was saved as checkpoint number
2856 @var{checkpoint-id}. All program variables, registers, stack frames
2857 etc.@: will be returned to the values that they had when the checkpoint
2858 was saved. In essence, gdb will ``wind back the clock'' to the point
2859 in time when the checkpoint was saved.
2860
2861 Note that breakpoints, @value{GDBN} variables, command history etc.
2862 are not affected by restoring a checkpoint. In general, a checkpoint
2863 only restores things that reside in the program being debugged, not in
2864 the debugger.
2865
2866 @kindex delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
2867 @item delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
2868 Delete the previously-saved checkpoint identified by @var{checkpoint-id}.
2869
2870 @end table
2871
2872 Returning to a previously saved checkpoint will restore the user state
2873 of the program being debugged, plus a significant subset of the system
2874 (OS) state, including file pointers. It won't ``un-write'' data from
2875 a file, but it will rewind the file pointer to the previous location,
2876 so that the previously written data can be overwritten. For files
2877 opened in read mode, the pointer will also be restored so that the
2878 previously read data can be read again.
2879
2880 Of course, characters that have been sent to a printer (or other
2881 external device) cannot be ``snatched back'', and characters received
2882 from eg.@: a serial device can be removed from internal program buffers,
2883 but they cannot be ``pushed back'' into the serial pipeline, ready to
2884 be received again. Similarly, the actual contents of files that have
2885 been changed cannot be restored (at this time).
2886
2887 However, within those constraints, you actually can ``rewind'' your
2888 program to a previously saved point in time, and begin debugging it
2889 again --- and you can change the course of events so as to debug a
2890 different execution path this time.
2891
2892 @cindex checkpoints and process id
2893 Finally, there is one bit of internal program state that will be
2894 different when you return to a checkpoint --- the program's process
2895 id. Each checkpoint will have a unique process id (or @var{pid}),
2896 and each will be different from the program's original @var{pid}.
2897 If your program has saved a local copy of its process id, this could
2898 potentially pose a problem.
2899
2900 @subsection A Non-obvious Benefit of Using Checkpoints
2901
2902 On some systems such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, address space randomization
2903 is performed on new processes for security reasons. This makes it
2904 difficult or impossible to set a breakpoint, or watchpoint, on an
2905 absolute address if you have to restart the program, since the
2906 absolute location of a symbol will change from one execution to the
2907 next.
2908
2909 A checkpoint, however, is an @emph{identical} copy of a process.
2910 Therefore if you create a checkpoint at (eg.@:) the start of main,
2911 and simply return to that checkpoint instead of restarting the
2912 process, you can avoid the effects of address randomization and
2913 your symbols will all stay in the same place.
2914
2915 @node Stopping
2916 @chapter Stopping and Continuing
2917
2918 The principal purposes of using a debugger are so that you can stop your
2919 program before it terminates; or so that, if your program runs into
2920 trouble, you can investigate and find out why.
2921
2922 Inside @value{GDBN}, your program may stop for any of several reasons,
2923 such as a signal, a breakpoint, or reaching a new line after a
2924 @value{GDBN} command such as @code{step}. You may then examine and
2925 change variables, set new breakpoints or remove old ones, and then
2926 continue execution. Usually, the messages shown by @value{GDBN} provide
2927 ample explanation of the status of your program---but you can also
2928 explicitly request this information at any time.
2929
2930 @table @code
2931 @kindex info program
2932 @item info program
2933 Display information about the status of your program: whether it is
2934 running or not, what process it is, and why it stopped.
2935 @end table
2936
2937 @menu
2938 * Breakpoints:: Breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints
2939 * Continuing and Stepping:: Resuming execution
2940 * Signals:: Signals
2941 * Thread Stops:: Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
2942 @end menu
2943
2944 @node Breakpoints
2945 @section Breakpoints, Watchpoints, and Catchpoints
2946
2947 @cindex breakpoints
2948 A @dfn{breakpoint} makes your program stop whenever a certain point in
2949 the program is reached. For each breakpoint, you can add conditions to
2950 control in finer detail whether your program stops. You can set
2951 breakpoints with the @code{break} command and its variants (@pxref{Set
2952 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}), to specify the place where your program
2953 should stop by line number, function name or exact address in the
2954 program.
2955
2956 On some systems, you can set breakpoints in shared libraries before
2957 the executable is run. There is a minor limitation on HP-UX systems:
2958 you must wait until the executable is run in order to set breakpoints
2959 in shared library routines that are not called directly by the program
2960 (for example, routines that are arguments in a @code{pthread_create}
2961 call).
2962
2963 @cindex watchpoints
2964 @cindex data breakpoints
2965 @cindex memory tracing
2966 @cindex breakpoint on memory address
2967 @cindex breakpoint on variable modification
2968 A @dfn{watchpoint} is a special breakpoint that stops your program
2969 when the value of an expression changes. The expression may be a value
2970 of a variable, or it could involve values of one or more variables
2971 combined by operators, such as @samp{a + b}. This is sometimes called
2972 @dfn{data breakpoints}. You must use a different command to set
2973 watchpoints (@pxref{Set Watchpoints, ,Setting Watchpoints}), but aside
2974 from that, you can manage a watchpoint like any other breakpoint: you
2975 enable, disable, and delete both breakpoints and watchpoints using the
2976 same commands.
2977
2978 You can arrange to have values from your program displayed automatically
2979 whenever @value{GDBN} stops at a breakpoint. @xref{Auto Display,,
2980 Automatic Display}.
2981
2982 @cindex catchpoints
2983 @cindex breakpoint on events
2984 A @dfn{catchpoint} is another special breakpoint that stops your program
2985 when a certain kind of event occurs, such as the throwing of a C@t{++}
2986 exception or the loading of a library. As with watchpoints, you use a
2987 different command to set a catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints, ,Setting
2988 Catchpoints}), but aside from that, you can manage a catchpoint like any
2989 other breakpoint. (To stop when your program receives a signal, use the
2990 @code{handle} command; see @ref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
2991
2992 @cindex breakpoint numbers
2993 @cindex numbers for breakpoints
2994 @value{GDBN} assigns a number to each breakpoint, watchpoint, or
2995 catchpoint when you create it; these numbers are successive integers
2996 starting with one. In many of the commands for controlling various
2997 features of breakpoints you use the breakpoint number to say which
2998 breakpoint you want to change. Each breakpoint may be @dfn{enabled} or
2999 @dfn{disabled}; if disabled, it has no effect on your program until you
3000 enable it again.
3001
3002 @cindex breakpoint ranges
3003 @cindex ranges of breakpoints
3004 Some @value{GDBN} commands accept a range of breakpoints on which to
3005 operate. A breakpoint range is either a single breakpoint number, like
3006 @samp{5}, or two such numbers, in increasing order, separated by a
3007 hyphen, like @samp{5-7}. When a breakpoint range is given to a command,
3008 all breakpoints in that range are operated on.
3009
3010 @menu
3011 * Set Breaks:: Setting breakpoints
3012 * Set Watchpoints:: Setting watchpoints
3013 * Set Catchpoints:: Setting catchpoints
3014 * Delete Breaks:: Deleting breakpoints
3015 * Disabling:: Disabling breakpoints
3016 * Conditions:: Break conditions
3017 * Break Commands:: Breakpoint command lists
3018 * Error in Breakpoints:: ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
3019 * Breakpoint-related Warnings:: ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
3020 @end menu
3021
3022 @node Set Breaks
3023 @subsection Setting Breakpoints
3024
3025 @c FIXME LMB what does GDB do if no code on line of breakpt?
3026 @c consider in particular declaration with/without initialization.
3027 @c
3028 @c FIXME 2 is there stuff on this already? break at fun start, already init?
3029
3030 @kindex break
3031 @kindex b @r{(@code{break})}
3032 @vindex $bpnum@r{, convenience variable}
3033 @cindex latest breakpoint
3034 Breakpoints are set with the @code{break} command (abbreviated
3035 @code{b}). The debugger convenience variable @samp{$bpnum} records the
3036 number of the breakpoint you've set most recently; see @ref{Convenience
3037 Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for a discussion of what you can do with
3038 convenience variables.
3039
3040 @table @code
3041 @item break @var{location}
3042 Set a breakpoint at the given @var{location}, which can specify a
3043 function name, a line number, or an address of an instruction.
3044 (@xref{Specify Location}, for a list of all the possible ways to
3045 specify a @var{location}.) The breakpoint will stop your program just
3046 before it executes any of the code in the specified @var{location}.
3047
3048 When using source languages that permit overloading of symbols, such as
3049 C@t{++}, a function name may refer to more than one possible place to break.
3050 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}, for a discussion of
3051 that situation.
3052
3053 @item break
3054 When called without any arguments, @code{break} sets a breakpoint at
3055 the next instruction to be executed in the selected stack frame
3056 (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}). In any selected frame but the
3057 innermost, this makes your program stop as soon as control
3058 returns to that frame. This is similar to the effect of a
3059 @code{finish} command in the frame inside the selected frame---except
3060 that @code{finish} does not leave an active breakpoint. If you use
3061 @code{break} without an argument in the innermost frame, @value{GDBN} stops
3062 the next time it reaches the current location; this may be useful
3063 inside loops.
3064
3065 @value{GDBN} normally ignores breakpoints when it resumes execution, until at
3066 least one instruction has been executed. If it did not do this, you
3067 would be unable to proceed past a breakpoint without first disabling the
3068 breakpoint. This rule applies whether or not the breakpoint already
3069 existed when your program stopped.
3070
3071 @item break @dots{} if @var{cond}
3072 Set a breakpoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
3073 @var{cond} each time the breakpoint is reached, and stop only if the
3074 value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
3075 @samp{@dots{}} stands for one of the possible arguments described
3076 above (or no argument) specifying where to break. @xref{Conditions,
3077 ,Break Conditions}, for more information on breakpoint conditions.
3078
3079 @kindex tbreak
3080 @item tbreak @var{args}
3081 Set a breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args} are the
3082 same as for the @code{break} command, and the breakpoint is set in the same
3083 way, but the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the first time your
3084 program stops there. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3085
3086 @kindex hbreak
3087 @cindex hardware breakpoints
3088 @item hbreak @var{args}
3089 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint. @var{args} are the same as for the
3090 @code{break} command and the breakpoint is set in the same way, but the
3091 breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware may not
3092 have this support. The main purpose of this is EPROM/ROM code
3093 debugging, so you can set a breakpoint at an instruction without
3094 changing the instruction. This can be used with the new trap-generation
3095 provided by SPARClite DSU and most x86-based targets. These targets
3096 will generate traps when a program accesses some data or instruction
3097 address that is assigned to the debug registers. However the hardware
3098 breakpoint registers can take a limited number of breakpoints. For
3099 example, on the DSU, only two data breakpoints can be set at a time, and
3100 @value{GDBN} will reject this command if more than two are used. Delete
3101 or disable unused hardware breakpoints before setting new ones
3102 (@pxref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}).
3103 @xref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3104 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3105 breakpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3106 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3107
3108 @kindex thbreak
3109 @item thbreak @var{args}
3110 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args}
3111 are the same as for the @code{hbreak} command and the breakpoint is set in
3112 the same way. However, like the @code{tbreak} command,
3113 the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the
3114 first time your program stops there. Also, like the @code{hbreak}
3115 command, the breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware
3116 may not have this support. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3117 See also @ref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3118
3119 @kindex rbreak
3120 @cindex regular expression
3121 @cindex breakpoints in functions matching a regexp
3122 @cindex set breakpoints in many functions
3123 @item rbreak @var{regex}
3124 Set breakpoints on all functions matching the regular expression
3125 @var{regex}. This command sets an unconditional breakpoint on all
3126 matches, printing a list of all breakpoints it set. Once these
3127 breakpoints are set, they are treated just like the breakpoints set with
3128 the @code{break} command. You can delete them, disable them, or make
3129 them conditional the same way as any other breakpoint.
3130
3131 The syntax of the regular expression is the standard one used with tools
3132 like @file{grep}. Note that this is different from the syntax used by
3133 shells, so for instance @code{foo*} matches all functions that include
3134 an @code{fo} followed by zero or more @code{o}s. There is an implicit
3135 @code{.*} leading and trailing the regular expression you supply, so to
3136 match only functions that begin with @code{foo}, use @code{^foo}.
3137
3138 @cindex non-member C@t{++} functions, set breakpoint in
3139 When debugging C@t{++} programs, @code{rbreak} is useful for setting
3140 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
3141 classes.
3142
3143 @cindex set breakpoints on all functions
3144 The @code{rbreak} command can be used to set breakpoints in
3145 @strong{all} the functions in a program, like this:
3146
3147 @smallexample
3148 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak .
3149 @end smallexample
3150
3151 @kindex info breakpoints
3152 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info breakpoints}
3153 @item info breakpoints @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3154 @itemx info break @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3155 @itemx info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3156 Print a table of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints set and
3157 not deleted. Optional argument @var{n} means print information only
3158 about the specified breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint). For
3159 each breakpoint, following columns are printed:
3160
3161 @table @emph
3162 @item Breakpoint Numbers
3163 @item Type
3164 Breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint.
3165 @item Disposition
3166 Whether the breakpoint is marked to be disabled or deleted when hit.
3167 @item Enabled or Disabled
3168 Enabled breakpoints are marked with @samp{y}. @samp{n} marks breakpoints
3169 that are not enabled.
3170 @item Address
3171 Where the breakpoint is in your program, as a memory address. For a
3172 pending breakpoint whose address is not yet known, this field will
3173 contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Such breakpoint won't fire until a shared
3174 library that has the symbol or line referred by breakpoint is loaded.
3175 See below for details. A breakpoint with several locations will
3176 have @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in this field---see below for details.
3177 @item What
3178 Where the breakpoint is in the source for your program, as a file and
3179 line number. For a pending breakpoint, the original string passed to
3180 the breakpoint command will be listed as it cannot be resolved until
3181 the appropriate shared library is loaded in the future.
3182 @end table
3183
3184 @noindent
3185 If a breakpoint is conditional, @code{info break} shows the condition on
3186 the line following the affected breakpoint; breakpoint commands, if any,
3187 are listed after that. A pending breakpoint is allowed to have a condition
3188 specified for it. The condition is not parsed for validity until a shared
3189 library is loaded that allows the pending breakpoint to resolve to a
3190 valid location.
3191
3192 @noindent
3193 @code{info break} with a breakpoint
3194 number @var{n} as argument lists only that breakpoint. The
3195 convenience variable @code{$_} and the default examining-address for
3196 the @code{x} command are set to the address of the last breakpoint
3197 listed (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}).
3198
3199 @noindent
3200 @code{info break} displays a count of the number of times the breakpoint
3201 has been hit. This is especially useful in conjunction with the
3202 @code{ignore} command. You can ignore a large number of breakpoint
3203 hits, look at the breakpoint info to see how many times the breakpoint
3204 was hit, and then run again, ignoring one less than that number. This
3205 will get you quickly to the last hit of that breakpoint.
3206 @end table
3207
3208 @value{GDBN} allows you to set any number of breakpoints at the same place in
3209 your program. There is nothing silly or meaningless about this. When
3210 the breakpoints are conditional, this is even useful
3211 (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
3212
3213 @cindex multiple locations, breakpoints
3214 @cindex breakpoints, multiple locations
3215 It is possible that a breakpoint corresponds to several locations
3216 in your program. Examples of this situation are:
3217
3218 @itemize @bullet
3219 @item
3220 For a C@t{++} constructor, the @value{NGCC} compiler generates several
3221 instances of the function body, used in different cases.
3222
3223 @item
3224 For a C@t{++} template function, a given line in the function can
3225 correspond to any number of instantiations.
3226
3227 @item
3228 For an inlined function, a given source line can correspond to
3229 several places where that function is inlined.
3230 @end itemize
3231
3232 In all those cases, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at all
3233 the relevant locations@footnote{
3234 As of this writing, multiple-location breakpoints work only if there's
3235 line number information for all the locations. This means that they
3236 will generally not work in system libraries, unless you have debug
3237 info with line numbers for them.}.
3238
3239 A breakpoint with multiple locations is displayed in the breakpoint
3240 table using several rows---one header row, followed by one row for
3241 each breakpoint location. The header row has @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in the
3242 address column. The rows for individual locations contain the actual
3243 addresses for locations, and show the functions to which those
3244 locations belong. The number column for a location is of the form
3245 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number}.
3246
3247 For example:
3248
3249 @smallexample
3250 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
3251 1 breakpoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
3252 stop only if i==1
3253 breakpoint already hit 1 time
3254 1.1 y 0x080486a2 in void foo<int>() at t.cc:8
3255 1.2 y 0x080486ca in void foo<double>() at t.cc:8
3256 @end smallexample
3257
3258 Each location can be individually enabled or disabled by passing
3259 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number} as argument to the
3260 @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands. Note that you cannot
3261 delete the individual locations from the list, you can only delete the
3262 entire list of locations that belong to their parent breakpoint (with
3263 the @kbd{delete @var{num}} command, where @var{num} is the number of
3264 the parent breakpoint, 1 in the above example). Disabling or enabling
3265 the parent breakpoint (@pxref{Disabling}) affects all of the locations
3266 that belong to that breakpoint.
3267
3268 @cindex pending breakpoints
3269 It's quite common to have a breakpoint inside a shared library.
3270 Shared libraries can be loaded and unloaded explicitly,
3271 and possibly repeatedly, as the program is executed. To support
3272 this use case, @value{GDBN} updates breakpoint locations whenever
3273 any shared library is loaded or unloaded. Typically, you would
3274 set a breakpoint in a shared library at the beginning of your
3275 debugging session, when the library is not loaded, and when the
3276 symbols from the library are not available. When you try to set
3277 breakpoint, @value{GDBN} will ask you if you want to set
3278 a so called @dfn{pending breakpoint}---breakpoint whose address
3279 is not yet resolved.
3280
3281 After the program is run, whenever a new shared library is loaded,
3282 @value{GDBN} reevaluates all the breakpoints. When a newly loaded
3283 shared library contains the symbol or line referred to by some
3284 pending breakpoint, that breakpoint is resolved and becomes an
3285 ordinary breakpoint. When a library is unloaded, all breakpoints
3286 that refer to its symbols or source lines become pending again.
3287
3288 This logic works for breakpoints with multiple locations, too. For
3289 example, if you have a breakpoint in a C@t{++} template function, and
3290 a newly loaded shared library has an instantiation of that template,
3291 a new location is added to the list of locations for the breakpoint.
3292
3293 Except for having unresolved address, pending breakpoints do not
3294 differ from regular breakpoints. You can set conditions or commands,
3295 enable and disable them and perform other breakpoint operations.
3296
3297 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling what
3298 happens when the @samp{break} command cannot resolve breakpoint
3299 address specification to an address:
3300
3301 @kindex set breakpoint pending
3302 @kindex show breakpoint pending
3303 @table @code
3304 @item set breakpoint pending auto
3305 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} cannot find the breakpoint
3306 location, it queries you whether a pending breakpoint should be created.
3307
3308 @item set breakpoint pending on
3309 This indicates that an unrecognized breakpoint location should automatically
3310 result in a pending breakpoint being created.
3311
3312 @item set breakpoint pending off
3313 This indicates that pending breakpoints are not to be created. Any
3314 unrecognized breakpoint location results in an error. This setting does
3315 not affect any pending breakpoints previously created.
3316
3317 @item show breakpoint pending
3318 Show the current behavior setting for creating pending breakpoints.
3319 @end table
3320
3321 The settings above only affect the @code{break} command and its
3322 variants. Once breakpoint is set, it will be automatically updated
3323 as shared libraries are loaded and unloaded.
3324
3325 @cindex automatic hardware breakpoints
3326 For some targets, @value{GDBN} can automatically decide if hardware or
3327 software breakpoints should be used, depending on whether the
3328 breakpoint address is read-only or read-write. This applies to
3329 breakpoints set with the @code{break} command as well as to internal
3330 breakpoints set by commands like @code{next} and @code{finish}. For
3331 breakpoints set with @code{hbreak}, @value{GDBN} will always use hardware
3332 breakpoints.
3333
3334 You can control this automatic behaviour with the following commands::
3335
3336 @kindex set breakpoint auto-hw
3337 @kindex show breakpoint auto-hw
3338 @table @code
3339 @item set breakpoint auto-hw on
3340 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} sets a breakpoint, it
3341 will try to use the target memory map to decide if software or hardware
3342 breakpoint must be used.
3343
3344 @item set breakpoint auto-hw off
3345 This indicates @value{GDBN} should not automatically select breakpoint
3346 type. If the target provides a memory map, @value{GDBN} will warn when
3347 trying to set software breakpoint at a read-only address.
3348 @end table
3349
3350 @value{GDBN} normally implements breakpoints by replacing the program code
3351 at the breakpoint address with a special instruction, which, when
3352 executed, given control to the debugger. By default, the program
3353 code is so modified only when the program is resumed. As soon as
3354 the program stops, @value{GDBN} restores the original instructions. This
3355 behaviour guards against leaving breakpoints inserted in the
3356 target should gdb abrubptly disconnect. However, with slow remote
3357 targets, inserting and removing breakpoint can reduce the performance.
3358 This behavior can be controlled with the following commands::
3359
3360 @kindex set breakpoint always-inserted
3361 @kindex show breakpoint always-inserted
3362 @table @code
3363 @item set breakpoint always-inserted off
3364 All breakpoints, including newly added by the user, are inserted in
3365 the target only when the target is resumed. All breakpoints are
3366 removed from the target when it stops.
3367
3368 @item set breakpoint always-inserted on
3369 Causes all breakpoints to be inserted in the target at all times. If
3370 the user adds a new breakpoint, or changes an existing breakpoint, the
3371 breakpoints in the target are updated immediately. A breakpoint is
3372 removed from the target only when breakpoint itself is removed.
3373
3374 @cindex non-stop mode, and @code{breakpoint always-inserted}
3375 @item set breakpoint always-inserted auto
3376 This is the default mode. If @value{GDBN} is controlling the inferior
3377 in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}), gdb behaves as if
3378 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is on. If @value{GDBN} is
3379 controlling the inferior in all-stop mode, @value{GDBN} behaves as if
3380 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is off.
3381 @end table
3382
3383 @cindex negative breakpoint numbers
3384 @cindex internal @value{GDBN} breakpoints
3385 @value{GDBN} itself sometimes sets breakpoints in your program for
3386 special purposes, such as proper handling of @code{longjmp} (in C
3387 programs). These internal breakpoints are assigned negative numbers,
3388 starting with @code{-1}; @samp{info breakpoints} does not display them.
3389 You can see these breakpoints with the @value{GDBN} maintenance command
3390 @samp{maint info breakpoints} (@pxref{maint info breakpoints}).
3391
3392
3393 @node Set Watchpoints
3394 @subsection Setting Watchpoints
3395
3396 @cindex setting watchpoints
3397 You can use a watchpoint to stop execution whenever the value of an
3398 expression changes, without having to predict a particular place where
3399 this may happen. (This is sometimes called a @dfn{data breakpoint}.)
3400 The expression may be as simple as the value of a single variable, or
3401 as complex as many variables combined by operators. Examples include:
3402
3403 @itemize @bullet
3404 @item
3405 A reference to the value of a single variable.
3406
3407 @item
3408 An address cast to an appropriate data type. For example,
3409 @samp{*(int *)0x12345678} will watch a 4-byte region at the specified
3410 address (assuming an @code{int} occupies 4 bytes).
3411
3412 @item
3413 An arbitrarily complex expression, such as @samp{a*b + c/d}. The
3414 expression can use any operators valid in the program's native
3415 language (@pxref{Languages}).
3416 @end itemize
3417
3418 You can set a watchpoint on an expression even if the expression can
3419 not be evaluated yet. For instance, you can set a watchpoint on
3420 @samp{*global_ptr} before @samp{global_ptr} is initialized.
3421 @value{GDBN} will stop when your program sets @samp{global_ptr} and
3422 the expression produces a valid value. If the expression becomes
3423 valid in some other way than changing a variable (e.g.@: if the memory
3424 pointed to by @samp{*global_ptr} becomes readable as the result of a
3425 @code{malloc} call), @value{GDBN} may not stop until the next time
3426 the expression changes.
3427
3428 @cindex software watchpoints
3429 @cindex hardware watchpoints
3430 Depending on your system, watchpoints may be implemented in software or
3431 hardware. @value{GDBN} does software watchpointing by single-stepping your
3432 program and testing the variable's value each time, which is hundreds of
3433 times slower than normal execution. (But this may still be worth it, to
3434 catch errors where you have no clue what part of your program is the
3435 culprit.)
3436
3437 On some systems, such as HP-UX, PowerPC, @sc{gnu}/Linux and most other
3438 x86-based targets, @value{GDBN} includes support for hardware
3439 watchpoints, which do not slow down the running of your program.
3440
3441 @table @code
3442 @kindex watch
3443 @item watch @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3444 Set a watchpoint for an expression. @value{GDBN} will break when the
3445 expression @var{expr} is written into by the program and its value
3446 changes. The simplest (and the most popular) use of this command is
3447 to watch the value of a single variable:
3448
3449 @smallexample
3450 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo
3451 @end smallexample
3452
3453 If the command includes a @code{@r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}}
3454 clause, @value{GDBN} breaks only when the thread identified by
3455 @var{threadnum} changes the value of @var{expr}. If any other threads
3456 change the value of @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} will not break. Note
3457 that watchpoints restricted to a single thread in this way only work
3458 with Hardware Watchpoints.
3459
3460 @kindex rwatch
3461 @item rwatch @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3462 Set a watchpoint that will break when the value of @var{expr} is read
3463 by the program.
3464
3465 @kindex awatch
3466 @item awatch @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3467 Set a watchpoint that will break when @var{expr} is either read from
3468 or written into by the program.
3469
3470 @kindex info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3471 @item info watchpoints
3472 This command prints a list of watchpoints, breakpoints, and catchpoints;
3473 it is the same as @code{info break} (@pxref{Set Breaks}).
3474 @end table
3475
3476 @value{GDBN} sets a @dfn{hardware watchpoint} if possible. Hardware
3477 watchpoints execute very quickly, and the debugger reports a change in
3478 value at the exact instruction where the change occurs. If @value{GDBN}
3479 cannot set a hardware watchpoint, it sets a software watchpoint, which
3480 executes more slowly and reports the change in value at the next
3481 @emph{statement}, not the instruction, after the change occurs.
3482
3483 @cindex use only software watchpoints
3484 You can force @value{GDBN} to use only software watchpoints with the
3485 @kbd{set can-use-hw-watchpoints 0} command. With this variable set to
3486 zero, @value{GDBN} will never try to use hardware watchpoints, even if
3487 the underlying system supports them. (Note that hardware-assisted
3488 watchpoints that were set @emph{before} setting
3489 @code{can-use-hw-watchpoints} to zero will still use the hardware
3490 mechanism of watching expression values.)
3491
3492 @table @code
3493 @item set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3494 @kindex set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3495 Set whether or not to use hardware watchpoints.
3496
3497 @item show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3498 @kindex show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3499 Show the current mode of using hardware watchpoints.
3500 @end table
3501
3502 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3503 watchpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3504 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3505
3506 When you issue the @code{watch} command, @value{GDBN} reports
3507
3508 @smallexample
3509 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: @var{expr}
3510 @end smallexample
3511
3512 @noindent
3513 if it was able to set a hardware watchpoint.
3514
3515 Currently, the @code{awatch} and @code{rwatch} commands can only set
3516 hardware watchpoints, because accesses to data that don't change the
3517 value of the watched expression cannot be detected without examining
3518 every instruction as it is being executed, and @value{GDBN} does not do
3519 that currently. If @value{GDBN} finds that it is unable to set a
3520 hardware breakpoint with the @code{awatch} or @code{rwatch} command, it
3521 will print a message like this:
3522
3523 @smallexample
3524 Expression cannot be implemented with read/access watchpoint.
3525 @end smallexample
3526
3527 Sometimes, @value{GDBN} cannot set a hardware watchpoint because the
3528 data type of the watched expression is wider than what a hardware
3529 watchpoint on the target machine can handle. For example, some systems
3530 can only watch regions that are up to 4 bytes wide; on such systems you
3531 cannot set hardware watchpoints for an expression that yields a
3532 double-precision floating-point number (which is typically 8 bytes
3533 wide). As a work-around, it might be possible to break the large region
3534 into a series of smaller ones and watch them with separate watchpoints.
3535
3536 If you set too many hardware watchpoints, @value{GDBN} might be unable
3537 to insert all of them when you resume the execution of your program.
3538 Since the precise number of active watchpoints is unknown until such
3539 time as the program is about to be resumed, @value{GDBN} might not be
3540 able to warn you about this when you set the watchpoints, and the
3541 warning will be printed only when the program is resumed:
3542
3543 @smallexample
3544 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: Could not insert watchpoint
3545 @end smallexample
3546
3547 @noindent
3548 If this happens, delete or disable some of the watchpoints.
3549
3550 Watching complex expressions that reference many variables can also
3551 exhaust the resources available for hardware-assisted watchpoints.
3552 That's because @value{GDBN} needs to watch every variable in the
3553 expression with separately allocated resources.
3554
3555 If you call a function interactively using @code{print} or @code{call},
3556 any watchpoints you have set will be inactive until @value{GDBN} reaches another
3557 kind of breakpoint or the call completes.
3558
3559 @value{GDBN} automatically deletes watchpoints that watch local
3560 (automatic) variables, or expressions that involve such variables, when
3561 they go out of scope, that is, when the execution leaves the block in
3562 which these variables were defined. In particular, when the program
3563 being debugged terminates, @emph{all} local variables go out of scope,
3564 and so only watchpoints that watch global variables remain set. If you
3565 rerun the program, you will need to set all such watchpoints again. One
3566 way of doing that would be to set a code breakpoint at the entry to the
3567 @code{main} function and when it breaks, set all the watchpoints.
3568
3569 @cindex watchpoints and threads
3570 @cindex threads and watchpoints
3571 In multi-threaded programs, watchpoints will detect changes to the
3572 watched expression from every thread.
3573
3574 @quotation
3575 @emph{Warning:} In multi-threaded programs, software watchpoints
3576 have only limited usefulness. If @value{GDBN} creates a software
3577 watchpoint, it can only watch the value of an expression @emph{in a
3578 single thread}. If you are confident that the expression can only
3579 change due to the current thread's activity (and if you are also
3580 confident that no other thread can become current), then you can use
3581 software watchpoints as usual. However, @value{GDBN} may not notice
3582 when a non-current thread's activity changes the expression. (Hardware
3583 watchpoints, in contrast, watch an expression in all threads.)
3584 @end quotation
3585
3586 @xref{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}.
3587
3588 @node Set Catchpoints
3589 @subsection Setting Catchpoints
3590 @cindex catchpoints, setting
3591 @cindex exception handlers
3592 @cindex event handling
3593
3594 You can use @dfn{catchpoints} to cause the debugger to stop for certain
3595 kinds of program events, such as C@t{++} exceptions or the loading of a
3596 shared library. Use the @code{catch} command to set a catchpoint.
3597
3598 @table @code
3599 @kindex catch
3600 @item catch @var{event}
3601 Stop when @var{event} occurs. @var{event} can be any of the following:
3602 @table @code
3603 @item throw
3604 @cindex stop on C@t{++} exceptions
3605 The throwing of a C@t{++} exception.
3606
3607 @item catch
3608 The catching of a C@t{++} exception.
3609
3610 @item exception
3611 @cindex Ada exception catching
3612 @cindex catch Ada exceptions
3613 An Ada exception being raised. If an exception name is specified
3614 at the end of the command (eg @code{catch exception Program_Error}),
3615 the debugger will stop only when this specific exception is raised.
3616 Otherwise, the debugger stops execution when any Ada exception is raised.
3617
3618 When inserting an exception catchpoint on a user-defined exception whose
3619 name is identical to one of the exceptions defined by the language, the
3620 fully qualified name must be used as the exception name. Otherwise,
3621 @value{GDBN} will assume that it should stop on the pre-defined exception
3622 rather than the user-defined one. For instance, assuming an exception
3623 called @code{Constraint_Error} is defined in package @code{Pck}, then
3624 the command to use to catch such exceptions is @kbd{catch exception
3625 Pck.Constraint_Error}.
3626
3627 @item exception unhandled
3628 An exception that was raised but is not handled by the program.
3629
3630 @item assert
3631 A failed Ada assertion.
3632
3633 @item exec
3634 @cindex break on fork/exec
3635 A call to @code{exec}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
3636 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
3637
3638 @item fork
3639 A call to @code{fork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
3640 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
3641
3642 @item vfork
3643 A call to @code{vfork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
3644 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
3645
3646 @end table
3647
3648 @item tcatch @var{event}
3649 Set a catchpoint that is enabled only for one stop. The catchpoint is
3650 automatically deleted after the first time the event is caught.
3651
3652 @end table
3653
3654 Use the @code{info break} command to list the current catchpoints.
3655
3656 There are currently some limitations to C@t{++} exception handling
3657 (@code{catch throw} and @code{catch catch}) in @value{GDBN}:
3658
3659 @itemize @bullet
3660 @item
3661 If you call a function interactively, @value{GDBN} normally returns
3662 control to you when the function has finished executing. If the call
3663 raises an exception, however, the call may bypass the mechanism that
3664 returns control to you and cause your program either to abort or to
3665 simply continue running until it hits a breakpoint, catches a signal
3666 that @value{GDBN} is listening for, or exits. This is the case even if
3667 you set a catchpoint for the exception; catchpoints on exceptions are
3668 disabled within interactive calls.
3669
3670 @item
3671 You cannot raise an exception interactively.
3672
3673 @item
3674 You cannot install an exception handler interactively.
3675 @end itemize
3676
3677 @cindex raise exceptions
3678 Sometimes @code{catch} is not the best way to debug exception handling:
3679 if you need to know exactly where an exception is raised, it is better to
3680 stop @emph{before} the exception handler is called, since that way you
3681 can see the stack before any unwinding takes place. If you set a
3682 breakpoint in an exception handler instead, it may not be easy to find
3683 out where the exception was raised.
3684
3685 To stop just before an exception handler is called, you need some
3686 knowledge of the implementation. In the case of @sc{gnu} C@t{++}, exceptions are
3687 raised by calling a library function named @code{__raise_exception}
3688 which has the following ANSI C interface:
3689
3690 @smallexample
3691 /* @var{addr} is where the exception identifier is stored.
3692 @var{id} is the exception identifier. */
3693 void __raise_exception (void **addr, void *id);
3694 @end smallexample
3695
3696 @noindent
3697 To make the debugger catch all exceptions before any stack
3698 unwinding takes place, set a breakpoint on @code{__raise_exception}
3699 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Exceptions}).
3700
3701 With a conditional breakpoint (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions})
3702 that depends on the value of @var{id}, you can stop your program when
3703 a specific exception is raised. You can use multiple conditional
3704 breakpoints to stop your program when any of a number of exceptions are
3705 raised.
3706
3707
3708 @node Delete Breaks
3709 @subsection Deleting Breakpoints
3710
3711 @cindex clearing breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
3712 @cindex deleting breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
3713 It is often necessary to eliminate a breakpoint, watchpoint, or
3714 catchpoint once it has done its job and you no longer want your program
3715 to stop there. This is called @dfn{deleting} the breakpoint. A
3716 breakpoint that has been deleted no longer exists; it is forgotten.
3717
3718 With the @code{clear} command you can delete breakpoints according to
3719 where they are in your program. With the @code{delete} command you can
3720 delete individual breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints by specifying
3721 their breakpoint numbers.
3722
3723 It is not necessary to delete a breakpoint to proceed past it. @value{GDBN}
3724 automatically ignores breakpoints on the first instruction to be executed
3725 when you continue execution without changing the execution address.
3726
3727 @table @code
3728 @kindex clear
3729 @item clear
3730 Delete any breakpoints at the next instruction to be executed in the
3731 selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). When
3732 the innermost frame is selected, this is a good way to delete a
3733 breakpoint where your program just stopped.
3734
3735 @item clear @var{location}
3736 Delete any breakpoints set at the specified @var{location}.
3737 @xref{Specify Location}, for the various forms of @var{location}; the
3738 most useful ones are listed below:
3739
3740 @table @code
3741 @item clear @var{function}
3742 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{function}
3743 Delete any breakpoints set at entry to the named @var{function}.
3744
3745 @item clear @var{linenum}
3746 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
3747 Delete any breakpoints set at or within the code of the specified
3748 @var{linenum} of the specified @var{filename}.
3749 @end table
3750
3751 @cindex delete breakpoints
3752 @kindex delete
3753 @kindex d @r{(@code{delete})}
3754 @item delete @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
3755 Delete the breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints of the breakpoint
3756 ranges specified as arguments. If no argument is specified, delete all
3757 breakpoints (@value{GDBN} asks confirmation, unless you have @code{set
3758 confirm off}). You can abbreviate this command as @code{d}.
3759 @end table
3760
3761 @node Disabling
3762 @subsection Disabling Breakpoints
3763
3764 @cindex enable/disable a breakpoint
3765 Rather than deleting a breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint, you might
3766 prefer to @dfn{disable} it. This makes the breakpoint inoperative as if
3767 it had been deleted, but remembers the information on the breakpoint so
3768 that you can @dfn{enable} it again later.
3769
3770 You disable and enable breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints with
3771 the @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands, optionally specifying one
3772 or more breakpoint numbers as arguments. Use @code{info break} or
3773 @code{info watch} to print a list of breakpoints, watchpoints, and
3774 catchpoints if you do not know which numbers to use.
3775
3776 Disabling and enabling a breakpoint that has multiple locations
3777 affects all of its locations.
3778
3779 A breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint can have any of four different
3780 states of enablement:
3781
3782 @itemize @bullet
3783 @item
3784 Enabled. The breakpoint stops your program. A breakpoint set
3785 with the @code{break} command starts out in this state.
3786 @item
3787 Disabled. The breakpoint has no effect on your program.
3788 @item
3789 Enabled once. The breakpoint stops your program, but then becomes
3790 disabled.
3791 @item
3792 Enabled for deletion. The breakpoint stops your program, but
3793 immediately after it does so it is deleted permanently. A breakpoint
3794 set with the @code{tbreak} command starts out in this state.
3795 @end itemize
3796
3797 You can use the following commands to enable or disable breakpoints,
3798 watchpoints, and catchpoints:
3799
3800 @table @code
3801 @kindex disable
3802 @kindex dis @r{(@code{disable})}
3803 @item disable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
3804 Disable the specified breakpoints---or all breakpoints, if none are
3805 listed. A disabled breakpoint has no effect but is not forgotten. All
3806 options such as ignore-counts, conditions and commands are remembered in
3807 case the breakpoint is enabled again later. You may abbreviate
3808 @code{disable} as @code{dis}.
3809
3810 @kindex enable
3811 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
3812 Enable the specified breakpoints (or all defined breakpoints). They
3813 become effective once again in stopping your program.
3814
3815 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} once @var{range}@dots{}
3816 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} disables any
3817 of these breakpoints immediately after stopping your program.
3818
3819 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} delete @var{range}@dots{}
3820 Enable the specified breakpoints to work once, then die. @value{GDBN}
3821 deletes any of these breakpoints as soon as your program stops there.
3822 Breakpoints set by the @code{tbreak} command start out in this state.
3823 @end table
3824
3825 @c FIXME: I think the following ``Except for [...] @code{tbreak}'' is
3826 @c confusing: tbreak is also initially enabled.
3827 Except for a breakpoint set with @code{tbreak} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
3828 ,Setting Breakpoints}), breakpoints that you set are initially enabled;
3829 subsequently, they become disabled or enabled only when you use one of
3830 the commands above. (The command @code{until} can set and delete a
3831 breakpoint of its own, but it does not change the state of your other
3832 breakpoints; see @ref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and
3833 Stepping}.)
3834
3835 @node Conditions
3836 @subsection Break Conditions
3837 @cindex conditional breakpoints
3838 @cindex breakpoint conditions
3839
3840 @c FIXME what is scope of break condition expr? Context where wanted?
3841 @c in particular for a watchpoint?
3842 The simplest sort of breakpoint breaks every time your program reaches a
3843 specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for a
3844 breakpoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
3845 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A breakpoint with
3846 a condition evaluates the expression each time your program reaches it,
3847 and your program stops only if the condition is @emph{true}.
3848
3849 This is the converse of using assertions for program validation; in that
3850 situation, you want to stop when the assertion is violated---that is,
3851 when the condition is false. In C, if you want to test an assertion expressed
3852 by the condition @var{assert}, you should set the condition
3853 @samp{! @var{assert}} on the appropriate breakpoint.
3854
3855 Conditions are also accepted for watchpoints; you may not need them,
3856 since a watchpoint is inspecting the value of an expression anyhow---but
3857 it might be simpler, say, to just set a watchpoint on a variable name,
3858 and specify a condition that tests whether the new value is an interesting
3859 one.
3860
3861 Break conditions can have side effects, and may even call functions in
3862 your program. This can be useful, for example, to activate functions
3863 that log program progress, or to use your own print functions to
3864 format special data structures. The effects are completely predictable
3865 unless there is another enabled breakpoint at the same address. (In
3866 that case, @value{GDBN} might see the other breakpoint first and stop your
3867 program without checking the condition of this one.) Note that
3868 breakpoint commands are usually more convenient and flexible than break
3869 conditions for the
3870 purpose of performing side effects when a breakpoint is reached
3871 (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}).
3872
3873 Break conditions can be specified when a breakpoint is set, by using
3874 @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{break} command. @xref{Set
3875 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}. They can also be changed at any time
3876 with the @code{condition} command.
3877
3878 You can also use the @code{if} keyword with the @code{watch} command.
3879 The @code{catch} command does not recognize the @code{if} keyword;
3880 @code{condition} is the only way to impose a further condition on a
3881 catchpoint.
3882
3883 @table @code
3884 @kindex condition
3885 @item condition @var{bnum} @var{expression}
3886 Specify @var{expression} as the break condition for breakpoint,
3887 watchpoint, or catchpoint number @var{bnum}. After you set a condition,
3888 breakpoint @var{bnum} stops your program only if the value of
3889 @var{expression} is true (nonzero, in C). When you use
3890 @code{condition}, @value{GDBN} checks @var{expression} immediately for
3891 syntactic correctness, and to determine whether symbols in it have
3892 referents in the context of your breakpoint. If @var{expression} uses
3893 symbols not referenced in the context of the breakpoint, @value{GDBN}
3894 prints an error message:
3895
3896 @smallexample
3897 No symbol "foo" in current context.
3898 @end smallexample
3899
3900 @noindent
3901 @value{GDBN} does
3902 not actually evaluate @var{expression} at the time the @code{condition}
3903 command (or a command that sets a breakpoint with a condition, like
3904 @code{break if @dots{}}) is given, however. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
3905
3906 @item condition @var{bnum}
3907 Remove the condition from breakpoint number @var{bnum}. It becomes
3908 an ordinary unconditional breakpoint.
3909 @end table
3910
3911 @cindex ignore count (of breakpoint)
3912 A special case of a breakpoint condition is to stop only when the
3913 breakpoint has been reached a certain number of times. This is so
3914 useful that there is a special way to do it, using the @dfn{ignore
3915 count} of the breakpoint. Every breakpoint has an ignore count, which
3916 is an integer. Most of the time, the ignore count is zero, and
3917 therefore has no effect. But if your program reaches a breakpoint whose
3918 ignore count is positive, then instead of stopping, it just decrements
3919 the ignore count by one and continues. As a result, if the ignore count
3920 value is @var{n}, the breakpoint does not stop the next @var{n} times
3921 your program reaches it.
3922
3923 @table @code
3924 @kindex ignore
3925 @item ignore @var{bnum} @var{count}
3926 Set the ignore count of breakpoint number @var{bnum} to @var{count}.
3927 The next @var{count} times the breakpoint is reached, your program's
3928 execution does not stop; other than to decrement the ignore count, @value{GDBN}
3929 takes no action.
3930
3931 To make the breakpoint stop the next time it is reached, specify
3932 a count of zero.
3933
3934 When you use @code{continue} to resume execution of your program from a
3935 breakpoint, you can specify an ignore count directly as an argument to
3936 @code{continue}, rather than using @code{ignore}. @xref{Continuing and
3937 Stepping,,Continuing and Stepping}.
3938
3939 If a breakpoint has a positive ignore count and a condition, the
3940 condition is not checked. Once the ignore count reaches zero,
3941 @value{GDBN} resumes checking the condition.
3942
3943 You could achieve the effect of the ignore count with a condition such
3944 as @w{@samp{$foo-- <= 0}} using a debugger convenience variable that
3945 is decremented each time. @xref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
3946 Variables}.
3947 @end table
3948
3949 Ignore counts apply to breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints.
3950
3951
3952 @node Break Commands
3953 @subsection Breakpoint Command Lists
3954
3955 @cindex breakpoint commands
3956 You can give any breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint) a series of
3957 commands to execute when your program stops due to that breakpoint. For
3958 example, you might want to print the values of certain expressions, or
3959 enable other breakpoints.
3960
3961 @table @code
3962 @kindex commands
3963 @kindex end@r{ (breakpoint commands)}
3964 @item commands @r{[}@var{bnum}@r{]}
3965 @itemx @dots{} @var{command-list} @dots{}
3966 @itemx end
3967 Specify a list of commands for breakpoint number @var{bnum}. The commands
3968 themselves appear on the following lines. Type a line containing just
3969 @code{end} to terminate the commands.
3970
3971 To remove all commands from a breakpoint, type @code{commands} and
3972 follow it immediately with @code{end}; that is, give no commands.
3973
3974 With no @var{bnum} argument, @code{commands} refers to the last
3975 breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint set (not to the breakpoint most
3976 recently encountered).
3977 @end table
3978
3979 Pressing @key{RET} as a means of repeating the last @value{GDBN} command is
3980 disabled within a @var{command-list}.
3981
3982 You can use breakpoint commands to start your program up again. Simply
3983 use the @code{continue} command, or @code{step}, or any other command
3984 that resumes execution.
3985
3986 Any other commands in the command list, after a command that resumes
3987 execution, are ignored. This is because any time you resume execution
3988 (even with a simple @code{next} or @code{step}), you may encounter
3989 another breakpoint---which could have its own command list, leading to
3990 ambiguities about which list to execute.
3991
3992 @kindex silent
3993 If the first command you specify in a command list is @code{silent}, the
3994 usual message about stopping at a breakpoint is not printed. This may
3995 be desirable for breakpoints that are to print a specific message and
3996 then continue. If none of the remaining commands print anything, you
3997 see no sign that the breakpoint was reached. @code{silent} is
3998 meaningful only at the beginning of a breakpoint command list.
3999
4000 The commands @code{echo}, @code{output}, and @code{printf} allow you to
4001 print precisely controlled output, and are often useful in silent
4002 breakpoints. @xref{Output, ,Commands for Controlled Output}.
4003
4004 For example, here is how you could use breakpoint commands to print the
4005 value of @code{x} at entry to @code{foo} whenever @code{x} is positive.
4006
4007 @smallexample
4008 break foo if x>0
4009 commands
4010 silent
4011 printf "x is %d\n",x
4012 cont
4013 end
4014 @end smallexample
4015
4016 One application for breakpoint commands is to compensate for one bug so
4017 you can test for another. Put a breakpoint just after the erroneous line
4018 of code, give it a condition to detect the case in which something
4019 erroneous has been done, and give it commands to assign correct values
4020 to any variables that need them. End with the @code{continue} command
4021 so that your program does not stop, and start with the @code{silent}
4022 command so that no output is produced. Here is an example:
4023
4024 @smallexample
4025 break 403
4026 commands
4027 silent
4028 set x = y + 4
4029 cont
4030 end
4031 @end smallexample
4032
4033 @c @ifclear BARETARGET
4034 @node Error in Breakpoints
4035 @subsection ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
4036 @c
4037 @c FIXME!! 14/6/95 Is there a real example of this? Let's use it.
4038 @c
4039 Under some operating systems, breakpoints cannot be used in a program if
4040 any other process is running that program. In this situation,
4041 attempting to run or continue a program with a breakpoint causes
4042 @value{GDBN} to print an error message:
4043
4044 @smallexample
4045 Cannot insert breakpoints.
4046 The same program may be running in another process.
4047 @end smallexample
4048
4049 When this happens, you have three ways to proceed:
4050
4051 @enumerate
4052 @item
4053 Remove or disable the breakpoints, then continue.
4054
4055 @item
4056 Suspend @value{GDBN}, and copy the file containing your program to a new
4057 name. Resume @value{GDBN} and use the @code{exec-file} command to specify
4058 that @value{GDBN} should run your program under that name.
4059 Then start your program again.
4060
4061 @item
4062 Relink your program so that the text segment is nonsharable, using the
4063 linker option @samp{-N}. The operating system limitation may not apply
4064 to nonsharable executables.
4065 @end enumerate
4066 @c @end ifclear
4067
4068 A similar message can be printed if you request too many active
4069 hardware-assisted breakpoints and watchpoints:
4070
4071 @c FIXME: the precise wording of this message may change; the relevant
4072 @c source change is not committed yet (Sep 3, 1999).
4073 @smallexample
4074 Stopped; cannot insert breakpoints.
4075 You may have requested too many hardware breakpoints and watchpoints.
4076 @end smallexample
4077
4078 @noindent
4079 This message is printed when you attempt to resume the program, since
4080 only then @value{GDBN} knows exactly how many hardware breakpoints and
4081 watchpoints it needs to insert.
4082
4083 When this message is printed, you need to disable or remove some of the
4084 hardware-assisted breakpoints and watchpoints, and then continue.
4085
4086 @node Breakpoint-related Warnings
4087 @subsection ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
4088 @cindex breakpoint address adjusted
4089
4090 Some processor architectures place constraints on the addresses at
4091 which breakpoints may be placed. For architectures thus constrained,
4092 @value{GDBN} will attempt to adjust the breakpoint's address to comply
4093 with the constraints dictated by the architecture.
4094
4095 One example of such an architecture is the Fujitsu FR-V. The FR-V is
4096 a VLIW architecture in which a number of RISC-like instructions may be
4097 bundled together for parallel execution. The FR-V architecture
4098 constrains the location of a breakpoint instruction within such a
4099 bundle to the instruction with the lowest address. @value{GDBN}
4100 honors this constraint by adjusting a breakpoint's address to the
4101 first in the bundle.
4102
4103 It is not uncommon for optimized code to have bundles which contain
4104 instructions from different source statements, thus it may happen that
4105 a breakpoint's address will be adjusted from one source statement to
4106 another. Since this adjustment may significantly alter @value{GDBN}'s
4107 breakpoint related behavior from what the user expects, a warning is
4108 printed when the breakpoint is first set and also when the breakpoint
4109 is hit.
4110
4111 A warning like the one below is printed when setting a breakpoint
4112 that's been subject to address adjustment:
4113
4114 @smallexample
4115 warning: Breakpoint address adjusted from 0x00010414 to 0x00010410.
4116 @end smallexample
4117
4118 Such warnings are printed both for user settable and @value{GDBN}'s
4119 internal breakpoints. If you see one of these warnings, you should
4120 verify that a breakpoint set at the adjusted address will have the
4121 desired affect. If not, the breakpoint in question may be removed and
4122 other breakpoints may be set which will have the desired behavior.
4123 E.g., it may be sufficient to place the breakpoint at a later
4124 instruction. A conditional breakpoint may also be useful in some
4125 cases to prevent the breakpoint from triggering too often.
4126
4127 @value{GDBN} will also issue a warning when stopping at one of these
4128 adjusted breakpoints:
4129
4130 @smallexample
4131 warning: Breakpoint 1 address previously adjusted from 0x00010414
4132 to 0x00010410.
4133 @end smallexample
4134
4135 When this warning is encountered, it may be too late to take remedial
4136 action except in cases where the breakpoint is hit earlier or more
4137 frequently than expected.
4138
4139 @node Continuing and Stepping
4140 @section Continuing and Stepping
4141
4142 @cindex stepping
4143 @cindex continuing
4144 @cindex resuming execution
4145 @dfn{Continuing} means resuming program execution until your program
4146 completes normally. In contrast, @dfn{stepping} means executing just
4147 one more ``step'' of your program, where ``step'' may mean either one
4148 line of source code, or one machine instruction (depending on what
4149 particular command you use). Either when continuing or when stepping,
4150 your program may stop even sooner, due to a breakpoint or a signal. (If
4151 it stops due to a signal, you may want to use @code{handle}, or use
4152 @samp{signal 0} to resume execution. @xref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
4153
4154 @table @code
4155 @kindex continue
4156 @kindex c @r{(@code{continue})}
4157 @kindex fg @r{(resume foreground execution)}
4158 @item continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4159 @itemx c @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4160 @itemx fg @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4161 Resume program execution, at the address where your program last stopped;
4162 any breakpoints set at that address are bypassed. The optional argument
4163 @var{ignore-count} allows you to specify a further number of times to
4164 ignore a breakpoint at this location; its effect is like that of
4165 @code{ignore} (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
4166
4167 The argument @var{ignore-count} is meaningful only when your program
4168 stopped due to a breakpoint. At other times, the argument to
4169 @code{continue} is ignored.
4170
4171 The synonyms @code{c} and @code{fg} (for @dfn{foreground}, as the
4172 debugged program is deemed to be the foreground program) are provided
4173 purely for convenience, and have exactly the same behavior as
4174 @code{continue}.
4175 @end table
4176
4177 To resume execution at a different place, you can use @code{return}
4178 (@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}) to go back to the
4179 calling function; or @code{jump} (@pxref{Jumping, ,Continuing at a
4180 Different Address}) to go to an arbitrary location in your program.
4181
4182 A typical technique for using stepping is to set a breakpoint
4183 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Catchpoints}) at the
4184 beginning of the function or the section of your program where a problem
4185 is believed to lie, run your program until it stops at that breakpoint,
4186 and then step through the suspect area, examining the variables that are
4187 interesting, until you see the problem happen.
4188
4189 @table @code
4190 @kindex step
4191 @kindex s @r{(@code{step})}
4192 @item step
4193 Continue running your program until control reaches a different source
4194 line, then stop it and return control to @value{GDBN}. This command is
4195 abbreviated @code{s}.
4196
4197 @quotation
4198 @c "without debugging information" is imprecise; actually "without line
4199 @c numbers in the debugging information". (gcc -g1 has debugging info but
4200 @c not line numbers). But it seems complex to try to make that
4201 @c distinction here.
4202 @emph{Warning:} If you use the @code{step} command while control is
4203 within a function that was compiled without debugging information,
4204 execution proceeds until control reaches a function that does have
4205 debugging information. Likewise, it will not step into a function which
4206 is compiled without debugging information. To step through functions
4207 without debugging information, use the @code{stepi} command, described
4208 below.
4209 @end quotation
4210
4211 The @code{step} command only stops at the first instruction of a source
4212 line. This prevents the multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4213 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc. @code{step} continues
4214 to stop if a function that has debugging information is called within
4215 the line. In other words, @code{step} @emph{steps inside} any functions
4216 called within the line.
4217
4218 Also, the @code{step} command only enters a function if there is line
4219 number information for the function. Otherwise it acts like the
4220 @code{next} command. This avoids problems when using @code{cc -gl}
4221 on MIPS machines. Previously, @code{step} entered subroutines if there
4222 was any debugging information about the routine.
4223
4224 @item step @var{count}
4225 Continue running as in @code{step}, but do so @var{count} times. If a
4226 breakpoint is reached, or a signal not related to stepping occurs before
4227 @var{count} steps, stepping stops right away.
4228
4229 @kindex next
4230 @kindex n @r{(@code{next})}
4231 @item next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
4232 Continue to the next source line in the current (innermost) stack frame.
4233 This is similar to @code{step}, but function calls that appear within
4234 the line of code are executed without stopping. Execution stops when
4235 control reaches a different line of code at the original stack level
4236 that was executing when you gave the @code{next} command. This command
4237 is abbreviated @code{n}.
4238
4239 An argument @var{count} is a repeat count, as for @code{step}.
4240
4241
4242 @c FIX ME!! Do we delete this, or is there a way it fits in with
4243 @c the following paragraph? --- Vctoria
4244 @c
4245 @c @code{next} within a function that lacks debugging information acts like
4246 @c @code{step}, but any function calls appearing within the code of the
4247 @c function are executed without stopping.
4248
4249 The @code{next} command only stops at the first instruction of a
4250 source line. This prevents multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4251 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc.
4252
4253 @kindex set step-mode
4254 @item set step-mode
4255 @cindex functions without line info, and stepping
4256 @cindex stepping into functions with no line info
4257 @itemx set step-mode on
4258 The @code{set step-mode on} command causes the @code{step} command to
4259 stop at the first instruction of a function which contains no debug line
4260 information rather than stepping over it.
4261
4262 This is useful in cases where you may be interested in inspecting the
4263 machine instructions of a function which has no symbolic info and do not
4264 want @value{GDBN} to automatically skip over this function.
4265
4266 @item set step-mode off
4267 Causes the @code{step} command to step over any functions which contains no
4268 debug information. This is the default.
4269
4270 @item show step-mode
4271 Show whether @value{GDBN} will stop in or step over functions without
4272 source line debug information.
4273
4274 @kindex finish
4275 @kindex fin @r{(@code{finish})}
4276 @item finish
4277 Continue running until just after function in the selected stack frame
4278 returns. Print the returned value (if any). This command can be
4279 abbreviated as @code{fin}.
4280
4281 Contrast this with the @code{return} command (@pxref{Returning,
4282 ,Returning from a Function}).
4283
4284 @kindex until
4285 @kindex u @r{(@code{until})}
4286 @cindex run until specified location
4287 @item until
4288 @itemx u
4289 Continue running until a source line past the current line, in the
4290 current stack frame, is reached. This command is used to avoid single
4291 stepping through a loop more than once. It is like the @code{next}
4292 command, except that when @code{until} encounters a jump, it
4293 automatically continues execution until the program counter is greater
4294 than the address of the jump.
4295
4296 This means that when you reach the end of a loop after single stepping
4297 though it, @code{until} makes your program continue execution until it
4298 exits the loop. In contrast, a @code{next} command at the end of a loop
4299 simply steps back to the beginning of the loop, which forces you to step
4300 through the next iteration.
4301
4302 @code{until} always stops your program if it attempts to exit the current
4303 stack frame.
4304
4305 @code{until} may produce somewhat counterintuitive results if the order
4306 of machine code does not match the order of the source lines. For
4307 example, in the following excerpt from a debugging session, the @code{f}
4308 (@code{frame}) command shows that execution is stopped at line
4309 @code{206}; yet when we use @code{until}, we get to line @code{195}:
4310
4311 @smallexample
4312 (@value{GDBP}) f
4313 #0 main (argc=4, argv=0xf7fffae8) at m4.c:206
4314 206 expand_input();
4315 (@value{GDBP}) until
4316 195 for ( ; argc > 0; NEXTARG) @{
4317 @end smallexample
4318
4319 This happened because, for execution efficiency, the compiler had
4320 generated code for the loop closure test at the end, rather than the
4321 start, of the loop---even though the test in a C @code{for}-loop is
4322 written before the body of the loop. The @code{until} command appeared
4323 to step back to the beginning of the loop when it advanced to this
4324 expression; however, it has not really gone to an earlier
4325 statement---not in terms of the actual machine code.
4326
4327 @code{until} with no argument works by means of single
4328 instruction stepping, and hence is slower than @code{until} with an
4329 argument.
4330
4331 @item until @var{location}
4332 @itemx u @var{location}
4333 Continue running your program until either the specified location is
4334 reached, or the current stack frame returns. @var{location} is any of
4335 the forms described in @ref{Specify Location}.
4336 This form of the command uses temporary breakpoints, and
4337 hence is quicker than @code{until} without an argument. The specified
4338 location is actually reached only if it is in the current frame. This
4339 implies that @code{until} can be used to skip over recursive function
4340 invocations. For instance in the code below, if the current location is
4341 line @code{96}, issuing @code{until 99} will execute the program up to
4342 line @code{99} in the same invocation of factorial, i.e., after the inner
4343 invocations have returned.
4344
4345 @smallexample
4346 94 int factorial (int value)
4347 95 @{
4348 96 if (value > 1) @{
4349 97 value *= factorial (value - 1);
4350 98 @}
4351 99 return (value);
4352 100 @}
4353 @end smallexample
4354
4355
4356 @kindex advance @var{location}
4357 @itemx advance @var{location}
4358 Continue running the program up to the given @var{location}. An argument is
4359 required, which should be of one of the forms described in
4360 @ref{Specify Location}.
4361 Execution will also stop upon exit from the current stack
4362 frame. This command is similar to @code{until}, but @code{advance} will
4363 not skip over recursive function calls, and the target location doesn't
4364 have to be in the same frame as the current one.
4365
4366
4367 @kindex stepi
4368 @kindex si @r{(@code{stepi})}
4369 @item stepi
4370 @itemx stepi @var{arg}
4371 @itemx si
4372 Execute one machine instruction, then stop and return to the debugger.
4373
4374 It is often useful to do @samp{display/i $pc} when stepping by machine
4375 instructions. This makes @value{GDBN} automatically display the next
4376 instruction to be executed, each time your program stops. @xref{Auto
4377 Display,, Automatic Display}.
4378
4379 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{step}.
4380
4381 @need 750
4382 @kindex nexti
4383 @kindex ni @r{(@code{nexti})}
4384 @item nexti
4385 @itemx nexti @var{arg}
4386 @itemx ni
4387 Execute one machine instruction, but if it is a function call,
4388 proceed until the function returns.
4389
4390 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{next}.
4391 @end table
4392
4393 @node Signals
4394 @section Signals
4395 @cindex signals
4396
4397 A signal is an asynchronous event that can happen in a program. The
4398 operating system defines the possible kinds of signals, and gives each
4399 kind a name and a number. For example, in Unix @code{SIGINT} is the
4400 signal a program gets when you type an interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c});
4401 @code{SIGSEGV} is the signal a program gets from referencing a place in
4402 memory far away from all the areas in use; @code{SIGALRM} occurs when
4403 the alarm clock timer goes off (which happens only if your program has
4404 requested an alarm).
4405
4406 @cindex fatal signals
4407 Some signals, including @code{SIGALRM}, are a normal part of the
4408 functioning of your program. Others, such as @code{SIGSEGV}, indicate
4409 errors; these signals are @dfn{fatal} (they kill your program immediately) if the
4410 program has not specified in advance some other way to handle the signal.
4411 @code{SIGINT} does not indicate an error in your program, but it is normally
4412 fatal so it can carry out the purpose of the interrupt: to kill the program.
4413
4414 @value{GDBN} has the ability to detect any occurrence of a signal in your
4415 program. You can tell @value{GDBN} in advance what to do for each kind of
4416 signal.
4417
4418 @cindex handling signals
4419 Normally, @value{GDBN} is set up to let the non-erroneous signals like
4420 @code{SIGALRM} be silently passed to your program
4421 (so as not to interfere with their role in the program's functioning)
4422 but to stop your program immediately whenever an error signal happens.
4423 You can change these settings with the @code{handle} command.
4424
4425 @table @code
4426 @kindex info signals
4427 @kindex info handle
4428 @item info signals
4429 @itemx info handle
4430 Print a table of all the kinds of signals and how @value{GDBN} has been told to
4431 handle each one. You can use this to see the signal numbers of all
4432 the defined types of signals.
4433
4434 @item info signals @var{sig}
4435 Similar, but print information only about the specified signal number.
4436
4437 @code{info handle} is an alias for @code{info signals}.
4438
4439 @kindex handle
4440 @item handle @var{signal} @r{[}@var{keywords}@dots{}@r{]}
4441 Change the way @value{GDBN} handles signal @var{signal}. @var{signal}
4442 can be the number of a signal or its name (with or without the
4443 @samp{SIG} at the beginning); a list of signal numbers of the form
4444 @samp{@var{low}-@var{high}}; or the word @samp{all}, meaning all the
4445 known signals. Optional arguments @var{keywords}, described below,
4446 say what change to make.
4447 @end table
4448
4449 @c @group
4450 The keywords allowed by the @code{handle} command can be abbreviated.
4451 Their full names are:
4452
4453 @table @code
4454 @item nostop
4455 @value{GDBN} should not stop your program when this signal happens. It may
4456 still print a message telling you that the signal has come in.
4457
4458 @item stop
4459 @value{GDBN} should stop your program when this signal happens. This implies
4460 the @code{print} keyword as well.
4461
4462 @item print
4463 @value{GDBN} should print a message when this signal happens.
4464
4465 @item noprint
4466 @value{GDBN} should not mention the occurrence of the signal at all. This
4467 implies the @code{nostop} keyword as well.
4468
4469 @item pass
4470 @itemx noignore
4471 @value{GDBN} should allow your program to see this signal; your program
4472 can handle the signal, or else it may terminate if the signal is fatal
4473 and not handled. @code{pass} and @code{noignore} are synonyms.
4474
4475 @item nopass
4476 @itemx ignore
4477 @value{GDBN} should not allow your program to see this signal.
4478 @code{nopass} and @code{ignore} are synonyms.
4479 @end table
4480 @c @end group
4481
4482 When a signal stops your program, the signal is not visible to the
4483 program until you
4484 continue. Your program sees the signal then, if @code{pass} is in
4485 effect for the signal in question @emph{at that time}. In other words,
4486 after @value{GDBN} reports a signal, you can use the @code{handle}
4487 command with @code{pass} or @code{nopass} to control whether your
4488 program sees that signal when you continue.
4489
4490 The default is set to @code{nostop}, @code{noprint}, @code{pass} for
4491 non-erroneous signals such as @code{SIGALRM}, @code{SIGWINCH} and
4492 @code{SIGCHLD}, and to @code{stop}, @code{print}, @code{pass} for the
4493 erroneous signals.
4494
4495 You can also use the @code{signal} command to prevent your program from
4496 seeing a signal, or cause it to see a signal it normally would not see,
4497 or to give it any signal at any time. For example, if your program stopped
4498 due to some sort of memory reference error, you might store correct
4499 values into the erroneous variables and continue, hoping to see more
4500 execution; but your program would probably terminate immediately as
4501 a result of the fatal signal once it saw the signal. To prevent this,
4502 you can continue with @samp{signal 0}. @xref{Signaling, ,Giving your
4503 Program a Signal}.
4504
4505 @node Thread Stops
4506 @section Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs
4507
4508 @cindex stopped threads
4509 @cindex threads, stopped
4510
4511 @cindex continuing threads
4512 @cindex threads, continuing
4513
4514 @value{GDBN} supports debugging programs with multiple threads
4515 (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads}). There
4516 are two modes of controlling execution of your program within the
4517 debugger. In the default mode, referred to as @dfn{all-stop mode},
4518 when any thread in your program stops (for example, at a breakpoint
4519 or while being stepped), all other threads in the program are also stopped by
4520 @value{GDBN}. On some targets, @value{GDBN} also supports
4521 @dfn{non-stop mode}, in which other threads can continue to run freely while
4522 you examine the stopped thread in the debugger.
4523
4524 @menu
4525 * All-Stop Mode:: All threads stop when GDB takes control
4526 * Non-Stop Mode:: Other threads continue to execute
4527 * Background Execution:: Running your program asynchronously
4528 * Thread-Specific Breakpoints:: Controlling breakpoints
4529 * Interrupted System Calls:: GDB may interfere with system calls
4530 @end menu
4531
4532 @node All-Stop Mode
4533 @subsection All-Stop Mode
4534
4535 @cindex all-stop mode
4536
4537 In all-stop mode, whenever your program stops under @value{GDBN} for any reason,
4538 @emph{all} threads of execution stop, not just the current thread. This
4539 allows you to examine the overall state of the program, including
4540 switching between threads, without worrying that things may change
4541 underfoot.
4542
4543 Conversely, whenever you restart the program, @emph{all} threads start
4544 executing. @emph{This is true even when single-stepping} with commands
4545 like @code{step} or @code{next}.
4546
4547 In particular, @value{GDBN} cannot single-step all threads in lockstep.
4548 Since thread scheduling is up to your debugging target's operating
4549 system (not controlled by @value{GDBN}), other threads may
4550 execute more than one statement while the current thread completes a
4551 single step. Moreover, in general other threads stop in the middle of a
4552 statement, rather than at a clean statement boundary, when the program
4553 stops.
4554
4555 You might even find your program stopped in another thread after
4556 continuing or even single-stepping. This happens whenever some other
4557 thread runs into a breakpoint, a signal, or an exception before the
4558 first thread completes whatever you requested.
4559
4560 @cindex automatic thread selection
4561 @cindex switching threads automatically
4562 @cindex threads, automatic switching
4563 Whenever @value{GDBN} stops your program, due to a breakpoint or a
4564 signal, it automatically selects the thread where that breakpoint or
4565 signal happened. @value{GDBN} alerts you to the context switch with a
4566 message such as @samp{[Switching to Thread @var{n}]} to identify the
4567 thread.
4568
4569 On some OSes, you can modify @value{GDBN}'s default behavior by
4570 locking the OS scheduler to allow only a single thread to run.
4571
4572 @table @code
4573 @item set scheduler-locking @var{mode}
4574 @cindex scheduler locking mode
4575 @cindex lock scheduler
4576 Set the scheduler locking mode. If it is @code{off}, then there is no
4577 locking and any thread may run at any time. If @code{on}, then only the
4578 current thread may run when the inferior is resumed. The @code{step}
4579 mode optimizes for single-stepping; it prevents other threads
4580 from preempting the current thread while you are stepping, so that
4581 the focus of debugging does not change unexpectedly.
4582 Other threads only rarely (or never) get a chance to run
4583 when you step. They are more likely to run when you @samp{next} over a
4584 function call, and they are completely free to run when you use commands
4585 like @samp{continue}, @samp{until}, or @samp{finish}. However, unless another
4586 thread hits a breakpoint during its timeslice, @value{GDBN} does not change
4587 the current thread away from the thread that you are debugging.
4588
4589 @item show scheduler-locking
4590 Display the current scheduler locking mode.
4591 @end table
4592
4593 @node Non-Stop Mode
4594 @subsection Non-Stop Mode
4595
4596 @cindex non-stop mode
4597
4598 @c This section is really only a place-holder, and needs to be expanded
4599 @c with more details.
4600
4601 For some multi-threaded targets, @value{GDBN} supports an optional
4602 mode of operation in which you can examine stopped program threads in
4603 the debugger while other threads continue to execute freely. This
4604 minimizes intrusion when debugging live systems, such as programs
4605 where some threads have real-time constraints or must continue to
4606 respond to external events. This is referred to as @dfn{non-stop} mode.
4607
4608 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops to report a debugging event,
4609 @emph{only} that thread is stopped; @value{GDBN} does not stop other
4610 threads as well, in contrast to the all-stop mode behavior. Additionally,
4611 execution commands such as @code{continue} and @code{step} apply by default
4612 only to the current thread in non-stop mode, rather than all threads as
4613 in all-stop mode. This allows you to control threads explicitly in
4614 ways that are not possible in all-stop mode --- for example, stepping
4615 one thread while allowing others to run freely, stepping
4616 one thread while holding all others stopped, or stepping several threads
4617 independently and simultaneously.
4618
4619 To enter non-stop mode, use this sequence of commands before you run
4620 or attach to your program:
4621
4622 @smallexample
4623 # Enable the async interface.
4624 set target-async 1
4625
4626 # If using the CLI, pagination breaks non-stop.
4627 set pagination off
4628
4629 # Finally, turn it on!
4630 set non-stop on
4631 @end smallexample
4632
4633 You can use these commands to manipulate the non-stop mode setting:
4634
4635 @table @code
4636 @kindex set non-stop
4637 @item set non-stop on
4638 Enable selection of non-stop mode.
4639 @item set non-stop off
4640 Disable selection of non-stop mode.
4641 @kindex show non-stop
4642 @item show non-stop
4643 Show the current non-stop enablement setting.
4644 @end table
4645
4646 Note these commands only reflect whether non-stop mode is enabled,
4647 not whether the currently-executing program is being run in non-stop mode.
4648 In particular, the @code{set non-stop} preference is only consulted when
4649 @value{GDBN} starts or connects to the target program, and it is generally
4650 not possible to switch modes once debugging has started. Furthermore,
4651 since not all targets support non-stop mode, even when you have enabled
4652 non-stop mode, @value{GDBN} may still fall back to all-stop operation by
4653 default.
4654
4655 In non-stop mode, all execution commands apply only to the current thread
4656 by default. That is, @code{continue} only continues one thread.
4657 To continue all threads, issue @code{continue -a} or @code{c -a}.
4658
4659 You can use @value{GDBN}'s background execution commands
4660 (@pxref{Background Execution}) to run some threads in the background
4661 while you continue to examine or step others from @value{GDBN}.
4662 The MI execution commands (@pxref{GDB/MI Program Execution}) are
4663 always executed asynchronously in non-stop mode.
4664
4665 Suspending execution is done with the @code{interrupt} command when
4666 running in the background, or @kbd{Ctrl-c} during foreground execution.
4667 In all-stop mode, this stops the whole process;
4668 but in non-stop mode the interrupt applies only to the current thread.
4669 To stop the whole program, use @code{interrupt -a}.
4670
4671 Other execution commands do not currently support the @code{-a} option.
4672
4673 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops, @value{GDBN} doesn't automatically make
4674 that thread current, as it does in all-stop mode. This is because the
4675 thread stop notifications are asynchronous with respect to @value{GDBN}'s
4676 command interpreter, and it would be confusing if @value{GDBN} unexpectedly
4677 changed to a different thread just as you entered a command to operate on the
4678 previously current thread.
4679
4680 @node Background Execution
4681 @subsection Background Execution
4682
4683 @cindex foreground execution
4684 @cindex background execution
4685 @cindex asynchronous execution
4686 @cindex execution, foreground, background and asynchronous
4687
4688 @value{GDBN}'s execution commands have two variants: the normal
4689 foreground (synchronous) behavior, and a background
4690 (asynchronous) behavior. In foreground execution, @value{GDBN} waits for
4691 the program to report that some thread has stopped before prompting for
4692 another command. In background execution, @value{GDBN} immediately gives
4693 a command prompt so that you can issue other commands while your program runs.
4694
4695 To specify background execution, add a @code{&} to the command. For example,
4696 the background form of the @code{continue} command is @code{continue&}, or
4697 just @code{c&}. The execution commands that accept background execution
4698 are:
4699
4700 @table @code
4701 @kindex run&
4702 @item run
4703 @xref{Starting, , Starting your Program}.
4704
4705 @item attach
4706 @kindex attach&
4707 @xref{Attach, , Debugging an Already-running Process}.
4708
4709 @item step
4710 @kindex step&
4711 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, step}.
4712
4713 @item stepi
4714 @kindex stepi&
4715 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, stepi}.
4716
4717 @item next
4718 @kindex next&
4719 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, next}.
4720
4721 @item continue
4722 @kindex continue&
4723 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, continue}.
4724
4725 @item finish
4726 @kindex finish&
4727 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, finish}.
4728
4729 @item until
4730 @kindex until&
4731 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, until}.
4732
4733 @end table
4734
4735 Background execution is especially useful in conjunction with non-stop
4736 mode for debugging programs with multiple threads; see @ref{Non-Stop Mode}.
4737 However, you can also use these commands in the normal all-stop mode with
4738 the restriction that you cannot issue another execution command until the
4739 previous one finishes. Examples of commands that are valid in all-stop
4740 mode while the program is running include @code{help} and @code{info break}.
4741
4742 You can interrupt your program while it is running in the background by
4743 using the @code{interrupt} command.
4744
4745 @table @code
4746 @kindex interrupt
4747 @item interrupt
4748 @itemx interrupt -a
4749
4750 Suspend execution of the running program. In all-stop mode,
4751 @code{interrupt} stops the whole process, but in non-stop mode, it stops
4752 only the current thread. To stop the whole program in non-stop mode,
4753 use @code{interrupt -a}.
4754 @end table
4755
4756 You may need to explicitly enable async mode before you can use background
4757 execution commands, with the @code{set target-async 1} command. If the
4758 target doesn't support async mode, @value{GDBN} issues an error message
4759 if you attempt to use the background execution commands.
4760
4761 @node Thread-Specific Breakpoints
4762 @subsection Thread-Specific Breakpoints
4763
4764 When your program has multiple threads (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging
4765 Programs with Multiple Threads}), you can choose whether to set
4766 breakpoints on all threads, or on a particular thread.
4767
4768 @table @code
4769 @cindex breakpoints and threads
4770 @cindex thread breakpoints
4771 @kindex break @dots{} thread @var{threadno}
4772 @item break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno}
4773 @itemx break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno} if @dots{}
4774 @var{linespec} specifies source lines; there are several ways of
4775 writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always to
4776 specify some source line.
4777
4778 Use the qualifier @samp{thread @var{threadno}} with a breakpoint command
4779 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
4780 particular thread reaches this breakpoint. @var{threadno} is one of the
4781 numeric thread identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
4782 column of the @samp{info threads} display.
4783
4784 If you do not specify @samp{thread @var{threadno}} when you set a
4785 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} threads of your
4786 program.
4787
4788 You can use the @code{thread} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
4789 well; in this case, place @samp{thread @var{threadno}} before the
4790 breakpoint condition, like this:
4791
4792 @smallexample
4793 (@value{GDBP}) break frik.c:13 thread 28 if bartab > lim
4794 @end smallexample
4795
4796 @end table
4797
4798 @node Interrupted System Calls
4799 @subsection Interrupted System Calls
4800
4801 @cindex thread breakpoints and system calls
4802 @cindex system calls and thread breakpoints
4803 @cindex premature return from system calls
4804 There is an unfortunate side effect when using @value{GDBN} to debug
4805 multi-threaded programs. If one thread stops for a
4806 breakpoint, or for some other reason, and another thread is blocked in a
4807 system call, then the system call may return prematurely. This is a
4808 consequence of the interaction between multiple threads and the signals
4809 that @value{GDBN} uses to implement breakpoints and other events that
4810 stop execution.
4811
4812 To handle this problem, your program should check the return value of
4813 each system call and react appropriately. This is good programming
4814 style anyways.
4815
4816 For example, do not write code like this:
4817
4818 @smallexample
4819 sleep (10);
4820 @end smallexample
4821
4822 The call to @code{sleep} will return early if a different thread stops
4823 at a breakpoint or for some other reason.
4824
4825 Instead, write this:
4826
4827 @smallexample
4828 int unslept = 10;
4829 while (unslept > 0)
4830 unslept = sleep (unslept);
4831 @end smallexample
4832
4833 A system call is allowed to return early, so the system is still
4834 conforming to its specification. But @value{GDBN} does cause your
4835 multi-threaded program to behave differently than it would without
4836 @value{GDBN}.
4837
4838 Also, @value{GDBN} uses internal breakpoints in the thread library to
4839 monitor certain events such as thread creation and thread destruction.
4840 When such an event happens, a system call in another thread may return
4841 prematurely, even though your program does not appear to stop.
4842
4843
4844 @node Reverse Execution
4845 @chapter Running programs backward
4846 @cindex reverse execution
4847 @cindex running programs backward
4848
4849 When you are debugging a program, it is not unusual to realize that
4850 you have gone too far, and some event of interest has already happened.
4851 If the target environment supports it, @value{GDBN} can allow you to
4852 ``rewind'' the program by running it backward.
4853
4854 A target environment that supports reverse execution should be able
4855 to ``undo'' the changes in machine state that have taken place as the
4856 program was executing normally. Variables, registers etc.@: should
4857 revert to their previous values. Obviously this requires a great
4858 deal of sophistication on the part of the target environment; not
4859 all target environments can support reverse execution.
4860
4861 When a program is executed in reverse, the instructions that
4862 have most recently been executed are ``un-executed'', in reverse
4863 order. The program counter runs backward, following the previous
4864 thread of execution in reverse. As each instruction is ``un-executed'',
4865 the values of memory and/or registers that were changed by that
4866 instruction are reverted to their previous states. After executing
4867 a piece of source code in reverse, all side effects of that code
4868 should be ``undone'', and all variables should be returned to their
4869 prior values@footnote{
4870 Note that some side effects are easier to undo than others. For instance,
4871 memory and registers are relatively easy, but device I/O is hard. Some
4872 targets may be able undo things like device I/O, and some may not.
4873
4874 The contract between @value{GDBN} and the reverse executing target
4875 requires only that the target do something reasonable when
4876 @value{GDBN} tells it to execute backwards, and then report the
4877 results back to @value{GDBN}. Whatever the target reports back to
4878 @value{GDBN}, @value{GDBN} will report back to the user. @value{GDBN}
4879 assumes that the memory and registers that the target reports are in a
4880 consistant state, but @value{GDBN} accepts whatever it is given.
4881 }.
4882
4883 If you are debugging in a target environment that supports
4884 reverse execution, @value{GDBN} provides the following commands.
4885
4886 @table @code
4887 @kindex reverse-continue
4888 @kindex rc @r{(@code{reverse-continue})}
4889 @item reverse-continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4890 @itemx rc @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4891 Beginning at the point where your program last stopped, start executing
4892 in reverse. Reverse execution will stop for breakpoints and synchronous
4893 exceptions (signals), just like normal execution. Behavior of
4894 asynchronous signals depends on the target environment.
4895
4896 @kindex reverse-step
4897 @kindex rs @r{(@code{step})}
4898 @item reverse-step @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
4899 Run the program backward until control reaches the start of a
4900 different source line; then stop it, and return control to @value{GDBN}.
4901
4902 Like the @code{step} command, @code{reverse-step} will only stop
4903 at the beginning of a source line. It ``un-executes'' the previously
4904 executed source line. If the previous source line included calls to
4905 debuggable functions, @code{reverse-step} will step (backward) into
4906 the called function, stopping at the beginning of the @emph{last}
4907 statement in the called function (typically a return statement).
4908
4909 Also, as with the @code{step} command, if non-debuggable functions are
4910 called, @code{reverse-step} will run thru them backward without stopping.
4911
4912 @kindex reverse-stepi
4913 @kindex rsi @r{(@code{reverse-stepi})}
4914 @item reverse-stepi @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
4915 Reverse-execute one machine instruction. Note that the instruction
4916 to be reverse-executed is @emph{not} the one pointed to by the program
4917 counter, but the instruction executed prior to that one. For instance,
4918 if the last instruction was a jump, @code{reverse-stepi} will take you
4919 back from the destination of the jump to the jump instruction itself.
4920
4921 @kindex reverse-next
4922 @kindex rn @r{(@code{reverse-next})}
4923 @item reverse-next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
4924 Run backward to the beginning of the previous line executed in
4925 the current (innermost) stack frame. If the line contains function
4926 calls, they will be ``un-executed'' without stopping. Starting from
4927 the first line of a function, @code{reverse-next} will take you back
4928 to the caller of that function, @emph{before} the function was called,
4929 just as the normal @code{next} command would take you from the last
4930 line of a function back to its return to its caller
4931 @footnote{Unles the code is too heavily optimized.}.
4932
4933 @kindex reverse-nexti
4934 @kindex rni @r{(@code{reverse-nexti})}
4935 @item reverse-nexti @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
4936 Like @code{nexti}, @code{reverse-nexti} executes a single instruction
4937 in reverse, except that called functions are ``un-executed'' atomically.
4938 That is, if the previously executed instruction was a return from
4939 another instruction, @code{reverse-nexti} will continue to execute
4940 in reverse until the call to that function (from the current stack
4941 frame) is reached.
4942
4943 @kindex reverse-finish
4944 @item reverse-finish
4945 Just as the @code{finish} command takes you to the point where the
4946 current function returns, @code{reverse-finish} takes you to the point
4947 where it was called. Instead of ending up at the end of the current
4948 function invocation, you end up at the beginning.
4949
4950 @kindex set exec-direction
4951 @item set exec-direction
4952 Set the direction of target execution.
4953 @itemx set exec-direction reverse
4954 @cindex execute forward or backward in time
4955 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in reverse, until the
4956 exec-direction mode is changed to ``forward''. Affected commands include
4957 @code{step, stepi, next, nexti, continue, and finish}. The @code{return}
4958 command cannot be used in reverse mode.
4959 @item set exec-direction forward
4960 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in the normal fashion.
4961 This is the default.
4962 @end table
4963
4964
4965 @node Stack
4966 @chapter Examining the Stack
4967
4968 When your program has stopped, the first thing you need to know is where it
4969 stopped and how it got there.
4970
4971 @cindex call stack
4972 Each time your program performs a function call, information about the call
4973 is generated.
4974 That information includes the location of the call in your program,
4975 the arguments of the call,
4976 and the local variables of the function being called.
4977 The information is saved in a block of data called a @dfn{stack frame}.
4978 The stack frames are allocated in a region of memory called the @dfn{call
4979 stack}.
4980
4981 When your program stops, the @value{GDBN} commands for examining the
4982 stack allow you to see all of this information.
4983
4984 @cindex selected frame
4985 One of the stack frames is @dfn{selected} by @value{GDBN} and many
4986 @value{GDBN} commands refer implicitly to the selected frame. In
4987 particular, whenever you ask @value{GDBN} for the value of a variable in
4988 your program, the value is found in the selected frame. There are
4989 special @value{GDBN} commands to select whichever frame you are
4990 interested in. @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
4991
4992 When your program stops, @value{GDBN} automatically selects the
4993 currently executing frame and describes it briefly, similar to the
4994 @code{frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}).
4995
4996 @menu
4997 * Frames:: Stack frames
4998 * Backtrace:: Backtraces
4999 * Selection:: Selecting a frame
5000 * Frame Info:: Information on a frame
5001
5002 @end menu
5003
5004 @node Frames
5005 @section Stack Frames
5006
5007 @cindex frame, definition
5008 @cindex stack frame
5009 The call stack is divided up into contiguous pieces called @dfn{stack
5010 frames}, or @dfn{frames} for short; each frame is the data associated
5011 with one call to one function. The frame contains the arguments given
5012 to the function, the function's local variables, and the address at
5013 which the function is executing.
5014
5015 @cindex initial frame
5016 @cindex outermost frame
5017 @cindex innermost frame
5018 When your program is started, the stack has only one frame, that of the
5019 function @code{main}. This is called the @dfn{initial} frame or the
5020 @dfn{outermost} frame. Each time a function is called, a new frame is
5021 made. Each time a function returns, the frame for that function invocation
5022 is eliminated. If a function is recursive, there can be many frames for
5023 the same function. The frame for the function in which execution is
5024 actually occurring is called the @dfn{innermost} frame. This is the most
5025 recently created of all the stack frames that still exist.
5026
5027 @cindex frame pointer
5028 Inside your program, stack frames are identified by their addresses. A
5029 stack frame consists of many bytes, each of which has its own address; each
5030 kind of computer has a convention for choosing one byte whose
5031 address serves as the address of the frame. Usually this address is kept
5032 in a register called the @dfn{frame pointer register}
5033 (@pxref{Registers, $fp}) while execution is going on in that frame.
5034
5035 @cindex frame number
5036 @value{GDBN} assigns numbers to all existing stack frames, starting with
5037 zero for the innermost frame, one for the frame that called it,
5038 and so on upward. These numbers do not really exist in your program;
5039 they are assigned by @value{GDBN} to give you a way of designating stack
5040 frames in @value{GDBN} commands.
5041
5042 @c The -fomit-frame-pointer below perennially causes hbox overflow
5043 @c underflow problems.
5044 @cindex frameless execution
5045 Some compilers provide a way to compile functions so that they operate
5046 without stack frames. (For example, the @value{NGCC} option
5047 @smallexample
5048 @samp{-fomit-frame-pointer}
5049 @end smallexample
5050 generates functions without a frame.)
5051 This is occasionally done with heavily used library functions to save
5052 the frame setup time. @value{GDBN} has limited facilities for dealing
5053 with these function invocations. If the innermost function invocation
5054 has no stack frame, @value{GDBN} nevertheless regards it as though
5055 it had a separate frame, which is numbered zero as usual, allowing
5056 correct tracing of the function call chain. However, @value{GDBN} has
5057 no provision for frameless functions elsewhere in the stack.
5058
5059 @table @code
5060 @kindex frame@r{, command}
5061 @cindex current stack frame
5062 @item frame @var{args}
5063 The @code{frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame to another,
5064 and to print the stack frame you select. @var{args} may be either the
5065 address of the frame or the stack frame number. Without an argument,
5066 @code{frame} prints the current stack frame.
5067
5068 @kindex select-frame
5069 @cindex selecting frame silently
5070 @item select-frame
5071 The @code{select-frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame
5072 to another without printing the frame. This is the silent version of
5073 @code{frame}.
5074 @end table
5075
5076 @node Backtrace
5077 @section Backtraces
5078
5079 @cindex traceback
5080 @cindex call stack traces
5081 A backtrace is a summary of how your program got where it is. It shows one
5082 line per frame, for many frames, starting with the currently executing
5083 frame (frame zero), followed by its caller (frame one), and on up the
5084 stack.
5085
5086 @table @code
5087 @kindex backtrace
5088 @kindex bt @r{(@code{backtrace})}
5089 @item backtrace
5090 @itemx bt
5091 Print a backtrace of the entire stack: one line per frame for all
5092 frames in the stack.
5093
5094 You can stop the backtrace at any time by typing the system interrupt
5095 character, normally @kbd{Ctrl-c}.
5096
5097 @item backtrace @var{n}
5098 @itemx bt @var{n}
5099 Similar, but print only the innermost @var{n} frames.
5100
5101 @item backtrace -@var{n}
5102 @itemx bt -@var{n}
5103 Similar, but print only the outermost @var{n} frames.
5104
5105 @item backtrace full
5106 @itemx bt full
5107 @itemx bt full @var{n}
5108 @itemx bt full -@var{n}
5109 Print the values of the local variables also. @var{n} specifies the
5110 number of frames to print, as described above.
5111 @end table
5112
5113 @kindex where
5114 @kindex info stack
5115 The names @code{where} and @code{info stack} (abbreviated @code{info s})
5116 are additional aliases for @code{backtrace}.
5117
5118 @cindex multiple threads, backtrace
5119 In a multi-threaded program, @value{GDBN} by default shows the
5120 backtrace only for the current thread. To display the backtrace for
5121 several or all of the threads, use the command @code{thread apply}
5122 (@pxref{Threads, thread apply}). For example, if you type @kbd{thread
5123 apply all backtrace}, @value{GDBN} will display the backtrace for all
5124 the threads; this is handy when you debug a core dump of a
5125 multi-threaded program.
5126
5127 Each line in the backtrace shows the frame number and the function name.
5128 The program counter value is also shown---unless you use @code{set
5129 print address off}. The backtrace also shows the source file name and
5130 line number, as well as the arguments to the function. The program
5131 counter value is omitted if it is at the beginning of the code for that
5132 line number.
5133
5134 Here is an example of a backtrace. It was made with the command
5135 @samp{bt 3}, so it shows the innermost three frames.
5136
5137 @smallexample
5138 @group
5139 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
5140 at builtin.c:993
5141 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=0x2b600) at macro.c:242
5142 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=177664, td=0xf7fffb08)
5143 at macro.c:71
5144 (More stack frames follow...)
5145 @end group
5146 @end smallexample
5147
5148 @noindent
5149 The display for frame zero does not begin with a program counter
5150 value, indicating that your program has stopped at the beginning of the
5151 code for line @code{993} of @code{builtin.c}.
5152
5153 @cindex value optimized out, in backtrace
5154 @cindex function call arguments, optimized out
5155 If your program was compiled with optimizations, some compilers will
5156 optimize away arguments passed to functions if those arguments are
5157 never used after the call. Such optimizations generate code that
5158 passes arguments through registers, but doesn't store those arguments
5159 in the stack frame. @value{GDBN} has no way of displaying such
5160 arguments in stack frames other than the innermost one. Here's what
5161 such a backtrace might look like:
5162
5163 @smallexample
5164 @group
5165 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
5166 at builtin.c:993
5167 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=<value optimized out>) at macro.c:242
5168 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=<value optimized out>, td=0xf7fffb08)
5169 at macro.c:71
5170 (More stack frames follow...)
5171 @end group
5172 @end smallexample
5173
5174 @noindent
5175 The values of arguments that were not saved in their stack frames are
5176 shown as @samp{<value optimized out>}.
5177
5178 If you need to display the values of such optimized-out arguments,
5179 either deduce that from other variables whose values depend on the one
5180 you are interested in, or recompile without optimizations.
5181
5182 @cindex backtrace beyond @code{main} function
5183 @cindex program entry point
5184 @cindex startup code, and backtrace
5185 Most programs have a standard user entry point---a place where system
5186 libraries and startup code transition into user code. For C this is
5187 @code{main}@footnote{
5188 Note that embedded programs (the so-called ``free-standing''
5189 environment) are not required to have a @code{main} function as the
5190 entry point. They could even have multiple entry points.}.
5191 When @value{GDBN} finds the entry function in a backtrace
5192 it will terminate the backtrace, to avoid tracing into highly
5193 system-specific (and generally uninteresting) code.
5194
5195 If you need to examine the startup code, or limit the number of levels
5196 in a backtrace, you can change this behavior:
5197
5198 @table @code
5199 @item set backtrace past-main
5200 @itemx set backtrace past-main on
5201 @kindex set backtrace
5202 Backtraces will continue past the user entry point.
5203
5204 @item set backtrace past-main off
5205 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the user entry point. This is the
5206 default.
5207
5208 @item show backtrace past-main
5209 @kindex show backtrace
5210 Display the current user entry point backtrace policy.
5211
5212 @item set backtrace past-entry
5213 @itemx set backtrace past-entry on
5214 Backtraces will continue past the internal entry point of an application.
5215 This entry point is encoded by the linker when the application is built,
5216 and is likely before the user entry point @code{main} (or equivalent) is called.
5217
5218 @item set backtrace past-entry off
5219 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the internal entry point of an
5220 application. This is the default.
5221
5222 @item show backtrace past-entry
5223 Display the current internal entry point backtrace policy.
5224
5225 @item set backtrace limit @var{n}
5226 @itemx set backtrace limit 0
5227 @cindex backtrace limit
5228 Limit the backtrace to @var{n} levels. A value of zero means
5229 unlimited.
5230
5231 @item show backtrace limit
5232 Display the current limit on backtrace levels.
5233 @end table
5234
5235 @node Selection
5236 @section Selecting a Frame
5237
5238 Most commands for examining the stack and other data in your program work on
5239 whichever stack frame is selected at the moment. Here are the commands for
5240 selecting a stack frame; all of them finish by printing a brief description
5241 of the stack frame just selected.
5242
5243 @table @code
5244 @kindex frame@r{, selecting}
5245 @kindex f @r{(@code{frame})}
5246 @item frame @var{n}
5247 @itemx f @var{n}
5248 Select frame number @var{n}. Recall that frame zero is the innermost
5249 (currently executing) frame, frame one is the frame that called the
5250 innermost one, and so on. The highest-numbered frame is the one for
5251 @code{main}.
5252
5253 @item frame @var{addr}
5254 @itemx f @var{addr}
5255 Select the frame at address @var{addr}. This is useful mainly if the
5256 chaining of stack frames has been damaged by a bug, making it
5257 impossible for @value{GDBN} to assign numbers properly to all frames. In
5258 addition, this can be useful when your program has multiple stacks and
5259 switches between them.
5260
5261 On the SPARC architecture, @code{frame} needs two addresses to
5262 select an arbitrary frame: a frame pointer and a stack pointer.
5263
5264 On the MIPS and Alpha architecture, it needs two addresses: a stack
5265 pointer and a program counter.
5266
5267 On the 29k architecture, it needs three addresses: a register stack
5268 pointer, a program counter, and a memory stack pointer.
5269
5270 @kindex up
5271 @item up @var{n}
5272 Move @var{n} frames up the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
5273 advances toward the outermost frame, to higher frame numbers, to frames
5274 that have existed longer. @var{n} defaults to one.
5275
5276 @kindex down
5277 @kindex do @r{(@code{down})}
5278 @item down @var{n}
5279 Move @var{n} frames down the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
5280 advances toward the innermost frame, to lower frame numbers, to frames
5281 that were created more recently. @var{n} defaults to one. You may
5282 abbreviate @code{down} as @code{do}.
5283 @end table
5284
5285 All of these commands end by printing two lines of output describing the
5286 frame. The first line shows the frame number, the function name, the
5287 arguments, and the source file and line number of execution in that
5288 frame. The second line shows the text of that source line.
5289
5290 @need 1000
5291 For example:
5292
5293 @smallexample
5294 @group
5295 (@value{GDBP}) up
5296 #1 0x22f0 in main (argc=1, argv=0xf7fffbf4, env=0xf7fffbfc)
5297 at env.c:10
5298 10 read_input_file (argv[i]);
5299 @end group
5300 @end smallexample
5301
5302 After such a printout, the @code{list} command with no arguments
5303 prints ten lines centered on the point of execution in the frame.
5304 You can also edit the program at the point of execution with your favorite
5305 editing program by typing @code{edit}.
5306 @xref{List, ,Printing Source Lines},
5307 for details.
5308
5309 @table @code
5310 @kindex down-silently
5311 @kindex up-silently
5312 @item up-silently @var{n}
5313 @itemx down-silently @var{n}
5314 These two commands are variants of @code{up} and @code{down},
5315 respectively; they differ in that they do their work silently, without
5316 causing display of the new frame. They are intended primarily for use
5317 in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the output might be unnecessary and
5318 distracting.
5319 @end table
5320
5321 @node Frame Info
5322 @section Information About a Frame
5323
5324 There are several other commands to print information about the selected
5325 stack frame.
5326
5327 @table @code
5328 @item frame
5329 @itemx f
5330 When used without any argument, this command does not change which
5331 frame is selected, but prints a brief description of the currently
5332 selected stack frame. It can be abbreviated @code{f}. With an
5333 argument, this command is used to select a stack frame.
5334 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
5335
5336 @kindex info frame
5337 @kindex info f @r{(@code{info frame})}
5338 @item info frame
5339 @itemx info f
5340 This command prints a verbose description of the selected stack frame,
5341 including:
5342
5343 @itemize @bullet
5344 @item
5345 the address of the frame
5346 @item
5347 the address of the next frame down (called by this frame)
5348 @item
5349 the address of the next frame up (caller of this frame)
5350 @item
5351 the language in which the source code corresponding to this frame is written
5352 @item
5353 the address of the frame's arguments
5354 @item
5355 the address of the frame's local variables
5356 @item
5357 the program counter saved in it (the address of execution in the caller frame)
5358 @item
5359 which registers were saved in the frame
5360 @end itemize
5361
5362 @noindent The verbose description is useful when
5363 something has gone wrong that has made the stack format fail to fit
5364 the usual conventions.
5365
5366 @item info frame @var{addr}
5367 @itemx info f @var{addr}
5368 Print a verbose description of the frame at address @var{addr}, without
5369 selecting that frame. The selected frame remains unchanged by this
5370 command. This requires the same kind of address (more than one for some
5371 architectures) that you specify in the @code{frame} command.
5372 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
5373
5374 @kindex info args
5375 @item info args
5376 Print the arguments of the selected frame, each on a separate line.
5377
5378 @item info locals
5379 @kindex info locals
5380 Print the local variables of the selected frame, each on a separate
5381 line. These are all variables (declared either static or automatic)
5382 accessible at the point of execution of the selected frame.
5383
5384 @kindex info catch
5385 @cindex catch exceptions, list active handlers
5386 @cindex exception handlers, how to list
5387 @item info catch
5388 Print a list of all the exception handlers that are active in the
5389 current stack frame at the current point of execution. To see other
5390 exception handlers, visit the associated frame (using the @code{up},
5391 @code{down}, or @code{frame} commands); then type @code{info catch}.
5392 @xref{Set Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
5393
5394 @end table
5395
5396
5397 @node Source
5398 @chapter Examining Source Files
5399
5400 @value{GDBN} can print parts of your program's source, since the debugging
5401 information recorded in the program tells @value{GDBN} what source files were
5402 used to build it. When your program stops, @value{GDBN} spontaneously prints
5403 the line where it stopped. Likewise, when you select a stack frame
5404 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}), @value{GDBN} prints the line where
5405 execution in that frame has stopped. You can print other portions of
5406 source files by explicit command.
5407
5408 If you use @value{GDBN} through its @sc{gnu} Emacs interface, you may
5409 prefer to use Emacs facilities to view source; see @ref{Emacs, ,Using
5410 @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}.
5411
5412 @menu
5413 * List:: Printing source lines
5414 * Specify Location:: How to specify code locations
5415 * Edit:: Editing source files
5416 * Search:: Searching source files
5417 * Source Path:: Specifying source directories
5418 * Machine Code:: Source and machine code
5419 @end menu
5420
5421 @node List
5422 @section Printing Source Lines
5423
5424 @kindex list
5425 @kindex l @r{(@code{list})}
5426 To print lines from a source file, use the @code{list} command
5427 (abbreviated @code{l}). By default, ten lines are printed.
5428 There are several ways to specify what part of the file you want to
5429 print; see @ref{Specify Location}, for the full list.
5430
5431 Here are the forms of the @code{list} command most commonly used:
5432
5433 @table @code
5434 @item list @var{linenum}
5435 Print lines centered around line number @var{linenum} in the
5436 current source file.
5437
5438 @item list @var{function}
5439 Print lines centered around the beginning of function
5440 @var{function}.
5441
5442 @item list
5443 Print more lines. If the last lines printed were printed with a
5444 @code{list} command, this prints lines following the last lines
5445 printed; however, if the last line printed was a solitary line printed
5446 as part of displaying a stack frame (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the
5447 Stack}), this prints lines centered around that line.
5448
5449 @item list -
5450 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
5451 @end table
5452
5453 @cindex @code{list}, how many lines to display
5454 By default, @value{GDBN} prints ten source lines with any of these forms of
5455 the @code{list} command. You can change this using @code{set listsize}:
5456
5457 @table @code
5458 @kindex set listsize
5459 @item set listsize @var{count}
5460 Make the @code{list} command display @var{count} source lines (unless
5461 the @code{list} argument explicitly specifies some other number).
5462
5463 @kindex show listsize
5464 @item show listsize
5465 Display the number of lines that @code{list} prints.
5466 @end table
5467
5468 Repeating a @code{list} command with @key{RET} discards the argument,
5469 so it is equivalent to typing just @code{list}. This is more useful
5470 than listing the same lines again. An exception is made for an
5471 argument of @samp{-}; that argument is preserved in repetition so that
5472 each repetition moves up in the source file.
5473
5474 In general, the @code{list} command expects you to supply zero, one or two
5475 @dfn{linespecs}. Linespecs specify source lines; there are several ways
5476 of writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always
5477 to specify some source line.
5478
5479 Here is a complete description of the possible arguments for @code{list}:
5480
5481 @table @code
5482 @item list @var{linespec}
5483 Print lines centered around the line specified by @var{linespec}.
5484
5485 @item list @var{first},@var{last}
5486 Print lines from @var{first} to @var{last}. Both arguments are
5487 linespecs. When a @code{list} command has two linespecs, and the
5488 source file of the second linespec is omitted, this refers to
5489 the same source file as the first linespec.
5490
5491 @item list ,@var{last}
5492 Print lines ending with @var{last}.
5493
5494 @item list @var{first},
5495 Print lines starting with @var{first}.
5496
5497 @item list +
5498 Print lines just after the lines last printed.
5499
5500 @item list -
5501 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
5502
5503 @item list
5504 As described in the preceding table.
5505 @end table
5506
5507 @node Specify Location
5508 @section Specifying a Location
5509 @cindex specifying location
5510 @cindex linespec
5511
5512 Several @value{GDBN} commands accept arguments that specify a location
5513 of your program's code. Since @value{GDBN} is a source-level
5514 debugger, a location usually specifies some line in the source code;
5515 for that reason, locations are also known as @dfn{linespecs}.
5516
5517 Here are all the different ways of specifying a code location that
5518 @value{GDBN} understands:
5519
5520 @table @code
5521 @item @var{linenum}
5522 Specifies the line number @var{linenum} of the current source file.
5523
5524 @item -@var{offset}
5525 @itemx +@var{offset}
5526 Specifies the line @var{offset} lines before or after the @dfn{current
5527 line}. For the @code{list} command, the current line is the last one
5528 printed; for the breakpoint commands, this is the line at which
5529 execution stopped in the currently selected @dfn{stack frame}
5530 (@pxref{Frames, ,Frames}, for a description of stack frames.) When
5531 used as the second of the two linespecs in a @code{list} command,
5532 this specifies the line @var{offset} lines up or down from the first
5533 linespec.
5534
5535 @item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
5536 Specifies the line @var{linenum} in the source file @var{filename}.
5537
5538 @item @var{function}
5539 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}.
5540 For example, in C, this is the line with the open brace.
5541
5542 @item @var{filename}:@var{function}
5543 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}
5544 in the file @var{filename}. You only need the file name with a
5545 function name to avoid ambiguity when there are identically named
5546 functions in different source files.
5547
5548 @item *@var{address}
5549 Specifies the program address @var{address}. For line-oriented
5550 commands, such as @code{list} and @code{edit}, this specifies a source
5551 line that contains @var{address}. For @code{break} and other
5552 breakpoint oriented commands, this can be used to set breakpoints in
5553 parts of your program which do not have debugging information or
5554 source files.
5555
5556 Here @var{address} may be any expression valid in the current working
5557 language (@pxref{Languages, working language}) that specifies a code
5558 address. In addition, as a convenience, @value{GDBN} extends the
5559 semantics of expressions used in locations to cover the situations
5560 that frequently happen during debugging. Here are the various forms
5561 of @var{address}:
5562
5563 @table @code
5564 @item @var{expression}
5565 Any expression valid in the current working language.
5566
5567 @item @var{funcaddr}
5568 An address of a function or procedure derived from its name. In C,
5569 C@t{++}, Java, Objective-C, Fortran, minimal, and assembly, this is
5570 simply the function's name @var{function} (and actually a special case
5571 of a valid expression). In Pascal and Modula-2, this is
5572 @code{&@var{function}}. In Ada, this is @code{@var{function}'Address}
5573 (although the Pascal form also works).
5574
5575 This form specifies the address of the function's first instruction,
5576 before the stack frame and arguments have been set up.
5577
5578 @item '@var{filename}'::@var{funcaddr}
5579 Like @var{funcaddr} above, but also specifies the name of the source
5580 file explicitly. This is useful if the name of the function does not
5581 specify the function unambiguously, e.g., if there are several
5582 functions with identical names in different source files.
5583 @end table
5584
5585 @end table
5586
5587
5588 @node Edit
5589 @section Editing Source Files
5590 @cindex editing source files
5591
5592 @kindex edit
5593 @kindex e @r{(@code{edit})}
5594 To edit the lines in a source file, use the @code{edit} command.
5595 The editing program of your choice
5596 is invoked with the current line set to
5597 the active line in the program.
5598 Alternatively, there are several ways to specify what part of the file you
5599 want to print if you want to see other parts of the program:
5600
5601 @table @code
5602 @item edit @var{location}
5603 Edit the source file specified by @code{location}. Editing starts at
5604 that @var{location}, e.g., at the specified source line of the
5605 specified file. @xref{Specify Location}, for all the possible forms
5606 of the @var{location} argument; here are the forms of the @code{edit}
5607 command most commonly used:
5608
5609 @table @code
5610 @item edit @var{number}
5611 Edit the current source file with @var{number} as the active line number.
5612
5613 @item edit @var{function}
5614 Edit the file containing @var{function} at the beginning of its definition.
5615 @end table
5616
5617 @end table
5618
5619 @subsection Choosing your Editor
5620 You can customize @value{GDBN} to use any editor you want
5621 @footnote{
5622 The only restriction is that your editor (say @code{ex}), recognizes the
5623 following command-line syntax:
5624 @smallexample
5625 ex +@var{number} file
5626 @end smallexample
5627 The optional numeric value +@var{number} specifies the number of the line in
5628 the file where to start editing.}.
5629 By default, it is @file{@value{EDITOR}}, but you can change this
5630 by setting the environment variable @code{EDITOR} before using
5631 @value{GDBN}. For example, to configure @value{GDBN} to use the
5632 @code{vi} editor, you could use these commands with the @code{sh} shell:
5633 @smallexample
5634 EDITOR=/usr/bin/vi
5635 export EDITOR
5636 gdb @dots{}
5637 @end smallexample
5638 or in the @code{csh} shell,
5639 @smallexample
5640 setenv EDITOR /usr/bin/vi
5641 gdb @dots{}
5642 @end smallexample
5643
5644 @node Search
5645 @section Searching Source Files
5646 @cindex searching source files
5647
5648 There are two commands for searching through the current source file for a
5649 regular expression.
5650
5651 @table @code
5652 @kindex search
5653 @kindex forward-search
5654 @item forward-search @var{regexp}
5655 @itemx search @var{regexp}
5656 The command @samp{forward-search @var{regexp}} checks each line,
5657 starting with the one following the last line listed, for a match for
5658 @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can use the
5659 synonym @samp{search @var{regexp}} or abbreviate the command name as
5660 @code{fo}.
5661
5662 @kindex reverse-search
5663 @item reverse-search @var{regexp}
5664 The command @samp{reverse-search @var{regexp}} checks each line, starting
5665 with the one before the last line listed and going backward, for a match
5666 for @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can abbreviate
5667 this command as @code{rev}.
5668 @end table
5669
5670 @node Source Path
5671 @section Specifying Source Directories
5672
5673 @cindex source path
5674 @cindex directories for source files
5675 Executable programs sometimes do not record the directories of the source
5676 files from which they were compiled, just the names. Even when they do,
5677 the directories could be moved between the compilation and your debugging
5678 session. @value{GDBN} has a list of directories to search for source files;
5679 this is called the @dfn{source path}. Each time @value{GDBN} wants a source file,
5680 it tries all the directories in the list, in the order they are present
5681 in the list, until it finds a file with the desired name.
5682
5683 For example, suppose an executable references the file
5684 @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}, and our source path is
5685 @file{/mnt/cross}. The file is first looked up literally; if this
5686 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} is tried; if this
5687 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/foo.c} is opened; if this fails, an error
5688 message is printed. @value{GDBN} does not look up the parts of the
5689 source file name, such as @file{/mnt/cross/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}.
5690 Likewise, the subdirectories of the source path are not searched: if
5691 the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the binary refers to
5692 @file{foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would not find it under
5693 @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib}.
5694
5695 Plain file names, relative file names with leading directories, file
5696 names containing dots, etc.@: are all treated as described above; for
5697 instance, if the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the source file
5698 is recorded as @file{../lib/foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would first try
5699 @file{../lib/foo.c}, then @file{/mnt/cross/../lib/foo.c}, and after
5700 that---@file{/mnt/cross/foo.c}.
5701
5702 Note that the executable search path is @emph{not} used to locate the
5703 source files.
5704
5705 Whenever you reset or rearrange the source path, @value{GDBN} clears out
5706 any information it has cached about where source files are found and where
5707 each line is in the file.
5708
5709 @kindex directory
5710 @kindex dir
5711 When you start @value{GDBN}, its source path includes only @samp{cdir}
5712 and @samp{cwd}, in that order.
5713 To add other directories, use the @code{directory} command.
5714
5715 The search path is used to find both program source files and @value{GDBN}
5716 script files (read using the @samp{-command} option and @samp{source} command).
5717
5718 In addition to the source path, @value{GDBN} provides a set of commands
5719 that manage a list of source path substitution rules. A @dfn{substitution
5720 rule} specifies how to rewrite source directories stored in the program's
5721 debug information in case the sources were moved to a different
5722 directory between compilation and debugging. A rule is made of
5723 two strings, the first specifying what needs to be rewritten in
5724 the path, and the second specifying how it should be rewritten.
5725 In @ref{set substitute-path}, we name these two parts @var{from} and
5726 @var{to} respectively. @value{GDBN} does a simple string replacement
5727 of @var{from} with @var{to} at the start of the directory part of the
5728 source file name, and uses that result instead of the original file
5729 name to look up the sources.
5730
5731 Using the previous example, suppose the @file{foo-1.0} tree has been
5732 moved from @file{/usr/src} to @file{/mnt/cross}, then you can tell
5733 @value{GDBN} to replace @file{/usr/src} in all source path names with
5734 @file{/mnt/cross}. The first lookup will then be
5735 @file{/mnt/cross/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} in place of the original location
5736 of @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}. To define a source path
5737 substitution rule, use the @code{set substitute-path} command
5738 (@pxref{set substitute-path}).
5739
5740 To avoid unexpected substitution results, a rule is applied only if the
5741 @var{from} part of the directory name ends at a directory separator.
5742 For instance, a rule substituting @file{/usr/source} into
5743 @file{/mnt/cross} will be applied to @file{/usr/source/foo-1.0} but
5744 not to @file{/usr/sourceware/foo-2.0}. And because the substitution
5745 is applied only at the beginning of the directory name, this rule will
5746 not be applied to @file{/root/usr/source/baz.c} either.
5747
5748 In many cases, you can achieve the same result using the @code{directory}
5749 command. However, @code{set substitute-path} can be more efficient in
5750 the case where the sources are organized in a complex tree with multiple
5751 subdirectories. With the @code{directory} command, you need to add each
5752 subdirectory of your project. If you moved the entire tree while
5753 preserving its internal organization, then @code{set substitute-path}
5754 allows you to direct the debugger to all the sources with one single
5755 command.
5756
5757 @code{set substitute-path} is also more than just a shortcut command.
5758 The source path is only used if the file at the original location no
5759 longer exists. On the other hand, @code{set substitute-path} modifies
5760 the debugger behavior to look at the rewritten location instead. So, if
5761 for any reason a source file that is not relevant to your executable is
5762 located at the original location, a substitution rule is the only
5763 method available to point @value{GDBN} at the new location.
5764
5765 @table @code
5766 @item directory @var{dirname} @dots{}
5767 @item dir @var{dirname} @dots{}
5768 Add directory @var{dirname} to the front of the source path. Several
5769 directory names may be given to this command, separated by @samp{:}
5770 (@samp{;} on MS-DOS and MS-Windows, where @samp{:} usually appears as
5771 part of absolute file names) or
5772 whitespace. You may specify a directory that is already in the source
5773 path; this moves it forward, so @value{GDBN} searches it sooner.
5774
5775 @kindex cdir
5776 @kindex cwd
5777 @vindex $cdir@r{, convenience variable}
5778 @vindex $cwd@r{, convenience variable}
5779 @cindex compilation directory
5780 @cindex current directory
5781 @cindex working directory
5782 @cindex directory, current
5783 @cindex directory, compilation
5784 You can use the string @samp{$cdir} to refer to the compilation
5785 directory (if one is recorded), and @samp{$cwd} to refer to the current
5786 working directory. @samp{$cwd} is not the same as @samp{.}---the former
5787 tracks the current working directory as it changes during your @value{GDBN}
5788 session, while the latter is immediately expanded to the current
5789 directory at the time you add an entry to the source path.
5790
5791 @item directory
5792 Reset the source path to its default value (@samp{$cdir:$cwd} on Unix systems). This requires confirmation.
5793
5794 @c RET-repeat for @code{directory} is explicitly disabled, but since
5795 @c repeating it would be a no-op we do not say that. (thanks to RMS)
5796
5797 @item show directories
5798 @kindex show directories
5799 Print the source path: show which directories it contains.
5800
5801 @anchor{set substitute-path}
5802 @item set substitute-path @var{from} @var{to}
5803 @kindex set substitute-path
5804 Define a source path substitution rule, and add it at the end of the
5805 current list of existing substitution rules. If a rule with the same
5806 @var{from} was already defined, then the old rule is also deleted.
5807
5808 For example, if the file @file{/foo/bar/baz.c} was moved to
5809 @file{/mnt/cross/baz.c}, then the command
5810
5811 @smallexample
5812 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/cross
5813 @end smallexample
5814
5815 @noindent
5816 will tell @value{GDBN} to replace @samp{/usr/src} with
5817 @samp{/mnt/cross}, which will allow @value{GDBN} to find the file
5818 @file{baz.c} even though it was moved.
5819
5820 In the case when more than one substitution rule have been defined,
5821 the rules are evaluated one by one in the order where they have been
5822 defined. The first one matching, if any, is selected to perform
5823 the substitution.
5824
5825 For instance, if we had entered the following commands:
5826
5827 @smallexample
5828 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src/include /mnt/include
5829 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/src
5830 @end smallexample
5831
5832 @noindent
5833 @value{GDBN} would then rewrite @file{/usr/src/include/defs.h} into
5834 @file{/mnt/include/defs.h} by using the first rule. However, it would
5835 use the second rule to rewrite @file{/usr/src/lib/foo.c} into
5836 @file{/mnt/src/lib/foo.c}.
5837
5838
5839 @item unset substitute-path [path]
5840 @kindex unset substitute-path
5841 If a path is specified, search the current list of substitution rules
5842 for a rule that would rewrite that path. Delete that rule if found.
5843 A warning is emitted by the debugger if no rule could be found.
5844
5845 If no path is specified, then all substitution rules are deleted.
5846
5847 @item show substitute-path [path]
5848 @kindex show substitute-path
5849 If a path is specified, then print the source path substitution rule
5850 which would rewrite that path, if any.
5851
5852 If no path is specified, then print all existing source path substitution
5853 rules.
5854
5855 @end table
5856
5857 If your source path is cluttered with directories that are no longer of
5858 interest, @value{GDBN} may sometimes cause confusion by finding the wrong
5859 versions of source. You can correct the situation as follows:
5860
5861 @enumerate
5862 @item
5863 Use @code{directory} with no argument to reset the source path to its default value.
5864
5865 @item
5866 Use @code{directory} with suitable arguments to reinstall the
5867 directories you want in the source path. You can add all the
5868 directories in one command.
5869 @end enumerate
5870
5871 @node Machine Code
5872 @section Source and Machine Code
5873 @cindex source line and its code address
5874
5875 You can use the command @code{info line} to map source lines to program
5876 addresses (and vice versa), and the command @code{disassemble} to display
5877 a range of addresses as machine instructions. When run under @sc{gnu} Emacs
5878 mode, the @code{info line} command causes the arrow to point to the
5879 line specified. Also, @code{info line} prints addresses in symbolic form as
5880 well as hex.
5881
5882 @table @code
5883 @kindex info line
5884 @item info line @var{linespec}
5885 Print the starting and ending addresses of the compiled code for
5886 source line @var{linespec}. You can specify source lines in any of
5887 the ways documented in @ref{Specify Location}.
5888 @end table
5889
5890 For example, we can use @code{info line} to discover the location of
5891 the object code for the first line of function
5892 @code{m4_changequote}:
5893
5894 @c FIXME: I think this example should also show the addresses in
5895 @c symbolic form, as they usually would be displayed.
5896 @smallexample
5897 (@value{GDBP}) info line m4_changequote
5898 Line 895 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x634c and ends at 0x6350.
5899 @end smallexample
5900
5901 @noindent
5902 @cindex code address and its source line
5903 We can also inquire (using @code{*@var{addr}} as the form for
5904 @var{linespec}) what source line covers a particular address:
5905 @smallexample
5906 (@value{GDBP}) info line *0x63ff
5907 Line 926 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x63e4 and ends at 0x6404.
5908 @end smallexample
5909
5910 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info line}
5911 @cindex @code{x} command, default address
5912 @kindex x@r{(examine), and} info line
5913 After @code{info line}, the default address for the @code{x} command
5914 is changed to the starting address of the line, so that @samp{x/i} is
5915 sufficient to begin examining the machine code (@pxref{Memory,
5916 ,Examining Memory}). Also, this address is saved as the value of the
5917 convenience variable @code{$_} (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
5918 Variables}).
5919
5920 @table @code
5921 @kindex disassemble
5922 @cindex assembly instructions
5923 @cindex instructions, assembly
5924 @cindex machine instructions
5925 @cindex listing machine instructions
5926 @item disassemble
5927 @itemx disassemble /m
5928 This specialized command dumps a range of memory as machine
5929 instructions. It can also print mixed source+disassembly by specifying
5930 the @code{/m} modifier.
5931 The default memory range is the function surrounding the
5932 program counter of the selected frame. A single argument to this
5933 command is a program counter value; @value{GDBN} dumps the function
5934 surrounding this value. Two arguments specify a range of addresses
5935 (first inclusive, second exclusive) to dump.
5936 @end table
5937
5938 The following example shows the disassembly of a range of addresses of
5939 HP PA-RISC 2.0 code:
5940
5941 @smallexample
5942 (@value{GDBP}) disas 0x32c4 0x32e4
5943 Dump of assembler code from 0x32c4 to 0x32e4:
5944 0x32c4 <main+204>: addil 0,dp
5945 0x32c8 <main+208>: ldw 0x22c(sr0,r1),r26
5946 0x32cc <main+212>: ldil 0x3000,r31
5947 0x32d0 <main+216>: ble 0x3f8(sr4,r31)
5948 0x32d4 <main+220>: ldo 0(r31),rp
5949 0x32d8 <main+224>: addil -0x800,dp
5950 0x32dc <main+228>: ldo 0x588(r1),r26
5951 0x32e0 <main+232>: ldil 0x3000,r31
5952 End of assembler dump.
5953 @end smallexample
5954
5955 Here is an example showing mixed source+assembly for Intel x86:
5956
5957 @smallexample
5958 (@value{GDBP}) disas /m main
5959 Dump of assembler code for function main:
5960 5 @{
5961 0x08048330 <main+0>: push %ebp
5962 0x08048331 <main+1>: mov %esp,%ebp
5963 0x08048333 <main+3>: sub $0x8,%esp
5964 0x08048336 <main+6>: and $0xfffffff0,%esp
5965 0x08048339 <main+9>: sub $0x10,%esp
5966
5967 6 printf ("Hello.\n");
5968 0x0804833c <main+12>: movl $0x8048440,(%esp)
5969 0x08048343 <main+19>: call 0x8048284 <puts@@plt>
5970
5971 7 return 0;
5972 8 @}
5973 0x08048348 <main+24>: mov $0x0,%eax
5974 0x0804834d <main+29>: leave
5975 0x0804834e <main+30>: ret
5976
5977 End of assembler dump.
5978 @end smallexample
5979
5980 Some architectures have more than one commonly-used set of instruction
5981 mnemonics or other syntax.
5982
5983 For programs that were dynamically linked and use shared libraries,
5984 instructions that call functions or branch to locations in the shared
5985 libraries might show a seemingly bogus location---it's actually a
5986 location of the relocation table. On some architectures, @value{GDBN}
5987 might be able to resolve these to actual function names.
5988
5989 @table @code
5990 @kindex set disassembly-flavor
5991 @cindex Intel disassembly flavor
5992 @cindex AT&T disassembly flavor
5993 @item set disassembly-flavor @var{instruction-set}
5994 Select the instruction set to use when disassembling the
5995 program via the @code{disassemble} or @code{x/i} commands.
5996
5997 Currently this command is only defined for the Intel x86 family. You
5998 can set @var{instruction-set} to either @code{intel} or @code{att}.
5999 The default is @code{att}, the AT&T flavor used by default by Unix
6000 assemblers for x86-based targets.
6001
6002 @kindex show disassembly-flavor
6003 @item show disassembly-flavor
6004 Show the current setting of the disassembly flavor.
6005 @end table
6006
6007
6008 @node Data
6009 @chapter Examining Data
6010
6011 @cindex printing data
6012 @cindex examining data
6013 @kindex print
6014 @kindex inspect
6015 @c "inspect" is not quite a synonym if you are using Epoch, which we do not
6016 @c document because it is nonstandard... Under Epoch it displays in a
6017 @c different window or something like that.
6018 The usual way to examine data in your program is with the @code{print}
6019 command (abbreviated @code{p}), or its synonym @code{inspect}. It
6020 evaluates and prints the value of an expression of the language your
6021 program is written in (@pxref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with
6022 Different Languages}).
6023
6024 @table @code
6025 @item print @var{expr}
6026 @itemx print /@var{f} @var{expr}
6027 @var{expr} is an expression (in the source language). By default the
6028 value of @var{expr} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
6029 you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
6030 @var{f} is a letter specifying the format; see @ref{Output Formats,,Output
6031 Formats}.
6032
6033 @item print
6034 @itemx print /@var{f}
6035 @cindex reprint the last value
6036 If you omit @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} displays the last value again (from the
6037 @dfn{value history}; @pxref{Value History, ,Value History}). This allows you to
6038 conveniently inspect the same value in an alternative format.
6039 @end table
6040
6041 A more low-level way of examining data is with the @code{x} command.
6042 It examines data in memory at a specified address and prints it in a
6043 specified format. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
6044
6045 If you are interested in information about types, or about how the
6046 fields of a struct or a class are declared, use the @code{ptype @var{exp}}
6047 command rather than @code{print}. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol
6048 Table}.
6049
6050 @menu
6051 * Expressions:: Expressions
6052 * Ambiguous Expressions:: Ambiguous Expressions
6053 * Variables:: Program variables
6054 * Arrays:: Artificial arrays
6055 * Output Formats:: Output formats
6056 * Memory:: Examining memory
6057 * Auto Display:: Automatic display
6058 * Print Settings:: Print settings
6059 * Value History:: Value history
6060 * Convenience Vars:: Convenience variables
6061 * Registers:: Registers
6062 * Floating Point Hardware:: Floating point hardware
6063 * Vector Unit:: Vector Unit
6064 * OS Information:: Auxiliary data provided by operating system
6065 * Memory Region Attributes:: Memory region attributes
6066 * Dump/Restore Files:: Copy between memory and a file
6067 * Core File Generation:: Cause a program dump its core
6068 * Character Sets:: Debugging programs that use a different
6069 character set than GDB does
6070 * Caching Remote Data:: Data caching for remote targets
6071 * Searching Memory:: Searching memory for a sequence of bytes
6072 @end menu
6073
6074 @node Expressions
6075 @section Expressions
6076
6077 @cindex expressions
6078 @code{print} and many other @value{GDBN} commands accept an expression and
6079 compute its value. Any kind of constant, variable or operator defined
6080 by the programming language you are using is valid in an expression in
6081 @value{GDBN}. This includes conditional expressions, function calls,
6082 casts, and string constants. It also includes preprocessor macros, if
6083 you compiled your program to include this information; see
6084 @ref{Compilation}.
6085
6086 @cindex arrays in expressions
6087 @value{GDBN} supports array constants in expressions input by
6088 the user. The syntax is @{@var{element}, @var{element}@dots{}@}. For example,
6089 you can use the command @code{print @{1, 2, 3@}} to create an array
6090 of three integers. If you pass an array to a function or assign it
6091 to a program variable, @value{GDBN} copies the array to memory that
6092 is @code{malloc}ed in the target program.
6093
6094 Because C is so widespread, most of the expressions shown in examples in
6095 this manual are in C. @xref{Languages, , Using @value{GDBN} with Different
6096 Languages}, for information on how to use expressions in other
6097 languages.
6098
6099 In this section, we discuss operators that you can use in @value{GDBN}
6100 expressions regardless of your programming language.
6101
6102 @cindex casts, in expressions
6103 Casts are supported in all languages, not just in C, because it is so
6104 useful to cast a number into a pointer in order to examine a structure
6105 at that address in memory.
6106 @c FIXME: casts supported---Mod2 true?
6107
6108 @value{GDBN} supports these operators, in addition to those common
6109 to programming languages:
6110
6111 @table @code
6112 @item @@
6113 @samp{@@} is a binary operator for treating parts of memory as arrays.
6114 @xref{Arrays, ,Artificial Arrays}, for more information.
6115
6116 @item ::
6117 @samp{::} allows you to specify a variable in terms of the file or
6118 function where it is defined. @xref{Variables, ,Program Variables}.
6119
6120 @cindex @{@var{type}@}
6121 @cindex type casting memory
6122 @cindex memory, viewing as typed object
6123 @cindex casts, to view memory
6124 @item @{@var{type}@} @var{addr}
6125 Refers to an object of type @var{type} stored at address @var{addr} in
6126 memory. @var{addr} may be any expression whose value is an integer or
6127 pointer (but parentheses are required around binary operators, just as in
6128 a cast). This construct is allowed regardless of what kind of data is
6129 normally supposed to reside at @var{addr}.
6130 @end table
6131
6132 @node Ambiguous Expressions
6133 @section Ambiguous Expressions
6134 @cindex ambiguous expressions
6135
6136 Expressions can sometimes contain some ambiguous elements. For instance,
6137 some programming languages (notably Ada, C@t{++} and Objective-C) permit
6138 a single function name to be defined several times, for application in
6139 different contexts. This is called @dfn{overloading}. Another example
6140 involving Ada is generics. A @dfn{generic package} is similar to C@t{++}
6141 templates and is typically instantiated several times, resulting in
6142 the same function name being defined in different contexts.
6143
6144 In some cases and depending on the language, it is possible to adjust
6145 the expression to remove the ambiguity. For instance in C@t{++}, you
6146 can specify the signature of the function you want to break on, as in
6147 @kbd{break @var{function}(@var{types})}. In Ada, using the fully
6148 qualified name of your function often makes the expression unambiguous
6149 as well.
6150
6151 When an ambiguity that needs to be resolved is detected, the debugger
6152 has the capability to display a menu of numbered choices for each
6153 possibility, and then waits for the selection with the prompt @samp{>}.
6154 The first option is always @samp{[0] cancel}, and typing @kbd{0 @key{RET}}
6155 aborts the current command. If the command in which the expression was
6156 used allows more than one choice to be selected, the next option in the
6157 menu is @samp{[1] all}, and typing @kbd{1 @key{RET}} selects all possible
6158 choices.
6159
6160 For example, the following session excerpt shows an attempt to set a
6161 breakpoint at the overloaded symbol @code{String::after}.
6162 We choose three particular definitions of that function name:
6163
6164 @c FIXME! This is likely to change to show arg type lists, at least
6165 @smallexample
6166 @group
6167 (@value{GDBP}) b String::after
6168 [0] cancel
6169 [1] all
6170 [2] file:String.cc; line number:867
6171 [3] file:String.cc; line number:860
6172 [4] file:String.cc; line number:875
6173 [5] file:String.cc; line number:853
6174 [6] file:String.cc; line number:846
6175 [7] file:String.cc; line number:735
6176 > 2 4 6
6177 Breakpoint 1 at 0xb26c: file String.cc, line 867.
6178 Breakpoint 2 at 0xb344: file String.cc, line 875.
6179 Breakpoint 3 at 0xafcc: file String.cc, line 846.
6180 Multiple breakpoints were set.
6181 Use the "delete" command to delete unwanted
6182 breakpoints.
6183 (@value{GDBP})
6184 @end group
6185 @end smallexample
6186
6187 @table @code
6188 @kindex set multiple-symbols
6189 @item set multiple-symbols @var{mode}
6190 @cindex multiple-symbols menu
6191
6192 This option allows you to adjust the debugger behavior when an expression
6193 is ambiguous.
6194
6195 By default, @var{mode} is set to @code{all}. If the command with which
6196 the expression is used allows more than one choice, then @value{GDBN}
6197 automatically selects all possible choices. For instance, inserting
6198 a breakpoint on a function using an ambiguous name results in a breakpoint
6199 inserted on each possible match. However, if a unique choice must be made,
6200 then @value{GDBN} uses the menu to help you disambiguate the expression.
6201 For instance, printing the address of an overloaded function will result
6202 in the use of the menu.
6203
6204 When @var{mode} is set to @code{ask}, the debugger always uses the menu
6205 when an ambiguity is detected.
6206
6207 Finally, when @var{mode} is set to @code{cancel}, the debugger reports
6208 an error due to the ambiguity and the command is aborted.
6209
6210 @kindex show multiple-symbols
6211 @item show multiple-symbols
6212 Show the current value of the @code{multiple-symbols} setting.
6213 @end table
6214
6215 @node Variables
6216 @section Program Variables
6217
6218 The most common kind of expression to use is the name of a variable
6219 in your program.
6220
6221 Variables in expressions are understood in the selected stack frame
6222 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}); they must be either:
6223
6224 @itemize @bullet
6225 @item
6226 global (or file-static)
6227 @end itemize
6228
6229 @noindent or
6230
6231 @itemize @bullet
6232 @item
6233 visible according to the scope rules of the
6234 programming language from the point of execution in that frame
6235 @end itemize
6236
6237 @noindent This means that in the function
6238
6239 @smallexample
6240 foo (a)
6241 int a;
6242 @{
6243 bar (a);
6244 @{
6245 int b = test ();
6246 bar (b);
6247 @}
6248 @}
6249 @end smallexample
6250
6251 @noindent
6252 you can examine and use the variable @code{a} whenever your program is
6253 executing within the function @code{foo}, but you can only use or
6254 examine the variable @code{b} while your program is executing inside
6255 the block where @code{b} is declared.
6256
6257 @cindex variable name conflict
6258 There is an exception: you can refer to a variable or function whose
6259 scope is a single source file even if the current execution point is not
6260 in this file. But it is possible to have more than one such variable or
6261 function with the same name (in different source files). If that
6262 happens, referring to that name has unpredictable effects. If you wish,
6263 you can specify a static variable in a particular function or file,
6264 using the colon-colon (@code{::}) notation:
6265
6266 @cindex colon-colon, context for variables/functions
6267 @ifnotinfo
6268 @c info cannot cope with a :: index entry, but why deprive hard copy readers?
6269 @cindex @code{::}, context for variables/functions
6270 @end ifnotinfo
6271 @smallexample
6272 @var{file}::@var{variable}
6273 @var{function}::@var{variable}
6274 @end smallexample
6275
6276 @noindent
6277 Here @var{file} or @var{function} is the name of the context for the
6278 static @var{variable}. In the case of file names, you can use quotes to
6279 make sure @value{GDBN} parses the file name as a single word---for example,
6280 to print a global value of @code{x} defined in @file{f2.c}:
6281
6282 @smallexample
6283 (@value{GDBP}) p 'f2.c'::x
6284 @end smallexample
6285
6286 @cindex C@t{++} scope resolution
6287 This use of @samp{::} is very rarely in conflict with the very similar
6288 use of the same notation in C@t{++}. @value{GDBN} also supports use of the C@t{++}
6289 scope resolution operator in @value{GDBN} expressions.
6290 @c FIXME: Um, so what happens in one of those rare cases where it's in
6291 @c conflict?? --mew
6292
6293 @cindex wrong values
6294 @cindex variable values, wrong
6295 @cindex function entry/exit, wrong values of variables
6296 @cindex optimized code, wrong values of variables
6297 @quotation
6298 @emph{Warning:} Occasionally, a local variable may appear to have the
6299 wrong value at certain points in a function---just after entry to a new
6300 scope, and just before exit.
6301 @end quotation
6302 You may see this problem when you are stepping by machine instructions.
6303 This is because, on most machines, it takes more than one instruction to
6304 set up a stack frame (including local variable definitions); if you are
6305 stepping by machine instructions, variables may appear to have the wrong
6306 values until the stack frame is completely built. On exit, it usually
6307 also takes more than one machine instruction to destroy a stack frame;
6308 after you begin stepping through that group of instructions, local
6309 variable definitions may be gone.
6310
6311 This may also happen when the compiler does significant optimizations.
6312 To be sure of always seeing accurate values, turn off all optimization
6313 when compiling.
6314
6315 @cindex ``No symbol "foo" in current context''
6316 Another possible effect of compiler optimizations is to optimize
6317 unused variables out of existence, or assign variables to registers (as
6318 opposed to memory addresses). Depending on the support for such cases
6319 offered by the debug info format used by the compiler, @value{GDBN}
6320 might not be able to display values for such local variables. If that
6321 happens, @value{GDBN} will print a message like this:
6322
6323 @smallexample
6324 No symbol "foo" in current context.
6325 @end smallexample
6326
6327 To solve such problems, either recompile without optimizations, or use a
6328 different debug info format, if the compiler supports several such
6329 formats. For example, @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler,
6330 usually supports the @option{-gstabs+} option. @option{-gstabs+}
6331 produces debug info in a format that is superior to formats such as
6332 COFF. You may be able to use DWARF 2 (@option{-gdwarf-2}), which is also
6333 an effective form for debug info. @xref{Debugging Options,,Options
6334 for Debugging Your Program or GCC, gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu}
6335 Compiler Collection (GCC)}.
6336 @xref{C, ,C and C@t{++}}, for more information about debug info formats
6337 that are best suited to C@t{++} programs.
6338
6339 If you ask to print an object whose contents are unknown to
6340 @value{GDBN}, e.g., because its data type is not completely specified
6341 by the debug information, @value{GDBN} will say @samp{<incomplete
6342 type>}. @xref{Symbols, incomplete type}, for more about this.
6343
6344 Strings are identified as arrays of @code{char} values without specified
6345 signedness. Arrays of either @code{signed char} or @code{unsigned char} get
6346 printed as arrays of 1 byte sized integers. @code{-fsigned-char} or
6347 @code{-funsigned-char} @value{NGCC} options have no effect as @value{GDBN}
6348 defines literal string type @code{"char"} as @code{char} without a sign.
6349 For program code
6350
6351 @smallexample
6352 char var0[] = "A";
6353 signed char var1[] = "A";
6354 @end smallexample
6355
6356 You get during debugging
6357 @smallexample
6358 (gdb) print var0
6359 $1 = "A"
6360 (gdb) print var1
6361 $2 = @{65 'A', 0 '\0'@}
6362 @end smallexample
6363
6364 @node Arrays
6365 @section Artificial Arrays
6366
6367 @cindex artificial array
6368 @cindex arrays
6369 @kindex @@@r{, referencing memory as an array}
6370 It is often useful to print out several successive objects of the
6371 same type in memory; a section of an array, or an array of
6372 dynamically determined size for which only a pointer exists in the
6373 program.
6374
6375 You can do this by referring to a contiguous span of memory as an
6376 @dfn{artificial array}, using the binary operator @samp{@@}. The left
6377 operand of @samp{@@} should be the first element of the desired array
6378 and be an individual object. The right operand should be the desired length
6379 of the array. The result is an array value whose elements are all of
6380 the type of the left argument. The first element is actually the left
6381 argument; the second element comes from bytes of memory immediately
6382 following those that hold the first element, and so on. Here is an
6383 example. If a program says
6384
6385 @smallexample
6386 int *array = (int *) malloc (len * sizeof (int));
6387 @end smallexample
6388
6389 @noindent
6390 you can print the contents of @code{array} with
6391
6392 @smallexample
6393 p *array@@len
6394 @end smallexample
6395
6396 The left operand of @samp{@@} must reside in memory. Array values made
6397 with @samp{@@} in this way behave just like other arrays in terms of
6398 subscripting, and are coerced to pointers when used in expressions.
6399 Artificial arrays most often appear in expressions via the value history
6400 (@pxref{Value History, ,Value History}), after printing one out.
6401
6402 Another way to create an artificial array is to use a cast.
6403 This re-interprets a value as if it were an array.
6404 The value need not be in memory:
6405 @smallexample
6406 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[2])0x12345678
6407 $1 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
6408 @end smallexample
6409
6410 As a convenience, if you leave the array length out (as in
6411 @samp{(@var{type}[])@var{value}}) @value{GDBN} calculates the size to fill
6412 the value (as @samp{sizeof(@var{value})/sizeof(@var{type})}:
6413 @smallexample
6414 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[])0x12345678
6415 $2 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
6416 @end smallexample
6417
6418 Sometimes the artificial array mechanism is not quite enough; in
6419 moderately complex data structures, the elements of interest may not
6420 actually be adjacent---for example, if you are interested in the values
6421 of pointers in an array. One useful work-around in this situation is
6422 to use a convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
6423 Variables}) as a counter in an expression that prints the first
6424 interesting value, and then repeat that expression via @key{RET}. For
6425 instance, suppose you have an array @code{dtab} of pointers to
6426 structures, and you are interested in the values of a field @code{fv}
6427 in each structure. Here is an example of what you might type:
6428
6429 @smallexample
6430 set $i = 0
6431 p dtab[$i++]->fv
6432 @key{RET}
6433 @key{RET}
6434 @dots{}
6435 @end smallexample
6436
6437 @node Output Formats
6438 @section Output Formats
6439
6440 @cindex formatted output
6441 @cindex output formats
6442 By default, @value{GDBN} prints a value according to its data type. Sometimes
6443 this is not what you want. For example, you might want to print a number
6444 in hex, or a pointer in decimal. Or you might want to view data in memory
6445 at a certain address as a character string or as an instruction. To do
6446 these things, specify an @dfn{output format} when you print a value.
6447
6448 The simplest use of output formats is to say how to print a value
6449 already computed. This is done by starting the arguments of the
6450 @code{print} command with a slash and a format letter. The format
6451 letters supported are:
6452
6453 @table @code
6454 @item x
6455 Regard the bits of the value as an integer, and print the integer in
6456 hexadecimal.
6457
6458 @item d
6459 Print as integer in signed decimal.
6460
6461 @item u
6462 Print as integer in unsigned decimal.
6463
6464 @item o
6465 Print as integer in octal.
6466
6467 @item t
6468 Print as integer in binary. The letter @samp{t} stands for ``two''.
6469 @footnote{@samp{b} cannot be used because these format letters are also
6470 used with the @code{x} command, where @samp{b} stands for ``byte'';
6471 see @ref{Memory,,Examining Memory}.}
6472
6473 @item a
6474 @cindex unknown address, locating
6475 @cindex locate address
6476 Print as an address, both absolute in hexadecimal and as an offset from
6477 the nearest preceding symbol. You can use this format used to discover
6478 where (in what function) an unknown address is located:
6479
6480 @smallexample
6481 (@value{GDBP}) p/a 0x54320
6482 $3 = 0x54320 <_initialize_vx+396>
6483 @end smallexample
6484
6485 @noindent
6486 The command @code{info symbol 0x54320} yields similar results.
6487 @xref{Symbols, info symbol}.
6488
6489 @item c
6490 Regard as an integer and print it as a character constant. This
6491 prints both the numerical value and its character representation. The
6492 character representation is replaced with the octal escape @samp{\nnn}
6493 for characters outside the 7-bit @sc{ascii} range.
6494
6495 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays @code{char},
6496 @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} data as character
6497 constants. Single-byte members of vectors are displayed as integer
6498 data.
6499
6500 @item f
6501 Regard the bits of the value as a floating point number and print
6502 using typical floating point syntax.
6503
6504 @item s
6505 @cindex printing strings
6506 @cindex printing byte arrays
6507 Regard as a string, if possible. With this format, pointers to single-byte
6508 data are displayed as null-terminated strings and arrays of single-byte data
6509 are displayed as fixed-length strings. Other values are displayed in their
6510 natural types.
6511
6512 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays pointers to and arrays of
6513 @code{char}, @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} as
6514 strings. Single-byte members of a vector are displayed as an integer
6515 array.
6516 @end table
6517
6518 For example, to print the program counter in hex (@pxref{Registers}), type
6519
6520 @smallexample
6521 p/x $pc
6522 @end smallexample
6523
6524 @noindent
6525 Note that no space is required before the slash; this is because command
6526 names in @value{GDBN} cannot contain a slash.
6527
6528 To reprint the last value in the value history with a different format,
6529 you can use the @code{print} command with just a format and no
6530 expression. For example, @samp{p/x} reprints the last value in hex.
6531
6532 @node Memory
6533 @section Examining Memory
6534
6535 You can use the command @code{x} (for ``examine'') to examine memory in
6536 any of several formats, independently of your program's data types.
6537
6538 @cindex examining memory
6539 @table @code
6540 @kindex x @r{(examine memory)}
6541 @item x/@var{nfu} @var{addr}
6542 @itemx x @var{addr}
6543 @itemx x
6544 Use the @code{x} command to examine memory.
6545 @end table
6546
6547 @var{n}, @var{f}, and @var{u} are all optional parameters that specify how
6548 much memory to display and how to format it; @var{addr} is an
6549 expression giving the address where you want to start displaying memory.
6550 If you use defaults for @var{nfu}, you need not type the slash @samp{/}.
6551 Several commands set convenient defaults for @var{addr}.
6552
6553 @table @r
6554 @item @var{n}, the repeat count
6555 The repeat count is a decimal integer; the default is 1. It specifies
6556 how much memory (counting by units @var{u}) to display.
6557 @c This really is **decimal**; unaffected by 'set radix' as of GDB
6558 @c 4.1.2.
6559
6560 @item @var{f}, the display format
6561 The display format is one of the formats used by @code{print}
6562 (@samp{x}, @samp{d}, @samp{u}, @samp{o}, @samp{t}, @samp{a}, @samp{c},
6563 @samp{f}, @samp{s}), and in addition @samp{i} (for machine instructions).
6564 The default is @samp{x} (hexadecimal) initially. The default changes
6565 each time you use either @code{x} or @code{print}.
6566
6567 @item @var{u}, the unit size
6568 The unit size is any of
6569
6570 @table @code
6571 @item b
6572 Bytes.
6573 @item h
6574 Halfwords (two bytes).
6575 @item w
6576 Words (four bytes). This is the initial default.
6577 @item g
6578 Giant words (eight bytes).
6579 @end table
6580
6581 Each time you specify a unit size with @code{x}, that size becomes the
6582 default unit the next time you use @code{x}. (For the @samp{s} and
6583 @samp{i} formats, the unit size is ignored and is normally not written.)
6584
6585 @item @var{addr}, starting display address
6586 @var{addr} is the address where you want @value{GDBN} to begin displaying
6587 memory. The expression need not have a pointer value (though it may);
6588 it is always interpreted as an integer address of a byte of memory.
6589 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information on expressions. The default for
6590 @var{addr} is usually just after the last address examined---but several
6591 other commands also set the default address: @code{info breakpoints} (to
6592 the address of the last breakpoint listed), @code{info line} (to the
6593 starting address of a line), and @code{print} (if you use it to display
6594 a value from memory).
6595 @end table
6596
6597 For example, @samp{x/3uh 0x54320} is a request to display three halfwords
6598 (@code{h}) of memory, formatted as unsigned decimal integers (@samp{u}),
6599 starting at address @code{0x54320}. @samp{x/4xw $sp} prints the four
6600 words (@samp{w}) of memory above the stack pointer (here, @samp{$sp};
6601 @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}) in hexadecimal (@samp{x}).
6602
6603 Since the letters indicating unit sizes are all distinct from the
6604 letters specifying output formats, you do not have to remember whether
6605 unit size or format comes first; either order works. The output
6606 specifications @samp{4xw} and @samp{4wx} mean exactly the same thing.
6607 (However, the count @var{n} must come first; @samp{wx4} does not work.)
6608
6609 Even though the unit size @var{u} is ignored for the formats @samp{s}
6610 and @samp{i}, you might still want to use a count @var{n}; for example,
6611 @samp{3i} specifies that you want to see three machine instructions,
6612 including any operands. For convenience, especially when used with
6613 the @code{display} command, the @samp{i} format also prints branch delay
6614 slot instructions, if any, beyond the count specified, which immediately
6615 follow the last instruction that is within the count. The command
6616 @code{disassemble} gives an alternative way of inspecting machine
6617 instructions; see @ref{Machine Code,,Source and Machine Code}.
6618
6619 All the defaults for the arguments to @code{x} are designed to make it
6620 easy to continue scanning memory with minimal specifications each time
6621 you use @code{x}. For example, after you have inspected three machine
6622 instructions with @samp{x/3i @var{addr}}, you can inspect the next seven
6623 with just @samp{x/7}. If you use @key{RET} to repeat the @code{x} command,
6624 the repeat count @var{n} is used again; the other arguments default as
6625 for successive uses of @code{x}.
6626
6627 @cindex @code{$_}, @code{$__}, and value history
6628 The addresses and contents printed by the @code{x} command are not saved
6629 in the value history because there is often too much of them and they
6630 would get in the way. Instead, @value{GDBN} makes these values available for
6631 subsequent use in expressions as values of the convenience variables
6632 @code{$_} and @code{$__}. After an @code{x} command, the last address
6633 examined is available for use in expressions in the convenience variable
6634 @code{$_}. The contents of that address, as examined, are available in
6635 the convenience variable @code{$__}.
6636
6637 If the @code{x} command has a repeat count, the address and contents saved
6638 are from the last memory unit printed; this is not the same as the last
6639 address printed if several units were printed on the last line of output.
6640
6641 @cindex remote memory comparison
6642 @cindex verify remote memory image
6643 When you are debugging a program running on a remote target machine
6644 (@pxref{Remote Debugging}), you may wish to verify the program's image in the
6645 remote machine's memory against the executable file you downloaded to
6646 the target. The @code{compare-sections} command is provided for such
6647 situations.
6648
6649 @table @code
6650 @kindex compare-sections
6651 @item compare-sections @r{[}@var{section-name}@r{]}
6652 Compare the data of a loadable section @var{section-name} in the
6653 executable file of the program being debugged with the same section in
6654 the remote machine's memory, and report any mismatches. With no
6655 arguments, compares all loadable sections. This command's
6656 availability depends on the target's support for the @code{"qCRC"}
6657 remote request.
6658 @end table
6659
6660 @node Auto Display
6661 @section Automatic Display
6662 @cindex automatic display
6663 @cindex display of expressions
6664
6665 If you find that you want to print the value of an expression frequently
6666 (to see how it changes), you might want to add it to the @dfn{automatic
6667 display list} so that @value{GDBN} prints its value each time your program stops.
6668 Each expression added to the list is given a number to identify it;
6669 to remove an expression from the list, you specify that number.
6670 The automatic display looks like this:
6671
6672 @smallexample
6673 2: foo = 38
6674 3: bar[5] = (struct hack *) 0x3804
6675 @end smallexample
6676
6677 @noindent
6678 This display shows item numbers, expressions and their current values. As with
6679 displays you request manually using @code{x} or @code{print}, you can
6680 specify the output format you prefer; in fact, @code{display} decides
6681 whether to use @code{print} or @code{x} depending your format
6682 specification---it uses @code{x} if you specify either the @samp{i}
6683 or @samp{s} format, or a unit size; otherwise it uses @code{print}.
6684
6685 @table @code
6686 @kindex display
6687 @item display @var{expr}
6688 Add the expression @var{expr} to the list of expressions to display
6689 each time your program stops. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
6690
6691 @code{display} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
6692
6693 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{expr}
6694 For @var{fmt} specifying only a display format and not a size or
6695 count, add the expression @var{expr} to the auto-display list but
6696 arrange to display it each time in the specified format @var{fmt}.
6697 @xref{Output Formats,,Output Formats}.
6698
6699 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{addr}
6700 For @var{fmt} @samp{i} or @samp{s}, or including a unit-size or a
6701 number of units, add the expression @var{addr} as a memory address to
6702 be examined each time your program stops. Examining means in effect
6703 doing @samp{x/@var{fmt} @var{addr}}. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
6704 @end table
6705
6706 For example, @samp{display/i $pc} can be helpful, to see the machine
6707 instruction about to be executed each time execution stops (@samp{$pc}
6708 is a common name for the program counter; @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
6709
6710 @table @code
6711 @kindex delete display
6712 @kindex undisplay
6713 @item undisplay @var{dnums}@dots{}
6714 @itemx delete display @var{dnums}@dots{}
6715 Remove item numbers @var{dnums} from the list of expressions to display.
6716
6717 @code{undisplay} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
6718 (Otherwise you would just get the error @samp{No display number @dots{}}.)
6719
6720 @kindex disable display
6721 @item disable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
6722 Disable the display of item numbers @var{dnums}. A disabled display
6723 item is not printed automatically, but is not forgotten. It may be
6724 enabled again later.
6725
6726 @kindex enable display
6727 @item enable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
6728 Enable display of item numbers @var{dnums}. It becomes effective once
6729 again in auto display of its expression, until you specify otherwise.
6730
6731 @item display
6732 Display the current values of the expressions on the list, just as is
6733 done when your program stops.
6734
6735 @kindex info display
6736 @item info display
6737 Print the list of expressions previously set up to display
6738 automatically, each one with its item number, but without showing the
6739 values. This includes disabled expressions, which are marked as such.
6740 It also includes expressions which would not be displayed right now
6741 because they refer to automatic variables not currently available.
6742 @end table
6743
6744 @cindex display disabled out of scope
6745 If a display expression refers to local variables, then it does not make
6746 sense outside the lexical context for which it was set up. Such an
6747 expression is disabled when execution enters a context where one of its
6748 variables is not defined. For example, if you give the command
6749 @code{display last_char} while inside a function with an argument
6750 @code{last_char}, @value{GDBN} displays this argument while your program
6751 continues to stop inside that function. When it stops elsewhere---where
6752 there is no variable @code{last_char}---the display is disabled
6753 automatically. The next time your program stops where @code{last_char}
6754 is meaningful, you can enable the display expression once again.
6755
6756 @node Print Settings
6757 @section Print Settings
6758
6759 @cindex format options
6760 @cindex print settings
6761 @value{GDBN} provides the following ways to control how arrays, structures,
6762 and symbols are printed.
6763
6764 @noindent
6765 These settings are useful for debugging programs in any language:
6766
6767 @table @code
6768 @kindex set print
6769 @item set print address
6770 @itemx set print address on
6771 @cindex print/don't print memory addresses
6772 @value{GDBN} prints memory addresses showing the location of stack
6773 traces, structure values, pointer values, breakpoints, and so forth,
6774 even when it also displays the contents of those addresses. The default
6775 is @code{on}. For example, this is what a stack frame display looks like with
6776 @code{set print address on}:
6777
6778 @smallexample
6779 @group
6780 (@value{GDBP}) f
6781 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<<", rq=0x34c88 ">>")
6782 at input.c:530
6783 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
6784 @end group
6785 @end smallexample
6786
6787 @item set print address off
6788 Do not print addresses when displaying their contents. For example,
6789 this is the same stack frame displayed with @code{set print address off}:
6790
6791 @smallexample
6792 @group
6793 (@value{GDBP}) set print addr off
6794 (@value{GDBP}) f
6795 #0 set_quotes (lq="<<", rq=">>") at input.c:530
6796 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
6797 @end group
6798 @end smallexample
6799
6800 You can use @samp{set print address off} to eliminate all machine
6801 dependent displays from the @value{GDBN} interface. For example, with
6802 @code{print address off}, you should get the same text for backtraces on
6803 all machines---whether or not they involve pointer arguments.
6804
6805 @kindex show print
6806 @item show print address
6807 Show whether or not addresses are to be printed.
6808 @end table
6809
6810 When @value{GDBN} prints a symbolic address, it normally prints the
6811 closest earlier symbol plus an offset. If that symbol does not uniquely
6812 identify the address (for example, it is a name whose scope is a single
6813 source file), you may need to clarify. One way to do this is with
6814 @code{info line}, for example @samp{info line *0x4537}. Alternately,
6815 you can set @value{GDBN} to print the source file and line number when
6816 it prints a symbolic address:
6817
6818 @table @code
6819 @item set print symbol-filename on
6820 @cindex source file and line of a symbol
6821 @cindex symbol, source file and line
6822 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the source file name and line number of a
6823 symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
6824
6825 @item set print symbol-filename off
6826 Do not print source file name and line number of a symbol. This is the
6827 default.
6828
6829 @item show print symbol-filename
6830 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} will print the source file name and
6831 line number of a symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
6832 @end table
6833
6834 Another situation where it is helpful to show symbol filenames and line
6835 numbers is when disassembling code; @value{GDBN} shows you the line
6836 number and source file that corresponds to each instruction.
6837
6838 Also, you may wish to see the symbolic form only if the address being
6839 printed is reasonably close to the closest earlier symbol:
6840
6841 @table @code
6842 @item set print max-symbolic-offset @var{max-offset}
6843 @cindex maximum value for offset of closest symbol
6844 Tell @value{GDBN} to only display the symbolic form of an address if the
6845 offset between the closest earlier symbol and the address is less than
6846 @var{max-offset}. The default is 0, which tells @value{GDBN}
6847 to always print the symbolic form of an address if any symbol precedes it.
6848
6849 @item show print max-symbolic-offset
6850 Ask how large the maximum offset is that @value{GDBN} prints in a
6851 symbolic address.
6852 @end table
6853
6854 @cindex wild pointer, interpreting
6855 @cindex pointer, finding referent
6856 If you have a pointer and you are not sure where it points, try
6857 @samp{set print symbol-filename on}. Then you can determine the name
6858 and source file location of the variable where it points, using
6859 @samp{p/a @var{pointer}}. This interprets the address in symbolic form.
6860 For example, here @value{GDBN} shows that a variable @code{ptt} points
6861 at another variable @code{t}, defined in @file{hi2.c}:
6862
6863 @smallexample
6864 (@value{GDBP}) set print symbol-filename on
6865 (@value{GDBP}) p/a ptt
6866 $4 = 0xe008 <t in hi2.c>
6867 @end smallexample
6868
6869 @quotation
6870 @emph{Warning:} For pointers that point to a local variable, @samp{p/a}
6871 does not show the symbol name and filename of the referent, even with
6872 the appropriate @code{set print} options turned on.
6873 @end quotation
6874
6875 Other settings control how different kinds of objects are printed:
6876
6877 @table @code
6878 @item set print array
6879 @itemx set print array on
6880 @cindex pretty print arrays
6881 Pretty print arrays. This format is more convenient to read,
6882 but uses more space. The default is off.
6883
6884 @item set print array off
6885 Return to compressed format for arrays.
6886
6887 @item show print array
6888 Show whether compressed or pretty format is selected for displaying
6889 arrays.
6890
6891 @cindex print array indexes
6892 @item set print array-indexes
6893 @itemx set print array-indexes on
6894 Print the index of each element when displaying arrays. May be more
6895 convenient to locate a given element in the array or quickly find the
6896 index of a given element in that printed array. The default is off.
6897
6898 @item set print array-indexes off
6899 Stop printing element indexes when displaying arrays.
6900
6901 @item show print array-indexes
6902 Show whether the index of each element is printed when displaying
6903 arrays.
6904
6905 @item set print elements @var{number-of-elements}
6906 @cindex number of array elements to print
6907 @cindex limit on number of printed array elements
6908 Set a limit on how many elements of an array @value{GDBN} will print.
6909 If @value{GDBN} is printing a large array, it stops printing after it has
6910 printed the number of elements set by the @code{set print elements} command.
6911 This limit also applies to the display of strings.
6912 When @value{GDBN} starts, this limit is set to 200.
6913 Setting @var{number-of-elements} to zero means that the printing is unlimited.
6914
6915 @item show print elements
6916 Display the number of elements of a large array that @value{GDBN} will print.
6917 If the number is 0, then the printing is unlimited.
6918
6919 @item set print frame-arguments @var{value}
6920 @cindex printing frame argument values
6921 @cindex print all frame argument values
6922 @cindex print frame argument values for scalars only
6923 @cindex do not print frame argument values
6924 This command allows to control how the values of arguments are printed
6925 when the debugger prints a frame (@pxref{Frames}). The possible
6926 values are:
6927
6928 @table @code
6929 @item all
6930 The values of all arguments are printed. This is the default.
6931
6932 @item scalars
6933 Print the value of an argument only if it is a scalar. The value of more
6934 complex arguments such as arrays, structures, unions, etc, is replaced
6935 by @code{@dots{}}. Here is an example where only scalar arguments are shown:
6936
6937 @smallexample
6938 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=3, s=@dots{}, ss=0xbf8d508c, u=@dots{}, e=green)
6939 at frame-args.c:23
6940 @end smallexample
6941
6942 @item none
6943 None of the argument values are printed. Instead, the value of each argument
6944 is replaced by @code{@dots{}}. In this case, the example above now becomes:
6945
6946 @smallexample
6947 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=@dots{}, s=@dots{}, ss=@dots{}, u=@dots{}, e=@dots{})
6948 at frame-args.c:23
6949 @end smallexample
6950 @end table
6951
6952 By default, all argument values are always printed. But this command
6953 can be useful in several cases. For instance, it can be used to reduce
6954 the amount of information printed in each frame, making the backtrace
6955 more readable. Also, this command can be used to improve performance
6956 when displaying Ada frames, because the computation of large arguments
6957 can sometimes be CPU-intensive, especiallly in large applications.
6958 Setting @code{print frame-arguments} to @code{scalars} or @code{none}
6959 avoids this computation, thus speeding up the display of each Ada frame.
6960
6961 @item show print frame-arguments
6962 Show how the value of arguments should be displayed when printing a frame.
6963
6964 @item set print repeats
6965 @cindex repeated array elements
6966 Set the threshold for suppressing display of repeated array
6967 elements. When the number of consecutive identical elements of an
6968 array exceeds the threshold, @value{GDBN} prints the string
6969 @code{"<repeats @var{n} times>"}, where @var{n} is the number of
6970 identical repetitions, instead of displaying the identical elements
6971 themselves. Setting the threshold to zero will cause all elements to
6972 be individually printed. The default threshold is 10.
6973
6974 @item show print repeats
6975 Display the current threshold for printing repeated identical
6976 elements.
6977
6978 @item set print null-stop
6979 @cindex @sc{null} elements in arrays
6980 Cause @value{GDBN} to stop printing the characters of an array when the first
6981 @sc{null} is encountered. This is useful when large arrays actually
6982 contain only short strings.
6983 The default is off.
6984
6985 @item show print null-stop
6986 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops printing an array on the first
6987 @sc{null} character.
6988
6989 @item set print pretty on
6990 @cindex print structures in indented form
6991 @cindex indentation in structure display
6992 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in an indented format with one member
6993 per line, like this:
6994
6995 @smallexample
6996 @group
6997 $1 = @{
6998 next = 0x0,
6999 flags = @{
7000 sweet = 1,
7001 sour = 1
7002 @},
7003 meat = 0x54 "Pork"
7004 @}
7005 @end group
7006 @end smallexample
7007
7008 @item set print pretty off
7009 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in a compact format, like this:
7010
7011 @smallexample
7012 @group
7013 $1 = @{next = 0x0, flags = @{sweet = 1, sour = 1@}, \
7014 meat = 0x54 "Pork"@}
7015 @end group
7016 @end smallexample
7017
7018 @noindent
7019 This is the default format.
7020
7021 @item show print pretty
7022 Show which format @value{GDBN} is using to print structures.
7023
7024 @item set print sevenbit-strings on
7025 @cindex eight-bit characters in strings
7026 @cindex octal escapes in strings
7027 Print using only seven-bit characters; if this option is set,
7028 @value{GDBN} displays any eight-bit characters (in strings or
7029 character values) using the notation @code{\}@var{nnn}. This setting is
7030 best if you are working in English (@sc{ascii}) and you use the
7031 high-order bit of characters as a marker or ``meta'' bit.
7032
7033 @item set print sevenbit-strings off
7034 Print full eight-bit characters. This allows the use of more
7035 international character sets, and is the default.
7036
7037 @item show print sevenbit-strings
7038 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} is printing only seven-bit characters.
7039
7040 @item set print union on
7041 @cindex unions in structures, printing
7042 Tell @value{GDBN} to print unions which are contained in structures
7043 and other unions. This is the default setting.
7044
7045 @item set print union off
7046 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print unions which are contained in
7047 structures and other unions. @value{GDBN} will print @code{"@{...@}"}
7048 instead.
7049
7050 @item show print union
7051 Ask @value{GDBN} whether or not it will print unions which are contained in
7052 structures and other unions.
7053
7054 For example, given the declarations
7055
7056 @smallexample
7057 typedef enum @{Tree, Bug@} Species;
7058 typedef enum @{Big_tree, Acorn, Seedling@} Tree_forms;
7059 typedef enum @{Caterpillar, Cocoon, Butterfly@}
7060 Bug_forms;
7061
7062 struct thing @{
7063 Species it;
7064 union @{
7065 Tree_forms tree;
7066 Bug_forms bug;
7067 @} form;
7068 @};
7069
7070 struct thing foo = @{Tree, @{Acorn@}@};
7071 @end smallexample
7072
7073 @noindent
7074 with @code{set print union on} in effect @samp{p foo} would print
7075
7076 @smallexample
7077 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{tree = Acorn, bug = Cocoon@}@}
7078 @end smallexample
7079
7080 @noindent
7081 and with @code{set print union off} in effect it would print
7082
7083 @smallexample
7084 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{...@}@}
7085 @end smallexample
7086
7087 @noindent
7088 @code{set print union} affects programs written in C-like languages
7089 and in Pascal.
7090 @end table
7091
7092 @need 1000
7093 @noindent
7094 These settings are of interest when debugging C@t{++} programs:
7095
7096 @table @code
7097 @cindex demangling C@t{++} names
7098 @item set print demangle
7099 @itemx set print demangle on
7100 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than in the encoded
7101 (``mangled'') form passed to the assembler and linker for type-safe
7102 linkage. The default is on.
7103
7104 @item show print demangle
7105 Show whether C@t{++} names are printed in mangled or demangled form.
7106
7107 @item set print asm-demangle
7108 @itemx set print asm-demangle on
7109 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than their mangled form, even
7110 in assembler code printouts such as instruction disassemblies.
7111 The default is off.
7112
7113 @item show print asm-demangle
7114 Show whether C@t{++} names in assembly listings are printed in mangled
7115 or demangled form.
7116
7117 @cindex C@t{++} symbol decoding style
7118 @cindex symbol decoding style, C@t{++}
7119 @kindex set demangle-style
7120 @item set demangle-style @var{style}
7121 Choose among several encoding schemes used by different compilers to
7122 represent C@t{++} names. The choices for @var{style} are currently:
7123
7124 @table @code
7125 @item auto
7126 Allow @value{GDBN} to choose a decoding style by inspecting your program.
7127
7128 @item gnu
7129 Decode based on the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler (@code{g++}) encoding algorithm.
7130 This is the default.
7131
7132 @item hp
7133 Decode based on the HP ANSI C@t{++} (@code{aCC}) encoding algorithm.
7134
7135 @item lucid
7136 Decode based on the Lucid C@t{++} compiler (@code{lcc}) encoding algorithm.
7137
7138 @item arm
7139 Decode using the algorithm in the @cite{C@t{++} Annotated Reference Manual}.
7140 @strong{Warning:} this setting alone is not sufficient to allow
7141 debugging @code{cfront}-generated executables. @value{GDBN} would
7142 require further enhancement to permit that.
7143
7144 @end table
7145 If you omit @var{style}, you will see a list of possible formats.
7146
7147 @item show demangle-style
7148 Display the encoding style currently in use for decoding C@t{++} symbols.
7149
7150 @item set print object
7151 @itemx set print object on
7152 @cindex derived type of an object, printing
7153 @cindex display derived types
7154 When displaying a pointer to an object, identify the @emph{actual}
7155 (derived) type of the object rather than the @emph{declared} type, using
7156 the virtual function table.
7157
7158 @item set print object off
7159 Display only the declared type of objects, without reference to the
7160 virtual function table. This is the default setting.
7161
7162 @item show print object
7163 Show whether actual, or declared, object types are displayed.
7164
7165 @item set print static-members
7166 @itemx set print static-members on
7167 @cindex static members of C@t{++} objects
7168 Print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object. The default is on.
7169
7170 @item set print static-members off
7171 Do not print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object.
7172
7173 @item show print static-members
7174 Show whether C@t{++} static members are printed or not.
7175
7176 @item set print pascal_static-members
7177 @itemx set print pascal_static-members on
7178 @cindex static members of Pascal objects
7179 @cindex Pascal objects, static members display
7180 Print static members when displaying a Pascal object. The default is on.
7181
7182 @item set print pascal_static-members off
7183 Do not print static members when displaying a Pascal object.
7184
7185 @item show print pascal_static-members
7186 Show whether Pascal static members are printed or not.
7187
7188 @c These don't work with HP ANSI C++ yet.
7189 @item set print vtbl
7190 @itemx set print vtbl on
7191 @cindex pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables
7192 @cindex virtual functions (C@t{++}) display
7193 @cindex VTBL display
7194 Pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables. The default is off.
7195 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
7196 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
7197
7198 @item set print vtbl off
7199 Do not pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables.
7200
7201 @item show print vtbl
7202 Show whether C@t{++} virtual function tables are pretty printed, or not.
7203 @end table
7204
7205 @node Value History
7206 @section Value History
7207
7208 @cindex value history
7209 @cindex history of values printed by @value{GDBN}
7210 Values printed by the @code{print} command are saved in the @value{GDBN}
7211 @dfn{value history}. This allows you to refer to them in other expressions.
7212 Values are kept until the symbol table is re-read or discarded
7213 (for example with the @code{file} or @code{symbol-file} commands).
7214 When the symbol table changes, the value history is discarded,
7215 since the values may contain pointers back to the types defined in the
7216 symbol table.
7217
7218 @cindex @code{$}
7219 @cindex @code{$$}
7220 @cindex history number
7221 The values printed are given @dfn{history numbers} by which you can
7222 refer to them. These are successive integers starting with one.
7223 @code{print} shows you the history number assigned to a value by
7224 printing @samp{$@var{num} = } before the value; here @var{num} is the
7225 history number.
7226
7227 To refer to any previous value, use @samp{$} followed by the value's
7228 history number. The way @code{print} labels its output is designed to
7229 remind you of this. Just @code{$} refers to the most recent value in
7230 the history, and @code{$$} refers to the value before that.
7231 @code{$$@var{n}} refers to the @var{n}th value from the end; @code{$$2}
7232 is the value just prior to @code{$$}, @code{$$1} is equivalent to
7233 @code{$$}, and @code{$$0} is equivalent to @code{$}.
7234
7235 For example, suppose you have just printed a pointer to a structure and
7236 want to see the contents of the structure. It suffices to type
7237
7238 @smallexample
7239 p *$
7240 @end smallexample
7241
7242 If you have a chain of structures where the component @code{next} points
7243 to the next one, you can print the contents of the next one with this:
7244
7245 @smallexample
7246 p *$.next
7247 @end smallexample
7248
7249 @noindent
7250 You can print successive links in the chain by repeating this
7251 command---which you can do by just typing @key{RET}.
7252
7253 Note that the history records values, not expressions. If the value of
7254 @code{x} is 4 and you type these commands:
7255
7256 @smallexample
7257 print x
7258 set x=5
7259 @end smallexample
7260
7261 @noindent
7262 then the value recorded in the value history by the @code{print} command
7263 remains 4 even though the value of @code{x} has changed.
7264
7265 @table @code
7266 @kindex show values
7267 @item show values
7268 Print the last ten values in the value history, with their item numbers.
7269 This is like @samp{p@ $$9} repeated ten times, except that @code{show
7270 values} does not change the history.
7271
7272 @item show values @var{n}
7273 Print ten history values centered on history item number @var{n}.
7274
7275 @item show values +
7276 Print ten history values just after the values last printed. If no more
7277 values are available, @code{show values +} produces no display.
7278 @end table
7279
7280 Pressing @key{RET} to repeat @code{show values @var{n}} has exactly the
7281 same effect as @samp{show values +}.
7282
7283 @node Convenience Vars
7284 @section Convenience Variables
7285
7286 @cindex convenience variables
7287 @cindex user-defined variables
7288 @value{GDBN} provides @dfn{convenience variables} that you can use within
7289 @value{GDBN} to hold on to a value and refer to it later. These variables
7290 exist entirely within @value{GDBN}; they are not part of your program, and
7291 setting a convenience variable has no direct effect on further execution
7292 of your program. That is why you can use them freely.
7293
7294 Convenience variables are prefixed with @samp{$}. Any name preceded by
7295 @samp{$} can be used for a convenience variable, unless it is one of
7296 the predefined machine-specific register names (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
7297 (Value history references, in contrast, are @emph{numbers} preceded
7298 by @samp{$}. @xref{Value History, ,Value History}.)
7299
7300 You can save a value in a convenience variable with an assignment
7301 expression, just as you would set a variable in your program.
7302 For example:
7303
7304 @smallexample
7305 set $foo = *object_ptr
7306 @end smallexample
7307
7308 @noindent
7309 would save in @code{$foo} the value contained in the object pointed to by
7310 @code{object_ptr}.
7311
7312 Using a convenience variable for the first time creates it, but its
7313 value is @code{void} until you assign a new value. You can alter the
7314 value with another assignment at any time.
7315
7316 Convenience variables have no fixed types. You can assign a convenience
7317 variable any type of value, including structures and arrays, even if
7318 that variable already has a value of a different type. The convenience
7319 variable, when used as an expression, has the type of its current value.
7320
7321 @table @code
7322 @kindex show convenience
7323 @cindex show all user variables
7324 @item show convenience
7325 Print a list of convenience variables used so far, and their values.
7326 Abbreviated @code{show conv}.
7327
7328 @kindex init-if-undefined
7329 @cindex convenience variables, initializing
7330 @item init-if-undefined $@var{variable} = @var{expression}
7331 Set a convenience variable if it has not already been set. This is useful
7332 for user-defined commands that keep some state. It is similar, in concept,
7333 to using local static variables with initializers in C (except that
7334 convenience variables are global). It can also be used to allow users to
7335 override default values used in a command script.
7336
7337 If the variable is already defined then the expression is not evaluated so
7338 any side-effects do not occur.
7339 @end table
7340
7341 One of the ways to use a convenience variable is as a counter to be
7342 incremented or a pointer to be advanced. For example, to print
7343 a field from successive elements of an array of structures:
7344
7345 @smallexample
7346 set $i = 0
7347 print bar[$i++]->contents
7348 @end smallexample
7349
7350 @noindent
7351 Repeat that command by typing @key{RET}.
7352
7353 Some convenience variables are created automatically by @value{GDBN} and given
7354 values likely to be useful.
7355
7356 @table @code
7357 @vindex $_@r{, convenience variable}
7358 @item $_
7359 The variable @code{$_} is automatically set by the @code{x} command to
7360 the last address examined (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}). Other
7361 commands which provide a default address for @code{x} to examine also
7362 set @code{$_} to that address; these commands include @code{info line}
7363 and @code{info breakpoint}. The type of @code{$_} is @code{void *}
7364 except when set by the @code{x} command, in which case it is a pointer
7365 to the type of @code{$__}.
7366
7367 @vindex $__@r{, convenience variable}
7368 @item $__
7369 The variable @code{$__} is automatically set by the @code{x} command
7370 to the value found in the last address examined. Its type is chosen
7371 to match the format in which the data was printed.
7372
7373 @item $_exitcode
7374 @vindex $_exitcode@r{, convenience variable}
7375 The variable @code{$_exitcode} is automatically set to the exit code when
7376 the program being debugged terminates.
7377 @end table
7378
7379 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
7380 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
7381 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
7382
7383 @node Registers
7384 @section Registers
7385
7386 @cindex registers
7387 You can refer to machine register contents, in expressions, as variables
7388 with names starting with @samp{$}. The names of registers are different
7389 for each machine; use @code{info registers} to see the names used on
7390 your machine.
7391
7392 @table @code
7393 @kindex info registers
7394 @item info registers
7395 Print the names and values of all registers except floating-point
7396 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
7397
7398 @kindex info all-registers
7399 @cindex floating point registers
7400 @item info all-registers
7401 Print the names and values of all registers, including floating-point
7402 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
7403
7404 @item info registers @var{regname} @dots{}
7405 Print the @dfn{relativized} value of each specified register @var{regname}.
7406 As discussed in detail below, register values are normally relative to
7407 the selected stack frame. @var{regname} may be any register name valid on
7408 the machine you are using, with or without the initial @samp{$}.
7409 @end table
7410
7411 @cindex stack pointer register
7412 @cindex program counter register
7413 @cindex process status register
7414 @cindex frame pointer register
7415 @cindex standard registers
7416 @value{GDBN} has four ``standard'' register names that are available (in
7417 expressions) on most machines---whenever they do not conflict with an
7418 architecture's canonical mnemonics for registers. The register names
7419 @code{$pc} and @code{$sp} are used for the program counter register and
7420 the stack pointer. @code{$fp} is used for a register that contains a
7421 pointer to the current stack frame, and @code{$ps} is used for a
7422 register that contains the processor status. For example,
7423 you could print the program counter in hex with
7424
7425 @smallexample
7426 p/x $pc
7427 @end smallexample
7428
7429 @noindent
7430 or print the instruction to be executed next with
7431
7432 @smallexample
7433 x/i $pc
7434 @end smallexample
7435
7436 @noindent
7437 or add four to the stack pointer@footnote{This is a way of removing
7438 one word from the stack, on machines where stacks grow downward in
7439 memory (most machines, nowadays). This assumes that the innermost
7440 stack frame is selected; setting @code{$sp} is not allowed when other
7441 stack frames are selected. To pop entire frames off the stack,
7442 regardless of machine architecture, use @code{return};
7443 see @ref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}.} with
7444
7445 @smallexample
7446 set $sp += 4
7447 @end smallexample
7448
7449 Whenever possible, these four standard register names are available on
7450 your machine even though the machine has different canonical mnemonics,
7451 so long as there is no conflict. The @code{info registers} command
7452 shows the canonical names. For example, on the SPARC, @code{info
7453 registers} displays the processor status register as @code{$psr} but you
7454 can also refer to it as @code{$ps}; and on x86-based machines @code{$ps}
7455 is an alias for the @sc{eflags} register.
7456
7457 @value{GDBN} always considers the contents of an ordinary register as an
7458 integer when the register is examined in this way. Some machines have
7459 special registers which can hold nothing but floating point; these
7460 registers are considered to have floating point values. There is no way
7461 to refer to the contents of an ordinary register as floating point value
7462 (although you can @emph{print} it as a floating point value with
7463 @samp{print/f $@var{regname}}).
7464
7465 Some registers have distinct ``raw'' and ``virtual'' data formats. This
7466 means that the data format in which the register contents are saved by
7467 the operating system is not the same one that your program normally
7468 sees. For example, the registers of the 68881 floating point
7469 coprocessor are always saved in ``extended'' (raw) format, but all C
7470 programs expect to work with ``double'' (virtual) format. In such
7471 cases, @value{GDBN} normally works with the virtual format only (the format
7472 that makes sense for your program), but the @code{info registers} command
7473 prints the data in both formats.
7474
7475 @cindex SSE registers (x86)
7476 @cindex MMX registers (x86)
7477 Some machines have special registers whose contents can be interpreted
7478 in several different ways. For example, modern x86-based machines
7479 have SSE and MMX registers that can hold several values packed
7480 together in several different formats. @value{GDBN} refers to such
7481 registers in @code{struct} notation:
7482
7483 @smallexample
7484 (@value{GDBP}) print $xmm1
7485 $1 = @{
7486 v4_float = @{0, 3.43859137e-038, 1.54142831e-044, 1.821688e-044@},
7487 v2_double = @{9.92129282474342e-303, 2.7585945287983262e-313@},
7488 v16_int8 = "\000\000\000\000\3706;\001\v\000\000\000\r\000\000",
7489 v8_int16 = @{0, 0, 14072, 315, 11, 0, 13, 0@},
7490 v4_int32 = @{0, 20657912, 11, 13@},
7491 v2_int64 = @{88725056443645952, 55834574859@},
7492 uint128 = 0x0000000d0000000b013b36f800000000
7493 @}
7494 @end smallexample
7495
7496 @noindent
7497 To set values of such registers, you need to tell @value{GDBN} which
7498 view of the register you wish to change, as if you were assigning
7499 value to a @code{struct} member:
7500
7501 @smallexample
7502 (@value{GDBP}) set $xmm1.uint128 = 0x000000000000000000000000FFFFFFFF
7503 @end smallexample
7504
7505 Normally, register values are relative to the selected stack frame
7506 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). This means that you get the
7507 value that the register would contain if all stack frames farther in
7508 were exited and their saved registers restored. In order to see the
7509 true contents of hardware registers, you must select the innermost
7510 frame (with @samp{frame 0}).
7511
7512 However, @value{GDBN} must deduce where registers are saved, from the machine
7513 code generated by your compiler. If some registers are not saved, or if
7514 @value{GDBN} is unable to locate the saved registers, the selected stack
7515 frame makes no difference.
7516
7517 @node Floating Point Hardware
7518 @section Floating Point Hardware
7519 @cindex floating point
7520
7521 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give
7522 you more information about the status of the floating point hardware.
7523
7524 @table @code
7525 @kindex info float
7526 @item info float
7527 Display hardware-dependent information about the floating
7528 point unit. The exact contents and layout vary depending on the
7529 floating point chip. Currently, @samp{info float} is supported on
7530 the ARM and x86 machines.
7531 @end table
7532
7533 @node Vector Unit
7534 @section Vector Unit
7535 @cindex vector unit
7536
7537 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give you
7538 more information about the status of the vector unit.
7539
7540 @table @code
7541 @kindex info vector
7542 @item info vector
7543 Display information about the vector unit. The exact contents and
7544 layout vary depending on the hardware.
7545 @end table
7546
7547 @node OS Information
7548 @section Operating System Auxiliary Information
7549 @cindex OS information
7550
7551 @value{GDBN} provides interfaces to useful OS facilities that can help
7552 you debug your program.
7553
7554 @cindex @code{ptrace} system call
7555 @cindex @code{struct user} contents
7556 When @value{GDBN} runs on a @dfn{Posix system} (such as GNU or Unix
7557 machines), it interfaces with the inferior via the @code{ptrace}
7558 system call. The operating system creates a special sata structure,
7559 called @code{struct user}, for this interface. You can use the
7560 command @code{info udot} to display the contents of this data
7561 structure.
7562
7563 @table @code
7564 @item info udot
7565 @kindex info udot
7566 Display the contents of the @code{struct user} maintained by the OS
7567 kernel for the program being debugged. @value{GDBN} displays the
7568 contents of @code{struct user} as a list of hex numbers, similar to
7569 the @code{examine} command.
7570 @end table
7571
7572 @cindex auxiliary vector
7573 @cindex vector, auxiliary
7574 Some operating systems supply an @dfn{auxiliary vector} to programs at
7575 startup. This is akin to the arguments and environment that you
7576 specify for a program, but contains a system-dependent variety of
7577 binary values that tell system libraries important details about the
7578 hardware, operating system, and process. Each value's purpose is
7579 identified by an integer tag; the meanings are well-known but system-specific.
7580 Depending on the configuration and operating system facilities,
7581 @value{GDBN} may be able to show you this information. For remote
7582 targets, this functionality may further depend on the remote stub's
7583 support of the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet, see
7584 @ref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}.
7585
7586 @table @code
7587 @kindex info auxv
7588 @item info auxv
7589 Display the auxiliary vector of the inferior, which can be either a
7590 live process or a core dump file. @value{GDBN} prints each tag value
7591 numerically, and also shows names and text descriptions for recognized
7592 tags. Some values in the vector are numbers, some bit masks, and some
7593 pointers to strings or other data. @value{GDBN} displays each value in the
7594 most appropriate form for a recognized tag, and in hexadecimal for
7595 an unrecognized tag.
7596 @end table
7597
7598
7599 @node Memory Region Attributes
7600 @section Memory Region Attributes
7601 @cindex memory region attributes
7602
7603 @dfn{Memory region attributes} allow you to describe special handling
7604 required by regions of your target's memory. @value{GDBN} uses
7605 attributes to determine whether to allow certain types of memory
7606 accesses; whether to use specific width accesses; and whether to cache
7607 target memory. By default the description of memory regions is
7608 fetched from the target (if the current target supports this), but the
7609 user can override the fetched regions.
7610
7611 Defined memory regions can be individually enabled and disabled. When a
7612 memory region is disabled, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when
7613 accessing memory in that region. Similarly, if no memory regions have
7614 been defined, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when accessing
7615 all memory.
7616
7617 When a memory region is defined, it is given a number to identify it;
7618 to enable, disable, or remove a memory region, you specify that number.
7619
7620 @table @code
7621 @kindex mem
7622 @item mem @var{lower} @var{upper} @var{attributes}@dots{}
7623 Define a memory region bounded by @var{lower} and @var{upper} with
7624 attributes @var{attributes}@dots{}, and add it to the list of regions
7625 monitored by @value{GDBN}. Note that @var{upper} == 0 is a special
7626 case: it is treated as the target's maximum memory address.
7627 (0xffff on 16 bit targets, 0xffffffff on 32 bit targets, etc.)
7628
7629 @item mem auto
7630 Discard any user changes to the memory regions and use target-supplied
7631 regions, if available, or no regions if the target does not support.
7632
7633 @kindex delete mem
7634 @item delete mem @var{nums}@dots{}
7635 Remove memory regions @var{nums}@dots{} from the list of regions
7636 monitored by @value{GDBN}.
7637
7638 @kindex disable mem
7639 @item disable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
7640 Disable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
7641 A disabled memory region is not forgotten.
7642 It may be enabled again later.
7643
7644 @kindex enable mem
7645 @item enable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
7646 Enable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
7647
7648 @kindex info mem
7649 @item info mem
7650 Print a table of all defined memory regions, with the following columns
7651 for each region:
7652
7653 @table @emph
7654 @item Memory Region Number
7655 @item Enabled or Disabled.
7656 Enabled memory regions are marked with @samp{y}.
7657 Disabled memory regions are marked with @samp{n}.
7658
7659 @item Lo Address
7660 The address defining the inclusive lower bound of the memory region.
7661
7662 @item Hi Address
7663 The address defining the exclusive upper bound of the memory region.
7664
7665 @item Attributes
7666 The list of attributes set for this memory region.
7667 @end table
7668 @end table
7669
7670
7671 @subsection Attributes
7672
7673 @subsubsection Memory Access Mode
7674 The access mode attributes set whether @value{GDBN} may make read or
7675 write accesses to a memory region.
7676
7677 While these attributes prevent @value{GDBN} from performing invalid
7678 memory accesses, they do nothing to prevent the target system, I/O DMA,
7679 etc.@: from accessing memory.
7680
7681 @table @code
7682 @item ro
7683 Memory is read only.
7684 @item wo
7685 Memory is write only.
7686 @item rw
7687 Memory is read/write. This is the default.
7688 @end table
7689
7690 @subsubsection Memory Access Size
7691 The access size attribute tells @value{GDBN} to use specific sized
7692 accesses in the memory region. Often memory mapped device registers
7693 require specific sized accesses. If no access size attribute is
7694 specified, @value{GDBN} may use accesses of any size.
7695
7696 @table @code
7697 @item 8
7698 Use 8 bit memory accesses.
7699 @item 16
7700 Use 16 bit memory accesses.
7701 @item 32
7702 Use 32 bit memory accesses.
7703 @item 64
7704 Use 64 bit memory accesses.
7705 @end table
7706
7707 @c @subsubsection Hardware/Software Breakpoints
7708 @c The hardware/software breakpoint attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
7709 @c will use hardware or software breakpoints for the internal breakpoints
7710 @c used by the step, next, finish, until, etc. commands.
7711 @c
7712 @c @table @code
7713 @c @item hwbreak
7714 @c Always use hardware breakpoints
7715 @c @item swbreak (default)
7716 @c @end table
7717
7718 @subsubsection Data Cache
7719 The data cache attributes set whether @value{GDBN} will cache target
7720 memory. While this generally improves performance by reducing debug
7721 protocol overhead, it can lead to incorrect results because @value{GDBN}
7722 does not know about volatile variables or memory mapped device
7723 registers.
7724
7725 @table @code
7726 @item cache
7727 Enable @value{GDBN} to cache target memory.
7728 @item nocache
7729 Disable @value{GDBN} from caching target memory. This is the default.
7730 @end table
7731
7732 @subsection Memory Access Checking
7733 @value{GDBN} can be instructed to refuse accesses to memory that is
7734 not explicitly described. This can be useful if accessing such
7735 regions has undesired effects for a specific target, or to provide
7736 better error checking. The following commands control this behaviour.
7737
7738 @table @code
7739 @kindex set mem inaccessible-by-default
7740 @item set mem inaccessible-by-default [on|off]
7741 If @code{on} is specified, make @value{GDBN} treat memory not
7742 explicitly described by the memory ranges as non-existent and refuse accesses
7743 to such memory. The checks are only performed if there's at least one
7744 memory range defined. If @code{off} is specified, make @value{GDBN}
7745 treat the memory not explicitly described by the memory ranges as RAM.
7746 The default value is @code{on}.
7747 @kindex show mem inaccessible-by-default
7748 @item show mem inaccessible-by-default
7749 Show the current handling of accesses to unknown memory.
7750 @end table
7751
7752
7753 @c @subsubsection Memory Write Verification
7754 @c The memory write verification attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
7755 @c will re-reads data after each write to verify the write was successful.
7756 @c
7757 @c @table @code
7758 @c @item verify
7759 @c @item noverify (default)
7760 @c @end table
7761
7762 @node Dump/Restore Files
7763 @section Copy Between Memory and a File
7764 @cindex dump/restore files
7765 @cindex append data to a file
7766 @cindex dump data to a file
7767 @cindex restore data from a file
7768
7769 You can use the commands @code{dump}, @code{append}, and
7770 @code{restore} to copy data between target memory and a file. The
7771 @code{dump} and @code{append} commands write data to a file, and the
7772 @code{restore} command reads data from a file back into the inferior's
7773 memory. Files may be in binary, Motorola S-record, Intel hex, or
7774 Tektronix Hex format; however, @value{GDBN} can only append to binary
7775 files.
7776
7777 @table @code
7778
7779 @kindex dump
7780 @item dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
7781 @itemx dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
7782 Dump the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
7783 or the value of @var{expr}, to @var{filename} in the given format.
7784
7785 The @var{format} parameter may be any one of:
7786 @table @code
7787 @item binary
7788 Raw binary form.
7789 @item ihex
7790 Intel hex format.
7791 @item srec
7792 Motorola S-record format.
7793 @item tekhex
7794 Tektronix Hex format.
7795 @end table
7796
7797 @value{GDBN} uses the same definitions of these formats as the
7798 @sc{gnu} binary utilities, like @samp{objdump} and @samp{objcopy}. If
7799 @var{format} is omitted, @value{GDBN} dumps the data in raw binary
7800 form.
7801
7802 @kindex append
7803 @item append @r{[}binary@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
7804 @itemx append @r{[}binary@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
7805 Append the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
7806 or the value of @var{expr}, to the file @var{filename}, in raw binary form.
7807 (@value{GDBN} can only append data to files in raw binary form.)
7808
7809 @kindex restore
7810 @item restore @var{filename} @r{[}binary@r{]} @var{bias} @var{start} @var{end}
7811 Restore the contents of file @var{filename} into memory. The
7812 @code{restore} command can automatically recognize any known @sc{bfd}
7813 file format, except for raw binary. To restore a raw binary file you
7814 must specify the optional keyword @code{binary} after the filename.
7815
7816 If @var{bias} is non-zero, its value will be added to the addresses
7817 contained in the file. Binary files always start at address zero, so
7818 they will be restored at address @var{bias}. Other bfd files have
7819 a built-in location; they will be restored at offset @var{bias}
7820 from that location.
7821
7822 If @var{start} and/or @var{end} are non-zero, then only data between
7823 file offset @var{start} and file offset @var{end} will be restored.
7824 These offsets are relative to the addresses in the file, before
7825 the @var{bias} argument is applied.
7826
7827 @end table
7828
7829 @node Core File Generation
7830 @section How to Produce a Core File from Your Program
7831 @cindex dump core from inferior
7832
7833 A @dfn{core file} or @dfn{core dump} is a file that records the memory
7834 image of a running process and its process status (register values
7835 etc.). Its primary use is post-mortem debugging of a program that
7836 crashed while it ran outside a debugger. A program that crashes
7837 automatically produces a core file, unless this feature is disabled by
7838 the user. @xref{Files}, for information on invoking @value{GDBN} in
7839 the post-mortem debugging mode.
7840
7841 Occasionally, you may wish to produce a core file of the program you
7842 are debugging in order to preserve a snapshot of its state.
7843 @value{GDBN} has a special command for that.
7844
7845 @table @code
7846 @kindex gcore
7847 @kindex generate-core-file
7848 @item generate-core-file [@var{file}]
7849 @itemx gcore [@var{file}]
7850 Produce a core dump of the inferior process. The optional argument
7851 @var{file} specifies the file name where to put the core dump. If not
7852 specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}}, where
7853 @var{pid} is the inferior process ID.
7854
7855 Note that this command is implemented only for some systems (as of
7856 this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, Unixware, and S390).
7857 @end table
7858
7859 @node Character Sets
7860 @section Character Sets
7861 @cindex character sets
7862 @cindex charset
7863 @cindex translating between character sets
7864 @cindex host character set
7865 @cindex target character set
7866
7867 If the program you are debugging uses a different character set to
7868 represent characters and strings than the one @value{GDBN} uses itself,
7869 @value{GDBN} can automatically translate between the character sets for
7870 you. The character set @value{GDBN} uses we call the @dfn{host
7871 character set}; the one the inferior program uses we call the
7872 @dfn{target character set}.
7873
7874 For example, if you are running @value{GDBN} on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, which
7875 uses the ISO Latin 1 character set, but you are using @value{GDBN}'s
7876 remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Debugging}) to debug a program
7877 running on an IBM mainframe, which uses the @sc{ebcdic} character set,
7878 then the host character set is Latin-1, and the target character set is
7879 @sc{ebcdic}. If you give @value{GDBN} the command @code{set
7880 target-charset EBCDIC-US}, then @value{GDBN} translates between
7881 @sc{ebcdic} and Latin 1 as you print character or string values, or use
7882 character and string literals in expressions.
7883
7884 @value{GDBN} has no way to automatically recognize which character set
7885 the inferior program uses; you must tell it, using the @code{set
7886 target-charset} command, described below.
7887
7888 Here are the commands for controlling @value{GDBN}'s character set
7889 support:
7890
7891 @table @code
7892 @item set target-charset @var{charset}
7893 @kindex set target-charset
7894 Set the current target character set to @var{charset}. We list the
7895 character set names @value{GDBN} recognizes below, but if you type
7896 @code{set target-charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} will
7897 list the target character sets it supports.
7898 @end table
7899
7900 @table @code
7901 @item set host-charset @var{charset}
7902 @kindex set host-charset
7903 Set the current host character set to @var{charset}.
7904
7905 By default, @value{GDBN} uses a host character set appropriate to the
7906 system it is running on; you can override that default using the
7907 @code{set host-charset} command.
7908
7909 @value{GDBN} can only use certain character sets as its host character
7910 set. We list the character set names @value{GDBN} recognizes below, and
7911 indicate which can be host character sets, but if you type
7912 @code{set target-charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} will
7913 list the host character sets it supports.
7914
7915 @item set charset @var{charset}
7916 @kindex set charset
7917 Set the current host and target character sets to @var{charset}. As
7918 above, if you type @code{set charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB},
7919 @value{GDBN} will list the name of the character sets that can be used
7920 for both host and target.
7921
7922
7923 @item show charset
7924 @kindex show charset
7925 Show the names of the current host and target charsets.
7926
7927 @itemx show host-charset
7928 @kindex show host-charset
7929 Show the name of the current host charset.
7930
7931 @itemx show target-charset
7932 @kindex show target-charset
7933 Show the name of the current target charset.
7934
7935 @end table
7936
7937 @value{GDBN} currently includes support for the following character
7938 sets:
7939
7940 @table @code
7941
7942 @item ASCII
7943 @cindex ASCII character set
7944 Seven-bit U.S. @sc{ascii}. @value{GDBN} can use this as its host
7945 character set.
7946
7947 @item ISO-8859-1
7948 @cindex ISO 8859-1 character set
7949 @cindex ISO Latin 1 character set
7950 The ISO Latin 1 character set. This extends @sc{ascii} with accented
7951 characters needed for French, German, and Spanish. @value{GDBN} can use
7952 this as its host character set.
7953
7954 @item EBCDIC-US
7955 @itemx IBM1047
7956 @cindex EBCDIC character set
7957 @cindex IBM1047 character set
7958 Variants of the @sc{ebcdic} character set, used on some of IBM's
7959 mainframe operating systems. (@sc{gnu}/Linux on the S/390 uses U.S. @sc{ascii}.)
7960 @value{GDBN} cannot use these as its host character set.
7961
7962 @end table
7963
7964 Note that these are all single-byte character sets. More work inside
7965 @value{GDBN} is needed to support multi-byte or variable-width character
7966 encodings, like the UTF-8 and UCS-2 encodings of Unicode.
7967
7968 Here is an example of @value{GDBN}'s character set support in action.
7969 Assume that the following source code has been placed in the file
7970 @file{charset-test.c}:
7971
7972 @smallexample
7973 #include <stdio.h>
7974
7975 char ascii_hello[]
7976 = @{72, 101, 108, 108, 111, 44, 32, 119,
7977 111, 114, 108, 100, 33, 10, 0@};
7978 char ibm1047_hello[]
7979 = @{200, 133, 147, 147, 150, 107, 64, 166,
7980 150, 153, 147, 132, 90, 37, 0@};
7981
7982 main ()
7983 @{
7984 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
7985 @}
7986 @end smallexample
7987
7988 In this program, @code{ascii_hello} and @code{ibm1047_hello} are arrays
7989 containing the string @samp{Hello, world!} followed by a newline,
7990 encoded in the @sc{ascii} and @sc{ibm1047} character sets.
7991
7992 We compile the program, and invoke the debugger on it:
7993
7994 @smallexample
7995 $ gcc -g charset-test.c -o charset-test
7996 $ gdb -nw charset-test
7997 GNU gdb 2001-12-19-cvs
7998 Copyright 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
7999 @dots{}
8000 (@value{GDBP})
8001 @end smallexample
8002
8003 We can use the @code{show charset} command to see what character sets
8004 @value{GDBN} is currently using to interpret and display characters and
8005 strings:
8006
8007 @smallexample
8008 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
8009 The current host and target character set is `ISO-8859-1'.
8010 (@value{GDBP})
8011 @end smallexample
8012
8013 For the sake of printing this manual, let's use @sc{ascii} as our
8014 initial character set:
8015 @smallexample
8016 (@value{GDBP}) set charset ASCII
8017 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
8018 The current host and target character set is `ASCII'.
8019 (@value{GDBP})
8020 @end smallexample
8021
8022 Let's assume that @sc{ascii} is indeed the correct character set for our
8023 host system --- in other words, let's assume that if @value{GDBN} prints
8024 characters using the @sc{ascii} character set, our terminal will display
8025 them properly. Since our current target character set is also
8026 @sc{ascii}, the contents of @code{ascii_hello} print legibly:
8027
8028 @smallexample
8029 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
8030 $1 = 0x401698 "Hello, world!\n"
8031 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
8032 $2 = 72 'H'
8033 (@value{GDBP})
8034 @end smallexample
8035
8036 @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and string
8037 literals you use in expressions:
8038
8039 @smallexample
8040 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
8041 $3 = 43 '+'
8042 (@value{GDBP})
8043 @end smallexample
8044
8045 The @sc{ascii} character set uses the number 43 to encode the @samp{+}
8046 character.
8047
8048 @value{GDBN} relies on the user to tell it which character set the
8049 target program uses. If we print @code{ibm1047_hello} while our target
8050 character set is still @sc{ascii}, we get jibberish:
8051
8052 @smallexample
8053 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
8054 $4 = 0x4016a8 "\310\205\223\223\226k@@\246\226\231\223\204Z%"
8055 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
8056 $5 = 200 '\310'
8057 (@value{GDBP})
8058 @end smallexample
8059
8060 If we invoke the @code{set target-charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB},
8061 @value{GDBN} tells us the character sets it supports:
8062
8063 @smallexample
8064 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
8065 ASCII EBCDIC-US IBM1047 ISO-8859-1
8066 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
8067 @end smallexample
8068
8069 We can select @sc{ibm1047} as our target character set, and examine the
8070 program's strings again. Now the @sc{ascii} string is wrong, but
8071 @value{GDBN} translates the contents of @code{ibm1047_hello} from the
8072 target character set, @sc{ibm1047}, to the host character set,
8073 @sc{ascii}, and they display correctly:
8074
8075 @smallexample
8076 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset IBM1047
8077 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
8078 The current host character set is `ASCII'.
8079 The current target character set is `IBM1047'.
8080 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
8081 $6 = 0x401698 "\110\145%%?\054\040\167?\162%\144\041\012"
8082 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
8083 $7 = 72 '\110'
8084 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
8085 $8 = 0x4016a8 "Hello, world!\n"
8086 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
8087 $9 = 200 'H'
8088 (@value{GDBP})
8089 @end smallexample
8090
8091 As above, @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and
8092 string literals you use in expressions:
8093
8094 @smallexample
8095 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
8096 $10 = 78 '+'
8097 (@value{GDBP})
8098 @end smallexample
8099
8100 The @sc{ibm1047} character set uses the number 78 to encode the @samp{+}
8101 character.
8102
8103 @node Caching Remote Data
8104 @section Caching Data of Remote Targets
8105 @cindex caching data of remote targets
8106
8107 @value{GDBN} can cache data exchanged between the debugger and a
8108 remote target (@pxref{Remote Debugging}). Such caching generally improves
8109 performance, because it reduces the overhead of the remote protocol by
8110 bundling memory reads and writes into large chunks. Unfortunately,
8111 @value{GDBN} does not currently know anything about volatile
8112 registers, and thus data caching will produce incorrect results when
8113 volatile registers are in use.
8114
8115 @table @code
8116 @kindex set remotecache
8117 @item set remotecache on
8118 @itemx set remotecache off
8119 Set caching state for remote targets. When @code{ON}, use data
8120 caching. By default, this option is @code{OFF}.
8121
8122 @kindex show remotecache
8123 @item show remotecache
8124 Show the current state of data caching for remote targets.
8125
8126 @kindex info dcache
8127 @item info dcache
8128 Print the information about the data cache performance. The
8129 information displayed includes: the dcache width and depth; and for
8130 each cache line, how many times it was referenced, and its data and
8131 state (invalid, dirty, valid). This command is useful for debugging
8132 the data cache operation.
8133 @end table
8134
8135 @node Searching Memory
8136 @section Search Memory
8137 @cindex searching memory
8138
8139 Memory can be searched for a particular sequence of bytes with the
8140 @code{find} command.
8141
8142 @table @code
8143 @kindex find
8144 @item find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, +@var{len}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
8145 @itemx find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, @var{end_addr}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
8146 Search memory for the sequence of bytes specified by @var{val1}, @var{val2},
8147 etc. The search begins at address @var{start_addr} and continues for either
8148 @var{len} bytes or through to @var{end_addr} inclusive.
8149 @end table
8150
8151 @var{s} and @var{n} are optional parameters.
8152 They may be specified in either order, apart or together.
8153
8154 @table @r
8155 @item @var{s}, search query size
8156 The size of each search query value.
8157
8158 @table @code
8159 @item b
8160 bytes
8161 @item h
8162 halfwords (two bytes)
8163 @item w
8164 words (four bytes)
8165 @item g
8166 giant words (eight bytes)
8167 @end table
8168
8169 All values are interpreted in the current language.
8170 This means, for example, that if the current source language is C/C@t{++}
8171 then searching for the string ``hello'' includes the trailing '\0'.
8172
8173 If the value size is not specified, it is taken from the
8174 value's type in the current language.
8175 This is useful when one wants to specify the search
8176 pattern as a mixture of types.
8177 Note that this means, for example, that in the case of C-like languages
8178 a search for an untyped 0x42 will search for @samp{(int) 0x42}
8179 which is typically four bytes.
8180
8181 @item @var{n}, maximum number of finds
8182 The maximum number of matches to print. The default is to print all finds.
8183 @end table
8184
8185 You can use strings as search values. Quote them with double-quotes
8186 (@code{"}).
8187 The string value is copied into the search pattern byte by byte,
8188 regardless of the endianness of the target and the size specification.
8189
8190 The address of each match found is printed as well as a count of the
8191 number of matches found.
8192
8193 The address of the last value found is stored in convenience variable
8194 @samp{$_}.
8195 A count of the number of matches is stored in @samp{$numfound}.
8196
8197 For example, if stopped at the @code{printf} in this function:
8198
8199 @smallexample
8200 void
8201 hello ()
8202 @{
8203 static char hello[] = "hello-hello";
8204 static struct @{ char c; short s; int i; @}
8205 __attribute__ ((packed)) mixed
8206 = @{ 'c', 0x1234, 0x87654321 @};
8207 printf ("%s\n", hello);
8208 @}
8209 @end smallexample
8210
8211 @noindent
8212 you get during debugging:
8213
8214 @smallexample
8215 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), "hello"
8216 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
8217 1 pattern found
8218 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'
8219 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
8220 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
8221 2 patterns found
8222 (gdb) find /b1 &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 0x65, 'l'
8223 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
8224 1 pattern found
8225 (gdb) find &mixed, +sizeof(mixed), (char) 'c', (short) 0x1234, (int) 0x87654321
8226 0x8049560 <mixed.1625>
8227 1 pattern found
8228 (gdb) print $numfound
8229 $1 = 1
8230 (gdb) print $_
8231 $2 = (void *) 0x8049560
8232 @end smallexample
8233
8234 @node Macros
8235 @chapter C Preprocessor Macros
8236
8237 Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, provide a way to define and invoke
8238 ``preprocessor macros'' which expand into strings of tokens.
8239 @value{GDBN} can evaluate expressions containing macro invocations, show
8240 the result of macro expansion, and show a macro's definition, including
8241 where it was defined.
8242
8243 You may need to compile your program specially to provide @value{GDBN}
8244 with information about preprocessor macros. Most compilers do not
8245 include macros in their debugging information, even when you compile
8246 with the @option{-g} flag. @xref{Compilation}.
8247
8248 A program may define a macro at one point, remove that definition later,
8249 and then provide a different definition after that. Thus, at different
8250 points in the program, a macro may have different definitions, or have
8251 no definition at all. If there is a current stack frame, @value{GDBN}
8252 uses the macros in scope at that frame's source code line. Otherwise,
8253 @value{GDBN} uses the macros in scope at the current listing location;
8254 see @ref{List}.
8255
8256 Whenever @value{GDBN} evaluates an expression, it always expands any
8257 macro invocations present in the expression. @value{GDBN} also provides
8258 the following commands for working with macros explicitly.
8259
8260 @table @code
8261
8262 @kindex macro expand
8263 @cindex macro expansion, showing the results of preprocessor
8264 @cindex preprocessor macro expansion, showing the results of
8265 @cindex expanding preprocessor macros
8266 @item macro expand @var{expression}
8267 @itemx macro exp @var{expression}
8268 Show the results of expanding all preprocessor macro invocations in
8269 @var{expression}. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does
8270 not parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression;
8271 it can be any string of tokens.
8272
8273 @kindex macro exp1
8274 @item macro expand-once @var{expression}
8275 @itemx macro exp1 @var{expression}
8276 @cindex expand macro once
8277 @i{(This command is not yet implemented.)} Show the results of
8278 expanding those preprocessor macro invocations that appear explicitly in
8279 @var{expression}. Macro invocations appearing in that expansion are
8280 left unchanged. This command allows you to see the effect of a
8281 particular macro more clearly, without being confused by further
8282 expansions. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does not
8283 parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression; it
8284 can be any string of tokens.
8285
8286 @kindex info macro
8287 @cindex macro definition, showing
8288 @cindex definition, showing a macro's
8289 @item info macro @var{macro}
8290 Show the definition of the macro named @var{macro}, and describe the
8291 source location where that definition was established.
8292
8293 @kindex macro define
8294 @cindex user-defined macros
8295 @cindex defining macros interactively
8296 @cindex macros, user-defined
8297 @item macro define @var{macro} @var{replacement-list}
8298 @itemx macro define @var{macro}(@var{arglist}) @var{replacement-list}
8299 Introduce a definition for a preprocessor macro named @var{macro},
8300 invocations of which are replaced by the tokens given in
8301 @var{replacement-list}. The first form of this command defines an
8302 ``object-like'' macro, which takes no arguments; the second form
8303 defines a ``function-like'' macro, which takes the arguments given in
8304 @var{arglist}.
8305
8306 A definition introduced by this command is in scope in every
8307 expression evaluated in @value{GDBN}, until it is removed with the
8308 @code{macro undef} command, described below. The definition overrides
8309 all definitions for @var{macro} present in the program being debugged,
8310 as well as any previous user-supplied definition.
8311
8312 @kindex macro undef
8313 @item macro undef @var{macro}
8314 Remove any user-supplied definition for the macro named @var{macro}.
8315 This command only affects definitions provided with the @code{macro
8316 define} command, described above; it cannot remove definitions present
8317 in the program being debugged.
8318
8319 @kindex macro list
8320 @item macro list
8321 List all the macros defined using the @code{macro define} command.
8322 @end table
8323
8324 @cindex macros, example of debugging with
8325 Here is a transcript showing the above commands in action. First, we
8326 show our source files:
8327
8328 @smallexample
8329 $ cat sample.c
8330 #include <stdio.h>
8331 #include "sample.h"
8332
8333 #define M 42
8334 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
8335
8336 main ()
8337 @{
8338 #define N 28
8339 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
8340 #undef N
8341 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
8342 #define N 1729
8343 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
8344 @}
8345 $ cat sample.h
8346 #define Q <
8347 $
8348 @end smallexample
8349
8350 Now, we compile the program using the @sc{gnu} C compiler, @value{NGCC}.
8351 We pass the @option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-g3} flags to ensure the
8352 compiler includes information about preprocessor macros in the debugging
8353 information.
8354
8355 @smallexample
8356 $ gcc -gdwarf-2 -g3 sample.c -o sample
8357 $
8358 @end smallexample
8359
8360 Now, we start @value{GDBN} on our sample program:
8361
8362 @smallexample
8363 $ gdb -nw sample
8364 GNU gdb 2002-05-06-cvs
8365 Copyright 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
8366 GDB is free software, @dots{}
8367 (@value{GDBP})
8368 @end smallexample
8369
8370 We can expand macros and examine their definitions, even when the
8371 program is not running. @value{GDBN} uses the current listing position
8372 to decide which macro definitions are in scope:
8373
8374 @smallexample
8375 (@value{GDBP}) list main
8376 3
8377 4 #define M 42
8378 5 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
8379 6
8380 7 main ()
8381 8 @{
8382 9 #define N 28
8383 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
8384 11 #undef N
8385 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
8386 (@value{GDBP}) info macro ADD
8387 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:5
8388 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
8389 (@value{GDBP}) info macro Q
8390 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.h:1
8391 included at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:2
8392 #define Q <
8393 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand ADD(1)
8394 expands to: (42 + 1)
8395 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand-once ADD(1)
8396 expands to: once (M + 1)
8397 (@value{GDBP})
8398 @end smallexample
8399
8400 In the example above, note that @code{macro expand-once} expands only
8401 the macro invocation explicit in the original text --- the invocation of
8402 @code{ADD} --- but does not expand the invocation of the macro @code{M},
8403 which was introduced by @code{ADD}.
8404
8405 Once the program is running, @value{GDBN} uses the macro definitions in
8406 force at the source line of the current stack frame:
8407
8408 @smallexample
8409 (@value{GDBP}) break main
8410 Breakpoint 1 at 0x8048370: file sample.c, line 10.
8411 (@value{GDBP}) run
8412 Starting program: /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample
8413
8414 Breakpoint 1, main () at sample.c:10
8415 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
8416 (@value{GDBP})
8417 @end smallexample
8418
8419 At line 10, the definition of the macro @code{N} at line 9 is in force:
8420
8421 @smallexample
8422 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
8423 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:9
8424 #define N 28
8425 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
8426 expands to: 28 < 42
8427 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
8428 $1 = 1
8429 (@value{GDBP})
8430 @end smallexample
8431
8432 As we step over directives that remove @code{N}'s definition, and then
8433 give it a new definition, @value{GDBN} finds the definition (or lack
8434 thereof) in force at each point:
8435
8436 @smallexample
8437 (@value{GDBP}) next
8438 Hello, world!
8439 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
8440 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
8441 The symbol `N' has no definition as a C/C++ preprocessor macro
8442 at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:12
8443 (@value{GDBP}) next
8444 We're so creative.
8445 14 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
8446 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
8447 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:13
8448 #define N 1729
8449 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
8450 expands to: 1729 < 42
8451 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
8452 $2 = 0
8453 (@value{GDBP})
8454 @end smallexample
8455
8456
8457 @node Tracepoints
8458 @chapter Tracepoints
8459 @c This chapter is based on the documentation written by Michael
8460 @c Snyder, David Taylor, Jim Blandy, and Elena Zannoni.
8461
8462 @cindex tracepoints
8463 In some applications, it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt
8464 the program's execution long enough for the developer to learn
8465 anything helpful about its behavior. If the program's correctness
8466 depends on its real-time behavior, delays introduced by a debugger
8467 might cause the program to change its behavior drastically, or perhaps
8468 fail, even when the code itself is correct. It is useful to be able
8469 to observe the program's behavior without interrupting it.
8470
8471 Using @value{GDBN}'s @code{trace} and @code{collect} commands, you can
8472 specify locations in the program, called @dfn{tracepoints}, and
8473 arbitrary expressions to evaluate when those tracepoints are reached.
8474 Later, using the @code{tfind} command, you can examine the values
8475 those expressions had when the program hit the tracepoints. The
8476 expressions may also denote objects in memory---structures or arrays,
8477 for example---whose values @value{GDBN} should record; while visiting
8478 a particular tracepoint, you may inspect those objects as if they were
8479 in memory at that moment. However, because @value{GDBN} records these
8480 values without interacting with you, it can do so quickly and
8481 unobtrusively, hopefully not disturbing the program's behavior.
8482
8483 The tracepoint facility is currently available only for remote
8484 targets. @xref{Targets}. In addition, your remote target must know
8485 how to collect trace data. This functionality is implemented in the
8486 remote stub; however, none of the stubs distributed with @value{GDBN}
8487 support tracepoints as of this writing. The format of the remote
8488 packets used to implement tracepoints are described in @ref{Tracepoint
8489 Packets}.
8490
8491 This chapter describes the tracepoint commands and features.
8492
8493 @menu
8494 * Set Tracepoints::
8495 * Analyze Collected Data::
8496 * Tracepoint Variables::
8497 @end menu
8498
8499 @node Set Tracepoints
8500 @section Commands to Set Tracepoints
8501
8502 Before running such a @dfn{trace experiment}, an arbitrary number of
8503 tracepoints can be set. Like a breakpoint (@pxref{Set Breaks}), a
8504 tracepoint has a number assigned to it by @value{GDBN}. Like with
8505 breakpoints, tracepoint numbers are successive integers starting from
8506 one. Many of the commands associated with tracepoints take the
8507 tracepoint number as their argument, to identify which tracepoint to
8508 work on.
8509
8510 For each tracepoint, you can specify, in advance, some arbitrary set
8511 of data that you want the target to collect in the trace buffer when
8512 it hits that tracepoint. The collected data can include registers,
8513 local variables, or global data. Later, you can use @value{GDBN}
8514 commands to examine the values these data had at the time the
8515 tracepoint was hit.
8516
8517 This section describes commands to set tracepoints and associated
8518 conditions and actions.
8519
8520 @menu
8521 * Create and Delete Tracepoints::
8522 * Enable and Disable Tracepoints::
8523 * Tracepoint Passcounts::
8524 * Tracepoint Actions::
8525 * Listing Tracepoints::
8526 * Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments::
8527 @end menu
8528
8529 @node Create and Delete Tracepoints
8530 @subsection Create and Delete Tracepoints
8531
8532 @table @code
8533 @cindex set tracepoint
8534 @kindex trace
8535 @item trace
8536 The @code{trace} command is very similar to the @code{break} command.
8537 Its argument can be a source line, a function name, or an address in
8538 the target program. @xref{Set Breaks}. The @code{trace} command
8539 defines a tracepoint, which is a point in the target program where the
8540 debugger will briefly stop, collect some data, and then allow the
8541 program to continue. Setting a tracepoint or changing its commands
8542 doesn't take effect until the next @code{tstart} command; thus, you
8543 cannot change the tracepoint attributes once a trace experiment is
8544 running.
8545
8546 Here are some examples of using the @code{trace} command:
8547
8548 @smallexample
8549 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo.c:121} // a source file and line number
8550
8551 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace +2} // 2 lines forward
8552
8553 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace my_function} // first source line of function
8554
8555 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *my_function} // EXACT start address of function
8556
8557 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *0x2117c4} // an address
8558 @end smallexample
8559
8560 @noindent
8561 You can abbreviate @code{trace} as @code{tr}.
8562
8563 @vindex $tpnum
8564 @cindex last tracepoint number
8565 @cindex recent tracepoint number
8566 @cindex tracepoint number
8567 The convenience variable @code{$tpnum} records the tracepoint number
8568 of the most recently set tracepoint.
8569
8570 @kindex delete tracepoint
8571 @cindex tracepoint deletion
8572 @item delete tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
8573 Permanently delete one or more tracepoints. With no argument, the
8574 default is to delete all tracepoints.
8575
8576 Examples:
8577
8578 @smallexample
8579 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace 1 2 3} // remove three tracepoints
8580
8581 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace} // remove all tracepoints
8582 @end smallexample
8583
8584 @noindent
8585 You can abbreviate this command as @code{del tr}.
8586 @end table
8587
8588 @node Enable and Disable Tracepoints
8589 @subsection Enable and Disable Tracepoints
8590
8591 @table @code
8592 @kindex disable tracepoint
8593 @item disable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
8594 Disable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints if no argument
8595 @var{num} is given. A disabled tracepoint will have no effect during
8596 the next trace experiment, but it is not forgotten. You can re-enable
8597 a disabled tracepoint using the @code{enable tracepoint} command.
8598
8599 @kindex enable tracepoint
8600 @item enable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
8601 Enable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints. The enabled
8602 tracepoints will become effective the next time a trace experiment is
8603 run.
8604 @end table
8605
8606 @node Tracepoint Passcounts
8607 @subsection Tracepoint Passcounts
8608
8609 @table @code
8610 @kindex passcount
8611 @cindex tracepoint pass count
8612 @item passcount @r{[}@var{n} @r{[}@var{num}@r{]]}
8613 Set the @dfn{passcount} of a tracepoint. The passcount is a way to
8614 automatically stop a trace experiment. If a tracepoint's passcount is
8615 @var{n}, then the trace experiment will be automatically stopped on
8616 the @var{n}'th time that tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number
8617 @var{num} is not specified, the @code{passcount} command sets the
8618 passcount of the most recently defined tracepoint. If no passcount is
8619 given, the trace experiment will run until stopped explicitly by the
8620 user.
8621
8622 Examples:
8623
8624 @smallexample
8625 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 5 2} // Stop on the 5th execution of
8626 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// tracepoint 2}
8627
8628 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 12} // Stop on the 12th execution of the
8629 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// most recently defined tracepoint.}
8630 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
8631 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 3}
8632 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace bar}
8633 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 2}
8634 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace baz}
8635 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 1} // Stop tracing when foo has been
8636 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// executed 3 times OR when bar has}
8637 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// been executed 2 times}
8638 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// OR when baz has been executed 1 time.}
8639 @end smallexample
8640 @end table
8641
8642 @node Tracepoint Actions
8643 @subsection Tracepoint Action Lists
8644
8645 @table @code
8646 @kindex actions
8647 @cindex tracepoint actions
8648 @item actions @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
8649 This command will prompt for a list of actions to be taken when the
8650 tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number @var{num} is not
8651 specified, this command sets the actions for the one that was most
8652 recently defined (so that you can define a tracepoint and then say
8653 @code{actions} without bothering about its number). You specify the
8654 actions themselves on the following lines, one action at a time, and
8655 terminate the actions list with a line containing just @code{end}. So
8656 far, the only defined actions are @code{collect} and
8657 @code{while-stepping}.
8658
8659 @cindex remove actions from a tracepoint
8660 To remove all actions from a tracepoint, type @samp{actions @var{num}}
8661 and follow it immediately with @samp{end}.
8662
8663 @smallexample
8664 (@value{GDBP}) @b{collect @var{data}} // collect some data
8665
8666 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while-stepping 5} // single-step 5 times, collect data
8667
8668 (@value{GDBP}) @b{end} // signals the end of actions.
8669 @end smallexample
8670
8671 In the following example, the action list begins with @code{collect}
8672 commands indicating the things to be collected when the tracepoint is
8673 hit. Then, in order to single-step and collect additional data
8674 following the tracepoint, a @code{while-stepping} command is used,
8675 followed by the list of things to be collected while stepping. The
8676 @code{while-stepping} command is terminated by its own separate
8677 @code{end} command. Lastly, the action list is terminated by an
8678 @code{end} command.
8679
8680 @smallexample
8681 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
8682 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
8683 Enter actions for tracepoint 1, one per line:
8684 > collect bar,baz
8685 > collect $regs
8686 > while-stepping 12
8687 > collect $fp, $sp
8688 > end
8689 end
8690 @end smallexample
8691
8692 @kindex collect @r{(tracepoints)}
8693 @item collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
8694 Collect values of the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit.
8695 This command accepts a comma-separated list of any valid expressions.
8696 In addition to global, static, or local variables, the following
8697 special arguments are supported:
8698
8699 @table @code
8700 @item $regs
8701 collect all registers
8702
8703 @item $args
8704 collect all function arguments
8705
8706 @item $locals
8707 collect all local variables.
8708 @end table
8709
8710 You can give several consecutive @code{collect} commands, each one
8711 with a single argument, or one @code{collect} command with several
8712 arguments separated by commas: the effect is the same.
8713
8714 The command @code{info scope} (@pxref{Symbols, info scope}) is
8715 particularly useful for figuring out what data to collect.
8716
8717 @kindex while-stepping @r{(tracepoints)}
8718 @item while-stepping @var{n}
8719 Perform @var{n} single-step traces after the tracepoint, collecting
8720 new data at each step. The @code{while-stepping} command is
8721 followed by the list of what to collect while stepping (followed by
8722 its own @code{end} command):
8723
8724 @smallexample
8725 > while-stepping 12
8726 > collect $regs, myglobal
8727 > end
8728 >
8729 @end smallexample
8730
8731 @noindent
8732 You may abbreviate @code{while-stepping} as @code{ws} or
8733 @code{stepping}.
8734 @end table
8735
8736 @node Listing Tracepoints
8737 @subsection Listing Tracepoints
8738
8739 @table @code
8740 @kindex info tracepoints
8741 @kindex info tp
8742 @cindex information about tracepoints
8743 @item info tracepoints @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
8744 Display information about the tracepoint @var{num}. If you don't specify
8745 a tracepoint number, displays information about all the tracepoints
8746 defined so far. For each tracepoint, the following information is
8747 shown:
8748
8749 @itemize @bullet
8750 @item
8751 its number
8752 @item
8753 whether it is enabled or disabled
8754 @item
8755 its address
8756 @item
8757 its passcount as given by the @code{passcount @var{n}} command
8758 @item
8759 its step count as given by the @code{while-stepping @var{n}} command
8760 @item
8761 where in the source files is the tracepoint set
8762 @item
8763 its action list as given by the @code{actions} command
8764 @end itemize
8765
8766 @smallexample
8767 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info trace}
8768 Num Enb Address PassC StepC What
8769 1 y 0x002117c4 0 0 <gdb_asm>
8770 2 y 0x0020dc64 0 0 in g_test at g_test.c:1375
8771 3 y 0x0020b1f4 0 0 in get_data at ../foo.c:41
8772 (@value{GDBP})
8773 @end smallexample
8774
8775 @noindent
8776 This command can be abbreviated @code{info tp}.
8777 @end table
8778
8779 @node Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
8780 @subsection Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
8781
8782 @table @code
8783 @kindex tstart
8784 @cindex start a new trace experiment
8785 @cindex collected data discarded
8786 @item tstart
8787 This command takes no arguments. It starts the trace experiment, and
8788 begins collecting data. This has the side effect of discarding all
8789 the data collected in the trace buffer during the previous trace
8790 experiment.
8791
8792 @kindex tstop
8793 @cindex stop a running trace experiment
8794 @item tstop
8795 This command takes no arguments. It ends the trace experiment, and
8796 stops collecting data.
8797
8798 @strong{Note}: a trace experiment and data collection may stop
8799 automatically if any tracepoint's passcount is reached
8800 (@pxref{Tracepoint Passcounts}), or if the trace buffer becomes full.
8801
8802 @kindex tstatus
8803 @cindex status of trace data collection
8804 @cindex trace experiment, status of
8805 @item tstatus
8806 This command displays the status of the current trace data
8807 collection.
8808 @end table
8809
8810 Here is an example of the commands we described so far:
8811
8812 @smallexample
8813 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace gdb_c_test}
8814 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
8815 Enter actions for tracepoint #1, one per line.
8816 > collect $regs,$locals,$args
8817 > while-stepping 11
8818 > collect $regs
8819 > end
8820 > end
8821 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
8822 [time passes @dots{}]
8823 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstop}
8824 @end smallexample
8825
8826
8827 @node Analyze Collected Data
8828 @section Using the Collected Data
8829
8830 After the tracepoint experiment ends, you use @value{GDBN} commands
8831 for examining the trace data. The basic idea is that each tracepoint
8832 collects a trace @dfn{snapshot} every time it is hit and another
8833 snapshot every time it single-steps. All these snapshots are
8834 consecutively numbered from zero and go into a buffer, and you can
8835 examine them later. The way you examine them is to @dfn{focus} on a
8836 specific trace snapshot. When the remote stub is focused on a trace
8837 snapshot, it will respond to all @value{GDBN} requests for memory and
8838 registers by reading from the buffer which belongs to that snapshot,
8839 rather than from @emph{real} memory or registers of the program being
8840 debugged. This means that @strong{all} @value{GDBN} commands
8841 (@code{print}, @code{info registers}, @code{backtrace}, etc.) will
8842 behave as if we were currently debugging the program state as it was
8843 when the tracepoint occurred. Any requests for data that are not in
8844 the buffer will fail.
8845
8846 @menu
8847 * tfind:: How to select a trace snapshot
8848 * tdump:: How to display all data for a snapshot
8849 * save-tracepoints:: How to save tracepoints for a future run
8850 @end menu
8851
8852 @node tfind
8853 @subsection @code{tfind @var{n}}
8854
8855 @kindex tfind
8856 @cindex select trace snapshot
8857 @cindex find trace snapshot
8858 The basic command for selecting a trace snapshot from the buffer is
8859 @code{tfind @var{n}}, which finds trace snapshot number @var{n},
8860 counting from zero. If no argument @var{n} is given, the next
8861 snapshot is selected.
8862
8863 Here are the various forms of using the @code{tfind} command.
8864
8865 @table @code
8866 @item tfind start
8867 Find the first snapshot in the buffer. This is a synonym for
8868 @code{tfind 0} (since 0 is the number of the first snapshot).
8869
8870 @item tfind none
8871 Stop debugging trace snapshots, resume @emph{live} debugging.
8872
8873 @item tfind end
8874 Same as @samp{tfind none}.
8875
8876 @item tfind
8877 No argument means find the next trace snapshot.
8878
8879 @item tfind -
8880 Find the previous trace snapshot before the current one. This permits
8881 retracing earlier steps.
8882
8883 @item tfind tracepoint @var{num}
8884 Find the next snapshot associated with tracepoint @var{num}. Search
8885 proceeds forward from the last examined trace snapshot. If no
8886 argument @var{num} is given, it means find the next snapshot collected
8887 for the same tracepoint as the current snapshot.
8888
8889 @item tfind pc @var{addr}
8890 Find the next snapshot associated with the value @var{addr} of the
8891 program counter. Search proceeds forward from the last examined trace
8892 snapshot. If no argument @var{addr} is given, it means find the next
8893 snapshot with the same value of PC as the current snapshot.
8894
8895 @item tfind outside @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
8896 Find the next snapshot whose PC is outside the given range of
8897 addresses.
8898
8899 @item tfind range @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
8900 Find the next snapshot whose PC is between @var{addr1} and
8901 @var{addr2}. @c FIXME: Is the range inclusive or exclusive?
8902
8903 @item tfind line @r{[}@var{file}:@r{]}@var{n}
8904 Find the next snapshot associated with the source line @var{n}. If
8905 the optional argument @var{file} is given, refer to line @var{n} in
8906 that source file. Search proceeds forward from the last examined
8907 trace snapshot. If no argument @var{n} is given, it means find the
8908 next line other than the one currently being examined; thus saying
8909 @code{tfind line} repeatedly can appear to have the same effect as
8910 stepping from line to line in a @emph{live} debugging session.
8911 @end table
8912
8913 The default arguments for the @code{tfind} commands are specifically
8914 designed to make it easy to scan through the trace buffer. For
8915 instance, @code{tfind} with no argument selects the next trace
8916 snapshot, and @code{tfind -} with no argument selects the previous
8917 trace snapshot. So, by giving one @code{tfind} command, and then
8918 simply hitting @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine all the trace
8919 snapshots in order. Or, by saying @code{tfind -} and then hitting
8920 @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine the snapshots in reverse order.
8921 The @code{tfind line} command with no argument selects the snapshot
8922 for the next source line executed. The @code{tfind pc} command with
8923 no argument selects the next snapshot with the same program counter
8924 (PC) as the current frame. The @code{tfind tracepoint} command with
8925 no argument selects the next trace snapshot collected by the same
8926 tracepoint as the current one.
8927
8928 In addition to letting you scan through the trace buffer manually,
8929 these commands make it easy to construct @value{GDBN} scripts that
8930 scan through the trace buffer and print out whatever collected data
8931 you are interested in. Thus, if we want to examine the PC, FP, and SP
8932 registers from each trace frame in the buffer, we can say this:
8933
8934 @smallexample
8935 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
8936 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
8937 > printf "Frame %d, PC = %08X, SP = %08X, FP = %08X\n", \
8938 $trace_frame, $pc, $sp, $fp
8939 > tfind
8940 > end
8941
8942 Frame 0, PC = 0020DC64, SP = 0030BF3C, FP = 0030BF44
8943 Frame 1, PC = 0020DC6C, SP = 0030BF38, FP = 0030BF44
8944 Frame 2, PC = 0020DC70, SP = 0030BF34, FP = 0030BF44
8945 Frame 3, PC = 0020DC74, SP = 0030BF30, FP = 0030BF44
8946 Frame 4, PC = 0020DC78, SP = 0030BF2C, FP = 0030BF44
8947 Frame 5, PC = 0020DC7C, SP = 0030BF28, FP = 0030BF44
8948 Frame 6, PC = 0020DC80, SP = 0030BF24, FP = 0030BF44
8949 Frame 7, PC = 0020DC84, SP = 0030BF20, FP = 0030BF44
8950 Frame 8, PC = 0020DC88, SP = 0030BF1C, FP = 0030BF44
8951 Frame 9, PC = 0020DC8E, SP = 0030BF18, FP = 0030BF44
8952 Frame 10, PC = 00203F6C, SP = 0030BE3C, FP = 0030BF14
8953 @end smallexample
8954
8955 Or, if we want to examine the variable @code{X} at each source line in
8956 the buffer:
8957
8958 @smallexample
8959 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
8960 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
8961 > printf "Frame %d, X == %d\n", $trace_frame, X
8962 > tfind line
8963 > end
8964
8965 Frame 0, X = 1
8966 Frame 7, X = 2
8967 Frame 13, X = 255
8968 @end smallexample
8969
8970 @node tdump
8971 @subsection @code{tdump}
8972 @kindex tdump
8973 @cindex dump all data collected at tracepoint
8974 @cindex tracepoint data, display
8975
8976 This command takes no arguments. It prints all the data collected at
8977 the current trace snapshot.
8978
8979 @smallexample
8980 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace 444}
8981 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
8982 Enter actions for tracepoint #2, one per line:
8983 > collect $regs, $locals, $args, gdb_long_test
8984 > end
8985
8986 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
8987
8988 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind line 444}
8989 #0 gdb_test (p1=0x11, p2=0x22, p3=0x33, p4=0x44, p5=0x55, p6=0x66)
8990 at gdb_test.c:444
8991 444 printp( "%s: arguments = 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X\n", )
8992
8993 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tdump}
8994 Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 1:
8995 d0 0xc4aa0085 -995491707
8996 d1 0x18 24
8997 d2 0x80 128
8998 d3 0x33 51
8999 d4 0x71aea3d 119204413
9000 d5 0x22 34
9001 d6 0xe0 224
9002 d7 0x380035 3670069
9003 a0 0x19e24a 1696330
9004 a1 0x3000668 50333288
9005 a2 0x100 256
9006 a3 0x322000 3284992
9007 a4 0x3000698 50333336
9008 a5 0x1ad3cc 1758156
9009 fp 0x30bf3c 0x30bf3c
9010 sp 0x30bf34 0x30bf34
9011 ps 0x0 0
9012 pc 0x20b2c8 0x20b2c8
9013 fpcontrol 0x0 0
9014 fpstatus 0x0 0
9015 fpiaddr 0x0 0
9016 p = 0x20e5b4 "gdb-test"
9017 p1 = (void *) 0x11
9018 p2 = (void *) 0x22
9019 p3 = (void *) 0x33
9020 p4 = (void *) 0x44
9021 p5 = (void *) 0x55
9022 p6 = (void *) 0x66
9023 gdb_long_test = 17 '\021'
9024
9025 (@value{GDBP})
9026 @end smallexample
9027
9028 @node save-tracepoints
9029 @subsection @code{save-tracepoints @var{filename}}
9030 @kindex save-tracepoints
9031 @cindex save tracepoints for future sessions
9032
9033 This command saves all current tracepoint definitions together with
9034 their actions and passcounts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
9035 suitable for use in a later debugging session. To read the saved
9036 tracepoint definitions, use the @code{source} command (@pxref{Command
9037 Files}).
9038
9039 @node Tracepoint Variables
9040 @section Convenience Variables for Tracepoints
9041 @cindex tracepoint variables
9042 @cindex convenience variables for tracepoints
9043
9044 @table @code
9045 @vindex $trace_frame
9046 @item (int) $trace_frame
9047 The current trace snapshot (a.k.a.@: @dfn{frame}) number, or -1 if no
9048 snapshot is selected.
9049
9050 @vindex $tracepoint
9051 @item (int) $tracepoint
9052 The tracepoint for the current trace snapshot.
9053
9054 @vindex $trace_line
9055 @item (int) $trace_line
9056 The line number for the current trace snapshot.
9057
9058 @vindex $trace_file
9059 @item (char []) $trace_file
9060 The source file for the current trace snapshot.
9061
9062 @vindex $trace_func
9063 @item (char []) $trace_func
9064 The name of the function containing @code{$tracepoint}.
9065 @end table
9066
9067 Note: @code{$trace_file} is not suitable for use in @code{printf},
9068 use @code{output} instead.
9069
9070 Here's a simple example of using these convenience variables for
9071 stepping through all the trace snapshots and printing some of their
9072 data.
9073
9074 @smallexample
9075 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
9076
9077 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while $trace_frame != -1}
9078 > output $trace_file
9079 > printf ", line %d (tracepoint #%d)\n", $trace_line, $tracepoint
9080 > tfind
9081 > end
9082 @end smallexample
9083
9084 @node Overlays
9085 @chapter Debugging Programs That Use Overlays
9086 @cindex overlays
9087
9088 If your program is too large to fit completely in your target system's
9089 memory, you can sometimes use @dfn{overlays} to work around this
9090 problem. @value{GDBN} provides some support for debugging programs that
9091 use overlays.
9092
9093 @menu
9094 * How Overlays Work:: A general explanation of overlays.
9095 * Overlay Commands:: Managing overlays in @value{GDBN}.
9096 * Automatic Overlay Debugging:: @value{GDBN} can find out which overlays are
9097 mapped by asking the inferior.
9098 * Overlay Sample Program:: A sample program using overlays.
9099 @end menu
9100
9101 @node How Overlays Work
9102 @section How Overlays Work
9103 @cindex mapped overlays
9104 @cindex unmapped overlays
9105 @cindex load address, overlay's
9106 @cindex mapped address
9107 @cindex overlay area
9108
9109 Suppose you have a computer whose instruction address space is only 64
9110 kilobytes long, but which has much more memory which can be accessed by
9111 other means: special instructions, segment registers, or memory
9112 management hardware, for example. Suppose further that you want to
9113 adapt a program which is larger than 64 kilobytes to run on this system.
9114
9115 One solution is to identify modules of your program which are relatively
9116 independent, and need not call each other directly; call these modules
9117 @dfn{overlays}. Separate the overlays from the main program, and place
9118 their machine code in the larger memory. Place your main program in
9119 instruction memory, but leave at least enough space there to hold the
9120 largest overlay as well.
9121
9122 Now, to call a function located in an overlay, you must first copy that
9123 overlay's machine code from the large memory into the space set aside
9124 for it in the instruction memory, and then jump to its entry point
9125 there.
9126
9127 @c NB: In the below the mapped area's size is greater or equal to the
9128 @c size of all overlays. This is intentional to remind the developer
9129 @c that overlays don't necessarily need to be the same size.
9130
9131 @smallexample
9132 @group
9133 Data Instruction Larger
9134 Address Space Address Space Address Space
9135 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+
9136 | | | | | |
9137 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+<-- overlay 1
9138 | program | | main | .----| overlay 1 | load address
9139 | variables | | program | | +-----------+
9140 | and heap | | | | | |
9141 +-----------+ | | | +-----------+<-- overlay 2
9142 | | +-----------+ | | | load address
9143 +-----------+ | | | .-| overlay 2 |
9144 | | | | | |
9145 mapped --->+-----------+ | | +-----------+
9146 address | | | | | |
9147 | overlay | <-' | | |
9148 | area | <---' +-----------+<-- overlay 3
9149 | | <---. | | load address
9150 +-----------+ `--| overlay 3 |
9151 | | | |
9152 +-----------+ | |
9153 +-----------+
9154 | |
9155 +-----------+
9156
9157 @anchor{A code overlay}A code overlay
9158 @end group
9159 @end smallexample
9160
9161 The diagram (@pxref{A code overlay}) shows a system with separate data
9162 and instruction address spaces. To map an overlay, the program copies
9163 its code from the larger address space to the instruction address space.
9164 Since the overlays shown here all use the same mapped address, only one
9165 may be mapped at a time. For a system with a single address space for
9166 data and instructions, the diagram would be similar, except that the
9167 program variables and heap would share an address space with the main
9168 program and the overlay area.
9169
9170 An overlay loaded into instruction memory and ready for use is called a
9171 @dfn{mapped} overlay; its @dfn{mapped address} is its address in the
9172 instruction memory. An overlay not present (or only partially present)
9173 in instruction memory is called @dfn{unmapped}; its @dfn{load address}
9174 is its address in the larger memory. The mapped address is also called
9175 the @dfn{virtual memory address}, or @dfn{VMA}; the load address is also
9176 called the @dfn{load memory address}, or @dfn{LMA}.
9177
9178 Unfortunately, overlays are not a completely transparent way to adapt a
9179 program to limited instruction memory. They introduce a new set of
9180 global constraints you must keep in mind as you design your program:
9181
9182 @itemize @bullet
9183
9184 @item
9185 Before calling or returning to a function in an overlay, your program
9186 must make sure that overlay is actually mapped. Otherwise, the call or
9187 return will transfer control to the right address, but in the wrong
9188 overlay, and your program will probably crash.
9189
9190 @item
9191 If the process of mapping an overlay is expensive on your system, you
9192 will need to choose your overlays carefully to minimize their effect on
9193 your program's performance.
9194
9195 @item
9196 The executable file you load onto your system must contain each
9197 overlay's instructions, appearing at the overlay's load address, not its
9198 mapped address. However, each overlay's instructions must be relocated
9199 and its symbols defined as if the overlay were at its mapped address.
9200 You can use GNU linker scripts to specify different load and relocation
9201 addresses for pieces of your program; see @ref{Overlay Description,,,
9202 ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}.
9203
9204 @item
9205 The procedure for loading executable files onto your system must be able
9206 to load their contents into the larger address space as well as the
9207 instruction and data spaces.
9208
9209 @end itemize
9210
9211 The overlay system described above is rather simple, and could be
9212 improved in many ways:
9213
9214 @itemize @bullet
9215
9216 @item
9217 If your system has suitable bank switch registers or memory management
9218 hardware, you could use those facilities to make an overlay's load area
9219 contents simply appear at their mapped address in instruction space.
9220 This would probably be faster than copying the overlay to its mapped
9221 area in the usual way.
9222
9223 @item
9224 If your overlays are small enough, you could set aside more than one
9225 overlay area, and have more than one overlay mapped at a time.
9226
9227 @item
9228 You can use overlays to manage data, as well as instructions. In
9229 general, data overlays are even less transparent to your design than
9230 code overlays: whereas code overlays only require care when you call or
9231 return to functions, data overlays require care every time you access
9232 the data. Also, if you change the contents of a data overlay, you
9233 must copy its contents back out to its load address before you can copy a
9234 different data overlay into the same mapped area.
9235
9236 @end itemize
9237
9238
9239 @node Overlay Commands
9240 @section Overlay Commands
9241
9242 To use @value{GDBN}'s overlay support, each overlay in your program must
9243 correspond to a separate section of the executable file. The section's
9244 virtual memory address and load memory address must be the overlay's
9245 mapped and load addresses. Identifying overlays with sections allows
9246 @value{GDBN} to determine the appropriate address of a function or
9247 variable, depending on whether the overlay is mapped or not.
9248
9249 @value{GDBN}'s overlay commands all start with the word @code{overlay};
9250 you can abbreviate this as @code{ov} or @code{ovly}. The commands are:
9251
9252 @table @code
9253 @item overlay off
9254 @kindex overlay
9255 Disable @value{GDBN}'s overlay support. When overlay support is
9256 disabled, @value{GDBN} assumes that all functions and variables are
9257 always present at their mapped addresses. By default, @value{GDBN}'s
9258 overlay support is disabled.
9259
9260 @item overlay manual
9261 @cindex manual overlay debugging
9262 Enable @dfn{manual} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
9263 relies on you to tell it which overlays are mapped, and which are not,
9264 using the @code{overlay map-overlay} and @code{overlay unmap-overlay}
9265 commands described below.
9266
9267 @item overlay map-overlay @var{overlay}
9268 @itemx overlay map @var{overlay}
9269 @cindex map an overlay
9270 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is now mapped; @var{overlay} must
9271 be the name of the object file section containing the overlay. When an
9272 overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the overlay's
9273 functions and variables at their mapped addresses. @value{GDBN} assumes
9274 that any other overlays whose mapped ranges overlap that of
9275 @var{overlay} are now unmapped.
9276
9277 @item overlay unmap-overlay @var{overlay}
9278 @itemx overlay unmap @var{overlay}
9279 @cindex unmap an overlay
9280 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is no longer mapped; @var{overlay}
9281 must be the name of the object file section containing the overlay.
9282 When an overlay is unmapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the
9283 overlay's functions and variables at their load addresses.
9284
9285 @item overlay auto
9286 Enable @dfn{automatic} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
9287 consults a data structure the overlay manager maintains in the inferior
9288 to see which overlays are mapped. For details, see @ref{Automatic
9289 Overlay Debugging}.
9290
9291 @item overlay load-target
9292 @itemx overlay load
9293 @cindex reloading the overlay table
9294 Re-read the overlay table from the inferior. Normally, @value{GDBN}
9295 re-reads the table @value{GDBN} automatically each time the inferior
9296 stops, so this command should only be necessary if you have changed the
9297 overlay mapping yourself using @value{GDBN}. This command is only
9298 useful when using automatic overlay debugging.
9299
9300 @item overlay list-overlays
9301 @itemx overlay list
9302 @cindex listing mapped overlays
9303 Display a list of the overlays currently mapped, along with their mapped
9304 addresses, load addresses, and sizes.
9305
9306 @end table
9307
9308 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a code address, it includes the name
9309 of the function the address falls in:
9310
9311 @smallexample
9312 (@value{GDBP}) print main
9313 $3 = @{int ()@} 0x11a0 <main>
9314 @end smallexample
9315 @noindent
9316 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} recognizes code in
9317 unmapped overlays, and prints the names of unmapped functions with
9318 asterisks around them. For example, if @code{foo} is a function in an
9319 unmapped overlay, @value{GDBN} prints it this way:
9320
9321 @smallexample
9322 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
9323 No sections are mapped.
9324 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
9325 $5 = @{int (int)@} 0x100000 <*foo*>
9326 @end smallexample
9327 @noindent
9328 When @code{foo}'s overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} prints the function's
9329 name normally:
9330
9331 @smallexample
9332 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
9333 Section .ov.foo.text, loaded at 0x100000 - 0x100034,
9334 mapped at 0x1016 - 0x104a
9335 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
9336 $6 = @{int (int)@} 0x1016 <foo>
9337 @end smallexample
9338
9339 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} can find the correct
9340 address for functions and variables in an overlay, whether or not the
9341 overlay is mapped. This allows most @value{GDBN} commands, like
9342 @code{break} and @code{disassemble}, to work normally, even on unmapped
9343 code. However, @value{GDBN}'s breakpoint support has some limitations:
9344
9345 @itemize @bullet
9346 @item
9347 @cindex breakpoints in overlays
9348 @cindex overlays, setting breakpoints in
9349 You can set breakpoints in functions in unmapped overlays, as long as
9350 @value{GDBN} can write to the overlay at its load address.
9351 @item
9352 @value{GDBN} can not set hardware or simulator-based breakpoints in
9353 unmapped overlays. However, if you set a breakpoint at the end of your
9354 overlay manager (and tell @value{GDBN} which overlays are now mapped, if
9355 you are using manual overlay management), @value{GDBN} will re-set its
9356 breakpoints properly.
9357 @end itemize
9358
9359
9360 @node Automatic Overlay Debugging
9361 @section Automatic Overlay Debugging
9362 @cindex automatic overlay debugging
9363
9364 @value{GDBN} can automatically track which overlays are mapped and which
9365 are not, given some simple co-operation from the overlay manager in the
9366 inferior. If you enable automatic overlay debugging with the
9367 @code{overlay auto} command (@pxref{Overlay Commands}), @value{GDBN}
9368 looks in the inferior's memory for certain variables describing the
9369 current state of the overlays.
9370
9371 Here are the variables your overlay manager must define to support
9372 @value{GDBN}'s automatic overlay debugging:
9373
9374 @table @asis
9375
9376 @item @code{_ovly_table}:
9377 This variable must be an array of the following structures:
9378
9379 @smallexample
9380 struct
9381 @{
9382 /* The overlay's mapped address. */
9383 unsigned long vma;
9384
9385 /* The size of the overlay, in bytes. */
9386 unsigned long size;
9387
9388 /* The overlay's load address. */
9389 unsigned long lma;
9390
9391 /* Non-zero if the overlay is currently mapped;
9392 zero otherwise. */
9393 unsigned long mapped;
9394 @}
9395 @end smallexample
9396
9397 @item @code{_novlys}:
9398 This variable must be a four-byte signed integer, holding the total
9399 number of elements in @code{_ovly_table}.
9400
9401 @end table
9402
9403 To decide whether a particular overlay is mapped or not, @value{GDBN}
9404 looks for an entry in @w{@code{_ovly_table}} whose @code{vma} and
9405 @code{lma} members equal the VMA and LMA of the overlay's section in the
9406 executable file. When @value{GDBN} finds a matching entry, it consults
9407 the entry's @code{mapped} member to determine whether the overlay is
9408 currently mapped.
9409
9410 In addition, your overlay manager may define a function called
9411 @code{_ovly_debug_event}. If this function is defined, @value{GDBN}
9412 will silently set a breakpoint there. If the overlay manager then
9413 calls this function whenever it has changed the overlay table, this
9414 will enable @value{GDBN} to accurately keep track of which overlays
9415 are in program memory, and update any breakpoints that may be set
9416 in overlays. This will allow breakpoints to work even if the
9417 overlays are kept in ROM or other non-writable memory while they
9418 are not being executed.
9419
9420 @node Overlay Sample Program
9421 @section Overlay Sample Program
9422 @cindex overlay example program
9423
9424 When linking a program which uses overlays, you must place the overlays
9425 at their load addresses, while relocating them to run at their mapped
9426 addresses. To do this, you must write a linker script (@pxref{Overlay
9427 Description,,, ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}). Unfortunately,
9428 since linker scripts are specific to a particular host system, target
9429 architecture, and target memory layout, this manual cannot provide
9430 portable sample code demonstrating @value{GDBN}'s overlay support.
9431
9432 However, the @value{GDBN} source distribution does contain an overlaid
9433 program, with linker scripts for a few systems, as part of its test
9434 suite. The program consists of the following files from
9435 @file{gdb/testsuite/gdb.base}:
9436
9437 @table @file
9438 @item overlays.c
9439 The main program file.
9440 @item ovlymgr.c
9441 A simple overlay manager, used by @file{overlays.c}.
9442 @item foo.c
9443 @itemx bar.c
9444 @itemx baz.c
9445 @itemx grbx.c
9446 Overlay modules, loaded and used by @file{overlays.c}.
9447 @item d10v.ld
9448 @itemx m32r.ld
9449 Linker scripts for linking the test program on the @code{d10v-elf}
9450 and @code{m32r-elf} targets.
9451 @end table
9452
9453 You can build the test program using the @code{d10v-elf} GCC
9454 cross-compiler like this:
9455
9456 @smallexample
9457 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c overlays.c
9458 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c ovlymgr.c
9459 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c foo.c
9460 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c bar.c
9461 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c baz.c
9462 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c grbx.c
9463 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g overlays.o ovlymgr.o foo.o bar.o \
9464 baz.o grbx.o -Wl,-Td10v.ld -o overlays
9465 @end smallexample
9466
9467 The build process is identical for any other architecture, except that
9468 you must substitute the appropriate compiler and linker script for the
9469 target system for @code{d10v-elf-gcc} and @code{d10v.ld}.
9470
9471
9472 @node Languages
9473 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages
9474 @cindex languages
9475
9476 Although programming languages generally have common aspects, they are
9477 rarely expressed in the same manner. For instance, in ANSI C,
9478 dereferencing a pointer @code{p} is accomplished by @code{*p}, but in
9479 Modula-2, it is accomplished by @code{p^}. Values can also be
9480 represented (and displayed) differently. Hex numbers in C appear as
9481 @samp{0x1ae}, while in Modula-2 they appear as @samp{1AEH}.
9482
9483 @cindex working language
9484 Language-specific information is built into @value{GDBN} for some languages,
9485 allowing you to express operations like the above in your program's
9486 native language, and allowing @value{GDBN} to output values in a manner
9487 consistent with the syntax of your program's native language. The
9488 language you use to build expressions is called the @dfn{working
9489 language}.
9490
9491 @menu
9492 * Setting:: Switching between source languages
9493 * Show:: Displaying the language
9494 * Checks:: Type and range checks
9495 * Supported Languages:: Supported languages
9496 * Unsupported Languages:: Unsupported languages
9497 @end menu
9498
9499 @node Setting
9500 @section Switching Between Source Languages
9501
9502 There are two ways to control the working language---either have @value{GDBN}
9503 set it automatically, or select it manually yourself. You can use the
9504 @code{set language} command for either purpose. On startup, @value{GDBN}
9505 defaults to setting the language automatically. The working language is
9506 used to determine how expressions you type are interpreted, how values
9507 are printed, etc.
9508
9509 In addition to the working language, every source file that
9510 @value{GDBN} knows about has its own working language. For some object
9511 file formats, the compiler might indicate which language a particular
9512 source file is in. However, most of the time @value{GDBN} infers the
9513 language from the name of the file. The language of a source file
9514 controls whether C@t{++} names are demangled---this way @code{backtrace} can
9515 show each frame appropriately for its own language. There is no way to
9516 set the language of a source file from within @value{GDBN}, but you can
9517 set the language associated with a filename extension. @xref{Show, ,
9518 Displaying the Language}.
9519
9520 This is most commonly a problem when you use a program, such
9521 as @code{cfront} or @code{f2c}, that generates C but is written in
9522 another language. In that case, make the
9523 program use @code{#line} directives in its C output; that way
9524 @value{GDBN} will know the correct language of the source code of the original
9525 program, and will display that source code, not the generated C code.
9526
9527 @menu
9528 * Filenames:: Filename extensions and languages.
9529 * Manually:: Setting the working language manually
9530 * Automatically:: Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
9531 @end menu
9532
9533 @node Filenames
9534 @subsection List of Filename Extensions and Languages
9535
9536 If a source file name ends in one of the following extensions, then
9537 @value{GDBN} infers that its language is the one indicated.
9538
9539 @table @file
9540 @item .ada
9541 @itemx .ads
9542 @itemx .adb
9543 @itemx .a
9544 Ada source file.
9545
9546 @item .c
9547 C source file
9548
9549 @item .C
9550 @itemx .cc
9551 @itemx .cp
9552 @itemx .cpp
9553 @itemx .cxx
9554 @itemx .c++
9555 C@t{++} source file
9556
9557 @item .m
9558 Objective-C source file
9559
9560 @item .f
9561 @itemx .F
9562 Fortran source file
9563
9564 @item .mod
9565 Modula-2 source file
9566
9567 @item .s
9568 @itemx .S
9569 Assembler source file. This actually behaves almost like C, but
9570 @value{GDBN} does not skip over function prologues when stepping.
9571 @end table
9572
9573 In addition, you may set the language associated with a filename
9574 extension. @xref{Show, , Displaying the Language}.
9575
9576 @node Manually
9577 @subsection Setting the Working Language
9578
9579 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically,
9580 expressions are interpreted the same way in your debugging session and
9581 your program.
9582
9583 @kindex set language
9584 If you wish, you may set the language manually. To do this, issue the
9585 command @samp{set language @var{lang}}, where @var{lang} is the name of
9586 a language, such as
9587 @code{c} or @code{modula-2}.
9588 For a list of the supported languages, type @samp{set language}.
9589
9590 Setting the language manually prevents @value{GDBN} from updating the working
9591 language automatically. This can lead to confusion if you try
9592 to debug a program when the working language is not the same as the
9593 source language, when an expression is acceptable to both
9594 languages---but means different things. For instance, if the current
9595 source file were written in C, and @value{GDBN} was parsing Modula-2, a
9596 command such as:
9597
9598 @smallexample
9599 print a = b + c
9600 @end smallexample
9601
9602 @noindent
9603 might not have the effect you intended. In C, this means to add
9604 @code{b} and @code{c} and place the result in @code{a}. The result
9605 printed would be the value of @code{a}. In Modula-2, this means to compare
9606 @code{a} to the result of @code{b+c}, yielding a @code{BOOLEAN} value.
9607
9608 @node Automatically
9609 @subsection Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language
9610
9611 To have @value{GDBN} set the working language automatically, use
9612 @samp{set language local} or @samp{set language auto}. @value{GDBN}
9613 then infers the working language. That is, when your program stops in a
9614 frame (usually by encountering a breakpoint), @value{GDBN} sets the
9615 working language to the language recorded for the function in that
9616 frame. If the language for a frame is unknown (that is, if the function
9617 or block corresponding to the frame was defined in a source file that
9618 does not have a recognized extension), the current working language is
9619 not changed, and @value{GDBN} issues a warning.
9620
9621 This may not seem necessary for most programs, which are written
9622 entirely in one source language. However, program modules and libraries
9623 written in one source language can be used by a main program written in
9624 a different source language. Using @samp{set language auto} in this
9625 case frees you from having to set the working language manually.
9626
9627 @node Show
9628 @section Displaying the Language
9629
9630 The following commands help you find out which language is the
9631 working language, and also what language source files were written in.
9632
9633 @table @code
9634 @item show language
9635 @kindex show language
9636 Display the current working language. This is the
9637 language you can use with commands such as @code{print} to
9638 build and compute expressions that may involve variables in your program.
9639
9640 @item info frame
9641 @kindex info frame@r{, show the source language}
9642 Display the source language for this frame. This language becomes the
9643 working language if you use an identifier from this frame.
9644 @xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}, to identify the other
9645 information listed here.
9646
9647 @item info source
9648 @kindex info source@r{, show the source language}
9649 Display the source language of this source file.
9650 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, to identify the other
9651 information listed here.
9652 @end table
9653
9654 In unusual circumstances, you may have source files with extensions
9655 not in the standard list. You can then set the extension associated
9656 with a language explicitly:
9657
9658 @table @code
9659 @item set extension-language @var{ext} @var{language}
9660 @kindex set extension-language
9661 Tell @value{GDBN} that source files with extension @var{ext} are to be
9662 assumed as written in the source language @var{language}.
9663
9664 @item info extensions
9665 @kindex info extensions
9666 List all the filename extensions and the associated languages.
9667 @end table
9668
9669 @node Checks
9670 @section Type and Range Checking
9671
9672 @quotation
9673 @emph{Warning:} In this release, the @value{GDBN} commands for type and range
9674 checking are included, but they do not yet have any effect. This
9675 section documents the intended facilities.
9676 @end quotation
9677 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range code added
9678
9679 Some languages are designed to guard you against making seemingly common
9680 errors through a series of compile- and run-time checks. These include
9681 checking the type of arguments to functions and operators, and making
9682 sure mathematical overflows are caught at run time. Checks such as
9683 these help to ensure a program's correctness once it has been compiled
9684 by eliminating type mismatches, and providing active checks for range
9685 errors when your program is running.
9686
9687 @value{GDBN} can check for conditions like the above if you wish.
9688 Although @value{GDBN} does not check the statements in your program,
9689 it can check expressions entered directly into @value{GDBN} for
9690 evaluation via the @code{print} command, for example. As with the
9691 working language, @value{GDBN} can also decide whether or not to check
9692 automatically based on your program's source language.
9693 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default
9694 settings of supported languages.
9695
9696 @menu
9697 * Type Checking:: An overview of type checking
9698 * Range Checking:: An overview of range checking
9699 @end menu
9700
9701 @cindex type checking
9702 @cindex checks, type
9703 @node Type Checking
9704 @subsection An Overview of Type Checking
9705
9706 Some languages, such as Modula-2, are strongly typed, meaning that the
9707 arguments to operators and functions have to be of the correct type,
9708 otherwise an error occurs. These checks prevent type mismatch
9709 errors from ever causing any run-time problems. For example,
9710
9711 @smallexample
9712 1 + 2 @result{} 3
9713 @exdent but
9714 @error{} 1 + 2.3
9715 @end smallexample
9716
9717 The second example fails because the @code{CARDINAL} 1 is not
9718 type-compatible with the @code{REAL} 2.3.
9719
9720 For the expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell the
9721 @value{GDBN} type checker to skip checking;
9722 to treat any mismatches as errors and abandon the expression;
9723 or to only issue warnings when type mismatches occur,
9724 but evaluate the expression anyway. When you choose the last of
9725 these, @value{GDBN} evaluates expressions like the second example above, but
9726 also issues a warning.
9727
9728 Even if you turn type checking off, there may be other reasons
9729 related to type that prevent @value{GDBN} from evaluating an expression.
9730 For instance, @value{GDBN} does not know how to add an @code{int} and
9731 a @code{struct foo}. These particular type errors have nothing to do
9732 with the language in use, and usually arise from expressions, such as
9733 the one described above, which make little sense to evaluate anyway.
9734
9735 Each language defines to what degree it is strict about type. For
9736 instance, both Modula-2 and C require the arguments to arithmetical
9737 operators to be numbers. In C, enumerated types and pointers can be
9738 represented as numbers, so that they are valid arguments to mathematical
9739 operators. @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for further
9740 details on specific languages.
9741
9742 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the type checker:
9743
9744 @kindex set check type
9745 @kindex show check type
9746 @table @code
9747 @item set check type auto
9748 Set type checking on or off based on the current working language.
9749 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
9750 each language.
9751
9752 @item set check type on
9753 @itemx set check type off
9754 Set type checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
9755 current working language. Issue a warning if the setting does not
9756 match the language default. If any type mismatches occur in
9757 evaluating an expression while type checking is on, @value{GDBN} prints a
9758 message and aborts evaluation of the expression.
9759
9760 @item set check type warn
9761 Cause the type checker to issue warnings, but to always attempt to
9762 evaluate the expression. Evaluating the expression may still
9763 be impossible for other reasons. For example, @value{GDBN} cannot add
9764 numbers and structures.
9765
9766 @item show type
9767 Show the current setting of the type checker, and whether or not @value{GDBN}
9768 is setting it automatically.
9769 @end table
9770
9771 @cindex range checking
9772 @cindex checks, range
9773 @node Range Checking
9774 @subsection An Overview of Range Checking
9775
9776 In some languages (such as Modula-2), it is an error to exceed the
9777 bounds of a type; this is enforced with run-time checks. Such range
9778 checking is meant to ensure program correctness by making sure
9779 computations do not overflow, or indices on an array element access do
9780 not exceed the bounds of the array.
9781
9782 For expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
9783 @value{GDBN} to treat range errors in one of three ways: ignore them,
9784 always treat them as errors and abandon the expression, or issue
9785 warnings but evaluate the expression anyway.
9786
9787 A range error can result from numerical overflow, from exceeding an
9788 array index bound, or when you type a constant that is not a member
9789 of any type. Some languages, however, do not treat overflows as an
9790 error. In many implementations of C, mathematical overflow causes the
9791 result to ``wrap around'' to lower values---for example, if @var{m} is
9792 the largest integer value, and @var{s} is the smallest, then
9793
9794 @smallexample
9795 @var{m} + 1 @result{} @var{s}
9796 @end smallexample
9797
9798 This, too, is specific to individual languages, and in some cases
9799 specific to individual compilers or machines. @xref{Supported Languages, ,
9800 Supported Languages}, for further details on specific languages.
9801
9802 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the range checker:
9803
9804 @kindex set check range
9805 @kindex show check range
9806 @table @code
9807 @item set check range auto
9808 Set range checking on or off based on the current working language.
9809 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
9810 each language.
9811
9812 @item set check range on
9813 @itemx set check range off
9814 Set range checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
9815 current working language. A warning is issued if the setting does not
9816 match the language default. If a range error occurs and range checking is on,
9817 then a message is printed and evaluation of the expression is aborted.
9818
9819 @item set check range warn
9820 Output messages when the @value{GDBN} range checker detects a range error,
9821 but attempt to evaluate the expression anyway. Evaluating the
9822 expression may still be impossible for other reasons, such as accessing
9823 memory that the process does not own (a typical example from many Unix
9824 systems).
9825
9826 @item show range
9827 Show the current setting of the range checker, and whether or not it is
9828 being set automatically by @value{GDBN}.
9829 @end table
9830
9831 @node Supported Languages
9832 @section Supported Languages
9833
9834 @value{GDBN} supports C, C@t{++}, Objective-C, Fortran, Java, Pascal,
9835 assembly, Modula-2, and Ada.
9836 @c This is false ...
9837 Some @value{GDBN} features may be used in expressions regardless of the
9838 language you use: the @value{GDBN} @code{@@} and @code{::} operators,
9839 and the @samp{@{type@}addr} construct (@pxref{Expressions,
9840 ,Expressions}) can be used with the constructs of any supported
9841 language.
9842
9843 The following sections detail to what degree each source language is
9844 supported by @value{GDBN}. These sections are not meant to be language
9845 tutorials or references, but serve only as a reference guide to what the
9846 @value{GDBN} expression parser accepts, and what input and output
9847 formats should look like for different languages. There are many good
9848 books written on each of these languages; please look to these for a
9849 language reference or tutorial.
9850
9851 @menu
9852 * C:: C and C@t{++}
9853 * Objective-C:: Objective-C
9854 * Fortran:: Fortran
9855 * Pascal:: Pascal
9856 * Modula-2:: Modula-2
9857 * Ada:: Ada
9858 @end menu
9859
9860 @node C
9861 @subsection C and C@t{++}
9862
9863 @cindex C and C@t{++}
9864 @cindex expressions in C or C@t{++}
9865
9866 Since C and C@t{++} are so closely related, many features of @value{GDBN} apply
9867 to both languages. Whenever this is the case, we discuss those languages
9868 together.
9869
9870 @cindex C@t{++}
9871 @cindex @code{g++}, @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler
9872 @cindex @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
9873 The C@t{++} debugging facilities are jointly implemented by the C@t{++}
9874 compiler and @value{GDBN}. Therefore, to debug your C@t{++} code
9875 effectively, you must compile your C@t{++} programs with a supported
9876 C@t{++} compiler, such as @sc{gnu} @code{g++}, or the HP ANSI C@t{++}
9877 compiler (@code{aCC}).
9878
9879 For best results when using @sc{gnu} C@t{++}, use the DWARF 2 debugging
9880 format; if it doesn't work on your system, try the stabs+ debugging
9881 format. You can select those formats explicitly with the @code{g++}
9882 command-line options @option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-gstabs+}.
9883 @xref{Debugging Options,,Options for Debugging Your Program or GCC,
9884 gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu} Compiler Collection (GCC)}.
9885
9886 @menu
9887 * C Operators:: C and C@t{++} operators
9888 * C Constants:: C and C@t{++} constants
9889 * C Plus Plus Expressions:: C@t{++} expressions
9890 * C Defaults:: Default settings for C and C@t{++}
9891 * C Checks:: C and C@t{++} type and range checks
9892 * Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
9893 * Debugging C Plus Plus:: @value{GDBN} features for C@t{++}
9894 * Decimal Floating Point:: Numbers in Decimal Floating Point format
9895 @end menu
9896
9897 @node C Operators
9898 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Operators
9899
9900 @cindex C and C@t{++} operators
9901
9902 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
9903 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
9904 often defined on groups of types.
9905
9906 For the purposes of C and C@t{++}, the following definitions hold:
9907
9908 @itemize @bullet
9909
9910 @item
9911 @emph{Integral types} include @code{int} with any of its storage-class
9912 specifiers; @code{char}; @code{enum}; and, for C@t{++}, @code{bool}.
9913
9914 @item
9915 @emph{Floating-point types} include @code{float}, @code{double}, and
9916 @code{long double} (if supported by the target platform).
9917
9918 @item
9919 @emph{Pointer types} include all types defined as @code{(@var{type} *)}.
9920
9921 @item
9922 @emph{Scalar types} include all of the above.
9923
9924 @end itemize
9925
9926 @noindent
9927 The following operators are supported. They are listed here
9928 in order of increasing precedence:
9929
9930 @table @code
9931 @item ,
9932 The comma or sequencing operator. Expressions in a comma-separated list
9933 are evaluated from left to right, with the result of the entire
9934 expression being the last expression evaluated.
9935
9936 @item =
9937 Assignment. The value of an assignment expression is the value
9938 assigned. Defined on scalar types.
9939
9940 @item @var{op}=
9941 Used in an expression of the form @w{@code{@var{a} @var{op}= @var{b}}},
9942 and translated to @w{@code{@var{a} = @var{a op b}}}.
9943 @w{@code{@var{op}=}} and @code{=} have the same precedence.
9944 @var{op} is any one of the operators @code{|}, @code{^}, @code{&},
9945 @code{<<}, @code{>>}, @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{%}.
9946
9947 @item ?:
9948 The ternary operator. @code{@var{a} ? @var{b} : @var{c}} can be thought
9949 of as: if @var{a} then @var{b} else @var{c}. @var{a} should be of an
9950 integral type.
9951
9952 @item ||
9953 Logical @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
9954
9955 @item &&
9956 Logical @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
9957
9958 @item |
9959 Bitwise @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
9960
9961 @item ^
9962 Bitwise exclusive-@sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
9963
9964 @item &
9965 Bitwise @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
9966
9967 @item ==@r{, }!=
9968 Equality and inequality. Defined on scalar types. The value of these
9969 expressions is 0 for false and non-zero for true.
9970
9971 @item <@r{, }>@r{, }<=@r{, }>=
9972 Less than, greater than, less than or equal, greater than or equal.
9973 Defined on scalar types. The value of these expressions is 0 for false
9974 and non-zero for true.
9975
9976 @item <<@r{, }>>
9977 left shift, and right shift. Defined on integral types.
9978
9979 @item @@
9980 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
9981
9982 @item +@r{, }-
9983 Addition and subtraction. Defined on integral types, floating-point types and
9984 pointer types.
9985
9986 @item *@r{, }/@r{, }%
9987 Multiplication, division, and modulus. Multiplication and division are
9988 defined on integral and floating-point types. Modulus is defined on
9989 integral types.
9990
9991 @item ++@r{, }--
9992 Increment and decrement. When appearing before a variable, the
9993 operation is performed before the variable is used in an expression;
9994 when appearing after it, the variable's value is used before the
9995 operation takes place.
9996
9997 @item *
9998 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types. Same precedence as
9999 @code{++}.
10000
10001 @item &
10002 Address operator. Defined on variables. Same precedence as @code{++}.
10003
10004 For debugging C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} implements a use of @samp{&} beyond what is
10005 allowed in the C@t{++} language itself: you can use @samp{&(&@var{ref})}
10006 to examine the address
10007 where a C@t{++} reference variable (declared with @samp{&@var{ref}}) is
10008 stored.
10009
10010 @item -
10011 Negative. Defined on integral and floating-point types. Same
10012 precedence as @code{++}.
10013
10014 @item !
10015 Logical negation. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
10016 @code{++}.
10017
10018 @item ~
10019 Bitwise complement operator. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
10020 @code{++}.
10021
10022
10023 @item .@r{, }->
10024 Structure member, and pointer-to-structure member. For convenience,
10025 @value{GDBN} regards the two as equivalent, choosing whether to dereference a
10026 pointer based on the stored type information.
10027 Defined on @code{struct} and @code{union} data.
10028
10029 @item .*@r{, }->*
10030 Dereferences of pointers to members.
10031
10032 @item []
10033 Array indexing. @code{@var{a}[@var{i}]} is defined as
10034 @code{*(@var{a}+@var{i})}. Same precedence as @code{->}.
10035
10036 @item ()
10037 Function parameter list. Same precedence as @code{->}.
10038
10039 @item ::
10040 C@t{++} scope resolution operator. Defined on @code{struct}, @code{union},
10041 and @code{class} types.
10042
10043 @item ::
10044 Doubled colons also represent the @value{GDBN} scope operator
10045 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). Same precedence as @code{::},
10046 above.
10047 @end table
10048
10049 If an operator is redefined in the user code, @value{GDBN} usually
10050 attempts to invoke the redefined version instead of using the operator's
10051 predefined meaning.
10052
10053 @node C Constants
10054 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Constants
10055
10056 @cindex C and C@t{++} constants
10057
10058 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C and C@t{++} in the
10059 following ways:
10060
10061 @itemize @bullet
10062 @item
10063 Integer constants are a sequence of digits. Octal constants are
10064 specified by a leading @samp{0} (i.e.@: zero), and hexadecimal constants
10065 by a leading @samp{0x} or @samp{0X}. Constants may also end with a letter
10066 @samp{l}, specifying that the constant should be treated as a
10067 @code{long} value.
10068
10069 @item
10070 Floating point constants are a sequence of digits, followed by a decimal
10071 point, followed by a sequence of digits, and optionally followed by an
10072 exponent. An exponent is of the form:
10073 @samp{@w{e@r{[[}+@r{]|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}}, where @var{nnn} is another
10074 sequence of digits. The @samp{+} is optional for positive exponents.
10075 A floating-point constant may also end with a letter @samp{f} or
10076 @samp{F}, specifying that the constant should be treated as being of
10077 the @code{float} (as opposed to the default @code{double}) type; or with
10078 a letter @samp{l} or @samp{L}, which specifies a @code{long double}
10079 constant.
10080
10081 @item
10082 Enumerated constants consist of enumerated identifiers, or their
10083 integral equivalents.
10084
10085 @item
10086 Character constants are a single character surrounded by single quotes
10087 (@code{'}), or a number---the ordinal value of the corresponding character
10088 (usually its @sc{ascii} value). Within quotes, the single character may
10089 be represented by a letter or by @dfn{escape sequences}, which are of
10090 the form @samp{\@var{nnn}}, where @var{nnn} is the octal representation
10091 of the character's ordinal value; or of the form @samp{\@var{x}}, where
10092 @samp{@var{x}} is a predefined special character---for example,
10093 @samp{\n} for newline.
10094
10095 @item
10096 String constants are a sequence of character constants surrounded by
10097 double quotes (@code{"}). Any valid character constant (as described
10098 above) may appear. Double quotes within the string must be preceded by
10099 a backslash, so for instance @samp{"a\"b'c"} is a string of five
10100 characters.
10101
10102 @item
10103 Pointer constants are an integral value. You can also write pointers
10104 to constants using the C operator @samp{&}.
10105
10106 @item
10107 Array constants are comma-separated lists surrounded by braces @samp{@{}
10108 and @samp{@}}; for example, @samp{@{1,2,3@}} is a three-element array of
10109 integers, @samp{@{@{1,2@}, @{3,4@}, @{5,6@}@}} is a three-by-two array,
10110 and @samp{@{&"hi", &"there", &"fred"@}} is a three-element array of pointers.
10111 @end itemize
10112
10113 @node C Plus Plus Expressions
10114 @subsubsection C@t{++} Expressions
10115
10116 @cindex expressions in C@t{++}
10117 @value{GDBN} expression handling can interpret most C@t{++} expressions.
10118
10119 @cindex debugging C@t{++} programs
10120 @cindex C@t{++} compilers
10121 @cindex debug formats and C@t{++}
10122 @cindex @value{NGCC} and C@t{++}
10123 @quotation
10124 @emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} can only debug C@t{++} code if you use the
10125 proper compiler and the proper debug format. Currently, @value{GDBN}
10126 works best when debugging C@t{++} code that is compiled with
10127 @value{NGCC} 2.95.3 or with @value{NGCC} 3.1 or newer, using the options
10128 @option{-gdwarf-2} or @option{-gstabs+}. DWARF 2 is preferred over
10129 stabs+. Most configurations of @value{NGCC} emit either DWARF 2 or
10130 stabs+ as their default debug format, so you usually don't need to
10131 specify a debug format explicitly. Other compilers and/or debug formats
10132 are likely to work badly or not at all when using @value{GDBN} to debug
10133 C@t{++} code.
10134 @end quotation
10135
10136 @enumerate
10137
10138 @cindex member functions
10139 @item
10140 Member function calls are allowed; you can use expressions like
10141
10142 @smallexample
10143 count = aml->GetOriginal(x, y)
10144 @end smallexample
10145
10146 @vindex this@r{, inside C@t{++} member functions}
10147 @cindex namespace in C@t{++}
10148 @item
10149 While a member function is active (in the selected stack frame), your
10150 expressions have the same namespace available as the member function;
10151 that is, @value{GDBN} allows implicit references to the class instance
10152 pointer @code{this} following the same rules as C@t{++}.
10153
10154 @cindex call overloaded functions
10155 @cindex overloaded functions, calling
10156 @cindex type conversions in C@t{++}
10157 @item
10158 You can call overloaded functions; @value{GDBN} resolves the function
10159 call to the right definition, with some restrictions. @value{GDBN} does not
10160 perform overload resolution involving user-defined type conversions,
10161 calls to constructors, or instantiations of templates that do not exist
10162 in the program. It also cannot handle ellipsis argument lists or
10163 default arguments.
10164
10165 It does perform integral conversions and promotions, floating-point
10166 promotions, arithmetic conversions, pointer conversions, conversions of
10167 class objects to base classes, and standard conversions such as those of
10168 functions or arrays to pointers; it requires an exact match on the
10169 number of function arguments.
10170
10171 Overload resolution is always performed, unless you have specified
10172 @code{set overload-resolution off}. @xref{Debugging C Plus Plus,
10173 ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
10174
10175 You must specify @code{set overload-resolution off} in order to use an
10176 explicit function signature to call an overloaded function, as in
10177 @smallexample
10178 p 'foo(char,int)'('x', 13)
10179 @end smallexample
10180
10181 The @value{GDBN} command-completion facility can simplify this;
10182 see @ref{Completion, ,Command Completion}.
10183
10184 @cindex reference declarations
10185 @item
10186 @value{GDBN} understands variables declared as C@t{++} references; you can use
10187 them in expressions just as you do in C@t{++} source---they are automatically
10188 dereferenced.
10189
10190 In the parameter list shown when @value{GDBN} displays a frame, the values of
10191 reference variables are not displayed (unlike other variables); this
10192 avoids clutter, since references are often used for large structures.
10193 The @emph{address} of a reference variable is always shown, unless
10194 you have specified @samp{set print address off}.
10195
10196 @item
10197 @value{GDBN} supports the C@t{++} name resolution operator @code{::}---your
10198 expressions can use it just as expressions in your program do. Since
10199 one scope may be defined in another, you can use @code{::} repeatedly if
10200 necessary, for example in an expression like
10201 @samp{@var{scope1}::@var{scope2}::@var{name}}. @value{GDBN} also allows
10202 resolving name scope by reference to source files, in both C and C@t{++}
10203 debugging (@pxref{Variables, ,Program Variables}).
10204 @end enumerate
10205
10206 In addition, when used with HP's C@t{++} compiler, @value{GDBN} supports
10207 calling virtual functions correctly, printing out virtual bases of
10208 objects, calling functions in a base subobject, casting objects, and
10209 invoking user-defined operators.
10210
10211 @node C Defaults
10212 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Defaults
10213
10214 @cindex C and C@t{++} defaults
10215
10216 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set type and range checking automatically, they
10217 both default to @code{off} whenever the working language changes to
10218 C or C@t{++}. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
10219 selects the working language.
10220
10221 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, it
10222 recognizes source files whose names end with @file{.c}, @file{.C}, or
10223 @file{.cc}, etc, and when @value{GDBN} enters code compiled from one of
10224 these files, it sets the working language to C or C@t{++}.
10225 @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language},
10226 for further details.
10227
10228 @c Type checking is (a) primarily motivated by Modula-2, and (b)
10229 @c unimplemented. If (b) changes, it might make sense to let this node
10230 @c appear even if Mod-2 does not, but meanwhile ignore it. roland 16jul93.
10231
10232 @node C Checks
10233 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Type and Range Checks
10234
10235 @cindex C and C@t{++} checks
10236
10237 By default, when @value{GDBN} parses C or C@t{++} expressions, type checking
10238 is not used. However, if you turn type checking on, @value{GDBN}
10239 considers two variables type equivalent if:
10240
10241 @itemize @bullet
10242 @item
10243 The two variables are structured and have the same structure, union, or
10244 enumerated tag.
10245
10246 @item
10247 The two variables have the same type name, or types that have been
10248 declared equivalent through @code{typedef}.
10249
10250 @ignore
10251 @c leaving this out because neither J Gilmore nor R Pesch understand it.
10252 @c FIXME--beers?
10253 @item
10254 The two @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} variables are
10255 declared in the same declaration. (Note: this may not be true for all C
10256 compilers.)
10257 @end ignore
10258 @end itemize
10259
10260 Range checking, if turned on, is done on mathematical operations. Array
10261 indices are not checked, since they are often used to index a pointer
10262 that is not itself an array.
10263
10264 @node Debugging C
10265 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and C
10266
10267 The @code{set print union} and @code{show print union} commands apply to
10268 the @code{union} type. When set to @samp{on}, any @code{union} that is
10269 inside a @code{struct} or @code{class} is also printed. Otherwise, it
10270 appears as @samp{@{...@}}.
10271
10272 The @code{@@} operator aids in the debugging of dynamic arrays, formed
10273 with pointers and a memory allocation function. @xref{Expressions,
10274 ,Expressions}.
10275
10276 @node Debugging C Plus Plus
10277 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}
10278
10279 @cindex commands for C@t{++}
10280
10281 Some @value{GDBN} commands are particularly useful with C@t{++}, and some are
10282 designed specifically for use with C@t{++}. Here is a summary:
10283
10284 @table @code
10285 @cindex break in overloaded functions
10286 @item @r{breakpoint menus}
10287 When you want a breakpoint in a function whose name is overloaded,
10288 @value{GDBN} has the capability to display a menu of possible breakpoint
10289 locations to help you specify which function definition you want.
10290 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}.
10291
10292 @cindex overloading in C@t{++}
10293 @item rbreak @var{regex}
10294 Setting breakpoints using regular expressions is helpful for setting
10295 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
10296 classes.
10297 @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
10298
10299 @cindex C@t{++} exception handling
10300 @item catch throw
10301 @itemx catch catch
10302 Debug C@t{++} exception handling using these commands. @xref{Set
10303 Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
10304
10305 @cindex inheritance
10306 @item ptype @var{typename}
10307 Print inheritance relationships as well as other information for type
10308 @var{typename}.
10309 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
10310
10311 @cindex C@t{++} symbol display
10312 @item set print demangle
10313 @itemx show print demangle
10314 @itemx set print asm-demangle
10315 @itemx show print asm-demangle
10316 Control whether C@t{++} symbols display in their source form, both when
10317 displaying code as C@t{++} source and when displaying disassemblies.
10318 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
10319
10320 @item set print object
10321 @itemx show print object
10322 Choose whether to print derived (actual) or declared types of objects.
10323 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
10324
10325 @item set print vtbl
10326 @itemx show print vtbl
10327 Control the format for printing virtual function tables.
10328 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
10329 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
10330 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
10331
10332 @kindex set overload-resolution
10333 @cindex overloaded functions, overload resolution
10334 @item set overload-resolution on
10335 Enable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. The default
10336 is on. For overloaded functions, @value{GDBN} evaluates the arguments
10337 and searches for a function whose signature matches the argument types,
10338 using the standard C@t{++} conversion rules (see @ref{C Plus Plus
10339 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}, for details).
10340 If it cannot find a match, it emits a message.
10341
10342 @item set overload-resolution off
10343 Disable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. For
10344 overloaded functions that are not class member functions, @value{GDBN}
10345 chooses the first function of the specified name that it finds in the
10346 symbol table, whether or not its arguments are of the correct type. For
10347 overloaded functions that are class member functions, @value{GDBN}
10348 searches for a function whose signature @emph{exactly} matches the
10349 argument types.
10350
10351 @kindex show overload-resolution
10352 @item show overload-resolution
10353 Show the current setting of overload resolution.
10354
10355 @item @r{Overloaded symbol names}
10356 You can specify a particular definition of an overloaded symbol, using
10357 the same notation that is used to declare such symbols in C@t{++}: type
10358 @code{@var{symbol}(@var{types})} rather than just @var{symbol}. You can
10359 also use the @value{GDBN} command-line word completion facilities to list the
10360 available choices, or to finish the type list for you.
10361 @xref{Completion,, Command Completion}, for details on how to do this.
10362 @end table
10363
10364 @node Decimal Floating Point
10365 @subsubsection Decimal Floating Point format
10366 @cindex decimal floating point format
10367
10368 @value{GDBN} can examine, set and perform computations with numbers in
10369 decimal floating point format, which in the C language correspond to the
10370 @code{_Decimal32}, @code{_Decimal64} and @code{_Decimal128} types as
10371 specified by the extension to support decimal floating-point arithmetic.
10372
10373 There are two encodings in use, depending on the architecture: BID (Binary
10374 Integer Decimal) for x86 and x86-64, and DPD (Densely Packed Decimal) for
10375 PowerPC. @value{GDBN} will use the appropriate encoding for the configured
10376 target.
10377
10378 Because of a limitation in @file{libdecnumber}, the library used by @value{GDBN}
10379 to manipulate decimal floating point numbers, it is not possible to convert
10380 (using a cast, for example) integers wider than 32-bit to decimal float.
10381
10382 In addition, in order to imitate @value{GDBN}'s behaviour with binary floating
10383 point computations, error checking in decimal float operations ignores
10384 underflow, overflow and divide by zero exceptions.
10385
10386 In the PowerPC architecture, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers
10387 to inspect @code{_Decimal128} values stored in floating point registers. See
10388 @ref{PowerPC,,PowerPC} for more details.
10389
10390 @node Objective-C
10391 @subsection Objective-C
10392
10393 @cindex Objective-C
10394 This section provides information about some commands and command
10395 options that are useful for debugging Objective-C code. See also
10396 @ref{Symbols, info classes}, and @ref{Symbols, info selectors}, for a
10397 few more commands specific to Objective-C support.
10398
10399 @menu
10400 * Method Names in Commands::
10401 * The Print Command with Objective-C::
10402 @end menu
10403
10404 @node Method Names in Commands
10405 @subsubsection Method Names in Commands
10406
10407 The following commands have been extended to accept Objective-C method
10408 names as line specifications:
10409
10410 @kindex clear@r{, and Objective-C}
10411 @kindex break@r{, and Objective-C}
10412 @kindex info line@r{, and Objective-C}
10413 @kindex jump@r{, and Objective-C}
10414 @kindex list@r{, and Objective-C}
10415 @itemize
10416 @item @code{clear}
10417 @item @code{break}
10418 @item @code{info line}
10419 @item @code{jump}
10420 @item @code{list}
10421 @end itemize
10422
10423 A fully qualified Objective-C method name is specified as
10424
10425 @smallexample
10426 -[@var{Class} @var{methodName}]
10427 @end smallexample
10428
10429 where the minus sign is used to indicate an instance method and a
10430 plus sign (not shown) is used to indicate a class method. The class
10431 name @var{Class} and method name @var{methodName} are enclosed in
10432 brackets, similar to the way messages are specified in Objective-C
10433 source code. For example, to set a breakpoint at the @code{create}
10434 instance method of class @code{Fruit} in the program currently being
10435 debugged, enter:
10436
10437 @smallexample
10438 break -[Fruit create]
10439 @end smallexample
10440
10441 To list ten program lines around the @code{initialize} class method,
10442 enter:
10443
10444 @smallexample
10445 list +[NSText initialize]
10446 @end smallexample
10447
10448 In the current version of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus sign is
10449 required. In future versions of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus
10450 sign will be optional, but you can use it to narrow the search. It
10451 is also possible to specify just a method name:
10452
10453 @smallexample
10454 break create
10455 @end smallexample
10456
10457 You must specify the complete method name, including any colons. If
10458 your program's source files contain more than one @code{create} method,
10459 you'll be presented with a numbered list of classes that implement that
10460 method. Indicate your choice by number, or type @samp{0} to exit if
10461 none apply.
10462
10463 As another example, to clear a breakpoint established at the
10464 @code{makeKeyAndOrderFront:} method of the @code{NSWindow} class, enter:
10465
10466 @smallexample
10467 clear -[NSWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront:]
10468 @end smallexample
10469
10470 @node The Print Command with Objective-C
10471 @subsubsection The Print Command With Objective-C
10472 @cindex Objective-C, print objects
10473 @kindex print-object
10474 @kindex po @r{(@code{print-object})}
10475
10476 The print command has also been extended to accept methods. For example:
10477
10478 @smallexample
10479 print -[@var{object} hash]
10480 @end smallexample
10481
10482 @cindex print an Objective-C object description
10483 @cindex @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, and printing Objective-C objects
10484 @noindent
10485 will tell @value{GDBN} to send the @code{hash} message to @var{object}
10486 and print the result. Also, an additional command has been added,
10487 @code{print-object} or @code{po} for short, which is meant to print
10488 the description of an object. However, this command may only work
10489 with certain Objective-C libraries that have a particular hook
10490 function, @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, defined.
10491
10492 @node Fortran
10493 @subsection Fortran
10494 @cindex Fortran-specific support in @value{GDBN}
10495
10496 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, but it
10497 currently supports only the features of Fortran 77 language.
10498
10499 @cindex trailing underscore, in Fortran symbols
10500 Some Fortran compilers (@sc{gnu} Fortran 77 and Fortran 95 compilers
10501 among them) append an underscore to the names of variables and
10502 functions. When you debug programs compiled by those compilers, you
10503 will need to refer to variables and functions with a trailing
10504 underscore.
10505
10506 @menu
10507 * Fortran Operators:: Fortran operators and expressions
10508 * Fortran Defaults:: Default settings for Fortran
10509 * Special Fortran Commands:: Special @value{GDBN} commands for Fortran
10510 @end menu
10511
10512 @node Fortran Operators
10513 @subsubsection Fortran Operators and Expressions
10514
10515 @cindex Fortran operators and expressions
10516
10517 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
10518 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on characters or other non-
10519 arithmetic types. Operators are often defined on groups of types.
10520
10521 @table @code
10522 @item **
10523 The exponentiation operator. It raises the first operand to the power
10524 of the second one.
10525
10526 @item :
10527 The range operator. Normally used in the form of array(low:high) to
10528 represent a section of array.
10529
10530 @item %
10531 The access component operator. Normally used to access elements in derived
10532 types. Also suitable for unions. As unions aren't part of regular Fortran,
10533 this can only happen when accessing a register that uses a gdbarch-defined
10534 union type.
10535 @end table
10536
10537 @node Fortran Defaults
10538 @subsubsection Fortran Defaults
10539
10540 @cindex Fortran Defaults
10541
10542 Fortran symbols are usually case-insensitive, so @value{GDBN} by
10543 default uses case-insensitive matches for Fortran symbols. You can
10544 change that with the @samp{set case-insensitive} command, see
10545 @ref{Symbols}, for the details.
10546
10547 @node Special Fortran Commands
10548 @subsubsection Special Fortran Commands
10549
10550 @cindex Special Fortran commands
10551
10552 @value{GDBN} has some commands to support Fortran-specific features,
10553 such as displaying common blocks.
10554
10555 @table @code
10556 @cindex @code{COMMON} blocks, Fortran
10557 @kindex info common
10558 @item info common @r{[}@var{common-name}@r{]}
10559 This command prints the values contained in the Fortran @code{COMMON}
10560 block whose name is @var{common-name}. With no argument, the names of
10561 all @code{COMMON} blocks visible at the current program location are
10562 printed.
10563 @end table
10564
10565 @node Pascal
10566 @subsection Pascal
10567
10568 @cindex Pascal support in @value{GDBN}, limitations
10569 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
10570 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
10571 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
10572 syntax.
10573
10574 The Pascal-specific command @code{set print pascal_static-members}
10575 controls whether static members of Pascal objects are displayed.
10576 @xref{Print Settings, pascal_static-members}.
10577
10578 @node Modula-2
10579 @subsection Modula-2
10580
10581 @cindex Modula-2, @value{GDBN} support
10582
10583 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} to support Modula-2 only support
10584 output from the @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler (which is currently being
10585 developed). Other Modula-2 compilers are not currently supported, and
10586 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
10587 to give an error as @value{GDBN} reads in the executable's symbol
10588 table.
10589
10590 @cindex expressions in Modula-2
10591 @menu
10592 * M2 Operators:: Built-in operators
10593 * Built-In Func/Proc:: Built-in functions and procedures
10594 * M2 Constants:: Modula-2 constants
10595 * M2 Types:: Modula-2 types
10596 * M2 Defaults:: Default settings for Modula-2
10597 * Deviations:: Deviations from standard Modula-2
10598 * M2 Checks:: Modula-2 type and range checks
10599 * M2 Scope:: The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
10600 * GDB/M2:: @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
10601 @end menu
10602
10603 @node M2 Operators
10604 @subsubsection Operators
10605 @cindex Modula-2 operators
10606
10607 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
10608 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
10609 often defined on groups of types. For the purposes of Modula-2, the
10610 following definitions hold:
10611
10612 @itemize @bullet
10613
10614 @item
10615 @emph{Integral types} consist of @code{INTEGER}, @code{CARDINAL}, and
10616 their subranges.
10617
10618 @item
10619 @emph{Character types} consist of @code{CHAR} and its subranges.
10620
10621 @item
10622 @emph{Floating-point types} consist of @code{REAL}.
10623
10624 @item
10625 @emph{Pointer types} consist of anything declared as @code{POINTER TO
10626 @var{type}}.
10627
10628 @item
10629 @emph{Scalar types} consist of all of the above.
10630
10631 @item
10632 @emph{Set types} consist of @code{SET} and @code{BITSET} types.
10633
10634 @item
10635 @emph{Boolean types} consist of @code{BOOLEAN}.
10636 @end itemize
10637
10638 @noindent
10639 The following operators are supported, and appear in order of
10640 increasing precedence:
10641
10642 @table @code
10643 @item ,
10644 Function argument or array index separator.
10645
10646 @item :=
10647 Assignment. The value of @var{var} @code{:=} @var{value} is
10648 @var{value}.
10649
10650 @item <@r{, }>
10651 Less than, greater than on integral, floating-point, or enumerated
10652 types.
10653
10654 @item <=@r{, }>=
10655 Less than or equal to, greater than or equal to
10656 on integral, floating-point and enumerated types, or set inclusion on
10657 set types. Same precedence as @code{<}.
10658
10659 @item =@r{, }<>@r{, }#
10660 Equality and two ways of expressing inequality, valid on scalar types.
10661 Same precedence as @code{<}. In @value{GDBN} scripts, only @code{<>} is
10662 available for inequality, since @code{#} conflicts with the script
10663 comment character.
10664
10665 @item IN
10666 Set membership. Defined on set types and the types of their members.
10667 Same precedence as @code{<}.
10668
10669 @item OR
10670 Boolean disjunction. Defined on boolean types.
10671
10672 @item AND@r{, }&
10673 Boolean conjunction. Defined on boolean types.
10674
10675 @item @@
10676 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
10677
10678 @item +@r{, }-
10679 Addition and subtraction on integral and floating-point types, or union
10680 and difference on set types.
10681
10682 @item *
10683 Multiplication on integral and floating-point types, or set intersection
10684 on set types.
10685
10686 @item /
10687 Division on floating-point types, or symmetric set difference on set
10688 types. Same precedence as @code{*}.
10689
10690 @item DIV@r{, }MOD
10691 Integer division and remainder. Defined on integral types. Same
10692 precedence as @code{*}.
10693
10694 @item -
10695 Negative. Defined on @code{INTEGER} and @code{REAL} data.
10696
10697 @item ^
10698 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types.
10699
10700 @item NOT
10701 Boolean negation. Defined on boolean types. Same precedence as
10702 @code{^}.
10703
10704 @item .
10705 @code{RECORD} field selector. Defined on @code{RECORD} data. Same
10706 precedence as @code{^}.
10707
10708 @item []
10709 Array indexing. Defined on @code{ARRAY} data. Same precedence as @code{^}.
10710
10711 @item ()
10712 Procedure argument list. Defined on @code{PROCEDURE} objects. Same precedence
10713 as @code{^}.
10714
10715 @item ::@r{, }.
10716 @value{GDBN} and Modula-2 scope operators.
10717 @end table
10718
10719 @quotation
10720 @emph{Warning:} Set expressions and their operations are not yet supported, so @value{GDBN}
10721 treats the use of the operator @code{IN}, or the use of operators
10722 @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{=}, , @code{<>}, @code{#},
10723 @code{<=}, and @code{>=} on sets as an error.
10724 @end quotation
10725
10726
10727 @node Built-In Func/Proc
10728 @subsubsection Built-in Functions and Procedures
10729 @cindex Modula-2 built-ins
10730
10731 Modula-2 also makes available several built-in procedures and functions.
10732 In describing these, the following metavariables are used:
10733
10734 @table @var
10735
10736 @item a
10737 represents an @code{ARRAY} variable.
10738
10739 @item c
10740 represents a @code{CHAR} constant or variable.
10741
10742 @item i
10743 represents a variable or constant of integral type.
10744
10745 @item m
10746 represents an identifier that belongs to a set. Generally used in the
10747 same function with the metavariable @var{s}. The type of @var{s} should
10748 be @code{SET OF @var{mtype}} (where @var{mtype} is the type of @var{m}).
10749
10750 @item n
10751 represents a variable or constant of integral or floating-point type.
10752
10753 @item r
10754 represents a variable or constant of floating-point type.
10755
10756 @item t
10757 represents a type.
10758
10759 @item v
10760 represents a variable.
10761
10762 @item x
10763 represents a variable or constant of one of many types. See the
10764 explanation of the function for details.
10765 @end table
10766
10767 All Modula-2 built-in procedures also return a result, described below.
10768
10769 @table @code
10770 @item ABS(@var{n})
10771 Returns the absolute value of @var{n}.
10772
10773 @item CAP(@var{c})
10774 If @var{c} is a lower case letter, it returns its upper case
10775 equivalent, otherwise it returns its argument.
10776
10777 @item CHR(@var{i})
10778 Returns the character whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
10779
10780 @item DEC(@var{v})
10781 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
10782
10783 @item DEC(@var{v},@var{i})
10784 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
10785 new value.
10786
10787 @item EXCL(@var{m},@var{s})
10788 Removes the element @var{m} from the set @var{s}. Returns the new
10789 set.
10790
10791 @item FLOAT(@var{i})
10792 Returns the floating point equivalent of the integer @var{i}.
10793
10794 @item HIGH(@var{a})
10795 Returns the index of the last member of @var{a}.
10796
10797 @item INC(@var{v})
10798 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
10799
10800 @item INC(@var{v},@var{i})
10801 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
10802 new value.
10803
10804 @item INCL(@var{m},@var{s})
10805 Adds the element @var{m} to the set @var{s} if it is not already
10806 there. Returns the new set.
10807
10808 @item MAX(@var{t})
10809 Returns the maximum value of the type @var{t}.
10810
10811 @item MIN(@var{t})
10812 Returns the minimum value of the type @var{t}.
10813
10814 @item ODD(@var{i})
10815 Returns boolean TRUE if @var{i} is an odd number.
10816
10817 @item ORD(@var{x})
10818 Returns the ordinal value of its argument. For example, the ordinal
10819 value of a character is its @sc{ascii} value (on machines supporting the
10820 @sc{ascii} character set). @var{x} must be of an ordered type, which include
10821 integral, character and enumerated types.
10822
10823 @item SIZE(@var{x})
10824 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
10825
10826 @item TRUNC(@var{r})
10827 Returns the integral part of @var{r}.
10828
10829 @item TSIZE(@var{x})
10830 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
10831
10832 @item VAL(@var{t},@var{i})
10833 Returns the member of the type @var{t} whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
10834 @end table
10835
10836 @quotation
10837 @emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so
10838 @value{GDBN} treats the use of procedures @code{INCL} and @code{EXCL} as
10839 an error.
10840 @end quotation
10841
10842 @cindex Modula-2 constants
10843 @node M2 Constants
10844 @subsubsection Constants
10845
10846 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of Modula-2 in the following
10847 ways:
10848
10849 @itemize @bullet
10850
10851 @item
10852 Integer constants are simply a sequence of digits. When used in an
10853 expression, a constant is interpreted to be type-compatible with the
10854 rest of the expression. Hexadecimal integers are specified by a
10855 trailing @samp{H}, and octal integers by a trailing @samp{B}.
10856
10857 @item
10858 Floating point constants appear as a sequence of digits, followed by a
10859 decimal point and another sequence of digits. An optional exponent can
10860 then be specified, in the form @samp{E@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}, where
10861 @samp{@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}} is the desired exponent. All of the
10862 digits of the floating point constant must be valid decimal (base 10)
10863 digits.
10864
10865 @item
10866 Character constants consist of a single character enclosed by a pair of
10867 like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}). They may
10868 also be expressed by their ordinal value (their @sc{ascii} value, usually)
10869 followed by a @samp{C}.
10870
10871 @item
10872 String constants consist of a sequence of characters enclosed by a
10873 pair of like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}).
10874 Escape sequences in the style of C are also allowed. @xref{C
10875 Constants, ,C and C@t{++} Constants}, for a brief explanation of escape
10876 sequences.
10877
10878 @item
10879 Enumerated constants consist of an enumerated identifier.
10880
10881 @item
10882 Boolean constants consist of the identifiers @code{TRUE} and
10883 @code{FALSE}.
10884
10885 @item
10886 Pointer constants consist of integral values only.
10887
10888 @item
10889 Set constants are not yet supported.
10890 @end itemize
10891
10892 @node M2 Types
10893 @subsubsection Modula-2 Types
10894 @cindex Modula-2 types
10895
10896 Currently @value{GDBN} can print the following data types in Modula-2
10897 syntax: array types, record types, set types, pointer types, procedure
10898 types, enumerated types, subrange types and base types. You can also
10899 print the contents of variables declared using these type.
10900 This section gives a number of simple source code examples together with
10901 sample @value{GDBN} sessions.
10902
10903 The first example contains the following section of code:
10904
10905 @smallexample
10906 VAR
10907 s: SET OF CHAR ;
10908 r: [20..40] ;
10909 @end smallexample
10910
10911 @noindent
10912 and you can request @value{GDBN} to interrogate the type and value of
10913 @code{r} and @code{s}.
10914
10915 @smallexample
10916 (@value{GDBP}) print s
10917 @{'A'..'C', 'Z'@}
10918 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
10919 SET OF CHAR
10920 (@value{GDBP}) print r
10921 21
10922 (@value{GDBP}) ptype r
10923 [20..40]
10924 @end smallexample
10925
10926 @noindent
10927 Likewise if your source code declares @code{s} as:
10928
10929 @smallexample
10930 VAR
10931 s: SET ['A'..'Z'] ;
10932 @end smallexample
10933
10934 @noindent
10935 then you may query the type of @code{s} by:
10936
10937 @smallexample
10938 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
10939 type = SET ['A'..'Z']
10940 @end smallexample
10941
10942 @noindent
10943 Note that at present you cannot interactively manipulate set
10944 expressions using the debugger.
10945
10946 The following example shows how you might declare an array in Modula-2
10947 and how you can interact with @value{GDBN} to print its type and contents:
10948
10949 @smallexample
10950 VAR
10951 s: ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR ;
10952 @end smallexample
10953
10954 @smallexample
10955 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
10956 ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR
10957 @end smallexample
10958
10959 Note that the array handling is not yet complete and although the type
10960 is printed correctly, expression handling still assumes that all
10961 arrays have a lower bound of zero and not @code{-10} as in the example
10962 above.
10963
10964 Here are some more type related Modula-2 examples:
10965
10966 @smallexample
10967 TYPE
10968 colour = (blue, red, yellow, green) ;
10969 t = [blue..yellow] ;
10970 VAR
10971 s: t ;
10972 BEGIN
10973 s := blue ;
10974 @end smallexample
10975
10976 @noindent
10977 The @value{GDBN} interaction shows how you can query the data type
10978 and value of a variable.
10979
10980 @smallexample
10981 (@value{GDBP}) print s
10982 $1 = blue
10983 (@value{GDBP}) ptype t
10984 type = [blue..yellow]
10985 @end smallexample
10986
10987 @noindent
10988 In this example a Modula-2 array is declared and its contents
10989 displayed. Observe that the contents are written in the same way as
10990 their @code{C} counterparts.
10991
10992 @smallexample
10993 VAR
10994 s: ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
10995 BEGIN
10996 s[1] := 1 ;
10997 @end smallexample
10998
10999 @smallexample
11000 (@value{GDBP}) print s
11001 $1 = @{1, 0, 0, 0, 0@}
11002 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
11003 type = ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
11004 @end smallexample
11005
11006 The Modula-2 language interface to @value{GDBN} also understands
11007 pointer types as shown in this example:
11008
11009 @smallexample
11010 VAR
11011 s: POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
11012 BEGIN
11013 NEW(s) ;
11014 s^[1] := 1 ;
11015 @end smallexample
11016
11017 @noindent
11018 and you can request that @value{GDBN} describes the type of @code{s}.
11019
11020 @smallexample
11021 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
11022 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
11023 @end smallexample
11024
11025 @value{GDBN} handles compound types as we can see in this example.
11026 Here we combine array types, record types, pointer types and subrange
11027 types:
11028
11029 @smallexample
11030 TYPE
11031 foo = RECORD
11032 f1: CARDINAL ;
11033 f2: CHAR ;
11034 f3: myarray ;
11035 END ;
11036
11037 myarray = ARRAY myrange OF CARDINAL ;
11038 myrange = [-2..2] ;
11039 VAR
11040 s: POINTER TO ARRAY myrange OF foo ;
11041 @end smallexample
11042
11043 @noindent
11044 and you can ask @value{GDBN} to describe the type of @code{s} as shown
11045 below.
11046
11047 @smallexample
11048 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
11049 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [-2..2] OF foo = RECORD
11050 f1 : CARDINAL;
11051 f2 : CHAR;
11052 f3 : ARRAY [-2..2] OF CARDINAL;
11053 END
11054 @end smallexample
11055
11056 @node M2 Defaults
11057 @subsubsection Modula-2 Defaults
11058 @cindex Modula-2 defaults
11059
11060 If type and range checking are set automatically by @value{GDBN}, they
11061 both default to @code{on} whenever the working language changes to
11062 Modula-2. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
11063 selected the working language.
11064
11065 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, then entering
11066 code compiled from a file whose name ends with @file{.mod} sets the
11067 working language to Modula-2. @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN}
11068 Infer the Source Language}, for further details.
11069
11070 @node Deviations
11071 @subsubsection Deviations from Standard Modula-2
11072 @cindex Modula-2, deviations from
11073
11074 A few changes have been made to make Modula-2 programs easier to debug.
11075 This is done primarily via loosening its type strictness:
11076
11077 @itemize @bullet
11078 @item
11079 Unlike in standard Modula-2, pointer constants can be formed by
11080 integers. This allows you to modify pointer variables during
11081 debugging. (In standard Modula-2, the actual address contained in a
11082 pointer variable is hidden from you; it can only be modified
11083 through direct assignment to another pointer variable or expression that
11084 returned a pointer.)
11085
11086 @item
11087 C escape sequences can be used in strings and characters to represent
11088 non-printable characters. @value{GDBN} prints out strings with these
11089 escape sequences embedded. Single non-printable characters are
11090 printed using the @samp{CHR(@var{nnn})} format.
11091
11092 @item
11093 The assignment operator (@code{:=}) returns the value of its right-hand
11094 argument.
11095
11096 @item
11097 All built-in procedures both modify @emph{and} return their argument.
11098 @end itemize
11099
11100 @node M2 Checks
11101 @subsubsection Modula-2 Type and Range Checks
11102 @cindex Modula-2 checks
11103
11104 @quotation
11105 @emph{Warning:} in this release, @value{GDBN} does not yet perform type or
11106 range checking.
11107 @end quotation
11108 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range checks added
11109
11110 @value{GDBN} considers two Modula-2 variables type equivalent if:
11111
11112 @itemize @bullet
11113 @item
11114 They are of types that have been declared equivalent via a @code{TYPE
11115 @var{t1} = @var{t2}} statement
11116
11117 @item
11118 They have been declared on the same line. (Note: This is true of the
11119 @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler, but it may not be true of other compilers.)
11120 @end itemize
11121
11122 As long as type checking is enabled, any attempt to combine variables
11123 whose types are not equivalent is an error.
11124
11125 Range checking is done on all mathematical operations, assignment, array
11126 index bounds, and all built-in functions and procedures.
11127
11128 @node M2 Scope
11129 @subsubsection The Scope Operators @code{::} and @code{.}
11130 @cindex scope
11131 @cindex @code{.}, Modula-2 scope operator
11132 @cindex colon, doubled as scope operator
11133 @ifinfo
11134 @vindex colon-colon@r{, in Modula-2}
11135 @c Info cannot handle :: but TeX can.
11136 @end ifinfo
11137 @iftex
11138 @vindex ::@r{, in Modula-2}
11139 @end iftex
11140
11141 There are a few subtle differences between the Modula-2 scope operator
11142 (@code{.}) and the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@code{::}). The two have
11143 similar syntax:
11144
11145 @smallexample
11146
11147 @var{module} . @var{id}
11148 @var{scope} :: @var{id}
11149 @end smallexample
11150
11151 @noindent
11152 where @var{scope} is the name of a module or a procedure,
11153 @var{module} the name of a module, and @var{id} is any declared
11154 identifier within your program, except another module.
11155
11156 Using the @code{::} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the scope
11157 specified by @var{scope} for the identifier @var{id}. If it is not
11158 found in the specified scope, then @value{GDBN} searches all scopes
11159 enclosing the one specified by @var{scope}.
11160
11161 Using the @code{.} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the current scope for
11162 the identifier specified by @var{id} that was imported from the
11163 definition module specified by @var{module}. With this operator, it is
11164 an error if the identifier @var{id} was not imported from definition
11165 module @var{module}, or if @var{id} is not an identifier in
11166 @var{module}.
11167
11168 @node GDB/M2
11169 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
11170
11171 Some @value{GDBN} commands have little use when debugging Modula-2 programs.
11172 Five subcommands of @code{set print} and @code{show print} apply
11173 specifically to C and C@t{++}: @samp{vtbl}, @samp{demangle},
11174 @samp{asm-demangle}, @samp{object}, and @samp{union}. The first four
11175 apply to C@t{++}, and the last to the C @code{union} type, which has no direct
11176 analogue in Modula-2.
11177
11178 The @code{@@} operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), while available
11179 with any language, is not useful with Modula-2. Its
11180 intent is to aid the debugging of @dfn{dynamic arrays}, which cannot be
11181 created in Modula-2 as they can in C or C@t{++}. However, because an
11182 address can be specified by an integral constant, the construct
11183 @samp{@{@var{type}@}@var{adrexp}} is still useful.
11184
11185 @cindex @code{#} in Modula-2
11186 In @value{GDBN} scripts, the Modula-2 inequality operator @code{#} is
11187 interpreted as the beginning of a comment. Use @code{<>} instead.
11188
11189 @node Ada
11190 @subsection Ada
11191 @cindex Ada
11192
11193 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} for Ada only support
11194 output from the @sc{gnu} Ada (GNAT) compiler.
11195 Other Ada compilers are not currently supported, and
11196 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
11197 to be difficult.
11198
11199
11200 @cindex expressions in Ada
11201 @menu
11202 * Ada Mode Intro:: General remarks on the Ada syntax
11203 and semantics supported by Ada mode
11204 in @value{GDBN}.
11205 * Omissions from Ada:: Restrictions on the Ada expression syntax.
11206 * Additions to Ada:: Extensions of the Ada expression syntax.
11207 * Stopping Before Main Program:: Debugging the program during elaboration.
11208 * Ada Tasks:: Listing and setting breakpoints in tasks.
11209 * Ada Tasks and Core Files:: Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
11210 * Ada Glitches:: Known peculiarities of Ada mode.
11211 @end menu
11212
11213 @node Ada Mode Intro
11214 @subsubsection Introduction
11215 @cindex Ada mode, general
11216
11217 The Ada mode of @value{GDBN} supports a fairly large subset of Ada expression
11218 syntax, with some extensions.
11219 The philosophy behind the design of this subset is
11220
11221 @itemize @bullet
11222 @item
11223 That @value{GDBN} should provide basic literals and access to operations for
11224 arithmetic, dereferencing, field selection, indexing, and subprogram calls,
11225 leaving more sophisticated computations to subprograms written into the
11226 program (which therefore may be called from @value{GDBN}).
11227
11228 @item
11229 That type safety and strict adherence to Ada language restrictions
11230 are not particularly important to the @value{GDBN} user.
11231
11232 @item
11233 That brevity is important to the @value{GDBN} user.
11234 @end itemize
11235
11236 Thus, for brevity, the debugger acts as if all names declared in
11237 user-written packages are directly visible, even if they are not visible
11238 according to Ada rules, thus making it unnecessary to fully qualify most
11239 names with their packages, regardless of context. Where this causes
11240 ambiguity, @value{GDBN} asks the user's intent.
11241
11242 The debugger will start in Ada mode if it detects an Ada main program.
11243 As for other languages, it will enter Ada mode when stopped in a program that
11244 was translated from an Ada source file.
11245
11246 While in Ada mode, you may use `@t{--}' for comments. This is useful
11247 mostly for documenting command files. The standard @value{GDBN} comment
11248 (@samp{#}) still works at the beginning of a line in Ada mode, but not in the
11249 middle (to allow based literals).
11250
11251 The debugger supports limited overloading. Given a subprogram call in which
11252 the function symbol has multiple definitions, it will use the number of
11253 actual parameters and some information about their types to attempt to narrow
11254 the set of definitions. It also makes very limited use of context, preferring
11255 procedures to functions in the context of the @code{call} command, and
11256 functions to procedures elsewhere.
11257
11258 @node Omissions from Ada
11259 @subsubsection Omissions from Ada
11260 @cindex Ada, omissions from
11261
11262 Here are the notable omissions from the subset:
11263
11264 @itemize @bullet
11265 @item
11266 Only a subset of the attributes are supported:
11267
11268 @itemize @minus
11269 @item
11270 @t{'First}, @t{'Last}, and @t{'Length}
11271 on array objects (not on types and subtypes).
11272
11273 @item
11274 @t{'Min} and @t{'Max}.
11275
11276 @item
11277 @t{'Pos} and @t{'Val}.
11278
11279 @item
11280 @t{'Tag}.
11281
11282 @item
11283 @t{'Range} on array objects (not subtypes), but only as the right
11284 operand of the membership (@code{in}) operator.
11285
11286 @item
11287 @t{'Access}, @t{'Unchecked_Access}, and
11288 @t{'Unrestricted_Access} (a GNAT extension).
11289
11290 @item
11291 @t{'Address}.
11292 @end itemize
11293
11294 @item
11295 The names in
11296 @code{Characters.Latin_1} are not available and
11297 concatenation is not implemented. Thus, escape characters in strings are
11298 not currently available.
11299
11300 @item
11301 Equality tests (@samp{=} and @samp{/=}) on arrays test for bitwise
11302 equality of representations. They will generally work correctly
11303 for strings and arrays whose elements have integer or enumeration types.
11304 They may not work correctly for arrays whose element
11305 types have user-defined equality, for arrays of real values
11306 (in particular, IEEE-conformant floating point, because of negative
11307 zeroes and NaNs), and for arrays whose elements contain unused bits with
11308 indeterminate values.
11309
11310 @item
11311 The other component-by-component array operations (@code{and}, @code{or},
11312 @code{xor}, @code{not}, and relational tests other than equality)
11313 are not implemented.
11314
11315 @item
11316 @cindex array aggregates (Ada)
11317 @cindex record aggregates (Ada)
11318 @cindex aggregates (Ada)
11319 There is limited support for array and record aggregates. They are
11320 permitted only on the right sides of assignments, as in these examples:
11321
11322 @smallexample
11323 set An_Array := (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
11324 set An_Array := (1, others => 0)
11325 set An_Array := (0|4 => 1, 1..3 => 2, 5 => 6)
11326 set A_2D_Array := ((1, 2, 3), (4, 5, 6), (7, 8, 9))
11327 set A_Record := (1, "Peter", True);
11328 set A_Record := (Name => "Peter", Id => 1, Alive => True)
11329 @end smallexample
11330
11331 Changing a
11332 discriminant's value by assigning an aggregate has an
11333 undefined effect if that discriminant is used within the record.
11334 However, you can first modify discriminants by directly assigning to
11335 them (which normally would not be allowed in Ada), and then performing an
11336 aggregate assignment. For example, given a variable @code{A_Rec}
11337 declared to have a type such as:
11338
11339 @smallexample
11340 type Rec (Len : Small_Integer := 0) is record
11341 Id : Integer;
11342 Vals : IntArray (1 .. Len);
11343 end record;
11344 @end smallexample
11345
11346 you can assign a value with a different size of @code{Vals} with two
11347 assignments:
11348
11349 @smallexample
11350 set A_Rec.Len := 4
11351 set A_Rec := (Id => 42, Vals => (1, 2, 3, 4))
11352 @end smallexample
11353
11354 As this example also illustrates, @value{GDBN} is very loose about the usual
11355 rules concerning aggregates. You may leave out some of the
11356 components of an array or record aggregate (such as the @code{Len}
11357 component in the assignment to @code{A_Rec} above); they will retain their
11358 original values upon assignment. You may freely use dynamic values as
11359 indices in component associations. You may even use overlapping or
11360 redundant component associations, although which component values are
11361 assigned in such cases is not defined.
11362
11363 @item
11364 Calls to dispatching subprograms are not implemented.
11365
11366 @item
11367 The overloading algorithm is much more limited (i.e., less selective)
11368 than that of real Ada. It makes only limited use of the context in
11369 which a subexpression appears to resolve its meaning, and it is much
11370 looser in its rules for allowing type matches. As a result, some
11371 function calls will be ambiguous, and the user will be asked to choose
11372 the proper resolution.
11373
11374 @item
11375 The @code{new} operator is not implemented.
11376
11377 @item
11378 Entry calls are not implemented.
11379
11380 @item
11381 Aside from printing, arithmetic operations on the native VAX floating-point
11382 formats are not supported.
11383
11384 @item
11385 It is not possible to slice a packed array.
11386
11387 @item
11388 The names @code{True} and @code{False}, when not part of a qualified name,
11389 are interpreted as if implicitly prefixed by @code{Standard}, regardless of
11390 context.
11391 Should your program
11392 redefine these names in a package or procedure (at best a dubious practice),
11393 you will have to use fully qualified names to access their new definitions.
11394 @end itemize
11395
11396 @node Additions to Ada
11397 @subsubsection Additions to Ada
11398 @cindex Ada, deviations from
11399
11400 As it does for other languages, @value{GDBN} makes certain generic
11401 extensions to Ada (@pxref{Expressions}):
11402
11403 @itemize @bullet
11404 @item
11405 If the expression @var{E} is a variable residing in memory (typically
11406 a local variable or array element) and @var{N} is a positive integer,
11407 then @code{@var{E}@@@var{N}} displays the values of @var{E} and the
11408 @var{N}-1 adjacent variables following it in memory as an array. In
11409 Ada, this operator is generally not necessary, since its prime use is
11410 in displaying parts of an array, and slicing will usually do this in
11411 Ada. However, there are occasional uses when debugging programs in
11412 which certain debugging information has been optimized away.
11413
11414 @item
11415 @code{@var{B}::@var{var}} means ``the variable named @var{var} that
11416 appears in function or file @var{B}.'' When @var{B} is a file name,
11417 you must typically surround it in single quotes.
11418
11419 @item
11420 The expression @code{@{@var{type}@} @var{addr}} means ``the variable of type
11421 @var{type} that appears at address @var{addr}.''
11422
11423 @item
11424 A name starting with @samp{$} is a convenience variable
11425 (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) or a machine register (@pxref{Registers}).
11426 @end itemize
11427
11428 In addition, @value{GDBN} provides a few other shortcuts and outright
11429 additions specific to Ada:
11430
11431 @itemize @bullet
11432 @item
11433 The assignment statement is allowed as an expression, returning
11434 its right-hand operand as its value. Thus, you may enter
11435
11436 @smallexample
11437 set x := y + 3
11438 print A(tmp := y + 1)
11439 @end smallexample
11440
11441 @item
11442 The semicolon is allowed as an ``operator,'' returning as its value
11443 the value of its right-hand operand.
11444 This allows, for example,
11445 complex conditional breaks:
11446
11447 @smallexample
11448 break f
11449 condition 1 (report(i); k += 1; A(k) > 100)
11450 @end smallexample
11451
11452 @item
11453 Rather than use catenation and symbolic character names to introduce special
11454 characters into strings, one may instead use a special bracket notation,
11455 which is also used to print strings. A sequence of characters of the form
11456 @samp{["@var{XX}"]} within a string or character literal denotes the
11457 (single) character whose numeric encoding is @var{XX} in hexadecimal. The
11458 sequence of characters @samp{["""]} also denotes a single quotation mark
11459 in strings. For example,
11460 @smallexample
11461 "One line.["0a"]Next line.["0a"]"
11462 @end smallexample
11463 @noindent
11464 contains an ASCII newline character (@code{Ada.Characters.Latin_1.LF})
11465 after each period.
11466
11467 @item
11468 The subtype used as a prefix for the attributes @t{'Pos}, @t{'Min}, and
11469 @t{'Max} is optional (and is ignored in any case). For example, it is valid
11470 to write
11471
11472 @smallexample
11473 print 'max(x, y)
11474 @end smallexample
11475
11476 @item
11477 When printing arrays, @value{GDBN} uses positional notation when the
11478 array has a lower bound of 1, and uses a modified named notation otherwise.
11479 For example, a one-dimensional array of three integers with a lower bound
11480 of 3 might print as
11481
11482 @smallexample
11483 (3 => 10, 17, 1)
11484 @end smallexample
11485
11486 @noindent
11487 That is, in contrast to valid Ada, only the first component has a @code{=>}
11488 clause.
11489
11490 @item
11491 You may abbreviate attributes in expressions with any unique,
11492 multi-character subsequence of
11493 their names (an exact match gets preference).
11494 For example, you may use @t{a'len}, @t{a'gth}, or @t{a'lh}
11495 in place of @t{a'length}.
11496
11497 @item
11498 @cindex quoting Ada internal identifiers
11499 Since Ada is case-insensitive, the debugger normally maps identifiers you type
11500 to lower case. The GNAT compiler uses upper-case characters for
11501 some of its internal identifiers, which are normally of no interest to users.
11502 For the rare occasions when you actually have to look at them,
11503 enclose them in angle brackets to avoid the lower-case mapping.
11504 For example,
11505 @smallexample
11506 @value{GDBP} print <JMPBUF_SAVE>[0]
11507 @end smallexample
11508
11509 @item
11510 Printing an object of class-wide type or dereferencing an
11511 access-to-class-wide value will display all the components of the object's
11512 specific type (as indicated by its run-time tag). Likewise, component
11513 selection on such a value will operate on the specific type of the
11514 object.
11515
11516 @end itemize
11517
11518 @node Stopping Before Main Program
11519 @subsubsection Stopping at the Very Beginning
11520
11521 @cindex breakpointing Ada elaboration code
11522 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration, and
11523 before reaching the main procedure.
11524 As defined in the Ada Reference
11525 Manual, the elaboration code is invoked from a procedure called
11526 @code{adainit}. To run your program up to the beginning of
11527 elaboration, simply use the following two commands:
11528 @code{tbreak adainit} and @code{run}.
11529
11530 @node Ada Tasks
11531 @subsubsection Extensions for Ada Tasks
11532 @cindex Ada, tasking
11533
11534 Support for Ada tasks is analogous to that for threads (@pxref{Threads}).
11535 @value{GDBN} provides the following task-related commands:
11536
11537 @table @code
11538 @kindex info tasks
11539 @item info tasks
11540 This command shows a list of current Ada tasks, as in the following example:
11541
11542
11543 @smallexample
11544 @iftex
11545 @leftskip=0.5cm
11546 @end iftex
11547 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
11548 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
11549 1 8088000 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
11550 2 80a4000 1 15 Accept Statement b
11551 3 809a800 1 15 Child Activation Wait a
11552 * 4 80ae800 3 15 Running c
11553
11554 @end smallexample
11555
11556 @noindent
11557 In this listing, the asterisk before the last task indicates it to be the
11558 task currently being inspected.
11559
11560 @table @asis
11561 @item ID
11562 Represents @value{GDBN}'s internal task number.
11563
11564 @item TID
11565 The Ada task ID.
11566
11567 @item P-ID
11568 The parent's task ID (@value{GDBN}'s internal task number).
11569
11570 @item Pri
11571 The base priority of the task.
11572
11573 @item State
11574 Current state of the task.
11575
11576 @table @code
11577 @item Unactivated
11578 The task has been created but has not been activated. It cannot be
11579 executing.
11580
11581 @item Running
11582 The task currently running.
11583
11584 @item Runnable
11585 The task is not blocked for any reason known to Ada. (It may be waiting
11586 for a mutex, though.) It is conceptually "executing" in normal mode.
11587
11588 @item Terminated
11589 The task is terminated, in the sense of ARM 9.3 (5). Any dependents
11590 that were waiting on terminate alternatives have been awakened and have
11591 terminated themselves.
11592
11593 @item Child Activation Wait
11594 The task is waiting for created tasks to complete activation.
11595
11596 @item Accept Statement
11597 The task is waiting on an accept or selective wait statement.
11598
11599 @item Waiting on entry call
11600 The task is waiting on an entry call.
11601
11602 @item Async Select Wait
11603 The task is waiting to start the abortable part of an asynchronous
11604 select statement.
11605
11606 @item Delay Sleep
11607 The task is waiting on a select statement with only a delay
11608 alternative open.
11609
11610 @item Child Termination Wait
11611 The task is sleeping having completed a master within itself, and is
11612 waiting for the tasks dependent on that master to become terminated or
11613 waiting on a terminate Phase.
11614
11615 @item Wait Child in Term Alt
11616 The task is sleeping waiting for tasks on terminate alternatives to
11617 finish terminating.
11618
11619 @item Accepting RV with @var{taskno}
11620 The task is accepting a rendez-vous with the task @var{taskno}.
11621 @end table
11622
11623 @item Name
11624 Name of the task in the program.
11625
11626 @end table
11627
11628 @kindex info task @var{taskno}
11629 @item info task @var{taskno}
11630 This command shows detailled informations on the specified task, as in
11631 the following example:
11632 @smallexample
11633 @iftex
11634 @leftskip=0.5cm
11635 @end iftex
11636 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
11637 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
11638 1 8077880 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
11639 * 2 807c468 1 15 Running task_1
11640 (@value{GDBP}) info task 2
11641 Ada Task: 0x807c468
11642 Name: task_1
11643 Thread: 0x807f378
11644 Parent: 1 (main_task)
11645 Base Priority: 15
11646 State: Runnable
11647 @end smallexample
11648
11649 @item task
11650 @kindex task@r{ (Ada)}
11651 @cindex current Ada task ID
11652 This command prints the ID of the current task.
11653
11654 @smallexample
11655 @iftex
11656 @leftskip=0.5cm
11657 @end iftex
11658 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
11659 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
11660 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
11661 * 2 807c458 1 15 Running t
11662 (@value{GDBP}) task
11663 [Current task is 2]
11664 @end smallexample
11665
11666 @item task @var{taskno}
11667 @cindex Ada task switching
11668 This command is like the @code{thread @var{threadno}}
11669 command (@pxref{Threads}). It switches the context of debugging
11670 from the current task to the given task.
11671
11672 @smallexample
11673 @iftex
11674 @leftskip=0.5cm
11675 @end iftex
11676 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
11677 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
11678 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
11679 * 2 807c458 1 15 Running t
11680 (@value{GDBP}) task 1
11681 [Switching to task 1]
11682 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
11683 (@value{GDBP}) bt
11684 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
11685 #1 0x8056714 in system.os_interface.pthread_cond_wait ()
11686 #2 0x805cb63 in system.task_primitives.operations.sleep ()
11687 #3 0x806153e in system.tasking.stages.activate_tasks ()
11688 #4 0x804aacc in un () at un.adb:5
11689 @end smallexample
11690
11691 @end table
11692
11693 @node Ada Tasks and Core Files
11694 @subsubsection Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
11695 @cindex Ada tasking and core file debugging
11696
11697 When inspecting a core file, as opposed to debugging a live program,
11698 tasking support may be limited or even unavailable, depending on
11699 the platform being used.
11700 For instance, on x86-linux, the list of tasks is available, but task
11701 switching is not supported. On Tru64, however, task switching will work
11702 as usual.
11703
11704 On certain platforms, including Tru64, the debugger needs to perform some
11705 memory writes in order to provide Ada tasking support. When inspecting
11706 a core file, this means that the core file must be opened with read-write
11707 privileges, using the command @samp{"set write on"} (@pxref{Patching}).
11708 Under these circumstances, you should make a backup copy of the core
11709 file before inspecting it with @value{GDBN}.
11710
11711 @node Ada Glitches
11712 @subsubsection Known Peculiarities of Ada Mode
11713 @cindex Ada, problems
11714
11715 Besides the omissions listed previously (@pxref{Omissions from Ada}),
11716 we know of several problems with and limitations of Ada mode in
11717 @value{GDBN},
11718 some of which will be fixed with planned future releases of the debugger
11719 and the GNU Ada compiler.
11720
11721 @itemize @bullet
11722 @item
11723 Currently, the debugger
11724 has insufficient information to determine whether certain pointers represent
11725 pointers to objects or the objects themselves.
11726 Thus, the user may have to tack an extra @code{.all} after an expression
11727 to get it printed properly.
11728
11729 @item
11730 Static constants that the compiler chooses not to materialize as objects in
11731 storage are invisible to the debugger.
11732
11733 @item
11734 Named parameter associations in function argument lists are ignored (the
11735 argument lists are treated as positional).
11736
11737 @item
11738 Many useful library packages are currently invisible to the debugger.
11739
11740 @item
11741 Fixed-point arithmetic, conversions, input, and output is carried out using
11742 floating-point arithmetic, and may give results that only approximate those on
11743 the host machine.
11744
11745 @item
11746 The type of the @t{'Address} attribute may not be @code{System.Address}.
11747
11748 @item
11749 The GNAT compiler never generates the prefix @code{Standard} for any of
11750 the standard symbols defined by the Ada language. @value{GDBN} knows about
11751 this: it will strip the prefix from names when you use it, and will never
11752 look for a name you have so qualified among local symbols, nor match against
11753 symbols in other packages or subprograms. If you have
11754 defined entities anywhere in your program other than parameters and
11755 local variables whose simple names match names in @code{Standard},
11756 GNAT's lack of qualification here can cause confusion. When this happens,
11757 you can usually resolve the confusion
11758 by qualifying the problematic names with package
11759 @code{Standard} explicitly.
11760 @end itemize
11761
11762 @node Unsupported Languages
11763 @section Unsupported Languages
11764
11765 @cindex unsupported languages
11766 @cindex minimal language
11767 In addition to the other fully-supported programming languages,
11768 @value{GDBN} also provides a pseudo-language, called @code{minimal}.
11769 It does not represent a real programming language, but provides a set
11770 of capabilities close to what the C or assembly languages provide.
11771 This should allow most simple operations to be performed while debugging
11772 an application that uses a language currently not supported by @value{GDBN}.
11773
11774 If the language is set to @code{auto}, @value{GDBN} will automatically
11775 select this language if the current frame corresponds to an unsupported
11776 language.
11777
11778 @node Symbols
11779 @chapter Examining the Symbol Table
11780
11781 The commands described in this chapter allow you to inquire about the
11782 symbols (names of variables, functions and types) defined in your
11783 program. This information is inherent in the text of your program and
11784 does not change as your program executes. @value{GDBN} finds it in your
11785 program's symbol table, in the file indicated when you started @value{GDBN}
11786 (@pxref{File Options, ,Choosing Files}), or by one of the
11787 file-management commands (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
11788
11789 @cindex symbol names
11790 @cindex names of symbols
11791 @cindex quoting names
11792 Occasionally, you may need to refer to symbols that contain unusual
11793 characters, which @value{GDBN} ordinarily treats as word delimiters. The
11794 most frequent case is in referring to static variables in other
11795 source files (@pxref{Variables,,Program Variables}). File names
11796 are recorded in object files as debugging symbols, but @value{GDBN} would
11797 ordinarily parse a typical file name, like @file{foo.c}, as the three words
11798 @samp{foo} @samp{.} @samp{c}. To allow @value{GDBN} to recognize
11799 @samp{foo.c} as a single symbol, enclose it in single quotes; for example,
11800
11801 @smallexample
11802 p 'foo.c'::x
11803 @end smallexample
11804
11805 @noindent
11806 looks up the value of @code{x} in the scope of the file @file{foo.c}.
11807
11808 @table @code
11809 @cindex case-insensitive symbol names
11810 @cindex case sensitivity in symbol names
11811 @kindex set case-sensitive
11812 @item set case-sensitive on
11813 @itemx set case-sensitive off
11814 @itemx set case-sensitive auto
11815 Normally, when @value{GDBN} looks up symbols, it matches their names
11816 with case sensitivity determined by the current source language.
11817 Occasionally, you may wish to control that. The command @code{set
11818 case-sensitive} lets you do that by specifying @code{on} for
11819 case-sensitive matches or @code{off} for case-insensitive ones. If
11820 you specify @code{auto}, case sensitivity is reset to the default
11821 suitable for the source language. The default is case-sensitive
11822 matches for all languages except for Fortran, for which the default is
11823 case-insensitive matches.
11824
11825 @kindex show case-sensitive
11826 @item show case-sensitive
11827 This command shows the current setting of case sensitivity for symbols
11828 lookups.
11829
11830 @kindex info address
11831 @cindex address of a symbol
11832 @item info address @var{symbol}
11833 Describe where the data for @var{symbol} is stored. For a register
11834 variable, this says which register it is kept in. For a non-register
11835 local variable, this prints the stack-frame offset at which the variable
11836 is always stored.
11837
11838 Note the contrast with @samp{print &@var{symbol}}, which does not work
11839 at all for a register variable, and for a stack local variable prints
11840 the exact address of the current instantiation of the variable.
11841
11842 @kindex info symbol
11843 @cindex symbol from address
11844 @cindex closest symbol and offset for an address
11845 @item info symbol @var{addr}
11846 Print the name of a symbol which is stored at the address @var{addr}.
11847 If no symbol is stored exactly at @var{addr}, @value{GDBN} prints the
11848 nearest symbol and an offset from it:
11849
11850 @smallexample
11851 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x54320
11852 _initialize_vx + 396 in section .text
11853 @end smallexample
11854
11855 @noindent
11856 This is the opposite of the @code{info address} command. You can use
11857 it to find out the name of a variable or a function given its address.
11858
11859 For dynamically linked executables, the name of executable or shared
11860 library containing the symbol is also printed:
11861
11862 @smallexample
11863 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x400225
11864 _start + 5 in section .text of /tmp/a.out
11865 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x2aaaac2811cf
11866 __read_nocancel + 6 in section .text of /usr/lib64/libc.so.6
11867 @end smallexample
11868
11869 @kindex whatis
11870 @item whatis [@var{arg}]
11871 Print the data type of @var{arg}, which can be either an expression or
11872 a data type. With no argument, print the data type of @code{$}, the
11873 last value in the value history. If @var{arg} is an expression, it is
11874 not actually evaluated, and any side-effecting operations (such as
11875 assignments or function calls) inside it do not take place. If
11876 @var{arg} is a type name, it may be the name of a type or typedef, or
11877 for C code it may have the form @samp{class @var{class-name}},
11878 @samp{struct @var{struct-tag}}, @samp{union @var{union-tag}} or
11879 @samp{enum @var{enum-tag}}.
11880 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
11881
11882 @kindex ptype
11883 @item ptype [@var{arg}]
11884 @code{ptype} accepts the same arguments as @code{whatis}, but prints a
11885 detailed description of the type, instead of just the name of the type.
11886 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
11887
11888 For example, for this variable declaration:
11889
11890 @smallexample
11891 struct complex @{double real; double imag;@} v;
11892 @end smallexample
11893
11894 @noindent
11895 the two commands give this output:
11896
11897 @smallexample
11898 @group
11899 (@value{GDBP}) whatis v
11900 type = struct complex
11901 (@value{GDBP}) ptype v
11902 type = struct complex @{
11903 double real;
11904 double imag;
11905 @}
11906 @end group
11907 @end smallexample
11908
11909 @noindent
11910 As with @code{whatis}, using @code{ptype} without an argument refers to
11911 the type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
11912
11913 @cindex incomplete type
11914 Sometimes, programs use opaque data types or incomplete specifications
11915 of complex data structure. If the debug information included in the
11916 program does not allow @value{GDBN} to display a full declaration of
11917 the data type, it will say @samp{<incomplete type>}. For example,
11918 given these declarations:
11919
11920 @smallexample
11921 struct foo;
11922 struct foo *fooptr;
11923 @end smallexample
11924
11925 @noindent
11926 but no definition for @code{struct foo} itself, @value{GDBN} will say:
11927
11928 @smallexample
11929 (@value{GDBP}) ptype foo
11930 $1 = <incomplete type>
11931 @end smallexample
11932
11933 @noindent
11934 ``Incomplete type'' is C terminology for data types that are not
11935 completely specified.
11936
11937 @kindex info types
11938 @item info types @var{regexp}
11939 @itemx info types
11940 Print a brief description of all types whose names match the regular
11941 expression @var{regexp} (or all types in your program, if you supply
11942 no argument). Each complete typename is matched as though it were a
11943 complete line; thus, @samp{i type value} gives information on all
11944 types in your program whose names include the string @code{value}, but
11945 @samp{i type ^value$} gives information only on types whose complete
11946 name is @code{value}.
11947
11948 This command differs from @code{ptype} in two ways: first, like
11949 @code{whatis}, it does not print a detailed description; second, it
11950 lists all source files where a type is defined.
11951
11952 @kindex info scope
11953 @cindex local variables
11954 @item info scope @var{location}
11955 List all the variables local to a particular scope. This command
11956 accepts a @var{location} argument---a function name, a source line, or
11957 an address preceded by a @samp{*}, and prints all the variables local
11958 to the scope defined by that location. (@xref{Specify Location}, for
11959 details about supported forms of @var{location}.) For example:
11960
11961 @smallexample
11962 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info scope command_line_handler}
11963 Scope for command_line_handler:
11964 Symbol rl is an argument at stack/frame offset 8, length 4.
11965 Symbol linebuffer is in static storage at address 0x150a18, length 4.
11966 Symbol linelength is in static storage at address 0x150a1c, length 4.
11967 Symbol p is a local variable in register $esi, length 4.
11968 Symbol p1 is a local variable in register $ebx, length 4.
11969 Symbol nline is a local variable in register $edx, length 4.
11970 Symbol repeat is a local variable at frame offset -8, length 4.
11971 @end smallexample
11972
11973 @noindent
11974 This command is especially useful for determining what data to collect
11975 during a @dfn{trace experiment}, see @ref{Tracepoint Actions,
11976 collect}.
11977
11978 @kindex info source
11979 @item info source
11980 Show information about the current source file---that is, the source file for
11981 the function containing the current point of execution:
11982 @itemize @bullet
11983 @item
11984 the name of the source file, and the directory containing it,
11985 @item
11986 the directory it was compiled in,
11987 @item
11988 its length, in lines,
11989 @item
11990 which programming language it is written in,
11991 @item
11992 whether the executable includes debugging information for that file, and
11993 if so, what format the information is in (e.g., STABS, Dwarf 2, etc.), and
11994 @item
11995 whether the debugging information includes information about
11996 preprocessor macros.
11997 @end itemize
11998
11999
12000 @kindex info sources
12001 @item info sources
12002 Print the names of all source files in your program for which there is
12003 debugging information, organized into two lists: files whose symbols
12004 have already been read, and files whose symbols will be read when needed.
12005
12006 @kindex info functions
12007 @item info functions
12008 Print the names and data types of all defined functions.
12009
12010 @item info functions @var{regexp}
12011 Print the names and data types of all defined functions
12012 whose names contain a match for regular expression @var{regexp}.
12013 Thus, @samp{info fun step} finds all functions whose names
12014 include @code{step}; @samp{info fun ^step} finds those whose names
12015 start with @code{step}. If a function name contains characters
12016 that conflict with the regular expression language (e.g.@:
12017 @samp{operator*()}), they may be quoted with a backslash.
12018
12019 @kindex info variables
12020 @item info variables
12021 Print the names and data types of all variables that are declared
12022 outside of functions (i.e.@: excluding local variables).
12023
12024 @item info variables @var{regexp}
12025 Print the names and data types of all variables (except for local
12026 variables) whose names contain a match for regular expression
12027 @var{regexp}.
12028
12029 @kindex info classes
12030 @cindex Objective-C, classes and selectors
12031 @item info classes
12032 @itemx info classes @var{regexp}
12033 Display all Objective-C classes in your program, or
12034 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
12035 expression.
12036
12037 @kindex info selectors
12038 @item info selectors
12039 @itemx info selectors @var{regexp}
12040 Display all Objective-C selectors in your program, or
12041 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
12042 expression.
12043
12044 @ignore
12045 This was never implemented.
12046 @kindex info methods
12047 @item info methods
12048 @itemx info methods @var{regexp}
12049 The @code{info methods} command permits the user to examine all defined
12050 methods within C@t{++} program, or (with the @var{regexp} argument) a
12051 specific set of methods found in the various C@t{++} classes. Many
12052 C@t{++} classes provide a large number of methods. Thus, the output
12053 from the @code{ptype} command can be overwhelming and hard to use. The
12054 @code{info-methods} command filters the methods, printing only those
12055 which match the regular-expression @var{regexp}.
12056 @end ignore
12057
12058 @cindex reloading symbols
12059 Some systems allow individual object files that make up your program to
12060 be replaced without stopping and restarting your program. For example,
12061 in VxWorks you can simply recompile a defective object file and keep on
12062 running. If you are running on one of these systems, you can allow
12063 @value{GDBN} to reload the symbols for automatically relinked modules:
12064
12065 @table @code
12066 @kindex set symbol-reloading
12067 @item set symbol-reloading on
12068 Replace symbol definitions for the corresponding source file when an
12069 object file with a particular name is seen again.
12070
12071 @item set symbol-reloading off
12072 Do not replace symbol definitions when encountering object files of the
12073 same name more than once. This is the default state; if you are not
12074 running on a system that permits automatic relinking of modules, you
12075 should leave @code{symbol-reloading} off, since otherwise @value{GDBN}
12076 may discard symbols when linking large programs, that may contain
12077 several modules (from different directories or libraries) with the same
12078 name.
12079
12080 @kindex show symbol-reloading
12081 @item show symbol-reloading
12082 Show the current @code{on} or @code{off} setting.
12083 @end table
12084
12085 @cindex opaque data types
12086 @kindex set opaque-type-resolution
12087 @item set opaque-type-resolution on
12088 Tell @value{GDBN} to resolve opaque types. An opaque type is a type
12089 declared as a pointer to a @code{struct}, @code{class}, or
12090 @code{union}---for example, @code{struct MyType *}---that is used in one
12091 source file although the full declaration of @code{struct MyType} is in
12092 another source file. The default is on.
12093
12094 A change in the setting of this subcommand will not take effect until
12095 the next time symbols for a file are loaded.
12096
12097 @item set opaque-type-resolution off
12098 Tell @value{GDBN} not to resolve opaque types. In this case, the type
12099 is printed as follows:
12100 @smallexample
12101 @{<no data fields>@}
12102 @end smallexample
12103
12104 @kindex show opaque-type-resolution
12105 @item show opaque-type-resolution
12106 Show whether opaque types are resolved or not.
12107
12108 @kindex set print symbol-loading
12109 @cindex print messages when symbols are loaded
12110 @item set print symbol-loading
12111 @itemx set print symbol-loading on
12112 @itemx set print symbol-loading off
12113 The @code{set print symbol-loading} command allows you to enable or
12114 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} loads symbols.
12115 By default, these messages will be printed, and normally this is what
12116 you want. Disabling these messages is useful when debugging applications
12117 with lots of shared libraries where the quantity of output can be more
12118 annoying than useful.
12119
12120 @kindex show print symbol-loading
12121 @item show print symbol-loading
12122 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} loads symbols.
12123
12124 @kindex maint print symbols
12125 @cindex symbol dump
12126 @kindex maint print psymbols
12127 @cindex partial symbol dump
12128 @item maint print symbols @var{filename}
12129 @itemx maint print psymbols @var{filename}
12130 @itemx maint print msymbols @var{filename}
12131 Write a dump of debugging symbol data into the file @var{filename}.
12132 These commands are used to debug the @value{GDBN} symbol-reading code. Only
12133 symbols with debugging data are included. If you use @samp{maint print
12134 symbols}, @value{GDBN} includes all the symbols for which it has already
12135 collected full details: that is, @var{filename} reflects symbols for
12136 only those files whose symbols @value{GDBN} has read. You can use the
12137 command @code{info sources} to find out which files these are. If you
12138 use @samp{maint print psymbols} instead, the dump shows information about
12139 symbols that @value{GDBN} only knows partially---that is, symbols defined in
12140 files that @value{GDBN} has skimmed, but not yet read completely. Finally,
12141 @samp{maint print msymbols} dumps just the minimal symbol information
12142 required for each object file from which @value{GDBN} has read some symbols.
12143 @xref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}, for a discussion of how
12144 @value{GDBN} reads symbols (in the description of @code{symbol-file}).
12145
12146 @kindex maint info symtabs
12147 @kindex maint info psymtabs
12148 @cindex listing @value{GDBN}'s internal symbol tables
12149 @cindex symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
12150 @cindex full symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
12151 @cindex partial symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
12152 @item maint info symtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
12153 @itemx maint info psymtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
12154
12155 List the @code{struct symtab} or @code{struct partial_symtab}
12156 structures whose names match @var{regexp}. If @var{regexp} is not
12157 given, list them all. The output includes expressions which you can
12158 copy into a @value{GDBN} debugging this one to examine a particular
12159 structure in more detail. For example:
12160
12161 @smallexample
12162 (@value{GDBP}) maint info psymtabs dwarf2read
12163 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
12164 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
12165 @{ psymtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
12166 ((struct partial_symtab *) 0x8474b10)
12167 readin no
12168 fullname (null)
12169 text addresses 0x814d3c8 -- 0x8158074
12170 globals (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x8507a08 @@ 9)
12171 statics (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x40e95b78 @@ 2882)
12172 dependencies (none)
12173 @}
12174 @}
12175 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
12176 (@value{GDBP})
12177 @end smallexample
12178 @noindent
12179 We see that there is one partial symbol table whose filename contains
12180 the string @samp{dwarf2read}, belonging to the @samp{gdb} executable;
12181 and we see that @value{GDBN} has not read in any symtabs yet at all.
12182 If we set a breakpoint on a function, that will cause @value{GDBN} to
12183 read the symtab for the compilation unit containing that function:
12184
12185 @smallexample
12186 (@value{GDBP}) break dwarf2_psymtab_to_symtab
12187 Breakpoint 1 at 0x814e5da: file /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c,
12188 line 1574.
12189 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
12190 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
12191 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
12192 @{ symtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
12193 ((struct symtab *) 0x86c1f38)
12194 dirname (null)
12195 fullname (null)
12196 blockvector ((struct blockvector *) 0x86c1bd0) (primary)
12197 linetable ((struct linetable *) 0x8370fa0)
12198 debugformat DWARF 2
12199 @}
12200 @}
12201 (@value{GDBP})
12202 @end smallexample
12203 @end table
12204
12205
12206 @node Altering
12207 @chapter Altering Execution
12208
12209 Once you think you have found an error in your program, you might want to
12210 find out for certain whether correcting the apparent error would lead to
12211 correct results in the rest of the run. You can find the answer by
12212 experiment, using the @value{GDBN} features for altering execution of the
12213 program.
12214
12215 For example, you can store new values into variables or memory
12216 locations, give your program a signal, restart it at a different
12217 address, or even return prematurely from a function.
12218
12219 @menu
12220 * Assignment:: Assignment to variables
12221 * Jumping:: Continuing at a different address
12222 * Signaling:: Giving your program a signal
12223 * Returning:: Returning from a function
12224 * Calling:: Calling your program's functions
12225 * Patching:: Patching your program
12226 @end menu
12227
12228 @node Assignment
12229 @section Assignment to Variables
12230
12231 @cindex assignment
12232 @cindex setting variables
12233 To alter the value of a variable, evaluate an assignment expression.
12234 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}. For example,
12235
12236 @smallexample
12237 print x=4
12238 @end smallexample
12239
12240 @noindent
12241 stores the value 4 into the variable @code{x}, and then prints the
12242 value of the assignment expression (which is 4).
12243 @xref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages}, for more
12244 information on operators in supported languages.
12245
12246 @kindex set variable
12247 @cindex variables, setting
12248 If you are not interested in seeing the value of the assignment, use the
12249 @code{set} command instead of the @code{print} command. @code{set} is
12250 really the same as @code{print} except that the expression's value is
12251 not printed and is not put in the value history (@pxref{Value History,
12252 ,Value History}). The expression is evaluated only for its effects.
12253
12254 If the beginning of the argument string of the @code{set} command
12255 appears identical to a @code{set} subcommand, use the @code{set
12256 variable} command instead of just @code{set}. This command is identical
12257 to @code{set} except for its lack of subcommands. For example, if your
12258 program has a variable @code{width}, you get an error if you try to set
12259 a new value with just @samp{set width=13}, because @value{GDBN} has the
12260 command @code{set width}:
12261
12262 @smallexample
12263 (@value{GDBP}) whatis width
12264 type = double
12265 (@value{GDBP}) p width
12266 $4 = 13
12267 (@value{GDBP}) set width=47
12268 Invalid syntax in expression.
12269 @end smallexample
12270
12271 @noindent
12272 The invalid expression, of course, is @samp{=47}. In
12273 order to actually set the program's variable @code{width}, use
12274
12275 @smallexample
12276 (@value{GDBP}) set var width=47
12277 @end smallexample
12278
12279 Because the @code{set} command has many subcommands that can conflict
12280 with the names of program variables, it is a good idea to use the
12281 @code{set variable} command instead of just @code{set}. For example, if
12282 your program has a variable @code{g}, you run into problems if you try
12283 to set a new value with just @samp{set g=4}, because @value{GDBN} has
12284 the command @code{set gnutarget}, abbreviated @code{set g}:
12285
12286 @smallexample
12287 @group
12288 (@value{GDBP}) whatis g
12289 type = double
12290 (@value{GDBP}) p g
12291 $1 = 1
12292 (@value{GDBP}) set g=4
12293 (@value{GDBP}) p g
12294 $2 = 1
12295 (@value{GDBP}) r
12296 The program being debugged has been started already.
12297 Start it from the beginning? (y or n) y
12298 Starting program: /home/smith/cc_progs/a.out
12299 "/home/smith/cc_progs/a.out": can't open to read symbols:
12300 Invalid bfd target.
12301 (@value{GDBP}) show g
12302 The current BFD target is "=4".
12303 @end group
12304 @end smallexample
12305
12306 @noindent
12307 The program variable @code{g} did not change, and you silently set the
12308 @code{gnutarget} to an invalid value. In order to set the variable
12309 @code{g}, use
12310
12311 @smallexample
12312 (@value{GDBP}) set var g=4
12313 @end smallexample
12314
12315 @value{GDBN} allows more implicit conversions in assignments than C; you can
12316 freely store an integer value into a pointer variable or vice versa,
12317 and you can convert any structure to any other structure that is the
12318 same length or shorter.
12319 @comment FIXME: how do structs align/pad in these conversions?
12320 @comment /doc@cygnus.com 18dec1990
12321
12322 To store values into arbitrary places in memory, use the @samp{@{@dots{}@}}
12323 construct to generate a value of specified type at a specified address
12324 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). For example, @code{@{int@}0x83040} refers
12325 to memory location @code{0x83040} as an integer (which implies a certain size
12326 and representation in memory), and
12327
12328 @smallexample
12329 set @{int@}0x83040 = 4
12330 @end smallexample
12331
12332 @noindent
12333 stores the value 4 into that memory location.
12334
12335 @node Jumping
12336 @section Continuing at a Different Address
12337
12338 Ordinarily, when you continue your program, you do so at the place where
12339 it stopped, with the @code{continue} command. You can instead continue at
12340 an address of your own choosing, with the following commands:
12341
12342 @table @code
12343 @kindex jump
12344 @item jump @var{linespec}
12345 @itemx jump @var{location}
12346 Resume execution at line @var{linespec} or at address given by
12347 @var{location}. Execution stops again immediately if there is a
12348 breakpoint there. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
12349 different forms of @var{linespec} and @var{location}. It is common
12350 practice to use the @code{tbreak} command in conjunction with
12351 @code{jump}. @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
12352
12353 The @code{jump} command does not change the current stack frame, or
12354 the stack pointer, or the contents of any memory location or any
12355 register other than the program counter. If line @var{linespec} is in
12356 a different function from the one currently executing, the results may
12357 be bizarre if the two functions expect different patterns of arguments or
12358 of local variables. For this reason, the @code{jump} command requests
12359 confirmation if the specified line is not in the function currently
12360 executing. However, even bizarre results are predictable if you are
12361 well acquainted with the machine-language code of your program.
12362 @end table
12363
12364 @c Doesn't work on HP-UX; have to set $pcoqh and $pcoqt.
12365 On many systems, you can get much the same effect as the @code{jump}
12366 command by storing a new value into the register @code{$pc}. The
12367 difference is that this does not start your program running; it only
12368 changes the address of where it @emph{will} run when you continue. For
12369 example,
12370
12371 @smallexample
12372 set $pc = 0x485
12373 @end smallexample
12374
12375 @noindent
12376 makes the next @code{continue} command or stepping command execute at
12377 address @code{0x485}, rather than at the address where your program stopped.
12378 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}.
12379
12380 The most common occasion to use the @code{jump} command is to back
12381 up---perhaps with more breakpoints set---over a portion of a program
12382 that has already executed, in order to examine its execution in more
12383 detail.
12384
12385 @c @group
12386 @node Signaling
12387 @section Giving your Program a Signal
12388 @cindex deliver a signal to a program
12389
12390 @table @code
12391 @kindex signal
12392 @item signal @var{signal}
12393 Resume execution where your program stopped, but immediately give it the
12394 signal @var{signal}. @var{signal} can be the name or the number of a
12395 signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and @code{signal
12396 SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
12397
12398 Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, continue execution without
12399 giving a signal. This is useful when your program stopped on account of
12400 a signal and would ordinary see the signal when resumed with the
12401 @code{continue} command; @samp{signal 0} causes it to resume without a
12402 signal.
12403
12404 @code{signal} does not repeat when you press @key{RET} a second time
12405 after executing the command.
12406 @end table
12407 @c @end group
12408
12409 Invoking the @code{signal} command is not the same as invoking the
12410 @code{kill} utility from the shell. Sending a signal with @code{kill}
12411 causes @value{GDBN} to decide what to do with the signal depending on
12412 the signal handling tables (@pxref{Signals}). The @code{signal} command
12413 passes the signal directly to your program.
12414
12415
12416 @node Returning
12417 @section Returning from a Function
12418
12419 @table @code
12420 @cindex returning from a function
12421 @kindex return
12422 @item return
12423 @itemx return @var{expression}
12424 You can cancel execution of a function call with the @code{return}
12425 command. If you give an
12426 @var{expression} argument, its value is used as the function's return
12427 value.
12428 @end table
12429
12430 When you use @code{return}, @value{GDBN} discards the selected stack frame
12431 (and all frames within it). You can think of this as making the
12432 discarded frame return prematurely. If you wish to specify a value to
12433 be returned, give that value as the argument to @code{return}.
12434
12435 This pops the selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a
12436 Frame}), and any other frames inside of it, leaving its caller as the
12437 innermost remaining frame. That frame becomes selected. The
12438 specified value is stored in the registers used for returning values
12439 of functions.
12440
12441 The @code{return} command does not resume execution; it leaves the
12442 program stopped in the state that would exist if the function had just
12443 returned. In contrast, the @code{finish} command (@pxref{Continuing
12444 and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}) resumes execution until the
12445 selected stack frame returns naturally.
12446
12447 @node Calling
12448 @section Calling Program Functions
12449
12450 @table @code
12451 @cindex calling functions
12452 @cindex inferior functions, calling
12453 @item print @var{expr}
12454 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} and display the resulting value.
12455 @var{expr} may include calls to functions in the program being
12456 debugged.
12457
12458 @kindex call
12459 @item call @var{expr}
12460 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} without displaying @code{void}
12461 returned values.
12462
12463 You can use this variant of the @code{print} command if you want to
12464 execute a function from your program that does not return anything
12465 (a.k.a.@: @dfn{a void function}), but without cluttering the output
12466 with @code{void} returned values that @value{GDBN} will otherwise
12467 print. If the result is not void, it is printed and saved in the
12468 value history.
12469 @end table
12470
12471 It is possible for the function you call via the @code{print} or
12472 @code{call} command to generate a signal (e.g., if there's a bug in
12473 the function, or if you passed it incorrect arguments). What happens
12474 in that case is controlled by the @code{set unwindonsignal} command.
12475
12476 @table @code
12477 @item set unwindonsignal
12478 @kindex set unwindonsignal
12479 @cindex unwind stack in called functions
12480 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding
12481 Set unwinding of the stack if a signal is received while in a function
12482 that @value{GDBN} called in the program being debugged. If set to on,
12483 @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack it created for the call and restores
12484 the context to what it was before the call. If set to off (the
12485 default), @value{GDBN} stops in the frame where the signal was
12486 received.
12487
12488 @item show unwindonsignal
12489 @kindex show unwindonsignal
12490 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
12491 @value{GDBN}.
12492 @end table
12493
12494 @cindex weak alias functions
12495 Sometimes, a function you wish to call is actually a @dfn{weak alias}
12496 for another function. In such case, @value{GDBN} might not pick up
12497 the type information, including the types of the function arguments,
12498 which causes @value{GDBN} to call the inferior function incorrectly.
12499 As a result, the called function will function erroneously and may
12500 even crash. A solution to that is to use the name of the aliased
12501 function instead.
12502
12503 @node Patching
12504 @section Patching Programs
12505
12506 @cindex patching binaries
12507 @cindex writing into executables
12508 @cindex writing into corefiles
12509
12510 By default, @value{GDBN} opens the file containing your program's
12511 executable code (or the corefile) read-only. This prevents accidental
12512 alterations to machine code; but it also prevents you from intentionally
12513 patching your program's binary.
12514
12515 If you'd like to be able to patch the binary, you can specify that
12516 explicitly with the @code{set write} command. For example, you might
12517 want to turn on internal debugging flags, or even to make emergency
12518 repairs.
12519
12520 @table @code
12521 @kindex set write
12522 @item set write on
12523 @itemx set write off
12524 If you specify @samp{set write on}, @value{GDBN} opens executable and
12525 core files for both reading and writing; if you specify @kbd{set write
12526 off} (the default), @value{GDBN} opens them read-only.
12527
12528 If you have already loaded a file, you must load it again (using the
12529 @code{exec-file} or @code{core-file} command) after changing @code{set
12530 write}, for your new setting to take effect.
12531
12532 @item show write
12533 @kindex show write
12534 Display whether executable files and core files are opened for writing
12535 as well as reading.
12536 @end table
12537
12538 @node GDB Files
12539 @chapter @value{GDBN} Files
12540
12541 @value{GDBN} needs to know the file name of the program to be debugged,
12542 both in order to read its symbol table and in order to start your
12543 program. To debug a core dump of a previous run, you must also tell
12544 @value{GDBN} the name of the core dump file.
12545
12546 @menu
12547 * Files:: Commands to specify files
12548 * Separate Debug Files:: Debugging information in separate files
12549 * Symbol Errors:: Errors reading symbol files
12550 @end menu
12551
12552 @node Files
12553 @section Commands to Specify Files
12554
12555 @cindex symbol table
12556 @cindex core dump file
12557
12558 You may want to specify executable and core dump file names. The usual
12559 way to do this is at start-up time, using the arguments to
12560 @value{GDBN}'s start-up commands (@pxref{Invocation, , Getting In and
12561 Out of @value{GDBN}}).
12562
12563 Occasionally it is necessary to change to a different file during a
12564 @value{GDBN} session. Or you may run @value{GDBN} and forget to
12565 specify a file you want to use. Or you are debugging a remote target
12566 via @code{gdbserver} (@pxref{Server, file, Using the @code{gdbserver}
12567 Program}). In these situations the @value{GDBN} commands to specify
12568 new files are useful.
12569
12570 @table @code
12571 @cindex executable file
12572 @kindex file
12573 @item file @var{filename}
12574 Use @var{filename} as the program to be debugged. It is read for its
12575 symbols and for the contents of pure memory. It is also the program
12576 executed when you use the @code{run} command. If you do not specify a
12577 directory and the file is not found in the @value{GDBN} working directory,
12578 @value{GDBN} uses the environment variable @code{PATH} as a list of
12579 directories to search, just as the shell does when looking for a program
12580 to run. You can change the value of this variable, for both @value{GDBN}
12581 and your program, using the @code{path} command.
12582
12583 @cindex unlinked object files
12584 @cindex patching object files
12585 You can load unlinked object @file{.o} files into @value{GDBN} using
12586 the @code{file} command. You will not be able to ``run'' an object
12587 file, but you can disassemble functions and inspect variables. Also,
12588 if the underlying BFD functionality supports it, you could use
12589 @kbd{gdb -write} to patch object files using this technique. Note
12590 that @value{GDBN} can neither interpret nor modify relocations in this
12591 case, so branches and some initialized variables will appear to go to
12592 the wrong place. But this feature is still handy from time to time.
12593
12594 @item file
12595 @code{file} with no argument makes @value{GDBN} discard any information it
12596 has on both executable file and the symbol table.
12597
12598 @kindex exec-file
12599 @item exec-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
12600 Specify that the program to be run (but not the symbol table) is found
12601 in @var{filename}. @value{GDBN} searches the environment variable @code{PATH}
12602 if necessary to locate your program. Omitting @var{filename} means to
12603 discard information on the executable file.
12604
12605 @kindex symbol-file
12606 @item symbol-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
12607 Read symbol table information from file @var{filename}. @code{PATH} is
12608 searched when necessary. Use the @code{file} command to get both symbol
12609 table and program to run from the same file.
12610
12611 @code{symbol-file} with no argument clears out @value{GDBN} information on your
12612 program's symbol table.
12613
12614 The @code{symbol-file} command causes @value{GDBN} to forget the contents of
12615 some breakpoints and auto-display expressions. This is because they may
12616 contain pointers to the internal data recording symbols and data types,
12617 which are part of the old symbol table data being discarded inside
12618 @value{GDBN}.
12619
12620 @code{symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
12621 executing it once.
12622
12623 When @value{GDBN} is configured for a particular environment, it
12624 understands debugging information in whatever format is the standard
12625 generated for that environment; you may use either a @sc{gnu} compiler, or
12626 other compilers that adhere to the local conventions.
12627 Best results are usually obtained from @sc{gnu} compilers; for example,
12628 using @code{@value{NGCC}} you can generate debugging information for
12629 optimized code.
12630
12631 For most kinds of object files, with the exception of old SVR3 systems
12632 using COFF, the @code{symbol-file} command does not normally read the
12633 symbol table in full right away. Instead, it scans the symbol table
12634 quickly to find which source files and which symbols are present. The
12635 details are read later, one source file at a time, as they are needed.
12636
12637 The purpose of this two-stage reading strategy is to make @value{GDBN}
12638 start up faster. For the most part, it is invisible except for
12639 occasional pauses while the symbol table details for a particular source
12640 file are being read. (The @code{set verbose} command can turn these
12641 pauses into messages if desired. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional
12642 Warnings and Messages}.)
12643
12644 We have not implemented the two-stage strategy for COFF yet. When the
12645 symbol table is stored in COFF format, @code{symbol-file} reads the
12646 symbol table data in full right away. Note that ``stabs-in-COFF''
12647 still does the two-stage strategy, since the debug info is actually
12648 in stabs format.
12649
12650 @kindex readnow
12651 @cindex reading symbols immediately
12652 @cindex symbols, reading immediately
12653 @item symbol-file @var{filename} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
12654 @itemx file @var{filename} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
12655 You can override the @value{GDBN} two-stage strategy for reading symbol
12656 tables by using the @samp{-readnow} option with any of the commands that
12657 load symbol table information, if you want to be sure @value{GDBN} has the
12658 entire symbol table available.
12659
12660 @c FIXME: for now no mention of directories, since this seems to be in
12661 @c flux. 13mar1992 status is that in theory GDB would look either in
12662 @c current dir or in same dir as myprog; but issues like competing
12663 @c GDB's, or clutter in system dirs, mean that in practice right now
12664 @c only current dir is used. FFish says maybe a special GDB hierarchy
12665 @c (eg rooted in val of env var GDBSYMS) could exist for mappable symbol
12666 @c files.
12667
12668 @kindex core-file
12669 @item core-file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
12670 @itemx core
12671 Specify the whereabouts of a core dump file to be used as the ``contents
12672 of memory''. Traditionally, core files contain only some parts of the
12673 address space of the process that generated them; @value{GDBN} can access the
12674 executable file itself for other parts.
12675
12676 @code{core-file} with no argument specifies that no core file is
12677 to be used.
12678
12679 Note that the core file is ignored when your program is actually running
12680 under @value{GDBN}. So, if you have been running your program and you
12681 wish to debug a core file instead, you must kill the subprocess in which
12682 the program is running. To do this, use the @code{kill} command
12683 (@pxref{Kill Process, ,Killing the Child Process}).
12684
12685 @kindex add-symbol-file
12686 @cindex dynamic linking
12687 @item add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address}
12688 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
12689 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @r{-s}@var{section} @var{address} @dots{}
12690 The @code{add-symbol-file} command reads additional symbol table
12691 information from the file @var{filename}. You would use this command
12692 when @var{filename} has been dynamically loaded (by some other means)
12693 into the program that is running. @var{address} should be the memory
12694 address at which the file has been loaded; @value{GDBN} cannot figure
12695 this out for itself. You can additionally specify an arbitrary number
12696 of @samp{@r{-s}@var{section} @var{address}} pairs, to give an explicit
12697 section name and base address for that section. You can specify any
12698 @var{address} as an expression.
12699
12700 The symbol table of the file @var{filename} is added to the symbol table
12701 originally read with the @code{symbol-file} command. You can use the
12702 @code{add-symbol-file} command any number of times; the new symbol data
12703 thus read keeps adding to the old. To discard all old symbol data
12704 instead, use the @code{symbol-file} command without any arguments.
12705
12706 @cindex relocatable object files, reading symbols from
12707 @cindex object files, relocatable, reading symbols from
12708 @cindex reading symbols from relocatable object files
12709 @cindex symbols, reading from relocatable object files
12710 @cindex @file{.o} files, reading symbols from
12711 Although @var{filename} is typically a shared library file, an
12712 executable file, or some other object file which has been fully
12713 relocated for loading into a process, you can also load symbolic
12714 information from relocatable @file{.o} files, as long as:
12715
12716 @itemize @bullet
12717 @item
12718 the file's symbolic information refers only to linker symbols defined in
12719 that file, not to symbols defined by other object files,
12720 @item
12721 every section the file's symbolic information refers to has actually
12722 been loaded into the inferior, as it appears in the file, and
12723 @item
12724 you can determine the address at which every section was loaded, and
12725 provide these to the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
12726 @end itemize
12727
12728 @noindent
12729 Some embedded operating systems, like Sun Chorus and VxWorks, can load
12730 relocatable files into an already running program; such systems
12731 typically make the requirements above easy to meet. However, it's
12732 important to recognize that many native systems use complex link
12733 procedures (@code{.linkonce} section factoring and C@t{++} constructor table
12734 assembly, for example) that make the requirements difficult to meet. In
12735 general, one cannot assume that using @code{add-symbol-file} to read a
12736 relocatable object file's symbolic information will have the same effect
12737 as linking the relocatable object file into the program in the normal
12738 way.
12739
12740 @code{add-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
12741
12742 @kindex add-symbol-file-from-memory
12743 @cindex @code{syscall DSO}
12744 @cindex load symbols from memory
12745 @item add-symbol-file-from-memory @var{address}
12746 Load symbols from the given @var{address} in a dynamically loaded
12747 object file whose image is mapped directly into the inferior's memory.
12748 For example, the Linux kernel maps a @code{syscall DSO} into each
12749 process's address space; this DSO provides kernel-specific code for
12750 some system calls. The argument can be any expression whose
12751 evaluation yields the address of the file's shared object file header.
12752 For this command to work, you must have used @code{symbol-file} or
12753 @code{exec-file} commands in advance.
12754
12755 @kindex add-shared-symbol-files
12756 @kindex assf
12757 @item add-shared-symbol-files @var{library-file}
12758 @itemx assf @var{library-file}
12759 The @code{add-shared-symbol-files} command can currently be used only
12760 in the Cygwin build of @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows OS, where it is an
12761 alias for the @code{dll-symbols} command (@pxref{Cygwin Native}).
12762 @value{GDBN} automatically looks for shared libraries, however if
12763 @value{GDBN} does not find yours, you can invoke
12764 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}. It takes one argument: the shared
12765 library's file name. @code{assf} is a shorthand alias for
12766 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}.
12767
12768 @kindex section
12769 @item section @var{section} @var{addr}
12770 The @code{section} command changes the base address of the named
12771 @var{section} of the exec file to @var{addr}. This can be used if the
12772 exec file does not contain section addresses, (such as in the
12773 @code{a.out} format), or when the addresses specified in the file
12774 itself are wrong. Each section must be changed separately. The
12775 @code{info files} command, described below, lists all the sections and
12776 their addresses.
12777
12778 @kindex info files
12779 @kindex info target
12780 @item info files
12781 @itemx info target
12782 @code{info files} and @code{info target} are synonymous; both print the
12783 current target (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}),
12784 including the names of the executable and core dump files currently in
12785 use by @value{GDBN}, and the files from which symbols were loaded. The
12786 command @code{help target} lists all possible targets rather than
12787 current ones.
12788
12789 @kindex maint info sections
12790 @item maint info sections
12791 Another command that can give you extra information about program sections
12792 is @code{maint info sections}. In addition to the section information
12793 displayed by @code{info files}, this command displays the flags and file
12794 offset of each section in the executable and core dump files. In addition,
12795 @code{maint info sections} provides the following command options (which
12796 may be arbitrarily combined):
12797
12798 @table @code
12799 @item ALLOBJ
12800 Display sections for all loaded object files, including shared libraries.
12801 @item @var{sections}
12802 Display info only for named @var{sections}.
12803 @item @var{section-flags}
12804 Display info only for sections for which @var{section-flags} are true.
12805 The section flags that @value{GDBN} currently knows about are:
12806 @table @code
12807 @item ALLOC
12808 Section will have space allocated in the process when loaded.
12809 Set for all sections except those containing debug information.
12810 @item LOAD
12811 Section will be loaded from the file into the child process memory.
12812 Set for pre-initialized code and data, clear for @code{.bss} sections.
12813 @item RELOC
12814 Section needs to be relocated before loading.
12815 @item READONLY
12816 Section cannot be modified by the child process.
12817 @item CODE
12818 Section contains executable code only.
12819 @item DATA
12820 Section contains data only (no executable code).
12821 @item ROM
12822 Section will reside in ROM.
12823 @item CONSTRUCTOR
12824 Section contains data for constructor/destructor lists.
12825 @item HAS_CONTENTS
12826 Section is not empty.
12827 @item NEVER_LOAD
12828 An instruction to the linker to not output the section.
12829 @item COFF_SHARED_LIBRARY
12830 A notification to the linker that the section contains
12831 COFF shared library information.
12832 @item IS_COMMON
12833 Section contains common symbols.
12834 @end table
12835 @end table
12836 @kindex set trust-readonly-sections
12837 @cindex read-only sections
12838 @item set trust-readonly-sections on
12839 Tell @value{GDBN} that readonly sections in your object file
12840 really are read-only (i.e.@: that their contents will not change).
12841 In that case, @value{GDBN} can fetch values from these sections
12842 out of the object file, rather than from the target program.
12843 For some targets (notably embedded ones), this can be a significant
12844 enhancement to debugging performance.
12845
12846 The default is off.
12847
12848 @item set trust-readonly-sections off
12849 Tell @value{GDBN} not to trust readonly sections. This means that
12850 the contents of the section might change while the program is running,
12851 and must therefore be fetched from the target when needed.
12852
12853 @item show trust-readonly-sections
12854 Show the current setting of trusting readonly sections.
12855 @end table
12856
12857 All file-specifying commands allow both absolute and relative file names
12858 as arguments. @value{GDBN} always converts the file name to an absolute file
12859 name and remembers it that way.
12860
12861 @cindex shared libraries
12862 @anchor{Shared Libraries}
12863 @value{GDBN} supports @sc{gnu}/Linux, MS-Windows, HP-UX, SunOS, SVr4, Irix,
12864 and IBM RS/6000 AIX shared libraries.
12865
12866 On MS-Windows @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support
12867 shared libraries. @xref{Expat}.
12868
12869 @value{GDBN} automatically loads symbol definitions from shared libraries
12870 when you use the @code{run} command, or when you examine a core file.
12871 (Before you issue the @code{run} command, @value{GDBN} does not understand
12872 references to a function in a shared library, however---unless you are
12873 debugging a core file).
12874
12875 On HP-UX, if the program loads a library explicitly, @value{GDBN}
12876 automatically loads the symbols at the time of the @code{shl_load} call.
12877
12878 @c FIXME: some @value{GDBN} release may permit some refs to undef
12879 @c FIXME...symbols---eg in a break cmd---assuming they are from a shared
12880 @c FIXME...lib; check this from time to time when updating manual
12881
12882 There are times, however, when you may wish to not automatically load
12883 symbol definitions from shared libraries, such as when they are
12884 particularly large or there are many of them.
12885
12886 To control the automatic loading of shared library symbols, use the
12887 commands:
12888
12889 @table @code
12890 @kindex set auto-solib-add
12891 @item set auto-solib-add @var{mode}
12892 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, symbols from all shared object libraries
12893 will be loaded automatically when the inferior begins execution, you
12894 attach to an independently started inferior, or when the dynamic linker
12895 informs @value{GDBN} that a new library has been loaded. If @var{mode}
12896 is @code{off}, symbols must be loaded manually, using the
12897 @code{sharedlibrary} command. The default value is @code{on}.
12898
12899 @cindex memory used for symbol tables
12900 If your program uses lots of shared libraries with debug info that
12901 takes large amounts of memory, you can decrease the @value{GDBN}
12902 memory footprint by preventing it from automatically loading the
12903 symbols from shared libraries. To that end, type @kbd{set
12904 auto-solib-add off} before running the inferior, then load each
12905 library whose debug symbols you do need with @kbd{sharedlibrary
12906 @var{regexp}}, where @var{regexp} is a regular expression that matches
12907 the libraries whose symbols you want to be loaded.
12908
12909 @kindex show auto-solib-add
12910 @item show auto-solib-add
12911 Display the current autoloading mode.
12912 @end table
12913
12914 @cindex load shared library
12915 To explicitly load shared library symbols, use the @code{sharedlibrary}
12916 command:
12917
12918 @table @code
12919 @kindex info sharedlibrary
12920 @kindex info share
12921 @item info share
12922 @itemx info sharedlibrary
12923 Print the names of the shared libraries which are currently loaded.
12924
12925 @kindex sharedlibrary
12926 @kindex share
12927 @item sharedlibrary @var{regex}
12928 @itemx share @var{regex}
12929 Load shared object library symbols for files matching a
12930 Unix regular expression.
12931 As with files loaded automatically, it only loads shared libraries
12932 required by your program for a core file or after typing @code{run}. If
12933 @var{regex} is omitted all shared libraries required by your program are
12934 loaded.
12935
12936 @item nosharedlibrary
12937 @kindex nosharedlibrary
12938 @cindex unload symbols from shared libraries
12939 Unload all shared object library symbols. This discards all symbols
12940 that have been loaded from all shared libraries. Symbols from shared
12941 libraries that were loaded by explicit user requests are not
12942 discarded.
12943 @end table
12944
12945 Sometimes you may wish that @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control
12946 when any of shared library events happen. Use the @code{set
12947 stop-on-solib-events} command for this:
12948
12949 @table @code
12950 @item set stop-on-solib-events
12951 @kindex set stop-on-solib-events
12952 This command controls whether @value{GDBN} should give you control
12953 when the dynamic linker notifies it about some shared library event.
12954 The most common event of interest is loading or unloading of a new
12955 shared library.
12956
12957 @item show stop-on-solib-events
12958 @kindex show stop-on-solib-events
12959 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control when shared
12960 library events happen.
12961 @end table
12962
12963 Shared libraries are also supported in many cross or remote debugging
12964 configurations. @value{GDBN} needs to have access to the target's libraries;
12965 this can be accomplished either by providing copies of the libraries
12966 on the host system, or by asking @value{GDBN} to automatically retrieve the
12967 libraries from the target. If copies of the target libraries are
12968 provided, they need to be the same as the target libraries, although the
12969 copies on the target can be stripped as long as the copies on the host are
12970 not.
12971
12972 @cindex where to look for shared libraries
12973 For remote debugging, you need to tell @value{GDBN} where the target
12974 libraries are, so that it can load the correct copies---otherwise, it
12975 may try to load the host's libraries. @value{GDBN} has two variables
12976 to specify the search directories for target libraries.
12977
12978 @table @code
12979 @cindex prefix for shared library file names
12980 @cindex system root, alternate
12981 @kindex set solib-absolute-prefix
12982 @kindex set sysroot
12983 @item set sysroot @var{path}
12984 Use @var{path} as the system root for the program being debugged. Any
12985 absolute shared library paths will be prefixed with @var{path}; many
12986 runtime loaders store the absolute paths to the shared library in the
12987 target program's memory. If you use @code{set sysroot} to find shared
12988 libraries, they need to be laid out in the same way that they are on
12989 the target, with e.g.@: a @file{/lib} and @file{/usr/lib} hierarchy
12990 under @var{path}.
12991
12992 If @var{path} starts with the sequence @file{remote:}, @value{GDBN} will
12993 retrieve the target libraries from the remote system. This is only
12994 supported when using a remote target that supports the @code{remote get}
12995 command (@pxref{File Transfer,,Sending files to a remote system}).
12996 The part of @var{path} following the initial @file{remote:}
12997 (if present) is used as system root prefix on the remote file system.
12998 @footnote{If you want to specify a local system root using a directory
12999 that happens to be named @file{remote:}, you need to use some equivalent
13000 variant of the name like @file{./remote:}.}
13001
13002 The @code{set solib-absolute-prefix} command is an alias for @code{set
13003 sysroot}.
13004
13005 @cindex default system root
13006 @cindex @samp{--with-sysroot}
13007 You can set the default system root by using the configure-time
13008 @samp{--with-sysroot} option. If the system root is inside
13009 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
13010 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default system root will be updated
13011 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
13012 location.
13013
13014 @kindex show sysroot
13015 @item show sysroot
13016 Display the current shared library prefix.
13017
13018 @kindex set solib-search-path
13019 @item set solib-search-path @var{path}
13020 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
13021 directories to search for shared libraries. @samp{solib-search-path}
13022 is used after @samp{sysroot} fails to locate the library, or if the
13023 path to the library is relative instead of absolute. If you want to
13024 use @samp{solib-search-path} instead of @samp{sysroot}, be sure to set
13025 @samp{sysroot} to a nonexistent directory to prevent @value{GDBN} from
13026 finding your host's libraries. @samp{sysroot} is preferred; setting
13027 it to a nonexistent directory may interfere with automatic loading
13028 of shared library symbols.
13029
13030 @kindex show solib-search-path
13031 @item show solib-search-path
13032 Display the current shared library search path.
13033 @end table
13034
13035
13036 @node Separate Debug Files
13037 @section Debugging Information in Separate Files
13038 @cindex separate debugging information files
13039 @cindex debugging information in separate files
13040 @cindex @file{.debug} subdirectories
13041 @cindex debugging information directory, global
13042 @cindex global debugging information directory
13043 @cindex build ID, and separate debugging files
13044 @cindex @file{.build-id} directory
13045
13046 @value{GDBN} allows you to put a program's debugging information in a
13047 file separate from the executable itself, in a way that allows
13048 @value{GDBN} to find and load the debugging information automatically.
13049 Since debugging information can be very large---sometimes larger
13050 than the executable code itself---some systems distribute debugging
13051 information for their executables in separate files, which users can
13052 install only when they need to debug a problem.
13053
13054 @value{GDBN} supports two ways of specifying the separate debug info
13055 file:
13056
13057 @itemize @bullet
13058 @item
13059 The executable contains a @dfn{debug link} that specifies the name of
13060 the separate debug info file. The separate debug file's name is
13061 usually @file{@var{executable}.debug}, where @var{executable} is the
13062 name of the corresponding executable file without leading directories
13063 (e.g., @file{ls.debug} for @file{/usr/bin/ls}). In addition, the
13064 debug link specifies a CRC32 checksum for the debug file, which
13065 @value{GDBN} uses to validate that the executable and the debug file
13066 came from the same build.
13067
13068 @item
13069 The executable contains a @dfn{build ID}, a unique bit string that is
13070 also present in the corresponding debug info file. (This is supported
13071 only on some operating systems, notably those which use the ELF format
13072 for binary files and the @sc{gnu} Binutils.) For more details about
13073 this feature, see the description of the @option{--build-id}
13074 command-line option in @ref{Options, , Command Line Options, ld.info,
13075 The GNU Linker}. The debug info file's name is not specified
13076 explicitly by the build ID, but can be computed from the build ID, see
13077 below.
13078 @end itemize
13079
13080 Depending on the way the debug info file is specified, @value{GDBN}
13081 uses two different methods of looking for the debug file:
13082
13083 @itemize @bullet
13084 @item
13085 For the ``debug link'' method, @value{GDBN} looks up the named file in
13086 the directory of the executable file, then in a subdirectory of that
13087 directory named @file{.debug}, and finally under the global debug
13088 directory, in a subdirectory whose name is identical to the leading
13089 directories of the executable's absolute file name.
13090
13091 @item
13092 For the ``build ID'' method, @value{GDBN} looks in the
13093 @file{.build-id} subdirectory of the global debug directory for a file
13094 named @file{@var{nn}/@var{nnnnnnnn}.debug}, where @var{nn} are the
13095 first 2 hex characters of the build ID bit string, and @var{nnnnnnnn}
13096 are the rest of the bit string. (Real build ID strings are 32 or more
13097 hex characters, not 10.)
13098 @end itemize
13099
13100 So, for example, suppose you ask @value{GDBN} to debug
13101 @file{/usr/bin/ls}, which has a debug link that specifies the
13102 file @file{ls.debug}, and a build ID whose value in hex is
13103 @code{abcdef1234}. If the global debug directory is
13104 @file{/usr/lib/debug}, then @value{GDBN} will look for the following
13105 debug information files, in the indicated order:
13106
13107 @itemize @minus
13108 @item
13109 @file{/usr/lib/debug/.build-id/ab/cdef1234.debug}
13110 @item
13111 @file{/usr/bin/ls.debug}
13112 @item
13113 @file{/usr/bin/.debug/ls.debug}
13114 @item
13115 @file{/usr/lib/debug/usr/bin/ls.debug}.
13116 @end itemize
13117
13118 You can set the global debugging info directory's name, and view the
13119 name @value{GDBN} is currently using.
13120
13121 @table @code
13122
13123 @kindex set debug-file-directory
13124 @item set debug-file-directory @var{directory}
13125 Set the directory which @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
13126 information files to @var{directory}.
13127
13128 @kindex show debug-file-directory
13129 @item show debug-file-directory
13130 Show the directory @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
13131 information files.
13132
13133 @end table
13134
13135 @cindex @code{.gnu_debuglink} sections
13136 @cindex debug link sections
13137 A debug link is a special section of the executable file named
13138 @code{.gnu_debuglink}. The section must contain:
13139
13140 @itemize
13141 @item
13142 A filename, with any leading directory components removed, followed by
13143 a zero byte,
13144 @item
13145 zero to three bytes of padding, as needed to reach the next four-byte
13146 boundary within the section, and
13147 @item
13148 a four-byte CRC checksum, stored in the same endianness used for the
13149 executable file itself. The checksum is computed on the debugging
13150 information file's full contents by the function given below, passing
13151 zero as the @var{crc} argument.
13152 @end itemize
13153
13154 Any executable file format can carry a debug link, as long as it can
13155 contain a section named @code{.gnu_debuglink} with the contents
13156 described above.
13157
13158 @cindex @code{.note.gnu.build-id} sections
13159 @cindex build ID sections
13160 The build ID is a special section in the executable file (and in other
13161 ELF binary files that @value{GDBN} may consider). This section is
13162 often named @code{.note.gnu.build-id}, but that name is not mandatory.
13163 It contains unique identification for the built files---the ID remains
13164 the same across multiple builds of the same build tree. The default
13165 algorithm SHA1 produces 160 bits (40 hexadecimal characters) of the
13166 content for the build ID string. The same section with an identical
13167 value is present in the original built binary with symbols, in its
13168 stripped variant, and in the separate debugging information file.
13169
13170 The debugging information file itself should be an ordinary
13171 executable, containing a full set of linker symbols, sections, and
13172 debugging information. The sections of the debugging information file
13173 should have the same names, addresses, and sizes as the original file,
13174 but they need not contain any data---much like a @code{.bss} section
13175 in an ordinary executable.
13176
13177 The @sc{gnu} binary utilities (Binutils) package includes the
13178 @samp{objcopy} utility that can produce
13179 the separated executable / debugging information file pairs using the
13180 following commands:
13181
13182 @smallexample
13183 @kbd{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.debug}
13184 @kbd{strip -g foo}
13185 @end smallexample
13186
13187 @noindent
13188 These commands remove the debugging
13189 information from the executable file @file{foo} and place it in the file
13190 @file{foo.debug}. You can use the first, second or both methods to link the
13191 two files:
13192
13193 @itemize @bullet
13194 @item
13195 The debug link method needs the following additional command to also leave
13196 behind a debug link in @file{foo}:
13197
13198 @smallexample
13199 @kbd{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.debug foo}
13200 @end smallexample
13201
13202 Ulrich Drepper's @file{elfutils} package, starting with version 0.53, contains
13203 a version of the @code{strip} command such that the command @kbd{strip foo -f
13204 foo.debug} has the same functionality as the two @code{objcopy} commands and
13205 the @code{ln -s} command above, together.
13206
13207 @item
13208 Build ID gets embedded into the main executable using @code{ld --build-id} or
13209 the @value{NGCC} counterpart @code{gcc -Wl,--build-id}. Build ID support plus
13210 compatibility fixes for debug files separation are present in @sc{gnu} binary
13211 utilities (Binutils) package since version 2.18.
13212 @end itemize
13213
13214 @noindent
13215
13216 Since there are many different ways to compute CRC's for the debug
13217 link (different polynomials, reversals, byte ordering, etc.), the
13218 simplest way to describe the CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink}
13219 sections is to give the complete code for a function that computes it:
13220
13221 @kindex gnu_debuglink_crc32
13222 @smallexample
13223 unsigned long
13224 gnu_debuglink_crc32 (unsigned long crc,
13225 unsigned char *buf, size_t len)
13226 @{
13227 static const unsigned long crc32_table[256] =
13228 @{
13229 0x00000000, 0x77073096, 0xee0e612c, 0x990951ba, 0x076dc419,
13230 0x706af48f, 0xe963a535, 0x9e6495a3, 0x0edb8832, 0x79dcb8a4,
13231 0xe0d5e91e, 0x97d2d988, 0x09b64c2b, 0x7eb17cbd, 0xe7b82d07,
13232 0x90bf1d91, 0x1db71064, 0x6ab020f2, 0xf3b97148, 0x84be41de,
13233 0x1adad47d, 0x6ddde4eb, 0xf4d4b551, 0x83d385c7, 0x136c9856,
13234 0x646ba8c0, 0xfd62f97a, 0x8a65c9ec, 0x14015c4f, 0x63066cd9,
13235 0xfa0f3d63, 0x8d080df5, 0x3b6e20c8, 0x4c69105e, 0xd56041e4,
13236 0xa2677172, 0x3c03e4d1, 0x4b04d447, 0xd20d85fd, 0xa50ab56b,
13237 0x35b5a8fa, 0x42b2986c, 0xdbbbc9d6, 0xacbcf940, 0x32d86ce3,
13238 0x45df5c75, 0xdcd60dcf, 0xabd13d59, 0x26d930ac, 0x51de003a,
13239 0xc8d75180, 0xbfd06116, 0x21b4f4b5, 0x56b3c423, 0xcfba9599,
13240 0xb8bda50f, 0x2802b89e, 0x5f058808, 0xc60cd9b2, 0xb10be924,
13241 0x2f6f7c87, 0x58684c11, 0xc1611dab, 0xb6662d3d, 0x76dc4190,
13242 0x01db7106, 0x98d220bc, 0xefd5102a, 0x71b18589, 0x06b6b51f,
13243 0x9fbfe4a5, 0xe8b8d433, 0x7807c9a2, 0x0f00f934, 0x9609a88e,
13244 0xe10e9818, 0x7f6a0dbb, 0x086d3d2d, 0x91646c97, 0xe6635c01,
13245 0x6b6b51f4, 0x1c6c6162, 0x856530d8, 0xf262004e, 0x6c0695ed,
13246 0x1b01a57b, 0x8208f4c1, 0xf50fc457, 0x65b0d9c6, 0x12b7e950,
13247 0x8bbeb8ea, 0xfcb9887c, 0x62dd1ddf, 0x15da2d49, 0x8cd37cf3,
13248 0xfbd44c65, 0x4db26158, 0x3ab551ce, 0xa3bc0074, 0xd4bb30e2,
13249 0x4adfa541, 0x3dd895d7, 0xa4d1c46d, 0xd3d6f4fb, 0x4369e96a,
13250 0x346ed9fc, 0xad678846, 0xda60b8d0, 0x44042d73, 0x33031de5,
13251 0xaa0a4c5f, 0xdd0d7cc9, 0x5005713c, 0x270241aa, 0xbe0b1010,
13252 0xc90c2086, 0x5768b525, 0x206f85b3, 0xb966d409, 0xce61e49f,
13253 0x5edef90e, 0x29d9c998, 0xb0d09822, 0xc7d7a8b4, 0x59b33d17,
13254 0x2eb40d81, 0xb7bd5c3b, 0xc0ba6cad, 0xedb88320, 0x9abfb3b6,
13255 0x03b6e20c, 0x74b1d29a, 0xead54739, 0x9dd277af, 0x04db2615,
13256 0x73dc1683, 0xe3630b12, 0x94643b84, 0x0d6d6a3e, 0x7a6a5aa8,
13257 0xe40ecf0b, 0x9309ff9d, 0x0a00ae27, 0x7d079eb1, 0xf00f9344,
13258 0x8708a3d2, 0x1e01f268, 0x6906c2fe, 0xf762575d, 0x806567cb,
13259 0x196c3671, 0x6e6b06e7, 0xfed41b76, 0x89d32be0, 0x10da7a5a,
13260 0x67dd4acc, 0xf9b9df6f, 0x8ebeeff9, 0x17b7be43, 0x60b08ed5,
13261 0xd6d6a3e8, 0xa1d1937e, 0x38d8c2c4, 0x4fdff252, 0xd1bb67f1,
13262 0xa6bc5767, 0x3fb506dd, 0x48b2364b, 0xd80d2bda, 0xaf0a1b4c,
13263 0x36034af6, 0x41047a60, 0xdf60efc3, 0xa867df55, 0x316e8eef,
13264 0x4669be79, 0xcb61b38c, 0xbc66831a, 0x256fd2a0, 0x5268e236,
13265 0xcc0c7795, 0xbb0b4703, 0x220216b9, 0x5505262f, 0xc5ba3bbe,
13266 0xb2bd0b28, 0x2bb45a92, 0x5cb36a04, 0xc2d7ffa7, 0xb5d0cf31,
13267 0x2cd99e8b, 0x5bdeae1d, 0x9b64c2b0, 0xec63f226, 0x756aa39c,
13268 0x026d930a, 0x9c0906a9, 0xeb0e363f, 0x72076785, 0x05005713,
13269 0x95bf4a82, 0xe2b87a14, 0x7bb12bae, 0x0cb61b38, 0x92d28e9b,
13270 0xe5d5be0d, 0x7cdcefb7, 0x0bdbdf21, 0x86d3d2d4, 0xf1d4e242,
13271 0x68ddb3f8, 0x1fda836e, 0x81be16cd, 0xf6b9265b, 0x6fb077e1,
13272 0x18b74777, 0x88085ae6, 0xff0f6a70, 0x66063bca, 0x11010b5c,
13273 0x8f659eff, 0xf862ae69, 0x616bffd3, 0x166ccf45, 0xa00ae278,
13274 0xd70dd2ee, 0x4e048354, 0x3903b3c2, 0xa7672661, 0xd06016f7,
13275 0x4969474d, 0x3e6e77db, 0xaed16a4a, 0xd9d65adc, 0x40df0b66,
13276 0x37d83bf0, 0xa9bcae53, 0xdebb9ec5, 0x47b2cf7f, 0x30b5ffe9,
13277 0xbdbdf21c, 0xcabac28a, 0x53b39330, 0x24b4a3a6, 0xbad03605,
13278 0xcdd70693, 0x54de5729, 0x23d967bf, 0xb3667a2e, 0xc4614ab8,
13279 0x5d681b02, 0x2a6f2b94, 0xb40bbe37, 0xc30c8ea1, 0x5a05df1b,
13280 0x2d02ef8d
13281 @};
13282 unsigned char *end;
13283
13284 crc = ~crc & 0xffffffff;
13285 for (end = buf + len; buf < end; ++buf)
13286 crc = crc32_table[(crc ^ *buf) & 0xff] ^ (crc >> 8);
13287 return ~crc & 0xffffffff;
13288 @}
13289 @end smallexample
13290
13291 @noindent
13292 This computation does not apply to the ``build ID'' method.
13293
13294
13295 @node Symbol Errors
13296 @section Errors Reading Symbol Files
13297
13298 While reading a symbol file, @value{GDBN} occasionally encounters problems,
13299 such as symbol types it does not recognize, or known bugs in compiler
13300 output. By default, @value{GDBN} does not notify you of such problems, since
13301 they are relatively common and primarily of interest to people
13302 debugging compilers. If you are interested in seeing information
13303 about ill-constructed symbol tables, you can either ask @value{GDBN} to print
13304 only one message about each such type of problem, no matter how many
13305 times the problem occurs; or you can ask @value{GDBN} to print more messages,
13306 to see how many times the problems occur, with the @code{set
13307 complaints} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
13308 Messages}).
13309
13310 The messages currently printed, and their meanings, include:
13311
13312 @table @code
13313 @item inner block not inside outer block in @var{symbol}
13314
13315 The symbol information shows where symbol scopes begin and end
13316 (such as at the start of a function or a block of statements). This
13317 error indicates that an inner scope block is not fully contained
13318 in its outer scope blocks.
13319
13320 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the inner block as if it had
13321 the same scope as the outer block. In the error message, @var{symbol}
13322 may be shown as ``@code{(don't know)}'' if the outer block is not a
13323 function.
13324
13325 @item block at @var{address} out of order
13326
13327 The symbol information for symbol scope blocks should occur in
13328 order of increasing addresses. This error indicates that it does not
13329 do so.
13330
13331 @value{GDBN} does not circumvent this problem, and has trouble
13332 locating symbols in the source file whose symbols it is reading. (You
13333 can often determine what source file is affected by specifying
13334 @code{set verbose on}. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
13335 Messages}.)
13336
13337 @item bad block start address patched
13338
13339 The symbol information for a symbol scope block has a start address
13340 smaller than the address of the preceding source line. This is known
13341 to occur in the SunOS 4.1.1 (and earlier) C compiler.
13342
13343 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the symbol scope block as
13344 starting on the previous source line.
13345
13346 @item bad string table offset in symbol @var{n}
13347
13348 @cindex foo
13349 Symbol number @var{n} contains a pointer into the string table which is
13350 larger than the size of the string table.
13351
13352 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by considering the symbol to have the
13353 name @code{foo}, which may cause other problems if many symbols end up
13354 with this name.
13355
13356 @item unknown symbol type @code{0x@var{nn}}
13357
13358 The symbol information contains new data types that @value{GDBN} does
13359 not yet know how to read. @code{0x@var{nn}} is the symbol type of the
13360 uncomprehended information, in hexadecimal.
13361
13362 @value{GDBN} circumvents the error by ignoring this symbol information.
13363 This usually allows you to debug your program, though certain symbols
13364 are not accessible. If you encounter such a problem and feel like
13365 debugging it, you can debug @code{@value{GDBP}} with itself, breakpoint
13366 on @code{complain}, then go up to the function @code{read_dbx_symtab}
13367 and examine @code{*bufp} to see the symbol.
13368
13369 @item stub type has NULL name
13370
13371 @value{GDBN} could not find the full definition for a struct or class.
13372
13373 @item const/volatile indicator missing (ok if using g++ v1.x), got@dots{}
13374 The symbol information for a C@t{++} member function is missing some
13375 information that recent versions of the compiler should have output for
13376 it.
13377
13378 @item info mismatch between compiler and debugger
13379
13380 @value{GDBN} could not parse a type specification output by the compiler.
13381
13382 @end table
13383
13384 @node Targets
13385 @chapter Specifying a Debugging Target
13386
13387 @cindex debugging target
13388 A @dfn{target} is the execution environment occupied by your program.
13389
13390 Often, @value{GDBN} runs in the same host environment as your program;
13391 in that case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when
13392 you use the @code{file} or @code{core} commands. When you need more
13393 flexibility---for example, running @value{GDBN} on a physically separate
13394 host, or controlling a standalone system over a serial port or a
13395 realtime system over a TCP/IP connection---you can use the @code{target}
13396 command to specify one of the target types configured for @value{GDBN}
13397 (@pxref{Target Commands, ,Commands for Managing Targets}).
13398
13399 @cindex target architecture
13400 It is possible to build @value{GDBN} for several different @dfn{target
13401 architectures}. When @value{GDBN} is built like that, you can choose
13402 one of the available architectures with the @kbd{set architecture}
13403 command.
13404
13405 @table @code
13406 @kindex set architecture
13407 @kindex show architecture
13408 @item set architecture @var{arch}
13409 This command sets the current target architecture to @var{arch}. The
13410 value of @var{arch} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition to one of the
13411 supported architectures.
13412
13413 @item show architecture
13414 Show the current target architecture.
13415
13416 @item set processor
13417 @itemx processor
13418 @kindex set processor
13419 @kindex show processor
13420 These are alias commands for, respectively, @code{set architecture}
13421 and @code{show architecture}.
13422 @end table
13423
13424 @menu
13425 * Active Targets:: Active targets
13426 * Target Commands:: Commands for managing targets
13427 * Byte Order:: Choosing target byte order
13428 @end menu
13429
13430 @node Active Targets
13431 @section Active Targets
13432
13433 @cindex stacking targets
13434 @cindex active targets
13435 @cindex multiple targets
13436
13437 There are three classes of targets: processes, core files, and
13438 executable files. @value{GDBN} can work concurrently on up to three
13439 active targets, one in each class. This allows you to (for example)
13440 start a process and inspect its activity without abandoning your work on
13441 a core file.
13442
13443 For example, if you execute @samp{gdb a.out}, then the executable file
13444 @code{a.out} is the only active target. If you designate a core file as
13445 well---presumably from a prior run that crashed and coredumped---then
13446 @value{GDBN} has two active targets and uses them in tandem, looking
13447 first in the corefile target, then in the executable file, to satisfy
13448 requests for memory addresses. (Typically, these two classes of target
13449 are complementary, since core files contain only a program's
13450 read-write memory---variables and so on---plus machine status, while
13451 executable files contain only the program text and initialized data.)
13452
13453 When you type @code{run}, your executable file becomes an active process
13454 target as well. When a process target is active, all @value{GDBN}
13455 commands requesting memory addresses refer to that target; addresses in
13456 an active core file or executable file target are obscured while the
13457 process target is active.
13458
13459 Use the @code{core-file} and @code{exec-file} commands to select a new
13460 core file or executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify
13461 Files}). To specify as a target a process that is already running, use
13462 the @code{attach} command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running
13463 Process}).
13464
13465 @node Target Commands
13466 @section Commands for Managing Targets
13467
13468 @table @code
13469 @item target @var{type} @var{parameters}
13470 Connects the @value{GDBN} host environment to a target machine or
13471 process. A target is typically a protocol for talking to debugging
13472 facilities. You use the argument @var{type} to specify the type or
13473 protocol of the target machine.
13474
13475 Further @var{parameters} are interpreted by the target protocol, but
13476 typically include things like device names or host names to connect
13477 with, process numbers, and baud rates.
13478
13479 The @code{target} command does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again
13480 after executing the command.
13481
13482 @kindex help target
13483 @item help target
13484 Displays the names of all targets available. To display targets
13485 currently selected, use either @code{info target} or @code{info files}
13486 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
13487
13488 @item help target @var{name}
13489 Describe a particular target, including any parameters necessary to
13490 select it.
13491
13492 @kindex set gnutarget
13493 @item set gnutarget @var{args}
13494 @value{GDBN} uses its own library BFD to read your files. @value{GDBN}
13495 knows whether it is reading an @dfn{executable},
13496 a @dfn{core}, or a @dfn{.o} file; however, you can specify the file format
13497 with the @code{set gnutarget} command. Unlike most @code{target} commands,
13498 with @code{gnutarget} the @code{target} refers to a program, not a machine.
13499
13500 @quotation
13501 @emph{Warning:} To specify a file format with @code{set gnutarget},
13502 you must know the actual BFD name.
13503 @end quotation
13504
13505 @noindent
13506 @xref{Files, , Commands to Specify Files}.
13507
13508 @kindex show gnutarget
13509 @item show gnutarget
13510 Use the @code{show gnutarget} command to display what file format
13511 @code{gnutarget} is set to read. If you have not set @code{gnutarget},
13512 @value{GDBN} will determine the file format for each file automatically,
13513 and @code{show gnutarget} displays @samp{The current BDF target is "auto"}.
13514 @end table
13515
13516 @cindex common targets
13517 Here are some common targets (available, or not, depending on the GDB
13518 configuration):
13519
13520 @table @code
13521 @kindex target
13522 @item target exec @var{program}
13523 @cindex executable file target
13524 An executable file. @samp{target exec @var{program}} is the same as
13525 @samp{exec-file @var{program}}.
13526
13527 @item target core @var{filename}
13528 @cindex core dump file target
13529 A core dump file. @samp{target core @var{filename}} is the same as
13530 @samp{core-file @var{filename}}.
13531
13532 @item target remote @var{medium}
13533 @cindex remote target
13534 A remote system connected to @value{GDBN} via a serial line or network
13535 connection. This command tells @value{GDBN} to use its own remote
13536 protocol over @var{medium} for debugging. @xref{Remote Debugging}.
13537
13538 For example, if you have a board connected to @file{/dev/ttya} on the
13539 machine running @value{GDBN}, you could say:
13540
13541 @smallexample
13542 target remote /dev/ttya
13543 @end smallexample
13544
13545 @code{target remote} supports the @code{load} command. This is only
13546 useful if you have some other way of getting the stub to the target
13547 system, and you can put it somewhere in memory where it won't get
13548 clobbered by the download.
13549
13550 @item target sim
13551 @cindex built-in simulator target
13552 Builtin CPU simulator. @value{GDBN} includes simulators for most architectures.
13553 In general,
13554 @smallexample
13555 target sim
13556 load
13557 run
13558 @end smallexample
13559 @noindent
13560 works; however, you cannot assume that a specific memory map, device
13561 drivers, or even basic I/O is available, although some simulators do
13562 provide these. For info about any processor-specific simulator details,
13563 see the appropriate section in @ref{Embedded Processors, ,Embedded
13564 Processors}.
13565
13566 @end table
13567
13568 Some configurations may include these targets as well:
13569
13570 @table @code
13571
13572 @item target nrom @var{dev}
13573 @cindex NetROM ROM emulator target
13574 NetROM ROM emulator. This target only supports downloading.
13575
13576 @end table
13577
13578 Different targets are available on different configurations of @value{GDBN};
13579 your configuration may have more or fewer targets.
13580
13581 Many remote targets require you to download the executable's code once
13582 you've successfully established a connection. You may wish to control
13583 various aspects of this process.
13584
13585 @table @code
13586
13587 @item set hash
13588 @kindex set hash@r{, for remote monitors}
13589 @cindex hash mark while downloading
13590 This command controls whether a hash mark @samp{#} is displayed while
13591 downloading a file to the remote monitor. If on, a hash mark is
13592 displayed after each S-record is successfully downloaded to the
13593 monitor.
13594
13595 @item show hash
13596 @kindex show hash@r{, for remote monitors}
13597 Show the current status of displaying the hash mark.
13598
13599 @item set debug monitor
13600 @kindex set debug monitor
13601 @cindex display remote monitor communications
13602 Enable or disable display of communications messages between
13603 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
13604
13605 @item show debug monitor
13606 @kindex show debug monitor
13607 Show the current status of displaying communications between
13608 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
13609 @end table
13610
13611 @table @code
13612
13613 @kindex load @var{filename}
13614 @item load @var{filename}
13615 @anchor{load}
13616 Depending on what remote debugging facilities are configured into
13617 @value{GDBN}, the @code{load} command may be available. Where it exists, it
13618 is meant to make @var{filename} (an executable) available for debugging
13619 on the remote system---by downloading, or dynamic linking, for example.
13620 @code{load} also records the @var{filename} symbol table in @value{GDBN}, like
13621 the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
13622
13623 If your @value{GDBN} does not have a @code{load} command, attempting to
13624 execute it gets the error message ``@code{You can't do that when your
13625 target is @dots{}}''
13626
13627 The file is loaded at whatever address is specified in the executable.
13628 For some object file formats, you can specify the load address when you
13629 link the program; for other formats, like a.out, the object file format
13630 specifies a fixed address.
13631 @c FIXME! This would be a good place for an xref to the GNU linker doc.
13632
13633 Depending on the remote side capabilities, @value{GDBN} may be able to
13634 load programs into flash memory.
13635
13636 @code{load} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
13637 @end table
13638
13639 @node Byte Order
13640 @section Choosing Target Byte Order
13641
13642 @cindex choosing target byte order
13643 @cindex target byte order
13644
13645 Some types of processors, such as the MIPS, PowerPC, and Renesas SH,
13646 offer the ability to run either big-endian or little-endian byte
13647 orders. Usually the executable or symbol will include a bit to
13648 designate the endian-ness, and you will not need to worry about
13649 which to use. However, you may still find it useful to adjust
13650 @value{GDBN}'s idea of processor endian-ness manually.
13651
13652 @table @code
13653 @kindex set endian
13654 @item set endian big
13655 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is big-endian.
13656
13657 @item set endian little
13658 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is little-endian.
13659
13660 @item set endian auto
13661 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the byte order associated with the
13662 executable.
13663
13664 @item show endian
13665 Display @value{GDBN}'s current idea of the target byte order.
13666
13667 @end table
13668
13669 Note that these commands merely adjust interpretation of symbolic
13670 data on the host, and that they have absolutely no effect on the
13671 target system.
13672
13673
13674 @node Remote Debugging
13675 @chapter Debugging Remote Programs
13676 @cindex remote debugging
13677
13678 If you are trying to debug a program running on a machine that cannot run
13679 @value{GDBN} in the usual way, it is often useful to use remote debugging.
13680 For example, you might use remote debugging on an operating system kernel,
13681 or on a small system which does not have a general purpose operating system
13682 powerful enough to run a full-featured debugger.
13683
13684 Some configurations of @value{GDBN} have special serial or TCP/IP interfaces
13685 to make this work with particular debugging targets. In addition,
13686 @value{GDBN} comes with a generic serial protocol (specific to @value{GDBN},
13687 but not specific to any particular target system) which you can use if you
13688 write the remote stubs---the code that runs on the remote system to
13689 communicate with @value{GDBN}.
13690
13691 Other remote targets may be available in your
13692 configuration of @value{GDBN}; use @code{help target} to list them.
13693
13694 @menu
13695 * Connecting:: Connecting to a remote target
13696 * File Transfer:: Sending files to a remote system
13697 * Server:: Using the gdbserver program
13698 * Remote Configuration:: Remote configuration
13699 * Remote Stub:: Implementing a remote stub
13700 @end menu
13701
13702 @node Connecting
13703 @section Connecting to a Remote Target
13704
13705 On the @value{GDBN} host machine, you will need an unstripped copy of
13706 your program, since @value{GDBN} needs symbol and debugging information.
13707 Start up @value{GDBN} as usual, using the name of the local copy of your
13708 program as the first argument.
13709
13710 @cindex @code{target remote}
13711 @value{GDBN} can communicate with the target over a serial line, or
13712 over an @acronym{IP} network using @acronym{TCP} or @acronym{UDP}. In
13713 each case, @value{GDBN} uses the same protocol for debugging your
13714 program; only the medium carrying the debugging packets varies. The
13715 @code{target remote} command establishes a connection to the target.
13716 Its arguments indicate which medium to use:
13717
13718 @table @code
13719
13720 @item target remote @var{serial-device}
13721 @cindex serial line, @code{target remote}
13722 Use @var{serial-device} to communicate with the target. For example,
13723 to use a serial line connected to the device named @file{/dev/ttyb}:
13724
13725 @smallexample
13726 target remote /dev/ttyb
13727 @end smallexample
13728
13729 If you're using a serial line, you may want to give @value{GDBN} the
13730 @w{@samp{--baud}} option, or use the @code{set remotebaud} command
13731 (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remotebaud}) before the
13732 @code{target} command.
13733
13734 @item target remote @code{@var{host}:@var{port}}
13735 @itemx target remote @code{tcp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
13736 @cindex @acronym{TCP} port, @code{target remote}
13737 Debug using a @acronym{TCP} connection to @var{port} on @var{host}.
13738 The @var{host} may be either a host name or a numeric @acronym{IP}
13739 address; @var{port} must be a decimal number. The @var{host} could be
13740 the target machine itself, if it is directly connected to the net, or
13741 it might be a terminal server which in turn has a serial line to the
13742 target.
13743
13744 For example, to connect to port 2828 on a terminal server named
13745 @code{manyfarms}:
13746
13747 @smallexample
13748 target remote manyfarms:2828
13749 @end smallexample
13750
13751 If your remote target is actually running on the same machine as your
13752 debugger session (e.g.@: a simulator for your target running on the
13753 same host), you can omit the hostname. For example, to connect to
13754 port 1234 on your local machine:
13755
13756 @smallexample
13757 target remote :1234
13758 @end smallexample
13759 @noindent
13760
13761 Note that the colon is still required here.
13762
13763 @item target remote @code{udp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
13764 @cindex @acronym{UDP} port, @code{target remote}
13765 Debug using @acronym{UDP} packets to @var{port} on @var{host}. For example, to
13766 connect to @acronym{UDP} port 2828 on a terminal server named @code{manyfarms}:
13767
13768 @smallexample
13769 target remote udp:manyfarms:2828
13770 @end smallexample
13771
13772 When using a @acronym{UDP} connection for remote debugging, you should
13773 keep in mind that the `U' stands for ``Unreliable''. @acronym{UDP}
13774 can silently drop packets on busy or unreliable networks, which will
13775 cause havoc with your debugging session.
13776
13777 @item target remote | @var{command}
13778 @cindex pipe, @code{target remote} to
13779 Run @var{command} in the background and communicate with it using a
13780 pipe. The @var{command} is a shell command, to be parsed and expanded
13781 by the system's command shell, @code{/bin/sh}; it should expect remote
13782 protocol packets on its standard input, and send replies on its
13783 standard output. You could use this to run a stand-alone simulator
13784 that speaks the remote debugging protocol, to make net connections
13785 using programs like @code{ssh}, or for other similar tricks.
13786
13787 If @var{command} closes its standard output (perhaps by exiting),
13788 @value{GDBN} will try to send it a @code{SIGTERM} signal. (If the
13789 program has already exited, this will have no effect.)
13790
13791 @end table
13792
13793 Once the connection has been established, you can use all the usual
13794 commands to examine and change data. The remote program is already
13795 running; you can use @kbd{step} and @kbd{continue}, and you do not
13796 need to use @kbd{run}.
13797
13798 @cindex interrupting remote programs
13799 @cindex remote programs, interrupting
13800 Whenever @value{GDBN} is waiting for the remote program, if you type the
13801 interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}), @value{GDBN} attempts to stop the
13802 program. This may or may not succeed, depending in part on the hardware
13803 and the serial drivers the remote system uses. If you type the
13804 interrupt character once again, @value{GDBN} displays this prompt:
13805
13806 @smallexample
13807 Interrupted while waiting for the program.
13808 Give up (and stop debugging it)? (y or n)
13809 @end smallexample
13810
13811 If you type @kbd{y}, @value{GDBN} abandons the remote debugging session.
13812 (If you decide you want to try again later, you can use @samp{target
13813 remote} again to connect once more.) If you type @kbd{n}, @value{GDBN}
13814 goes back to waiting.
13815
13816 @table @code
13817 @kindex detach (remote)
13818 @item detach
13819 When you have finished debugging the remote program, you can use the
13820 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control.
13821 Detaching from the target normally resumes its execution, but the results
13822 will depend on your particular remote stub. After the @code{detach}
13823 command, @value{GDBN} is free to connect to another target.
13824
13825 @kindex disconnect
13826 @item disconnect
13827 The @code{disconnect} command behaves like @code{detach}, except that
13828 the target is generally not resumed. It will wait for @value{GDBN}
13829 (this instance or another one) to connect and continue debugging. After
13830 the @code{disconnect} command, @value{GDBN} is again free to connect to
13831 another target.
13832
13833 @cindex send command to remote monitor
13834 @cindex extend @value{GDBN} for remote targets
13835 @cindex add new commands for external monitor
13836 @kindex monitor
13837 @item monitor @var{cmd}
13838 This command allows you to send arbitrary commands directly to the
13839 remote monitor. Since @value{GDBN} doesn't care about the commands it
13840 sends like this, this command is the way to extend @value{GDBN}---you
13841 can add new commands that only the external monitor will understand
13842 and implement.
13843 @end table
13844
13845 @node File Transfer
13846 @section Sending files to a remote system
13847 @cindex remote target, file transfer
13848 @cindex file transfer
13849 @cindex sending files to remote systems
13850
13851 Some remote targets offer the ability to transfer files over the same
13852 connection used to communicate with @value{GDBN}. This is convenient
13853 for targets accessible through other means, e.g.@: @sc{gnu}/Linux systems
13854 running @code{gdbserver} over a network interface. For other targets,
13855 e.g.@: embedded devices with only a single serial port, this may be
13856 the only way to upload or download files.
13857
13858 Not all remote targets support these commands.
13859
13860 @table @code
13861 @kindex remote put
13862 @item remote put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
13863 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
13864 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
13865
13866 @kindex remote get
13867 @item remote get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
13868 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
13869 on the host system.
13870
13871 @kindex remote delete
13872 @item remote delete @var{targetfile}
13873 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
13874
13875 @end table
13876
13877 @node Server
13878 @section Using the @code{gdbserver} Program
13879
13880 @kindex gdbserver
13881 @cindex remote connection without stubs
13882 @code{gdbserver} is a control program for Unix-like systems, which
13883 allows you to connect your program with a remote @value{GDBN} via
13884 @code{target remote}---but without linking in the usual debugging stub.
13885
13886 @code{gdbserver} is not a complete replacement for the debugging stubs,
13887 because it requires essentially the same operating-system facilities
13888 that @value{GDBN} itself does. In fact, a system that can run
13889 @code{gdbserver} to connect to a remote @value{GDBN} could also run
13890 @value{GDBN} locally! @code{gdbserver} is sometimes useful nevertheless,
13891 because it is a much smaller program than @value{GDBN} itself. It is
13892 also easier to port than all of @value{GDBN}, so you may be able to get
13893 started more quickly on a new system by using @code{gdbserver}.
13894 Finally, if you develop code for real-time systems, you may find that
13895 the tradeoffs involved in real-time operation make it more convenient to
13896 do as much development work as possible on another system, for example
13897 by cross-compiling. You can use @code{gdbserver} to make a similar
13898 choice for debugging.
13899
13900 @value{GDBN} and @code{gdbserver} communicate via either a serial line
13901 or a TCP connection, using the standard @value{GDBN} remote serial
13902 protocol.
13903
13904 @quotation
13905 @emph{Warning:} @code{gdbserver} does not have any built-in security.
13906 Do not run @code{gdbserver} connected to any public network; a
13907 @value{GDBN} connection to @code{gdbserver} provides access to the
13908 target system with the same privileges as the user running
13909 @code{gdbserver}.
13910 @end quotation
13911
13912 @subsection Running @code{gdbserver}
13913 @cindex arguments, to @code{gdbserver}
13914
13915 Run @code{gdbserver} on the target system. You need a copy of the
13916 program you want to debug, including any libraries it requires.
13917 @code{gdbserver} does not need your program's symbol table, so you can
13918 strip the program if necessary to save space. @value{GDBN} on the host
13919 system does all the symbol handling.
13920
13921 To use the server, you must tell it how to communicate with @value{GDBN};
13922 the name of your program; and the arguments for your program. The usual
13923 syntax is:
13924
13925 @smallexample
13926 target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [ @var{args} @dots{} ]
13927 @end smallexample
13928
13929 @var{comm} is either a device name (to use a serial line) or a TCP
13930 hostname and portnumber. For example, to debug Emacs with the argument
13931 @samp{foo.txt} and communicate with @value{GDBN} over the serial port
13932 @file{/dev/com1}:
13933
13934 @smallexample
13935 target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
13936 @end smallexample
13937
13938 @code{gdbserver} waits passively for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate
13939 with it.
13940
13941 To use a TCP connection instead of a serial line:
13942
13943 @smallexample
13944 target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
13945 @end smallexample
13946
13947 The only difference from the previous example is the first argument,
13948 specifying that you are communicating with the host @value{GDBN} via
13949 TCP. The @samp{host:2345} argument means that @code{gdbserver} is to
13950 expect a TCP connection from machine @samp{host} to local TCP port 2345.
13951 (Currently, the @samp{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number
13952 you want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any
13953 TCP ports already in use on the target system (for example, @code{23} is
13954 reserved for @code{telnet}).@footnote{If you choose a port number that
13955 conflicts with another service, @code{gdbserver} prints an error message
13956 and exits.} You must use the same port number with the host @value{GDBN}
13957 @code{target remote} command.
13958
13959 @subsubsection Attaching to a Running Program
13960
13961 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
13962 This is accomplished via the @code{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
13963
13964 @smallexample
13965 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
13966 @end smallexample
13967
13968 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't necessary
13969 to point @code{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
13970
13971 @pindex pidof
13972 @cindex attach to a program by name
13973 You can debug processes by name instead of process ID if your target has the
13974 @code{pidof} utility:
13975
13976 @smallexample
13977 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} `pidof @var{program}`
13978 @end smallexample
13979
13980 In case more than one copy of @var{program} is running, or @var{program}
13981 has multiple threads, most versions of @code{pidof} support the
13982 @code{-s} option to only return the first process ID.
13983
13984 @subsubsection Multi-Process Mode for @code{gdbserver}
13985 @cindex gdbserver, multiple processes
13986 @cindex multiple processes with gdbserver
13987
13988 When you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target remote},
13989 @code{gdbserver} debugs the specified program only once. When the
13990 program exits, or you detach from it, @value{GDBN} closes the connection
13991 and @code{gdbserver} exits.
13992
13993 If you connect using @kbd{target extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver}
13994 enters multi-process mode. When the debugged program exits, or you
13995 detach from it, @value{GDBN} stays connected to @code{gdbserver} even
13996 though no program is running. The @code{run} and @code{attach}
13997 commands instruct @code{gdbserver} to run or attach to a new program.
13998 The @code{run} command uses @code{set remote exec-file} (@pxref{set
13999 remote exec-file}) to select the program to run. Command line
14000 arguments are supported, except for wildcard expansion and I/O
14001 redirection (@pxref{Arguments}).
14002
14003 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
14004 or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
14005 Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
14006 the program you want to debug.
14007
14008 @code{gdbserver} does not automatically exit in multi-process mode.
14009 You can terminate it by using @code{monitor exit}
14010 (@pxref{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}).
14011
14012 @subsubsection Other Command-Line Arguments for @code{gdbserver}
14013
14014 You can include @option{--debug} on the @code{gdbserver} command line.
14015 @code{gdbserver} will display extra status information about the debugging
14016 process. This option is intended for @code{gdbserver} development and
14017 for bug reports to the developers.
14018
14019 The @option{--wrapper} option specifies a wrapper to launch programs
14020 for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
14021 wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
14022 @kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
14023
14024 @code{gdbserver} runs the specified wrapper program with a combined
14025 command line including the wrapper arguments, then the name of the
14026 program to debug, then any arguments to the program. The wrapper
14027 runs until it executes your program, and then @value{GDBN} gains control.
14028
14029 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
14030 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
14031 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
14032 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
14033
14034 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
14035 the debugged program, without setting the variable in @code{gdbserver}'s
14036 environment:
14037
14038 @smallexample
14039 $ gdbserver --wrapper env LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so -- :2222 ./testprog
14040 @end smallexample
14041
14042 @subsection Connecting to @code{gdbserver}
14043
14044 Run @value{GDBN} on the host system.
14045
14046 First make sure you have the necessary symbol files. Load symbols for
14047 your application using the @code{file} command before you connect. Use
14048 @code{set sysroot} to locate target libraries (unless your @value{GDBN}
14049 was compiled with the correct sysroot using @code{--with-sysroot}).
14050
14051 The symbol file and target libraries must exactly match the executable
14052 and libraries on the target, with one exception: the files on the host
14053 system should not be stripped, even if the files on the target system
14054 are. Mismatched or missing files will lead to confusing results
14055 during debugging. On @sc{gnu}/Linux targets, mismatched or missing
14056 files may also prevent @code{gdbserver} from debugging multi-threaded
14057 programs.
14058
14059 Connect to your target (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
14060 For TCP connections, you must start up @code{gdbserver} prior to using
14061 the @code{target remote} command. Otherwise you may get an error whose
14062 text depends on the host system, but which usually looks something like
14063 @samp{Connection refused}. Don't use the @code{load}
14064 command in @value{GDBN} when using @code{gdbserver}, since the program is
14065 already on the target.
14066
14067 @subsection Monitor Commands for @code{gdbserver}
14068 @cindex monitor commands, for @code{gdbserver}
14069 @anchor{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}
14070
14071 During a @value{GDBN} session using @code{gdbserver}, you can use the
14072 @code{monitor} command to send special requests to @code{gdbserver}.
14073 Here are the available commands.
14074
14075 @table @code
14076 @item monitor help
14077 List the available monitor commands.
14078
14079 @item monitor set debug 0
14080 @itemx monitor set debug 1
14081 Disable or enable general debugging messages.
14082
14083 @item monitor set remote-debug 0
14084 @itemx monitor set remote-debug 1
14085 Disable or enable specific debugging messages associated with the remote
14086 protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}).
14087
14088 @item monitor exit
14089 Tell gdbserver to exit immediately. This command should be followed by
14090 @code{disconnect} to close the debugging session. @code{gdbserver} will
14091 detach from any attached processes and kill any processes it created.
14092 Use @code{monitor exit} to terminate @code{gdbserver} at the end
14093 of a multi-process mode debug session.
14094
14095 @end table
14096
14097 @node Remote Configuration
14098 @section Remote Configuration
14099
14100 @kindex set remote
14101 @kindex show remote
14102 This section documents the configuration options available when
14103 debugging remote programs. For the options related to the File I/O
14104 extensions of the remote protocol, see @ref{system,
14105 system-call-allowed}.
14106
14107 @table @code
14108 @item set remoteaddresssize @var{bits}
14109 @cindex address size for remote targets
14110 @cindex bits in remote address
14111 Set the maximum size of address in a memory packet to the specified
14112 number of bits. @value{GDBN} will mask off the address bits above
14113 that number, when it passes addresses to the remote target. The
14114 default value is the number of bits in the target's address.
14115
14116 @item show remoteaddresssize
14117 Show the current value of remote address size in bits.
14118
14119 @item set remotebaud @var{n}
14120 @cindex baud rate for remote targets
14121 Set the baud rate for the remote serial I/O to @var{n} baud. The
14122 value is used to set the speed of the serial port used for debugging
14123 remote targets.
14124
14125 @item show remotebaud
14126 Show the current speed of the remote connection.
14127
14128 @item set remotebreak
14129 @cindex interrupt remote programs
14130 @cindex BREAK signal instead of Ctrl-C
14131 @anchor{set remotebreak}
14132 If set to on, @value{GDBN} sends a @code{BREAK} signal to the remote
14133 when you type @kbd{Ctrl-c} to interrupt the program running
14134 on the remote. If set to off, @value{GDBN} sends the @samp{Ctrl-C}
14135 character instead. The default is off, since most remote systems
14136 expect to see @samp{Ctrl-C} as the interrupt signal.
14137
14138 @item show remotebreak
14139 Show whether @value{GDBN} sends @code{BREAK} or @samp{Ctrl-C} to
14140 interrupt the remote program.
14141
14142 @item set remoteflow on
14143 @itemx set remoteflow off
14144 @kindex set remoteflow
14145 Enable or disable hardware flow control (@code{RTS}/@code{CTS})
14146 on the serial port used to communicate to the remote target.
14147
14148 @item show remoteflow
14149 @kindex show remoteflow
14150 Show the current setting of hardware flow control.
14151
14152 @item set remotelogbase @var{base}
14153 Set the base (a.k.a.@: radix) of logging serial protocol
14154 communications to @var{base}. Supported values of @var{base} are:
14155 @code{ascii}, @code{octal}, and @code{hex}. The default is
14156 @code{ascii}.
14157
14158 @item show remotelogbase
14159 Show the current setting of the radix for logging remote serial
14160 protocol.
14161
14162 @item set remotelogfile @var{file}
14163 @cindex record serial communications on file
14164 Record remote serial communications on the named @var{file}. The
14165 default is not to record at all.
14166
14167 @item show remotelogfile.
14168 Show the current setting of the file name on which to record the
14169 serial communications.
14170
14171 @item set remotetimeout @var{num}
14172 @cindex timeout for serial communications
14173 @cindex remote timeout
14174 Set the timeout limit to wait for the remote target to respond to
14175 @var{num} seconds. The default is 2 seconds.
14176
14177 @item show remotetimeout
14178 Show the current number of seconds to wait for the remote target
14179 responses.
14180
14181 @cindex limit hardware breakpoints and watchpoints
14182 @cindex remote target, limit break- and watchpoints
14183 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}
14184 @anchor{set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit}
14185 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit @var{limit}
14186 @itemx set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit @var{limit}
14187 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} remote hardware breakpoint or
14188 watchpoints. A limit of -1, the default, is treated as unlimited.
14189
14190 @item set remote exec-file @var{filename}
14191 @itemx show remote exec-file
14192 @anchor{set remote exec-file}
14193 @cindex executable file, for remote target
14194 Select the file used for @code{run} with @code{target
14195 extended-remote}. This should be set to a filename valid on the
14196 target system. If it is not set, the target will use a default
14197 filename (e.g.@: the last program run).
14198 @end table
14199
14200 @cindex remote packets, enabling and disabling
14201 The @value{GDBN} remote protocol autodetects the packets supported by
14202 your debugging stub. If you need to override the autodetection, you
14203 can use these commands to enable or disable individual packets. Each
14204 packet can be set to @samp{on} (the remote target supports this
14205 packet), @samp{off} (the remote target does not support this packet),
14206 or @samp{auto} (detect remote target support for this packet). They
14207 all default to @samp{auto}. For more information about each packet,
14208 see @ref{Remote Protocol}.
14209
14210 During normal use, you should not have to use any of these commands.
14211 If you do, that may be a bug in your remote debugging stub, or a bug
14212 in @value{GDBN}. You may want to report the problem to the
14213 @value{GDBN} developers.
14214
14215 For each packet @var{name}, the command to enable or disable the
14216 packet is @code{set remote @var{name}-packet}. The available settings
14217 are:
14218
14219 @multitable @columnfractions 0.28 0.32 0.25
14220 @item Command Name
14221 @tab Remote Packet
14222 @tab Related Features
14223
14224 @item @code{fetch-register}
14225 @tab @code{p}
14226 @tab @code{info registers}
14227
14228 @item @code{set-register}
14229 @tab @code{P}
14230 @tab @code{set}
14231
14232 @item @code{binary-download}
14233 @tab @code{X}
14234 @tab @code{load}, @code{set}
14235
14236 @item @code{read-aux-vector}
14237 @tab @code{qXfer:auxv:read}
14238 @tab @code{info auxv}
14239
14240 @item @code{symbol-lookup}
14241 @tab @code{qSymbol}
14242 @tab Detecting multiple threads
14243
14244 @item @code{attach}
14245 @tab @code{vAttach}
14246 @tab @code{attach}
14247
14248 @item @code{verbose-resume}
14249 @tab @code{vCont}
14250 @tab Stepping or resuming multiple threads
14251
14252 @item @code{run}
14253 @tab @code{vRun}
14254 @tab @code{run}
14255
14256 @item @code{software-breakpoint}
14257 @tab @code{Z0}
14258 @tab @code{break}
14259
14260 @item @code{hardware-breakpoint}
14261 @tab @code{Z1}
14262 @tab @code{hbreak}
14263
14264 @item @code{write-watchpoint}
14265 @tab @code{Z2}
14266 @tab @code{watch}
14267
14268 @item @code{read-watchpoint}
14269 @tab @code{Z3}
14270 @tab @code{rwatch}
14271
14272 @item @code{access-watchpoint}
14273 @tab @code{Z4}
14274 @tab @code{awatch}
14275
14276 @item @code{target-features}
14277 @tab @code{qXfer:features:read}
14278 @tab @code{set architecture}
14279
14280 @item @code{library-info}
14281 @tab @code{qXfer:libraries:read}
14282 @tab @code{info sharedlibrary}
14283
14284 @item @code{memory-map}
14285 @tab @code{qXfer:memory-map:read}
14286 @tab @code{info mem}
14287
14288 @item @code{read-spu-object}
14289 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:read}
14290 @tab @code{info spu}
14291
14292 @item @code{write-spu-object}
14293 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:write}
14294 @tab @code{info spu}
14295
14296 @item @code{get-thread-local-@*storage-address}
14297 @tab @code{qGetTLSAddr}
14298 @tab Displaying @code{__thread} variables
14299
14300 @item @code{search-memory}
14301 @tab @code{qSearch:memory}
14302 @tab @code{find}
14303
14304 @item @code{supported-packets}
14305 @tab @code{qSupported}
14306 @tab Remote communications parameters
14307
14308 @item @code{pass-signals}
14309 @tab @code{QPassSignals}
14310 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
14311
14312 @item @code{hostio-close-packet}
14313 @tab @code{vFile:close}
14314 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
14315
14316 @item @code{hostio-open-packet}
14317 @tab @code{vFile:open}
14318 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
14319
14320 @item @code{hostio-pread-packet}
14321 @tab @code{vFile:pread}
14322 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
14323
14324 @item @code{hostio-pwrite-packet}
14325 @tab @code{vFile:pwrite}
14326 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
14327
14328 @item @code{hostio-unlink-packet}
14329 @tab @code{vFile:unlink}
14330 @tab @code{remote delete}
14331
14332 @item @code{noack-packet}
14333 @tab @code{QStartNoAckMode}
14334 @tab Packet acknowledgment
14335 @end multitable
14336
14337 @node Remote Stub
14338 @section Implementing a Remote Stub
14339
14340 @cindex debugging stub, example
14341 @cindex remote stub, example
14342 @cindex stub example, remote debugging
14343 The stub files provided with @value{GDBN} implement the target side of the
14344 communication protocol, and the @value{GDBN} side is implemented in the
14345 @value{GDBN} source file @file{remote.c}. Normally, you can simply allow
14346 these subroutines to communicate, and ignore the details. (If you're
14347 implementing your own stub file, you can still ignore the details: start
14348 with one of the existing stub files. @file{sparc-stub.c} is the best
14349 organized, and therefore the easiest to read.)
14350
14351 @cindex remote serial debugging, overview
14352 To debug a program running on another machine (the debugging
14353 @dfn{target} machine), you must first arrange for all the usual
14354 prerequisites for the program to run by itself. For example, for a C
14355 program, you need:
14356
14357 @enumerate
14358 @item
14359 A startup routine to set up the C runtime environment; these usually
14360 have a name like @file{crt0}. The startup routine may be supplied by
14361 your hardware supplier, or you may have to write your own.
14362
14363 @item
14364 A C subroutine library to support your program's
14365 subroutine calls, notably managing input and output.
14366
14367 @item
14368 A way of getting your program to the other machine---for example, a
14369 download program. These are often supplied by the hardware
14370 manufacturer, but you may have to write your own from hardware
14371 documentation.
14372 @end enumerate
14373
14374 The next step is to arrange for your program to use a serial port to
14375 communicate with the machine where @value{GDBN} is running (the @dfn{host}
14376 machine). In general terms, the scheme looks like this:
14377
14378 @table @emph
14379 @item On the host,
14380 @value{GDBN} already understands how to use this protocol; when everything
14381 else is set up, you can simply use the @samp{target remote} command
14382 (@pxref{Targets,,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
14383
14384 @item On the target,
14385 you must link with your program a few special-purpose subroutines that
14386 implement the @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol. The file containing these
14387 subroutines is called a @dfn{debugging stub}.
14388
14389 On certain remote targets, you can use an auxiliary program
14390 @code{gdbserver} instead of linking a stub into your program.
14391 @xref{Server,,Using the @code{gdbserver} Program}, for details.
14392 @end table
14393
14394 The debugging stub is specific to the architecture of the remote
14395 machine; for example, use @file{sparc-stub.c} to debug programs on
14396 @sc{sparc} boards.
14397
14398 @cindex remote serial stub list
14399 These working remote stubs are distributed with @value{GDBN}:
14400
14401 @table @code
14402
14403 @item i386-stub.c
14404 @cindex @file{i386-stub.c}
14405 @cindex Intel
14406 @cindex i386
14407 For Intel 386 and compatible architectures.
14408
14409 @item m68k-stub.c
14410 @cindex @file{m68k-stub.c}
14411 @cindex Motorola 680x0
14412 @cindex m680x0
14413 For Motorola 680x0 architectures.
14414
14415 @item sh-stub.c
14416 @cindex @file{sh-stub.c}
14417 @cindex Renesas
14418 @cindex SH
14419 For Renesas SH architectures.
14420
14421 @item sparc-stub.c
14422 @cindex @file{sparc-stub.c}
14423 @cindex Sparc
14424 For @sc{sparc} architectures.
14425
14426 @item sparcl-stub.c
14427 @cindex @file{sparcl-stub.c}
14428 @cindex Fujitsu
14429 @cindex SparcLite
14430 For Fujitsu @sc{sparclite} architectures.
14431
14432 @end table
14433
14434 The @file{README} file in the @value{GDBN} distribution may list other
14435 recently added stubs.
14436
14437 @menu
14438 * Stub Contents:: What the stub can do for you
14439 * Bootstrapping:: What you must do for the stub
14440 * Debug Session:: Putting it all together
14441 @end menu
14442
14443 @node Stub Contents
14444 @subsection What the Stub Can Do for You
14445
14446 @cindex remote serial stub
14447 The debugging stub for your architecture supplies these three
14448 subroutines:
14449
14450 @table @code
14451 @item set_debug_traps
14452 @findex set_debug_traps
14453 @cindex remote serial stub, initialization
14454 This routine arranges for @code{handle_exception} to run when your
14455 program stops. You must call this subroutine explicitly near the
14456 beginning of your program.
14457
14458 @item handle_exception
14459 @findex handle_exception
14460 @cindex remote serial stub, main routine
14461 This is the central workhorse, but your program never calls it
14462 explicitly---the setup code arranges for @code{handle_exception} to
14463 run when a trap is triggered.
14464
14465 @code{handle_exception} takes control when your program stops during
14466 execution (for example, on a breakpoint), and mediates communications
14467 with @value{GDBN} on the host machine. This is where the communications
14468 protocol is implemented; @code{handle_exception} acts as the @value{GDBN}
14469 representative on the target machine. It begins by sending summary
14470 information on the state of your program, then continues to execute,
14471 retrieving and transmitting any information @value{GDBN} needs, until you
14472 execute a @value{GDBN} command that makes your program resume; at that point,
14473 @code{handle_exception} returns control to your own code on the target
14474 machine.
14475
14476 @item breakpoint
14477 @cindex @code{breakpoint} subroutine, remote
14478 Use this auxiliary subroutine to make your program contain a
14479 breakpoint. Depending on the particular situation, this may be the only
14480 way for @value{GDBN} to get control. For instance, if your target
14481 machine has some sort of interrupt button, you won't need to call this;
14482 pressing the interrupt button transfers control to
14483 @code{handle_exception}---in effect, to @value{GDBN}. On some machines,
14484 simply receiving characters on the serial port may also trigger a trap;
14485 again, in that situation, you don't need to call @code{breakpoint} from
14486 your own program---simply running @samp{target remote} from the host
14487 @value{GDBN} session gets control.
14488
14489 Call @code{breakpoint} if none of these is true, or if you simply want
14490 to make certain your program stops at a predetermined point for the
14491 start of your debugging session.
14492 @end table
14493
14494 @node Bootstrapping
14495 @subsection What You Must Do for the Stub
14496
14497 @cindex remote stub, support routines
14498 The debugging stubs that come with @value{GDBN} are set up for a particular
14499 chip architecture, but they have no information about the rest of your
14500 debugging target machine.
14501
14502 First of all you need to tell the stub how to communicate with the
14503 serial port.
14504
14505 @table @code
14506 @item int getDebugChar()
14507 @findex getDebugChar
14508 Write this subroutine to read a single character from the serial port.
14509 It may be identical to @code{getchar} for your target system; a
14510 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
14511
14512 @item void putDebugChar(int)
14513 @findex putDebugChar
14514 Write this subroutine to write a single character to the serial port.
14515 It may be identical to @code{putchar} for your target system; a
14516 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
14517 @end table
14518
14519 @cindex control C, and remote debugging
14520 @cindex interrupting remote targets
14521 If you want @value{GDBN} to be able to stop your program while it is
14522 running, you need to use an interrupt-driven serial driver, and arrange
14523 for it to stop when it receives a @code{^C} (@samp{\003}, the control-C
14524 character). That is the character which @value{GDBN} uses to tell the
14525 remote system to stop.
14526
14527 Getting the debugging target to return the proper status to @value{GDBN}
14528 probably requires changes to the standard stub; one quick and dirty way
14529 is to just execute a breakpoint instruction (the ``dirty'' part is that
14530 @value{GDBN} reports a @code{SIGTRAP} instead of a @code{SIGINT}).
14531
14532 Other routines you need to supply are:
14533
14534 @table @code
14535 @item void exceptionHandler (int @var{exception_number}, void *@var{exception_address})
14536 @findex exceptionHandler
14537 Write this function to install @var{exception_address} in the exception
14538 handling tables. You need to do this because the stub does not have any
14539 way of knowing what the exception handling tables on your target system
14540 are like (for example, the processor's table might be in @sc{rom},
14541 containing entries which point to a table in @sc{ram}).
14542 @var{exception_number} is the exception number which should be changed;
14543 its meaning is architecture-dependent (for example, different numbers
14544 might represent divide by zero, misaligned access, etc). When this
14545 exception occurs, control should be transferred directly to
14546 @var{exception_address}, and the processor state (stack, registers,
14547 and so on) should be just as it is when a processor exception occurs. So if
14548 you want to use a jump instruction to reach @var{exception_address}, it
14549 should be a simple jump, not a jump to subroutine.
14550
14551 For the 386, @var{exception_address} should be installed as an interrupt
14552 gate so that interrupts are masked while the handler runs. The gate
14553 should be at privilege level 0 (the most privileged level). The
14554 @sc{sparc} and 68k stubs are able to mask interrupts themselves without
14555 help from @code{exceptionHandler}.
14556
14557 @item void flush_i_cache()
14558 @findex flush_i_cache
14559 On @sc{sparc} and @sc{sparclite} only, write this subroutine to flush the
14560 instruction cache, if any, on your target machine. If there is no
14561 instruction cache, this subroutine may be a no-op.
14562
14563 On target machines that have instruction caches, @value{GDBN} requires this
14564 function to make certain that the state of your program is stable.
14565 @end table
14566
14567 @noindent
14568 You must also make sure this library routine is available:
14569
14570 @table @code
14571 @item void *memset(void *, int, int)
14572 @findex memset
14573 This is the standard library function @code{memset} that sets an area of
14574 memory to a known value. If you have one of the free versions of
14575 @code{libc.a}, @code{memset} can be found there; otherwise, you must
14576 either obtain it from your hardware manufacturer, or write your own.
14577 @end table
14578
14579 If you do not use the GNU C compiler, you may need other standard
14580 library subroutines as well; this varies from one stub to another,
14581 but in general the stubs are likely to use any of the common library
14582 subroutines which @code{@value{NGCC}} generates as inline code.
14583
14584
14585 @node Debug Session
14586 @subsection Putting it All Together
14587
14588 @cindex remote serial debugging summary
14589 In summary, when your program is ready to debug, you must follow these
14590 steps.
14591
14592 @enumerate
14593 @item
14594 Make sure you have defined the supporting low-level routines
14595 (@pxref{Bootstrapping,,What You Must Do for the Stub}):
14596 @display
14597 @code{getDebugChar}, @code{putDebugChar},
14598 @code{flush_i_cache}, @code{memset}, @code{exceptionHandler}.
14599 @end display
14600
14601 @item
14602 Insert these lines near the top of your program:
14603
14604 @smallexample
14605 set_debug_traps();
14606 breakpoint();
14607 @end smallexample
14608
14609 @item
14610 For the 680x0 stub only, you need to provide a variable called
14611 @code{exceptionHook}. Normally you just use:
14612
14613 @smallexample
14614 void (*exceptionHook)() = 0;
14615 @end smallexample
14616
14617 @noindent
14618 but if before calling @code{set_debug_traps}, you set it to point to a
14619 function in your program, that function is called when
14620 @code{@value{GDBN}} continues after stopping on a trap (for example, bus
14621 error). The function indicated by @code{exceptionHook} is called with
14622 one parameter: an @code{int} which is the exception number.
14623
14624 @item
14625 Compile and link together: your program, the @value{GDBN} debugging stub for
14626 your target architecture, and the supporting subroutines.
14627
14628 @item
14629 Make sure you have a serial connection between your target machine and
14630 the @value{GDBN} host, and identify the serial port on the host.
14631
14632 @item
14633 @c The "remote" target now provides a `load' command, so we should
14634 @c document that. FIXME.
14635 Download your program to your target machine (or get it there by
14636 whatever means the manufacturer provides), and start it.
14637
14638 @item
14639 Start @value{GDBN} on the host, and connect to the target
14640 (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
14641
14642 @end enumerate
14643
14644 @node Configurations
14645 @chapter Configuration-Specific Information
14646
14647 While nearly all @value{GDBN} commands are available for all native and
14648 cross versions of the debugger, there are some exceptions. This chapter
14649 describes things that are only available in certain configurations.
14650
14651 There are three major categories of configurations: native
14652 configurations, where the host and target are the same, embedded
14653 operating system configurations, which are usually the same for several
14654 different processor architectures, and bare embedded processors, which
14655 are quite different from each other.
14656
14657 @menu
14658 * Native::
14659 * Embedded OS::
14660 * Embedded Processors::
14661 * Architectures::
14662 @end menu
14663
14664 @node Native
14665 @section Native
14666
14667 This section describes details specific to particular native
14668 configurations.
14669
14670 @menu
14671 * HP-UX:: HP-UX
14672 * BSD libkvm Interface:: Debugging BSD kernel memory images
14673 * SVR4 Process Information:: SVR4 process information
14674 * DJGPP Native:: Features specific to the DJGPP port
14675 * Cygwin Native:: Features specific to the Cygwin port
14676 * Hurd Native:: Features specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd
14677 * Neutrino:: Features specific to QNX Neutrino
14678 @end menu
14679
14680 @node HP-UX
14681 @subsection HP-UX
14682
14683 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
14684 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
14685 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
14686
14687
14688 @node BSD libkvm Interface
14689 @subsection BSD libkvm Interface
14690
14691 @cindex libkvm
14692 @cindex kernel memory image
14693 @cindex kernel crash dump
14694
14695 BSD-derived systems (FreeBSD/NetBSD/OpenBSD) have a kernel memory
14696 interface that provides a uniform interface for accessing kernel virtual
14697 memory images, including live systems and crash dumps. @value{GDBN}
14698 uses this interface to allow you to debug live kernels and kernel crash
14699 dumps on many native BSD configurations. This is implemented as a
14700 special @code{kvm} debugging target. For debugging a live system, load
14701 the currently running kernel into @value{GDBN} and connect to the
14702 @code{kvm} target:
14703
14704 @smallexample
14705 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm}
14706 @end smallexample
14707
14708 For debugging crash dumps, provide the file name of the crash dump as an
14709 argument:
14710
14711 @smallexample
14712 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm /var/crash/bsd.0}
14713 @end smallexample
14714
14715 Once connected to the @code{kvm} target, the following commands are
14716 available:
14717
14718 @table @code
14719 @kindex kvm
14720 @item kvm pcb
14721 Set current context from the @dfn{Process Control Block} (PCB) address.
14722
14723 @item kvm proc
14724 Set current context from proc address. This command isn't available on
14725 modern FreeBSD systems.
14726 @end table
14727
14728 @node SVR4 Process Information
14729 @subsection SVR4 Process Information
14730 @cindex /proc
14731 @cindex examine process image
14732 @cindex process info via @file{/proc}
14733
14734 Many versions of SVR4 and compatible systems provide a facility called
14735 @samp{/proc} that can be used to examine the image of a running
14736 process using file-system subroutines. If @value{GDBN} is configured
14737 for an operating system with this facility, the command @code{info
14738 proc} is available to report information about the process running
14739 your program, or about any process running on your system. @code{info
14740 proc} works only on SVR4 systems that include the @code{procfs} code.
14741 This includes, as of this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, OSF/1 (Digital
14742 Unix), Solaris, Irix, and Unixware, but not HP-UX, for example.
14743
14744 @table @code
14745 @kindex info proc
14746 @cindex process ID
14747 @item info proc
14748 @itemx info proc @var{process-id}
14749 Summarize available information about any running process. If a
14750 process ID is specified by @var{process-id}, display information about
14751 that process; otherwise display information about the program being
14752 debugged. The summary includes the debugged process ID, the command
14753 line used to invoke it, its current working directory, and its
14754 executable file's absolute file name.
14755
14756 On some systems, @var{process-id} can be of the form
14757 @samp{[@var{pid}]/@var{tid}} which specifies a certain thread ID
14758 within a process. If the optional @var{pid} part is missing, it means
14759 a thread from the process being debugged (the leading @samp{/} still
14760 needs to be present, or else @value{GDBN} will interpret the number as
14761 a process ID rather than a thread ID).
14762
14763 @item info proc mappings
14764 @cindex memory address space mappings
14765 Report the memory address space ranges accessible in the program, with
14766 information on whether the process has read, write, or execute access
14767 rights to each range. On @sc{gnu}/Linux systems, each memory range
14768 includes the object file which is mapped to that range, instead of the
14769 memory access rights to that range.
14770
14771 @item info proc stat
14772 @itemx info proc status
14773 @cindex process detailed status information
14774 These subcommands are specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux systems. They show
14775 the process-related information, including the user ID and group ID;
14776 how many threads are there in the process; its virtual memory usage;
14777 the signals that are pending, blocked, and ignored; its TTY; its
14778 consumption of system and user time; its stack size; its @samp{nice}
14779 value; etc. For more information, see the @samp{proc} man page
14780 (type @kbd{man 5 proc} from your shell prompt).
14781
14782 @item info proc all
14783 Show all the information about the process described under all of the
14784 above @code{info proc} subcommands.
14785
14786 @ignore
14787 @comment These sub-options of 'info proc' were not included when
14788 @comment procfs.c was re-written. Keep their descriptions around
14789 @comment against the day when someone finds the time to put them back in.
14790 @kindex info proc times
14791 @item info proc times
14792 Starting time, user CPU time, and system CPU time for your program and
14793 its children.
14794
14795 @kindex info proc id
14796 @item info proc id
14797 Report on the process IDs related to your program: its own process ID,
14798 the ID of its parent, the process group ID, and the session ID.
14799 @end ignore
14800
14801 @item set procfs-trace
14802 @kindex set procfs-trace
14803 @cindex @code{procfs} API calls
14804 This command enables and disables tracing of @code{procfs} API calls.
14805
14806 @item show procfs-trace
14807 @kindex show procfs-trace
14808 Show the current state of @code{procfs} API call tracing.
14809
14810 @item set procfs-file @var{file}
14811 @kindex set procfs-file
14812 Tell @value{GDBN} to write @code{procfs} API trace to the named
14813 @var{file}. @value{GDBN} appends the trace info to the previous
14814 contents of the file. The default is to display the trace on the
14815 standard output.
14816
14817 @item show procfs-file
14818 @kindex show procfs-file
14819 Show the file to which @code{procfs} API trace is written.
14820
14821 @item proc-trace-entry
14822 @itemx proc-trace-exit
14823 @itemx proc-untrace-entry
14824 @itemx proc-untrace-exit
14825 @kindex proc-trace-entry
14826 @kindex proc-trace-exit
14827 @kindex proc-untrace-entry
14828 @kindex proc-untrace-exit
14829 These commands enable and disable tracing of entries into and exits
14830 from the @code{syscall} interface.
14831
14832 @item info pidlist
14833 @kindex info pidlist
14834 @cindex process list, QNX Neutrino
14835 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all the
14836 processes and all the threads within each process.
14837
14838 @item info meminfo
14839 @kindex info meminfo
14840 @cindex mapinfo list, QNX Neutrino
14841 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all mapinfos.
14842 @end table
14843
14844 @node DJGPP Native
14845 @subsection Features for Debugging @sc{djgpp} Programs
14846 @cindex @sc{djgpp} debugging
14847 @cindex native @sc{djgpp} debugging
14848 @cindex MS-DOS-specific commands
14849
14850 @cindex DPMI
14851 @sc{djgpp} is a port of the @sc{gnu} development tools to MS-DOS and
14852 MS-Windows. @sc{djgpp} programs are 32-bit protected-mode programs
14853 that use the @dfn{DPMI} (DOS Protected-Mode Interface) API to run on
14854 top of real-mode DOS systems and their emulations.
14855
14856 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of @sc{djgpp} programs, and
14857 defines a few commands specific to the @sc{djgpp} port. This
14858 subsection describes those commands.
14859
14860 @table @code
14861 @kindex info dos
14862 @item info dos
14863 This is a prefix of @sc{djgpp}-specific commands which print
14864 information about the target system and important OS structures.
14865
14866 @kindex sysinfo
14867 @cindex MS-DOS system info
14868 @cindex free memory information (MS-DOS)
14869 @item info dos sysinfo
14870 This command displays assorted information about the underlying
14871 platform: the CPU type and features, the OS version and flavor, the
14872 DPMI version, and the available conventional and DPMI memory.
14873
14874 @cindex GDT
14875 @cindex LDT
14876 @cindex IDT
14877 @cindex segment descriptor tables
14878 @cindex descriptor tables display
14879 @item info dos gdt
14880 @itemx info dos ldt
14881 @itemx info dos idt
14882 These 3 commands display entries from, respectively, Global, Local,
14883 and Interrupt Descriptor Tables (GDT, LDT, and IDT). The descriptor
14884 tables are data structures which store a descriptor for each segment
14885 that is currently in use. The segment's selector is an index into a
14886 descriptor table; the table entry for that index holds the
14887 descriptor's base address and limit, and its attributes and access
14888 rights.
14889
14890 A typical @sc{djgpp} program uses 3 segments: a code segment, a data
14891 segment (used for both data and the stack), and a DOS segment (which
14892 allows access to DOS/BIOS data structures and absolute addresses in
14893 conventional memory). However, the DPMI host will usually define
14894 additional segments in order to support the DPMI environment.
14895
14896 @cindex garbled pointers
14897 These commands allow to display entries from the descriptor tables.
14898 Without an argument, all entries from the specified table are
14899 displayed. An argument, which should be an integer expression, means
14900 display a single entry whose index is given by the argument. For
14901 example, here's a convenient way to display information about the
14902 debugged program's data segment:
14903
14904 @smallexample
14905 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos ldt $ds}
14906 @exdent @code{0x13f: base=0x11970000 limit=0x0009ffff 32-Bit Data (Read/Write, Exp-up)}
14907 @end smallexample
14908
14909 @noindent
14910 This comes in handy when you want to see whether a pointer is outside
14911 the data segment's limit (i.e.@: @dfn{garbled}).
14912
14913 @cindex page tables display (MS-DOS)
14914 @item info dos pde
14915 @itemx info dos pte
14916 These two commands display entries from, respectively, the Page
14917 Directory and the Page Tables. Page Directories and Page Tables are
14918 data structures which control how virtual memory addresses are mapped
14919 into physical addresses. A Page Table includes an entry for every
14920 page of memory that is mapped into the program's address space; there
14921 may be several Page Tables, each one holding up to 4096 entries. A
14922 Page Directory has up to 4096 entries, one each for every Page Table
14923 that is currently in use.
14924
14925 Without an argument, @kbd{info dos pde} displays the entire Page
14926 Directory, and @kbd{info dos pte} displays all the entries in all of
14927 the Page Tables. An argument, an integer expression, given to the
14928 @kbd{info dos pde} command means display only that entry from the Page
14929 Directory table. An argument given to the @kbd{info dos pte} command
14930 means display entries from a single Page Table, the one pointed to by
14931 the specified entry in the Page Directory.
14932
14933 @cindex direct memory access (DMA) on MS-DOS
14934 These commands are useful when your program uses @dfn{DMA} (Direct
14935 Memory Access), which needs physical addresses to program the DMA
14936 controller.
14937
14938 These commands are supported only with some DPMI servers.
14939
14940 @cindex physical address from linear address
14941 @item info dos address-pte @var{addr}
14942 This command displays the Page Table entry for a specified linear
14943 address. The argument @var{addr} is a linear address which should
14944 already have the appropriate segment's base address added to it,
14945 because this command accepts addresses which may belong to @emph{any}
14946 segment. For example, here's how to display the Page Table entry for
14947 the page where a variable @code{i} is stored:
14948
14949 @smallexample
14950 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte __djgpp_base_address + (char *)&i}
14951 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x11a00d30:}
14952 @exdent @code{Base=0x02698000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0xd30}
14953 @end smallexample
14954
14955 @noindent
14956 This says that @code{i} is stored at offset @code{0xd30} from the page
14957 whose physical base address is @code{0x02698000}, and shows all the
14958 attributes of that page.
14959
14960 Note that you must cast the addresses of variables to a @code{char *},
14961 since otherwise the value of @code{__djgpp_base_address}, the base
14962 address of all variables and functions in a @sc{djgpp} program, will
14963 be added using the rules of C pointer arithmetics: if @code{i} is
14964 declared an @code{int}, @value{GDBN} will add 4 times the value of
14965 @code{__djgpp_base_address} to the address of @code{i}.
14966
14967 Here's another example, it displays the Page Table entry for the
14968 transfer buffer:
14969
14970 @smallexample
14971 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte *((unsigned *)&_go32_info_block + 3)}
14972 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x29110:}
14973 @exdent @code{Base=0x00029000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0x110}
14974 @end smallexample
14975
14976 @noindent
14977 (The @code{+ 3} offset is because the transfer buffer's address is the
14978 3rd member of the @code{_go32_info_block} structure.) The output
14979 clearly shows that this DPMI server maps the addresses in conventional
14980 memory 1:1, i.e.@: the physical (@code{0x00029000} + @code{0x110}) and
14981 linear (@code{0x29110}) addresses are identical.
14982
14983 This command is supported only with some DPMI servers.
14984 @end table
14985
14986 @cindex DOS serial data link, remote debugging
14987 In addition to native debugging, the DJGPP port supports remote
14988 debugging via a serial data link. The following commands are specific
14989 to remote serial debugging in the DJGPP port of @value{GDBN}.
14990
14991 @table @code
14992 @kindex set com1base
14993 @kindex set com1irq
14994 @kindex set com2base
14995 @kindex set com2irq
14996 @kindex set com3base
14997 @kindex set com3irq
14998 @kindex set com4base
14999 @kindex set com4irq
15000 @item set com1base @var{addr}
15001 This command sets the base I/O port address of the @file{COM1} serial
15002 port.
15003
15004 @item set com1irq @var{irq}
15005 This command sets the @dfn{Interrupt Request} (@code{IRQ}) line to use
15006 for the @file{COM1} serial port.
15007
15008 There are similar commands @samp{set com2base}, @samp{set com3irq},
15009 etc.@: for setting the port address and the @code{IRQ} lines for the
15010 other 3 COM ports.
15011
15012 @kindex show com1base
15013 @kindex show com1irq
15014 @kindex show com2base
15015 @kindex show com2irq
15016 @kindex show com3base
15017 @kindex show com3irq
15018 @kindex show com4base
15019 @kindex show com4irq
15020 The related commands @samp{show com1base}, @samp{show com1irq} etc.@:
15021 display the current settings of the base address and the @code{IRQ}
15022 lines used by the COM ports.
15023
15024 @item info serial
15025 @kindex info serial
15026 @cindex DOS serial port status
15027 This command prints the status of the 4 DOS serial ports. For each
15028 port, it prints whether it's active or not, its I/O base address and
15029 IRQ number, whether it uses a 16550-style FIFO, its baudrate, and the
15030 counts of various errors encountered so far.
15031 @end table
15032
15033
15034 @node Cygwin Native
15035 @subsection Features for Debugging MS Windows PE Executables
15036 @cindex MS Windows debugging
15037 @cindex native Cygwin debugging
15038 @cindex Cygwin-specific commands
15039
15040 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of MS Windows programs, including
15041 DLLs with and without symbolic debugging information. There are various
15042 additional Cygwin-specific commands, described in this section.
15043 Working with DLLs that have no debugging symbols is described in
15044 @ref{Non-debug DLL Symbols}.
15045
15046 @table @code
15047 @kindex info w32
15048 @item info w32
15049 This is a prefix of MS Windows-specific commands which print
15050 information about the target system and important OS structures.
15051
15052 @item info w32 selector
15053 This command displays information returned by
15054 the Win32 API @code{GetThreadSelectorEntry} function.
15055 It takes an optional argument that is evaluated to
15056 a long value to give the information about this given selector.
15057 Without argument, this command displays information
15058 about the six segment registers.
15059
15060 @kindex info dll
15061 @item info dll
15062 This is a Cygwin-specific alias of @code{info shared}.
15063
15064 @kindex dll-symbols
15065 @item dll-symbols
15066 This command loads symbols from a dll similarly to
15067 add-sym command but without the need to specify a base address.
15068
15069 @kindex set cygwin-exceptions
15070 @cindex debugging the Cygwin DLL
15071 @cindex Cygwin DLL, debugging
15072 @item set cygwin-exceptions @var{mode}
15073 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that
15074 happen inside the Cygwin DLL. If @var{mode} is @code{off},
15075 @value{GDBN} will delay recognition of exceptions, and may ignore some
15076 exceptions which seem to be caused by internal Cygwin DLL
15077 ``bookkeeping''. This option is meant primarily for debugging the
15078 Cygwin DLL itself; the default value is @code{off} to avoid annoying
15079 @value{GDBN} users with false @code{SIGSEGV} signals.
15080
15081 @kindex show cygwin-exceptions
15082 @item show cygwin-exceptions
15083 Displays whether @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that happen
15084 inside the Cygwin DLL itself.
15085
15086 @kindex set new-console
15087 @item set new-console @var{mode}
15088 If @var{mode} is @code{on} the debuggee will
15089 be started in a new console on next start.
15090 If @var{mode} is @code{off}i, the debuggee will
15091 be started in the same console as the debugger.
15092
15093 @kindex show new-console
15094 @item show new-console
15095 Displays whether a new console is used
15096 when the debuggee is started.
15097
15098 @kindex set new-group
15099 @item set new-group @var{mode}
15100 This boolean value controls whether the debuggee should
15101 start a new group or stay in the same group as the debugger.
15102 This affects the way the Windows OS handles
15103 @samp{Ctrl-C}.
15104
15105 @kindex show new-group
15106 @item show new-group
15107 Displays current value of new-group boolean.
15108
15109 @kindex set debugevents
15110 @item set debugevents
15111 This boolean value adds debug output concerning kernel events related
15112 to the debuggee seen by the debugger. This includes events that
15113 signal thread and process creation and exit, DLL loading and
15114 unloading, console interrupts, and debugging messages produced by the
15115 Windows @code{OutputDebugString} API call.
15116
15117 @kindex set debugexec
15118 @item set debugexec
15119 This boolean value adds debug output concerning execute events
15120 (such as resume thread) seen by the debugger.
15121
15122 @kindex set debugexceptions
15123 @item set debugexceptions
15124 This boolean value adds debug output concerning exceptions in the
15125 debuggee seen by the debugger.
15126
15127 @kindex set debugmemory
15128 @item set debugmemory
15129 This boolean value adds debug output concerning debuggee memory reads
15130 and writes by the debugger.
15131
15132 @kindex set shell
15133 @item set shell
15134 This boolean values specifies whether the debuggee is called
15135 via a shell or directly (default value is on).
15136
15137 @kindex show shell
15138 @item show shell
15139 Displays if the debuggee will be started with a shell.
15140
15141 @end table
15142
15143 @menu
15144 * Non-debug DLL Symbols:: Support for DLLs without debugging symbols
15145 @end menu
15146
15147 @node Non-debug DLL Symbols
15148 @subsubsection Support for DLLs without Debugging Symbols
15149 @cindex DLLs with no debugging symbols
15150 @cindex Minimal symbols and DLLs
15151
15152 Very often on windows, some of the DLLs that your program relies on do
15153 not include symbolic debugging information (for example,
15154 @file{kernel32.dll}). When @value{GDBN} doesn't recognize any debugging
15155 symbols in a DLL, it relies on the minimal amount of symbolic
15156 information contained in the DLL's export table. This section
15157 describes working with such symbols, known internally to @value{GDBN} as
15158 ``minimal symbols''.
15159
15160 Note that before the debugged program has started execution, no DLLs
15161 will have been loaded. The easiest way around this problem is simply to
15162 start the program --- either by setting a breakpoint or letting the
15163 program run once to completion. It is also possible to force
15164 @value{GDBN} to load a particular DLL before starting the executable ---
15165 see the shared library information in @ref{Files}, or the
15166 @code{dll-symbols} command in @ref{Cygwin Native}. Currently,
15167 explicitly loading symbols from a DLL with no debugging information will
15168 cause the symbol names to be duplicated in @value{GDBN}'s lookup table,
15169 which may adversely affect symbol lookup performance.
15170
15171 @subsubsection DLL Name Prefixes
15172
15173 In keeping with the naming conventions used by the Microsoft debugging
15174 tools, DLL export symbols are made available with a prefix based on the
15175 DLL name, for instance @code{KERNEL32!CreateFileA}. The plain name is
15176 also entered into the symbol table, so @code{CreateFileA} is often
15177 sufficient. In some cases there will be name clashes within a program
15178 (particularly if the executable itself includes full debugging symbols)
15179 necessitating the use of the fully qualified name when referring to the
15180 contents of the DLL. Use single-quotes around the name to avoid the
15181 exclamation mark (``!'') being interpreted as a language operator.
15182
15183 Note that the internal name of the DLL may be all upper-case, even
15184 though the file name of the DLL is lower-case, or vice-versa. Since
15185 symbols within @value{GDBN} are @emph{case-sensitive} this may cause
15186 some confusion. If in doubt, try the @code{info functions} and
15187 @code{info variables} commands or even @code{maint print msymbols}
15188 (@pxref{Symbols}). Here's an example:
15189
15190 @smallexample
15191 (@value{GDBP}) info function CreateFileA
15192 All functions matching regular expression "CreateFileA":
15193
15194 Non-debugging symbols:
15195 0x77e885f4 CreateFileA
15196 0x77e885f4 KERNEL32!CreateFileA
15197 @end smallexample
15198
15199 @smallexample
15200 (@value{GDBP}) info function !
15201 All functions matching regular expression "!":
15202
15203 Non-debugging symbols:
15204 0x6100114c cygwin1!__assert
15205 0x61004034 cygwin1!_dll_crt0@@0
15206 0x61004240 cygwin1!dll_crt0(per_process *)
15207 [etc...]
15208 @end smallexample
15209
15210 @subsubsection Working with Minimal Symbols
15211
15212 Symbols extracted from a DLL's export table do not contain very much
15213 type information. All that @value{GDBN} can do is guess whether a symbol
15214 refers to a function or variable depending on the linker section that
15215 contains the symbol. Also note that the actual contents of the memory
15216 contained in a DLL are not available unless the program is running. This
15217 means that you cannot examine the contents of a variable or disassemble
15218 a function within a DLL without a running program.
15219
15220 Variables are generally treated as pointers and dereferenced
15221 automatically. For this reason, it is often necessary to prefix a
15222 variable name with the address-of operator (``&'') and provide explicit
15223 type information in the command. Here's an example of the type of
15224 problem:
15225
15226 @smallexample
15227 (@value{GDBP}) print 'cygwin1!__argv'
15228 $1 = 268572168
15229 @end smallexample
15230
15231 @smallexample
15232 (@value{GDBP}) x 'cygwin1!__argv'
15233 0x10021610: "\230y\""
15234 @end smallexample
15235
15236 And two possible solutions:
15237
15238 @smallexample
15239 (@value{GDBP}) print ((char **)'cygwin1!__argv')[0]
15240 $2 = 0x22fd98 "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
15241 @end smallexample
15242
15243 @smallexample
15244 (@value{GDBP}) x/2x &'cygwin1!__argv'
15245 0x610c0aa8 <cygwin1!__argv>: 0x10021608 0x00000000
15246 (@value{GDBP}) x/x 0x10021608
15247 0x10021608: 0x0022fd98
15248 (@value{GDBP}) x/s 0x0022fd98
15249 0x22fd98: "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
15250 @end smallexample
15251
15252 Setting a break point within a DLL is possible even before the program
15253 starts execution. However, under these circumstances, @value{GDBN} can't
15254 examine the initial instructions of the function in order to skip the
15255 function's frame set-up code. You can work around this by using ``*&''
15256 to set the breakpoint at a raw memory address:
15257
15258 @smallexample
15259 (@value{GDBP}) break *&'python22!PyOS_Readline'
15260 Breakpoint 1 at 0x1e04eff0
15261 @end smallexample
15262
15263 The author of these extensions is not entirely convinced that setting a
15264 break point within a shared DLL like @file{kernel32.dll} is completely
15265 safe.
15266
15267 @node Hurd Native
15268 @subsection Commands Specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd Systems
15269 @cindex @sc{gnu} Hurd debugging
15270
15271 This subsection describes @value{GDBN} commands specific to the
15272 @sc{gnu} Hurd native debugging.
15273
15274 @table @code
15275 @item set signals
15276 @itemx set sigs
15277 @kindex set signals@r{, Hurd command}
15278 @kindex set sigs@r{, Hurd command}
15279 This command toggles the state of inferior signal interception by
15280 @value{GDBN}. Mach exceptions, such as breakpoint traps, are not
15281 affected by this command. @code{sigs} is a shorthand alias for
15282 @code{signals}.
15283
15284 @item show signals
15285 @itemx show sigs
15286 @kindex show signals@r{, Hurd command}
15287 @kindex show sigs@r{, Hurd command}
15288 Show the current state of intercepting inferior's signals.
15289
15290 @item set signal-thread
15291 @itemx set sigthread
15292 @kindex set signal-thread
15293 @kindex set sigthread
15294 This command tells @value{GDBN} which thread is the @code{libc} signal
15295 thread. That thread is run when a signal is delivered to a running
15296 process. @code{set sigthread} is the shorthand alias of @code{set
15297 signal-thread}.
15298
15299 @item show signal-thread
15300 @itemx show sigthread
15301 @kindex show signal-thread
15302 @kindex show sigthread
15303 These two commands show which thread will run when the inferior is
15304 delivered a signal.
15305
15306 @item set stopped
15307 @kindex set stopped@r{, Hurd command}
15308 This commands tells @value{GDBN} that the inferior process is stopped,
15309 as with the @code{SIGSTOP} signal. The stopped process can be
15310 continued by delivering a signal to it.
15311
15312 @item show stopped
15313 @kindex show stopped@r{, Hurd command}
15314 This command shows whether @value{GDBN} thinks the debuggee is
15315 stopped.
15316
15317 @item set exceptions
15318 @kindex set exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
15319 Use this command to turn off trapping of exceptions in the inferior.
15320 When exception trapping is off, neither breakpoints nor
15321 single-stepping will work. To restore the default, set exception
15322 trapping on.
15323
15324 @item show exceptions
15325 @kindex show exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
15326 Show the current state of trapping exceptions in the inferior.
15327
15328 @item set task pause
15329 @kindex set task@r{, Hurd commands}
15330 @cindex task attributes (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
15331 @cindex pause current task (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
15332 This command toggles task suspension when @value{GDBN} has control.
15333 Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the task is suspended
15334 whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to off will take
15335 effect the next time the inferior is continued. If this option is set
15336 to off, you can use @code{set thread default pause on} or @code{set
15337 thread pause on} (see below) to pause individual threads.
15338
15339 @item show task pause
15340 @kindex show task@r{, Hurd commands}
15341 Show the current state of task suspension.
15342
15343 @item set task detach-suspend-count
15344 @cindex task suspend count
15345 @cindex detach from task, @sc{gnu} Hurd
15346 This command sets the suspend count the task will be left with when
15347 @value{GDBN} detaches from it.
15348
15349 @item show task detach-suspend-count
15350 Show the suspend count the task will be left with when detaching.
15351
15352 @item set task exception-port
15353 @itemx set task excp
15354 @cindex task exception port, @sc{gnu} Hurd
15355 This command sets the task exception port to which @value{GDBN} will
15356 forward exceptions. The argument should be the value of the @dfn{send
15357 rights} of the task. @code{set task excp} is a shorthand alias.
15358
15359 @item set noninvasive
15360 @cindex noninvasive task options
15361 This command switches @value{GDBN} to a mode that is the least
15362 invasive as far as interfering with the inferior is concerned. This
15363 is the same as using @code{set task pause}, @code{set exceptions}, and
15364 @code{set signals} to values opposite to the defaults.
15365
15366 @item info send-rights
15367 @itemx info receive-rights
15368 @itemx info port-rights
15369 @itemx info port-sets
15370 @itemx info dead-names
15371 @itemx info ports
15372 @itemx info psets
15373 @cindex send rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
15374 @cindex receive rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
15375 @cindex port rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
15376 @cindex port sets, @sc{gnu} Hurd
15377 @cindex dead names, @sc{gnu} Hurd
15378 These commands display information about, respectively, send rights,
15379 receive rights, port rights, port sets, and dead names of a task.
15380 There are also shorthand aliases: @code{info ports} for @code{info
15381 port-rights} and @code{info psets} for @code{info port-sets}.
15382
15383 @item set thread pause
15384 @kindex set thread@r{, Hurd command}
15385 @cindex thread properties, @sc{gnu} Hurd
15386 @cindex pause current thread (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
15387 This command toggles current thread suspension when @value{GDBN} has
15388 control. Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the current
15389 thread is suspended whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to
15390 off will take effect the next time the inferior is continued.
15391 Normally, this command has no effect, since when @value{GDBN} has
15392 control, the whole task is suspended. However, if you used @code{set
15393 task pause off} (see above), this command comes in handy to suspend
15394 only the current thread.
15395
15396 @item show thread pause
15397 @kindex show thread@r{, Hurd command}
15398 This command shows the state of current thread suspension.
15399
15400 @item set thread run
15401 This command sets whether the current thread is allowed to run.
15402
15403 @item show thread run
15404 Show whether the current thread is allowed to run.
15405
15406 @item set thread detach-suspend-count
15407 @cindex thread suspend count, @sc{gnu} Hurd
15408 @cindex detach from thread, @sc{gnu} Hurd
15409 This command sets the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on a
15410 thread when detaching. This number is relative to the suspend count
15411 found by @value{GDBN} when it notices the thread; use @code{set thread
15412 takeover-suspend-count} to force it to an absolute value.
15413
15414 @item show thread detach-suspend-count
15415 Show the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on the thread when
15416 detaching.
15417
15418 @item set thread exception-port
15419 @itemx set thread excp
15420 Set the thread exception port to which to forward exceptions. This
15421 overrides the port set by @code{set task exception-port} (see above).
15422 @code{set thread excp} is the shorthand alias.
15423
15424 @item set thread takeover-suspend-count
15425 Normally, @value{GDBN}'s thread suspend counts are relative to the
15426 value @value{GDBN} finds when it notices each thread. This command
15427 changes the suspend counts to be absolute instead.
15428
15429 @item set thread default
15430 @itemx show thread default
15431 @cindex thread default settings, @sc{gnu} Hurd
15432 Each of the above @code{set thread} commands has a @code{set thread
15433 default} counterpart (e.g., @code{set thread default pause}, @code{set
15434 thread default exception-port}, etc.). The @code{thread default}
15435 variety of commands sets the default thread properties for all
15436 threads; you can then change the properties of individual threads with
15437 the non-default commands.
15438 @end table
15439
15440
15441 @node Neutrino
15442 @subsection QNX Neutrino
15443 @cindex QNX Neutrino
15444
15445 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the QNX
15446 Neutrino target:
15447
15448 @table @code
15449 @item set debug nto-debug
15450 @kindex set debug nto-debug
15451 When set to on, enables debugging messages specific to the QNX
15452 Neutrino support.
15453
15454 @item show debug nto-debug
15455 @kindex show debug nto-debug
15456 Show the current state of QNX Neutrino messages.
15457 @end table
15458
15459
15460 @node Embedded OS
15461 @section Embedded Operating Systems
15462
15463 This section describes configurations involving the debugging of
15464 embedded operating systems that are available for several different
15465 architectures.
15466
15467 @menu
15468 * VxWorks:: Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
15469 @end menu
15470
15471 @value{GDBN} includes the ability to debug programs running on
15472 various real-time operating systems.
15473
15474 @node VxWorks
15475 @subsection Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
15476
15477 @cindex VxWorks
15478
15479 @table @code
15480
15481 @kindex target vxworks
15482 @item target vxworks @var{machinename}
15483 A VxWorks system, attached via TCP/IP. The argument @var{machinename}
15484 is the target system's machine name or IP address.
15485
15486 @end table
15487
15488 On VxWorks, @code{load} links @var{filename} dynamically on the
15489 current target system as well as adding its symbols in @value{GDBN}.
15490
15491 @value{GDBN} enables developers to spawn and debug tasks running on networked
15492 VxWorks targets from a Unix host. Already-running tasks spawned from
15493 the VxWorks shell can also be debugged. @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
15494 both the Unix host and on the VxWorks target. The program
15495 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host. (It may be
15496 installed with the name @code{vxgdb}, to distinguish it from a
15497 @value{GDBN} for debugging programs on the host itself.)
15498
15499 @table @code
15500 @item VxWorks-timeout @var{args}
15501 @kindex vxworks-timeout
15502 All VxWorks-based targets now support the option @code{vxworks-timeout}.
15503 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
15504 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses to rpc's. You might use this if
15505 your VxWorks target is a slow software simulator or is on the far side
15506 of a thin network line.
15507 @end table
15508
15509 The following information on connecting to VxWorks was current when
15510 this manual was produced; newer releases of VxWorks may use revised
15511 procedures.
15512
15513 @findex INCLUDE_RDB
15514 To use @value{GDBN} with VxWorks, you must rebuild your VxWorks kernel
15515 to include the remote debugging interface routines in the VxWorks
15516 library @file{rdb.a}. To do this, define @code{INCLUDE_RDB} in the
15517 VxWorks configuration file @file{configAll.h} and rebuild your VxWorks
15518 kernel. The resulting kernel contains @file{rdb.a}, and spawns the
15519 source debugging task @code{tRdbTask} when VxWorks is booted. For more
15520 information on configuring and remaking VxWorks, see the manufacturer's
15521 manual.
15522 @c VxWorks, see the @cite{VxWorks Programmer's Guide}.
15523
15524 Once you have included @file{rdb.a} in your VxWorks system image and set
15525 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
15526 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}} (or
15527 @code{vxgdb}, depending on your installation).
15528
15529 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
15530
15531 @smallexample
15532 (vxgdb)
15533 @end smallexample
15534
15535 @menu
15536 * VxWorks Connection:: Connecting to VxWorks
15537 * VxWorks Download:: VxWorks download
15538 * VxWorks Attach:: Running tasks
15539 @end menu
15540
15541 @node VxWorks Connection
15542 @subsubsection Connecting to VxWorks
15543
15544 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a VxWorks target on the
15545 network. To connect to a target whose host name is ``@code{tt}'', type:
15546
15547 @smallexample
15548 (vxgdb) target vxworks tt
15549 @end smallexample
15550
15551 @need 750
15552 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
15553
15554 @smallexample
15555 Attaching remote machine across net...
15556 Connected to tt.
15557 @end smallexample
15558
15559 @need 1000
15560 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol tables of any object modules
15561 loaded into the VxWorks target since it was last booted. @value{GDBN} locates
15562 these files by searching the directories listed in the command search
15563 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}); if it fails
15564 to find an object file, it displays a message such as:
15565
15566 @smallexample
15567 prog.o: No such file or directory.
15568 @end smallexample
15569
15570 When this happens, add the appropriate directory to the search path with
15571 the @value{GDBN} command @code{path}, and execute the @code{target}
15572 command again.
15573
15574 @node VxWorks Download
15575 @subsubsection VxWorks Download
15576
15577 @cindex download to VxWorks
15578 If you have connected to the VxWorks target and you want to debug an
15579 object that has not yet been loaded, you can use the @value{GDBN}
15580 @code{load} command to download a file from Unix to VxWorks
15581 incrementally. The object file given as an argument to the @code{load}
15582 command is actually opened twice: first by the VxWorks target in order
15583 to download the code, then by @value{GDBN} in order to read the symbol
15584 table. This can lead to problems if the current working directories on
15585 the two systems differ. If both systems have NFS mounted the same
15586 filesystems, you can avoid these problems by using absolute paths.
15587 Otherwise, it is simplest to set the working directory on both systems
15588 to the directory in which the object file resides, and then to reference
15589 the file by its name, without any path. For instance, a program
15590 @file{prog.o} may reside in @file{@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb} in VxWorks
15591 and in @file{@var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb} on the host. To load this
15592 program, type this on VxWorks:
15593
15594 @smallexample
15595 -> cd "@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb"
15596 @end smallexample
15597
15598 @noindent
15599 Then, in @value{GDBN}, type:
15600
15601 @smallexample
15602 (vxgdb) cd @var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb
15603 (vxgdb) load prog.o
15604 @end smallexample
15605
15606 @value{GDBN} displays a response similar to this:
15607
15608 @smallexample
15609 Reading symbol data from wherever/vw/demo/rdb/prog.o... done.
15610 @end smallexample
15611
15612 You can also use the @code{load} command to reload an object module
15613 after editing and recompiling the corresponding source file. Note that
15614 this makes @value{GDBN} delete all currently-defined breakpoints,
15615 auto-displays, and convenience variables, and to clear the value
15616 history. (This is necessary in order to preserve the integrity of
15617 debugger's data structures that reference the target system's symbol
15618 table.)
15619
15620 @node VxWorks Attach
15621 @subsubsection Running Tasks
15622
15623 @cindex running VxWorks tasks
15624 You can also attach to an existing task using the @code{attach} command as
15625 follows:
15626
15627 @smallexample
15628 (vxgdb) attach @var{task}
15629 @end smallexample
15630
15631 @noindent
15632 where @var{task} is the VxWorks hexadecimal task ID. The task can be running
15633 or suspended when you attach to it. Running tasks are suspended at
15634 the time of attachment.
15635
15636 @node Embedded Processors
15637 @section Embedded Processors
15638
15639 This section goes into details specific to particular embedded
15640 configurations.
15641
15642 @cindex send command to simulator
15643 Whenever a specific embedded processor has a simulator, @value{GDBN}
15644 allows to send an arbitrary command to the simulator.
15645
15646 @table @code
15647 @item sim @var{command}
15648 @kindex sim@r{, a command}
15649 Send an arbitrary @var{command} string to the simulator. Consult the
15650 documentation for the specific simulator in use for information about
15651 acceptable commands.
15652 @end table
15653
15654
15655 @menu
15656 * ARM:: ARM RDI
15657 * M32R/D:: Renesas M32R/D
15658 * M68K:: Motorola M68K
15659 * MIPS Embedded:: MIPS Embedded
15660 * OpenRISC 1000:: OpenRisc 1000
15661 * PA:: HP PA Embedded
15662 * PowerPC Embedded:: PowerPC Embedded
15663 * Sparclet:: Tsqware Sparclet
15664 * Sparclite:: Fujitsu Sparclite
15665 * Z8000:: Zilog Z8000
15666 * AVR:: Atmel AVR
15667 * CRIS:: CRIS
15668 * Super-H:: Renesas Super-H
15669 @end menu
15670
15671 @node ARM
15672 @subsection ARM
15673 @cindex ARM RDI
15674
15675 @table @code
15676 @kindex target rdi
15677 @item target rdi @var{dev}
15678 ARM Angel monitor, via RDI library interface to ADP protocol. You may
15679 use this target to communicate with both boards running the Angel
15680 monitor, or with the EmbeddedICE JTAG debug device.
15681
15682 @kindex target rdp
15683 @item target rdp @var{dev}
15684 ARM Demon monitor.
15685
15686 @end table
15687
15688 @value{GDBN} provides the following ARM-specific commands:
15689
15690 @table @code
15691 @item set arm disassembler
15692 @kindex set arm
15693 This commands selects from a list of disassembly styles. The
15694 @code{"std"} style is the standard style.
15695
15696 @item show arm disassembler
15697 @kindex show arm
15698 Show the current disassembly style.
15699
15700 @item set arm apcs32
15701 @cindex ARM 32-bit mode
15702 This command toggles ARM operation mode between 32-bit and 26-bit.
15703
15704 @item show arm apcs32
15705 Display the current usage of the ARM 32-bit mode.
15706
15707 @item set arm fpu @var{fputype}
15708 This command sets the ARM floating-point unit (FPU) type. The
15709 argument @var{fputype} can be one of these:
15710
15711 @table @code
15712 @item auto
15713 Determine the FPU type by querying the OS ABI.
15714 @item softfpa
15715 Software FPU, with mixed-endian doubles on little-endian ARM
15716 processors.
15717 @item fpa
15718 GCC-compiled FPA co-processor.
15719 @item softvfp
15720 Software FPU with pure-endian doubles.
15721 @item vfp
15722 VFP co-processor.
15723 @end table
15724
15725 @item show arm fpu
15726 Show the current type of the FPU.
15727
15728 @item set arm abi
15729 This command forces @value{GDBN} to use the specified ABI.
15730
15731 @item show arm abi
15732 Show the currently used ABI.
15733
15734 @item set arm fallback-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
15735 @value{GDBN} uses the symbol table, when available, to determine
15736 whether instructions are ARM or Thumb. This command controls
15737 @value{GDBN}'s default behavior when the symbol table is not
15738 available. The default is @samp{auto}, which causes @value{GDBN} to
15739 use the current execution mode (from the @code{T} bit in the @code{CPSR}
15740 register).
15741
15742 @item show arm fallback-mode
15743 Show the current fallback instruction mode.
15744
15745 @item set arm force-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
15746 This command overrides use of the symbol table to determine whether
15747 instructions are ARM or Thumb. The default is @samp{auto}, which
15748 causes @value{GDBN} to use the symbol table and then the setting
15749 of @samp{set arm fallback-mode}.
15750
15751 @item show arm force-mode
15752 Show the current forced instruction mode.
15753
15754 @item set debug arm
15755 Toggle whether to display ARM-specific debugging messages from the ARM
15756 target support subsystem.
15757
15758 @item show debug arm
15759 Show whether ARM-specific debugging messages are enabled.
15760 @end table
15761
15762 The following commands are available when an ARM target is debugged
15763 using the RDI interface:
15764
15765 @table @code
15766 @item rdilogfile @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
15767 @kindex rdilogfile
15768 @cindex ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) logging
15769 Set the filename for the ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) packet log.
15770 With an argument, sets the log file to the specified @var{file}. With
15771 no argument, show the current log file name. The default log file is
15772 @file{rdi.log}.
15773
15774 @item rdilogenable @r{[}@var{arg}@r{]}
15775 @kindex rdilogenable
15776 Control logging of ADP packets. With an argument of 1 or @code{"yes"}
15777 enables logging, with an argument 0 or @code{"no"} disables it. With
15778 no arguments displays the current setting. When logging is enabled,
15779 ADP packets exchanged between @value{GDBN} and the RDI target device
15780 are logged to a file.
15781
15782 @item set rdiromatzero
15783 @kindex set rdiromatzero
15784 @cindex ROM at zero address, RDI
15785 Tell @value{GDBN} whether the target has ROM at address 0. If on,
15786 vector catching is disabled, so that zero address can be used. If off
15787 (the default), vector catching is enabled. For this command to take
15788 effect, it needs to be invoked prior to the @code{target rdi} command.
15789
15790 @item show rdiromatzero
15791 @kindex show rdiromatzero
15792 Show the current setting of ROM at zero address.
15793
15794 @item set rdiheartbeat
15795 @kindex set rdiheartbeat
15796 @cindex RDI heartbeat
15797 Enable or disable RDI heartbeat packets. It is not recommended to
15798 turn on this option, since it confuses ARM and EPI JTAG interface, as
15799 well as the Angel monitor.
15800
15801 @item show rdiheartbeat
15802 @kindex show rdiheartbeat
15803 Show the setting of RDI heartbeat packets.
15804 @end table
15805
15806
15807 @node M32R/D
15808 @subsection Renesas M32R/D and M32R/SDI
15809
15810 @table @code
15811 @kindex target m32r
15812 @item target m32r @var{dev}
15813 Renesas M32R/D ROM monitor.
15814
15815 @kindex target m32rsdi
15816 @item target m32rsdi @var{dev}
15817 Renesas M32R SDI server, connected via parallel port to the board.
15818 @end table
15819
15820 The following @value{GDBN} commands are specific to the M32R monitor:
15821
15822 @table @code
15823 @item set download-path @var{path}
15824 @kindex set download-path
15825 @cindex find downloadable @sc{srec} files (M32R)
15826 Set the default path for finding downloadable @sc{srec} files.
15827
15828 @item show download-path
15829 @kindex show download-path
15830 Show the default path for downloadable @sc{srec} files.
15831
15832 @item set board-address @var{addr}
15833 @kindex set board-address
15834 @cindex M32-EVA target board address
15835 Set the IP address for the M32R-EVA target board.
15836
15837 @item show board-address
15838 @kindex show board-address
15839 Show the current IP address of the target board.
15840
15841 @item set server-address @var{addr}
15842 @kindex set server-address
15843 @cindex download server address (M32R)
15844 Set the IP address for the download server, which is the @value{GDBN}'s
15845 host machine.
15846
15847 @item show server-address
15848 @kindex show server-address
15849 Display the IP address of the download server.
15850
15851 @item upload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
15852 @kindex upload@r{, M32R}
15853 Upload the specified @sc{srec} @var{file} via the monitor's Ethernet
15854 upload capability. If no @var{file} argument is given, the current
15855 executable file is uploaded.
15856
15857 @item tload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
15858 @kindex tload@r{, M32R}
15859 Test the @code{upload} command.
15860 @end table
15861
15862 The following commands are available for M32R/SDI:
15863
15864 @table @code
15865 @item sdireset
15866 @kindex sdireset
15867 @cindex reset SDI connection, M32R
15868 This command resets the SDI connection.
15869
15870 @item sdistatus
15871 @kindex sdistatus
15872 This command shows the SDI connection status.
15873
15874 @item debug_chaos
15875 @kindex debug_chaos
15876 @cindex M32R/Chaos debugging
15877 Instructs the remote that M32R/Chaos debugging is to be used.
15878
15879 @item use_debug_dma
15880 @kindex use_debug_dma
15881 Instructs the remote to use the DEBUG_DMA method of accessing memory.
15882
15883 @item use_mon_code
15884 @kindex use_mon_code
15885 Instructs the remote to use the MON_CODE method of accessing memory.
15886
15887 @item use_ib_break
15888 @kindex use_ib_break
15889 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by IB break.
15890
15891 @item use_dbt_break
15892 @kindex use_dbt_break
15893 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by DBT.
15894 @end table
15895
15896 @node M68K
15897 @subsection M68k
15898
15899 The Motorola m68k configuration includes ColdFire support, and a
15900 target command for the following ROM monitor.
15901
15902 @table @code
15903
15904 @kindex target dbug
15905 @item target dbug @var{dev}
15906 dBUG ROM monitor for Motorola ColdFire.
15907
15908 @end table
15909
15910 @node MIPS Embedded
15911 @subsection MIPS Embedded
15912
15913 @cindex MIPS boards
15914 @value{GDBN} can use the MIPS remote debugging protocol to talk to a
15915 MIPS board attached to a serial line. This is available when
15916 you configure @value{GDBN} with @samp{--target=mips-idt-ecoff}.
15917
15918 @need 1000
15919 Use these @value{GDBN} commands to specify the connection to your target board:
15920
15921 @table @code
15922 @item target mips @var{port}
15923 @kindex target mips @var{port}
15924 To run a program on the board, start up @code{@value{GDBP}} with the
15925 name of your program as the argument. To connect to the board, use the
15926 command @samp{target mips @var{port}}, where @var{port} is the name of
15927 the serial port connected to the board. If the program has not already
15928 been downloaded to the board, you may use the @code{load} command to
15929 download it. You can then use all the usual @value{GDBN} commands.
15930
15931 For example, this sequence connects to the target board through a serial
15932 port, and loads and runs a program called @var{prog} through the
15933 debugger:
15934
15935 @smallexample
15936 host$ @value{GDBP} @var{prog}
15937 @value{GDBN} is free software and @dots{}
15938 (@value{GDBP}) target mips /dev/ttyb
15939 (@value{GDBP}) load @var{prog}
15940 (@value{GDBP}) run
15941 @end smallexample
15942
15943 @item target mips @var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}
15944 On some @value{GDBN} host configurations, you can specify a TCP
15945 connection (for instance, to a serial line managed by a terminal
15946 concentrator) instead of a serial port, using the syntax
15947 @samp{@var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}}.
15948
15949 @item target pmon @var{port}
15950 @kindex target pmon @var{port}
15951 PMON ROM monitor.
15952
15953 @item target ddb @var{port}
15954 @kindex target ddb @var{port}
15955 NEC's DDB variant of PMON for Vr4300.
15956
15957 @item target lsi @var{port}
15958 @kindex target lsi @var{port}
15959 LSI variant of PMON.
15960
15961 @kindex target r3900
15962 @item target r3900 @var{dev}
15963 Densan DVE-R3900 ROM monitor for Toshiba R3900 Mips.
15964
15965 @kindex target array
15966 @item target array @var{dev}
15967 Array Tech LSI33K RAID controller board.
15968
15969 @end table
15970
15971
15972 @noindent
15973 @value{GDBN} also supports these special commands for MIPS targets:
15974
15975 @table @code
15976 @item set mipsfpu double
15977 @itemx set mipsfpu single
15978 @itemx set mipsfpu none
15979 @itemx set mipsfpu auto
15980 @itemx show mipsfpu
15981 @kindex set mipsfpu
15982 @kindex show mipsfpu
15983 @cindex MIPS remote floating point
15984 @cindex floating point, MIPS remote
15985 If your target board does not support the MIPS floating point
15986 coprocessor, you should use the command @samp{set mipsfpu none} (if you
15987 need this, you may wish to put the command in your @value{GDBN} init
15988 file). This tells @value{GDBN} how to find the return value of
15989 functions which return floating point values. It also allows
15990 @value{GDBN} to avoid saving the floating point registers when calling
15991 functions on the board. If you are using a floating point coprocessor
15992 with only single precision floating point support, as on the @sc{r4650}
15993 processor, use the command @samp{set mipsfpu single}. The default
15994 double precision floating point coprocessor may be selected using
15995 @samp{set mipsfpu double}.
15996
15997 In previous versions the only choices were double precision or no
15998 floating point, so @samp{set mipsfpu on} will select double precision
15999 and @samp{set mipsfpu off} will select no floating point.
16000
16001 As usual, you can inquire about the @code{mipsfpu} variable with
16002 @samp{show mipsfpu}.
16003
16004 @item set timeout @var{seconds}
16005 @itemx set retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}
16006 @itemx show timeout
16007 @itemx show retransmit-timeout
16008 @cindex @code{timeout}, MIPS protocol
16009 @cindex @code{retransmit-timeout}, MIPS protocol
16010 @kindex set timeout
16011 @kindex show timeout
16012 @kindex set retransmit-timeout
16013 @kindex show retransmit-timeout
16014 You can control the timeout used while waiting for a packet, in the MIPS
16015 remote protocol, with the @code{set timeout @var{seconds}} command. The
16016 default is 5 seconds. Similarly, you can control the timeout used while
16017 waiting for an acknowledgment of a packet with the @code{set
16018 retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}} command. The default is 3 seconds.
16019 You can inspect both values with @code{show timeout} and @code{show
16020 retransmit-timeout}. (These commands are @emph{only} available when
16021 @value{GDBN} is configured for @samp{--target=mips-idt-ecoff}.)
16022
16023 The timeout set by @code{set timeout} does not apply when @value{GDBN}
16024 is waiting for your program to stop. In that case, @value{GDBN} waits
16025 forever because it has no way of knowing how long the program is going
16026 to run before stopping.
16027
16028 @item set syn-garbage-limit @var{num}
16029 @kindex set syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
16030 @cindex synchronize with remote MIPS target
16031 Limit the maximum number of characters @value{GDBN} should ignore when
16032 it tries to synchronize with the remote target. The default is 10
16033 characters. Setting the limit to -1 means there's no limit.
16034
16035 @item show syn-garbage-limit
16036 @kindex show syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
16037 Show the current limit on the number of characters to ignore when
16038 trying to synchronize with the remote system.
16039
16040 @item set monitor-prompt @var{prompt}
16041 @kindex set monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
16042 @cindex remote monitor prompt
16043 Tell @value{GDBN} to expect the specified @var{prompt} string from the
16044 remote monitor. The default depends on the target:
16045 @table @asis
16046 @item pmon target
16047 @samp{PMON}
16048 @item ddb target
16049 @samp{NEC010}
16050 @item lsi target
16051 @samp{PMON>}
16052 @end table
16053
16054 @item show monitor-prompt
16055 @kindex show monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
16056 Show the current strings @value{GDBN} expects as the prompt from the
16057 remote monitor.
16058
16059 @item set monitor-warnings
16060 @kindex set monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
16061 Enable or disable monitor warnings about hardware breakpoints. This
16062 has effect only for the @code{lsi} target. When on, @value{GDBN} will
16063 display warning messages whose codes are returned by the @code{lsi}
16064 PMON monitor for breakpoint commands.
16065
16066 @item show monitor-warnings
16067 @kindex show monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
16068 Show the current setting of printing monitor warnings.
16069
16070 @item pmon @var{command}
16071 @kindex pmon@r{, MIPS remote}
16072 @cindex send PMON command
16073 This command allows sending an arbitrary @var{command} string to the
16074 monitor. The monitor must be in debug mode for this to work.
16075 @end table
16076
16077 @node OpenRISC 1000
16078 @subsection OpenRISC 1000
16079 @cindex OpenRISC 1000
16080
16081 @cindex or1k boards
16082 See OR1k Architecture document (@uref{www.opencores.org}) for more information
16083 about platform and commands.
16084
16085 @table @code
16086
16087 @kindex target jtag
16088 @item target jtag jtag://@var{host}:@var{port}
16089
16090 Connects to remote JTAG server.
16091 JTAG remote server can be either an or1ksim or JTAG server,
16092 connected via parallel port to the board.
16093
16094 Example: @code{target jtag jtag://localhost:9999}
16095
16096 @kindex or1ksim
16097 @item or1ksim @var{command}
16098 If connected to @code{or1ksim} OpenRISC 1000 Architectural
16099 Simulator, proprietary commands can be executed.
16100
16101 @kindex info or1k spr
16102 @item info or1k spr
16103 Displays spr groups.
16104
16105 @item info or1k spr @var{group}
16106 @itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno}
16107 Displays register names in selected group.
16108
16109 @item info or1k spr @var{group} @var{register}
16110 @itemx info or1k spr @var{register}
16111 @itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno}
16112 @itemx info or1k spr @var{registerno}
16113 Shows information about specified spr register.
16114
16115 @kindex spr
16116 @item spr @var{group} @var{register} @var{value}
16117 @itemx spr @var{register @var{value}}
16118 @itemx spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno @var{value}}
16119 @itemx spr @var{registerno @var{value}}
16120 Writes @var{value} to specified spr register.
16121 @end table
16122
16123 Some implementations of OpenRISC 1000 Architecture also have hardware trace.
16124 It is very similar to @value{GDBN} trace, except it does not interfere with normal
16125 program execution and is thus much faster. Hardware breakpoints/watchpoint
16126 triggers can be set using:
16127 @table @code
16128 @item $LEA/$LDATA
16129 Load effective address/data
16130 @item $SEA/$SDATA
16131 Store effective address/data
16132 @item $AEA/$ADATA
16133 Access effective address ($SEA or $LEA) or data ($SDATA/$LDATA)
16134 @item $FETCH
16135 Fetch data
16136 @end table
16137
16138 When triggered, it can capture low level data, like: @code{PC}, @code{LSEA},
16139 @code{LDATA}, @code{SDATA}, @code{READSPR}, @code{WRITESPR}, @code{INSTR}.
16140
16141 @code{htrace} commands:
16142 @cindex OpenRISC 1000 htrace
16143 @table @code
16144 @kindex hwatch
16145 @item hwatch @var{conditional}
16146 Set hardware watchpoint on combination of Load/Store Effective Address(es)
16147 or Data. For example:
16148
16149 @code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
16150
16151 @code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
16152
16153 @kindex htrace
16154 @item htrace info
16155 Display information about current HW trace configuration.
16156
16157 @item htrace trigger @var{conditional}
16158 Set starting criteria for HW trace.
16159
16160 @item htrace qualifier @var{conditional}
16161 Set acquisition qualifier for HW trace.
16162
16163 @item htrace stop @var{conditional}
16164 Set HW trace stopping criteria.
16165
16166 @item htrace record [@var{data}]*
16167 Selects the data to be recorded, when qualifier is met and HW trace was
16168 triggered.
16169
16170 @item htrace enable
16171 @itemx htrace disable
16172 Enables/disables the HW trace.
16173
16174 @item htrace rewind [@var{filename}]
16175 Clears currently recorded trace data.
16176
16177 If filename is specified, new trace file is made and any newly collected data
16178 will be written there.
16179
16180 @item htrace print [@var{start} [@var{len}]]
16181 Prints trace buffer, using current record configuration.
16182
16183 @item htrace mode continuous
16184 Set continuous trace mode.
16185
16186 @item htrace mode suspend
16187 Set suspend trace mode.
16188
16189 @end table
16190
16191 @node PowerPC Embedded
16192 @subsection PowerPC Embedded
16193
16194 @value{GDBN} provides the following PowerPC-specific commands:
16195
16196 @table @code
16197 @kindex set powerpc
16198 @item set powerpc soft-float
16199 @itemx show powerpc soft-float
16200 Force @value{GDBN} to use (or not use) a software floating point calling
16201 convention. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention based
16202 on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
16203
16204 @item set powerpc vector-abi
16205 @itemx show powerpc vector-abi
16206 Force @value{GDBN} to use the specified calling convention for vector
16207 arguments and return values. The valid options are @samp{auto};
16208 @samp{generic}, to avoid vector registers even if they are present;
16209 @samp{altivec}, to use AltiVec registers; and @samp{spe} to use SPE
16210 registers. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention
16211 based on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
16212
16213 @kindex target dink32
16214 @item target dink32 @var{dev}
16215 DINK32 ROM monitor.
16216
16217 @kindex target ppcbug
16218 @item target ppcbug @var{dev}
16219 @kindex target ppcbug1
16220 @item target ppcbug1 @var{dev}
16221 PPCBUG ROM monitor for PowerPC.
16222
16223 @kindex target sds
16224 @item target sds @var{dev}
16225 SDS monitor, running on a PowerPC board (such as Motorola's ADS).
16226 @end table
16227
16228 @cindex SDS protocol
16229 The following commands specific to the SDS protocol are supported
16230 by @value{GDBN}:
16231
16232 @table @code
16233 @item set sdstimeout @var{nsec}
16234 @kindex set sdstimeout
16235 Set the timeout for SDS protocol reads to be @var{nsec} seconds. The
16236 default is 2 seconds.
16237
16238 @item show sdstimeout
16239 @kindex show sdstimeout
16240 Show the current value of the SDS timeout.
16241
16242 @item sds @var{command}
16243 @kindex sds@r{, a command}
16244 Send the specified @var{command} string to the SDS monitor.
16245 @end table
16246
16247
16248 @node PA
16249 @subsection HP PA Embedded
16250
16251 @table @code
16252
16253 @kindex target op50n
16254 @item target op50n @var{dev}
16255 OP50N monitor, running on an OKI HPPA board.
16256
16257 @kindex target w89k
16258 @item target w89k @var{dev}
16259 W89K monitor, running on a Winbond HPPA board.
16260
16261 @end table
16262
16263 @node Sparclet
16264 @subsection Tsqware Sparclet
16265
16266 @cindex Sparclet
16267
16268 @value{GDBN} enables developers to debug tasks running on
16269 Sparclet targets from a Unix host.
16270 @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
16271 both the Unix host and on the Sparclet target. The program
16272 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host.
16273
16274 @table @code
16275 @item remotetimeout @var{args}
16276 @kindex remotetimeout
16277 @value{GDBN} supports the option @code{remotetimeout}.
16278 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
16279 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses.
16280 @end table
16281
16282 @cindex compiling, on Sparclet
16283 When compiling for debugging, include the options @samp{-g} to get debug
16284 information and @samp{-Ttext} to relocate the program to where you wish to
16285 load it on the target. You may also want to add the options @samp{-n} or
16286 @samp{-N} in order to reduce the size of the sections. Example:
16287
16288 @smallexample
16289 sparclet-aout-gcc prog.c -Ttext 0x12010000 -g -o prog -N
16290 @end smallexample
16291
16292 You can use @code{objdump} to verify that the addresses are what you intended:
16293
16294 @smallexample
16295 sparclet-aout-objdump --headers --syms prog
16296 @end smallexample
16297
16298 @cindex running, on Sparclet
16299 Once you have set
16300 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
16301 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}}
16302 (or @code{sparclet-aout-gdb}, depending on your installation).
16303
16304 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
16305
16306 @smallexample
16307 (gdbslet)
16308 @end smallexample
16309
16310 @menu
16311 * Sparclet File:: Setting the file to debug
16312 * Sparclet Connection:: Connecting to Sparclet
16313 * Sparclet Download:: Sparclet download
16314 * Sparclet Execution:: Running and debugging
16315 @end menu
16316
16317 @node Sparclet File
16318 @subsubsection Setting File to Debug
16319
16320 The @value{GDBN} command @code{file} lets you choose with program to debug.
16321
16322 @smallexample
16323 (gdbslet) file prog
16324 @end smallexample
16325
16326 @need 1000
16327 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol table of @file{prog}.
16328 @value{GDBN} locates
16329 the file by searching the directories listed in the command search
16330 path.
16331 If the file was compiled with debug information (option @samp{-g}), source
16332 files will be searched as well.
16333 @value{GDBN} locates
16334 the source files by searching the directories listed in the directory search
16335 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}).
16336 If it fails
16337 to find a file, it displays a message such as:
16338
16339 @smallexample
16340 prog: No such file or directory.
16341 @end smallexample
16342
16343 When this happens, add the appropriate directories to the search paths with
16344 the @value{GDBN} commands @code{path} and @code{dir}, and execute the
16345 @code{target} command again.
16346
16347 @node Sparclet Connection
16348 @subsubsection Connecting to Sparclet
16349
16350 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a Sparclet target.
16351 To connect to a target on serial port ``@code{ttya}'', type:
16352
16353 @smallexample
16354 (gdbslet) target sparclet /dev/ttya
16355 Remote target sparclet connected to /dev/ttya
16356 main () at ../prog.c:3
16357 @end smallexample
16358
16359 @need 750
16360 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
16361
16362 @smallexample
16363 Connected to ttya.
16364 @end smallexample
16365
16366 @node Sparclet Download
16367 @subsubsection Sparclet Download
16368
16369 @cindex download to Sparclet
16370 Once connected to the Sparclet target,
16371 you can use the @value{GDBN}
16372 @code{load} command to download the file from the host to the target.
16373 The file name and load offset should be given as arguments to the @code{load}
16374 command.
16375 Since the file format is aout, the program must be loaded to the starting
16376 address. You can use @code{objdump} to find out what this value is. The load
16377 offset is an offset which is added to the VMA (virtual memory address)
16378 of each of the file's sections.
16379 For instance, if the program
16380 @file{prog} was linked to text address 0x1201000, with data at 0x12010160
16381 and bss at 0x12010170, in @value{GDBN}, type:
16382
16383 @smallexample
16384 (gdbslet) load prog 0x12010000
16385 Loading section .text, size 0xdb0 vma 0x12010000
16386 @end smallexample
16387
16388 If the code is loaded at a different address then what the program was linked
16389 to, you may need to use the @code{section} and @code{add-symbol-file} commands
16390 to tell @value{GDBN} where to map the symbol table.
16391
16392 @node Sparclet Execution
16393 @subsubsection Running and Debugging
16394
16395 @cindex running and debugging Sparclet programs
16396 You can now begin debugging the task using @value{GDBN}'s execution control
16397 commands, @code{b}, @code{step}, @code{run}, etc. See the @value{GDBN}
16398 manual for the list of commands.
16399
16400 @smallexample
16401 (gdbslet) b main
16402 Breakpoint 1 at 0x12010000: file prog.c, line 3.
16403 (gdbslet) run
16404 Starting program: prog
16405 Breakpoint 1, main (argc=1, argv=0xeffff21c) at prog.c:3
16406 3 char *symarg = 0;
16407 (gdbslet) step
16408 4 char *execarg = "hello!";
16409 (gdbslet)
16410 @end smallexample
16411
16412 @node Sparclite
16413 @subsection Fujitsu Sparclite
16414
16415 @table @code
16416
16417 @kindex target sparclite
16418 @item target sparclite @var{dev}
16419 Fujitsu sparclite boards, used only for the purpose of loading.
16420 You must use an additional command to debug the program.
16421 For example: target remote @var{dev} using @value{GDBN} standard
16422 remote protocol.
16423
16424 @end table
16425
16426 @node Z8000
16427 @subsection Zilog Z8000
16428
16429 @cindex Z8000
16430 @cindex simulator, Z8000
16431 @cindex Zilog Z8000 simulator
16432
16433 When configured for debugging Zilog Z8000 targets, @value{GDBN} includes
16434 a Z8000 simulator.
16435
16436 For the Z8000 family, @samp{target sim} simulates either the Z8002 (the
16437 unsegmented variant of the Z8000 architecture) or the Z8001 (the
16438 segmented variant). The simulator recognizes which architecture is
16439 appropriate by inspecting the object code.
16440
16441 @table @code
16442 @item target sim @var{args}
16443 @kindex sim
16444 @kindex target sim@r{, with Z8000}
16445 Debug programs on a simulated CPU. If the simulator supports setup
16446 options, specify them via @var{args}.
16447 @end table
16448
16449 @noindent
16450 After specifying this target, you can debug programs for the simulated
16451 CPU in the same style as programs for your host computer; use the
16452 @code{file} command to load a new program image, the @code{run} command
16453 to run your program, and so on.
16454
16455 As well as making available all the usual machine registers
16456 (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}), the Z8000 simulator provides three
16457 additional items of information as specially named registers:
16458
16459 @table @code
16460
16461 @item cycles
16462 Counts clock-ticks in the simulator.
16463
16464 @item insts
16465 Counts instructions run in the simulator.
16466
16467 @item time
16468 Execution time in 60ths of a second.
16469
16470 @end table
16471
16472 You can refer to these values in @value{GDBN} expressions with the usual
16473 conventions; for example, @w{@samp{b fputc if $cycles>5000}} sets a
16474 conditional breakpoint that suspends only after at least 5000
16475 simulated clock ticks.
16476
16477 @node AVR
16478 @subsection Atmel AVR
16479 @cindex AVR
16480
16481 When configured for debugging the Atmel AVR, @value{GDBN} supports the
16482 following AVR-specific commands:
16483
16484 @table @code
16485 @item info io_registers
16486 @kindex info io_registers@r{, AVR}
16487 @cindex I/O registers (Atmel AVR)
16488 This command displays information about the AVR I/O registers. For
16489 each register, @value{GDBN} prints its number and value.
16490 @end table
16491
16492 @node CRIS
16493 @subsection CRIS
16494 @cindex CRIS
16495
16496 When configured for debugging CRIS, @value{GDBN} provides the
16497 following CRIS-specific commands:
16498
16499 @table @code
16500 @item set cris-version @var{ver}
16501 @cindex CRIS version
16502 Set the current CRIS version to @var{ver}, either @samp{10} or @samp{32}.
16503 The CRIS version affects register names and sizes. This command is useful in
16504 case autodetection of the CRIS version fails.
16505
16506 @item show cris-version
16507 Show the current CRIS version.
16508
16509 @item set cris-dwarf2-cfi
16510 @cindex DWARF-2 CFI and CRIS
16511 Set the usage of DWARF-2 CFI for CRIS debugging. The default is @samp{on}.
16512 Change to @samp{off} when using @code{gcc-cris} whose version is below
16513 @code{R59}.
16514
16515 @item show cris-dwarf2-cfi
16516 Show the current state of using DWARF-2 CFI.
16517
16518 @item set cris-mode @var{mode}
16519 @cindex CRIS mode
16520 Set the current CRIS mode to @var{mode}. It should only be changed when
16521 debugging in guru mode, in which case it should be set to
16522 @samp{guru} (the default is @samp{normal}).
16523
16524 @item show cris-mode
16525 Show the current CRIS mode.
16526 @end table
16527
16528 @node Super-H
16529 @subsection Renesas Super-H
16530 @cindex Super-H
16531
16532 For the Renesas Super-H processor, @value{GDBN} provides these
16533 commands:
16534
16535 @table @code
16536 @item regs
16537 @kindex regs@r{, Super-H}
16538 Show the values of all Super-H registers.
16539
16540 @item set sh calling-convention @var{convention}
16541 @kindex set sh calling-convention
16542 Set the calling-convention used when calling functions from @value{GDBN}.
16543 Allowed values are @samp{gcc}, which is the default setting, and @samp{renesas}.
16544 With the @samp{gcc} setting, functions are called using the @value{NGCC} calling
16545 convention. If the DWARF-2 information of the called function specifies
16546 that the function follows the Renesas calling convention, the function
16547 is called using the Renesas calling convention. If the calling convention
16548 is set to @samp{renesas}, the Renesas calling convention is always used,
16549 regardless of the DWARF-2 information. This can be used to override the
16550 default of @samp{gcc} if debug information is missing, or the compiler
16551 does not emit the DWARF-2 calling convention entry for a function.
16552
16553 @item show sh calling-convention
16554 @kindex show sh calling-convention
16555 Show the current calling convention setting.
16556
16557 @end table
16558
16559
16560 @node Architectures
16561 @section Architectures
16562
16563 This section describes characteristics of architectures that affect
16564 all uses of @value{GDBN} with the architecture, both native and cross.
16565
16566 @menu
16567 * i386::
16568 * A29K::
16569 * Alpha::
16570 * MIPS::
16571 * HPPA:: HP PA architecture
16572 * SPU:: Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
16573 * PowerPC::
16574 @end menu
16575
16576 @node i386
16577 @subsection x86 Architecture-specific Issues
16578
16579 @table @code
16580 @item set struct-convention @var{mode}
16581 @kindex set struct-convention
16582 @cindex struct return convention
16583 @cindex struct/union returned in registers
16584 Set the convention used by the inferior to return @code{struct}s and
16585 @code{union}s from functions to @var{mode}. Possible values of
16586 @var{mode} are @code{"pcc"}, @code{"reg"}, and @code{"default"} (the
16587 default). @code{"default"} or @code{"pcc"} means that @code{struct}s
16588 are returned on the stack, while @code{"reg"} means that a
16589 @code{struct} or a @code{union} whose size is 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes will
16590 be returned in a register.
16591
16592 @item show struct-convention
16593 @kindex show struct-convention
16594 Show the current setting of the convention to return @code{struct}s
16595 from functions.
16596 @end table
16597
16598 @node A29K
16599 @subsection A29K
16600
16601 @table @code
16602
16603 @kindex set rstack_high_address
16604 @cindex AMD 29K register stack
16605 @cindex register stack, AMD29K
16606 @item set rstack_high_address @var{address}
16607 On AMD 29000 family processors, registers are saved in a separate
16608 @dfn{register stack}. There is no way for @value{GDBN} to determine the
16609 extent of this stack. Normally, @value{GDBN} just assumes that the
16610 stack is ``large enough''. This may result in @value{GDBN} referencing
16611 memory locations that do not exist. If necessary, you can get around
16612 this problem by specifying the ending address of the register stack with
16613 the @code{set rstack_high_address} command. The argument should be an
16614 address, which you probably want to precede with @samp{0x} to specify in
16615 hexadecimal.
16616
16617 @kindex show rstack_high_address
16618 @item show rstack_high_address
16619 Display the current limit of the register stack, on AMD 29000 family
16620 processors.
16621
16622 @end table
16623
16624 @node Alpha
16625 @subsection Alpha
16626
16627 See the following section.
16628
16629 @node MIPS
16630 @subsection MIPS
16631
16632 @cindex stack on Alpha
16633 @cindex stack on MIPS
16634 @cindex Alpha stack
16635 @cindex MIPS stack
16636 Alpha- and MIPS-based computers use an unusual stack frame, which
16637 sometimes requires @value{GDBN} to search backward in the object code to
16638 find the beginning of a function.
16639
16640 @cindex response time, MIPS debugging
16641 To improve response time (especially for embedded applications, where
16642 @value{GDBN} may be restricted to a slow serial line for this search)
16643 you may want to limit the size of this search, using one of these
16644 commands:
16645
16646 @table @code
16647 @cindex @code{heuristic-fence-post} (Alpha, MIPS)
16648 @item set heuristic-fence-post @var{limit}
16649 Restrict @value{GDBN} to examining at most @var{limit} bytes in its
16650 search for the beginning of a function. A value of @var{0} (the
16651 default) means there is no limit. However, except for @var{0}, the
16652 larger the limit the more bytes @code{heuristic-fence-post} must search
16653 and therefore the longer it takes to run. You should only need to use
16654 this command when debugging a stripped executable.
16655
16656 @item show heuristic-fence-post
16657 Display the current limit.
16658 @end table
16659
16660 @noindent
16661 These commands are available @emph{only} when @value{GDBN} is configured
16662 for debugging programs on Alpha or MIPS processors.
16663
16664 Several MIPS-specific commands are available when debugging MIPS
16665 programs:
16666
16667 @table @code
16668 @item set mips abi @var{arg}
16669 @kindex set mips abi
16670 @cindex set ABI for MIPS
16671 Tell @value{GDBN} which MIPS ABI is used by the inferior. Possible
16672 values of @var{arg} are:
16673
16674 @table @samp
16675 @item auto
16676 The default ABI associated with the current binary (this is the
16677 default).
16678 @item o32
16679 @item o64
16680 @item n32
16681 @item n64
16682 @item eabi32
16683 @item eabi64
16684 @item auto
16685 @end table
16686
16687 @item show mips abi
16688 @kindex show mips abi
16689 Show the MIPS ABI used by @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
16690
16691 @item set mipsfpu
16692 @itemx show mipsfpu
16693 @xref{MIPS Embedded, set mipsfpu}.
16694
16695 @item set mips mask-address @var{arg}
16696 @kindex set mips mask-address
16697 @cindex MIPS addresses, masking
16698 This command determines whether the most-significant 32 bits of 64-bit
16699 MIPS addresses are masked off. The argument @var{arg} can be
16700 @samp{on}, @samp{off}, or @samp{auto}. The latter is the default
16701 setting, which lets @value{GDBN} determine the correct value.
16702
16703 @item show mips mask-address
16704 @kindex show mips mask-address
16705 Show whether the upper 32 bits of MIPS addresses are masked off or
16706 not.
16707
16708 @item set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
16709 @kindex set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
16710 This command controls compatibility with 64-bit MIPS targets that
16711 transfer data in 32-bit quantities. If you have an old MIPS 64 target
16712 that transfers 32 bits for some registers, like @sc{sr} and @sc{fsr},
16713 and 64 bits for other registers, set this option to @samp{on}.
16714
16715 @item show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
16716 @kindex show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
16717 Show the current setting of compatibility with older MIPS 64 targets.
16718
16719 @item set debug mips
16720 @kindex set debug mips
16721 This command turns on and off debugging messages for the MIPS-specific
16722 target code in @value{GDBN}.
16723
16724 @item show debug mips
16725 @kindex show debug mips
16726 Show the current setting of MIPS debugging messages.
16727 @end table
16728
16729
16730 @node HPPA
16731 @subsection HPPA
16732 @cindex HPPA support
16733
16734 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the HP PA architecture, it provides the
16735 following special commands:
16736
16737 @table @code
16738 @item set debug hppa
16739 @kindex set debug hppa
16740 This command determines whether HPPA architecture-specific debugging
16741 messages are to be displayed.
16742
16743 @item show debug hppa
16744 Show whether HPPA debugging messages are displayed.
16745
16746 @item maint print unwind @var{address}
16747 @kindex maint print unwind@r{, HPPA}
16748 This command displays the contents of the unwind table entry at the
16749 given @var{address}.
16750
16751 @end table
16752
16753
16754 @node SPU
16755 @subsection Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
16756 @cindex Cell Broadband Engine
16757 @cindex SPU
16758
16759 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture,
16760 it provides the following special commands:
16761
16762 @table @code
16763 @item info spu event
16764 @kindex info spu
16765 Display SPU event facility status. Shows current event mask
16766 and pending event status.
16767
16768 @item info spu signal
16769 Display SPU signal notification facility status. Shows pending
16770 signal-control word and signal notification mode of both signal
16771 notification channels.
16772
16773 @item info spu mailbox
16774 Display SPU mailbox facility status. Shows all pending entries,
16775 in order of processing, in each of the SPU Write Outbound,
16776 SPU Write Outbound Interrupt, and SPU Read Inbound mailboxes.
16777
16778 @item info spu dma
16779 Display MFC DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
16780 DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
16781 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
16782
16783 @item info spu proxydma
16784 Display MFC Proxy-DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
16785 Proxy-DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
16786 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
16787
16788 @end table
16789
16790 @node PowerPC
16791 @subsection PowerPC
16792 @cindex PowerPC architecture
16793
16794 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the PowerPC architecture, it provides a set of
16795 pseudo-registers to enable inspection of 128-bit wide Decimal Floating Point
16796 numbers stored in the floating point registers. These values must be stored
16797 in two consecutive registers, always starting at an even register like
16798 @code{f0} or @code{f2}.
16799
16800 The pseudo-registers go from @code{$dl0} through @code{$dl15}, and are formed
16801 by joining the even/odd register pairs @code{f0} and @code{f1} for @code{$dl0},
16802 @code{f2} and @code{f3} for @code{$dl1} and so on.
16803
16804 For POWER7 processors, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers, the 64-bit
16805 wide Extended Floating Point Registers (@samp{f32} through @samp{f63}).
16806
16807
16808 @node Controlling GDB
16809 @chapter Controlling @value{GDBN}
16810
16811 You can alter the way @value{GDBN} interacts with you by using the
16812 @code{set} command. For commands controlling how @value{GDBN} displays
16813 data, see @ref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}. Other settings are
16814 described here.
16815
16816 @menu
16817 * Prompt:: Prompt
16818 * Editing:: Command editing
16819 * Command History:: Command history
16820 * Screen Size:: Screen size
16821 * Numbers:: Numbers
16822 * ABI:: Configuring the current ABI
16823 * Messages/Warnings:: Optional warnings and messages
16824 * Debugging Output:: Optional messages about internal happenings
16825 @end menu
16826
16827 @node Prompt
16828 @section Prompt
16829
16830 @cindex prompt
16831
16832 @value{GDBN} indicates its readiness to read a command by printing a string
16833 called the @dfn{prompt}. This string is normally @samp{(@value{GDBP})}. You
16834 can change the prompt string with the @code{set prompt} command. For
16835 instance, when debugging @value{GDBN} with @value{GDBN}, it is useful to change
16836 the prompt in one of the @value{GDBN} sessions so that you can always tell
16837 which one you are talking to.
16838
16839 @emph{Note:} @code{set prompt} does not add a space for you after the
16840 prompt you set. This allows you to set a prompt which ends in a space
16841 or a prompt that does not.
16842
16843 @table @code
16844 @kindex set prompt
16845 @item set prompt @var{newprompt}
16846 Directs @value{GDBN} to use @var{newprompt} as its prompt string henceforth.
16847
16848 @kindex show prompt
16849 @item show prompt
16850 Prints a line of the form: @samp{Gdb's prompt is: @var{your-prompt}}
16851 @end table
16852
16853 @node Editing
16854 @section Command Editing
16855 @cindex readline
16856 @cindex command line editing
16857
16858 @value{GDBN} reads its input commands via the @dfn{Readline} interface. This
16859 @sc{gnu} library provides consistent behavior for programs which provide a
16860 command line interface to the user. Advantages are @sc{gnu} Emacs-style
16861 or @dfn{vi}-style inline editing of commands, @code{csh}-like history
16862 substitution, and a storage and recall of command history across
16863 debugging sessions.
16864
16865 You may control the behavior of command line editing in @value{GDBN} with the
16866 command @code{set}.
16867
16868 @table @code
16869 @kindex set editing
16870 @cindex editing
16871 @item set editing
16872 @itemx set editing on
16873 Enable command line editing (enabled by default).
16874
16875 @item set editing off
16876 Disable command line editing.
16877
16878 @kindex show editing
16879 @item show editing
16880 Show whether command line editing is enabled.
16881 @end table
16882
16883 @xref{Command Line Editing}, for more details about the Readline
16884 interface. Users unfamiliar with @sc{gnu} Emacs or @code{vi} are
16885 encouraged to read that chapter.
16886
16887 @node Command History
16888 @section Command History
16889 @cindex command history
16890
16891 @value{GDBN} can keep track of the commands you type during your
16892 debugging sessions, so that you can be certain of precisely what
16893 happened. Use these commands to manage the @value{GDBN} command
16894 history facility.
16895
16896 @value{GDBN} uses the @sc{gnu} History library, a part of the Readline
16897 package, to provide the history facility. @xref{Using History
16898 Interactively}, for the detailed description of the History library.
16899
16900 To issue a command to @value{GDBN} without affecting certain aspects of
16901 the state which is seen by users, prefix it with @samp{server }
16902 (@pxref{Server Prefix}). This
16903 means that this command will not affect the command history, nor will it
16904 affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which command to repeat if @key{RET} is
16905 pressed on a line by itself.
16906
16907 @cindex @code{server}, command prefix
16908 The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the value
16909 history; to print a value without recording it into the value history,
16910 use the @code{output} command instead of the @code{print} command.
16911
16912 Here is the description of @value{GDBN} commands related to command
16913 history.
16914
16915 @table @code
16916 @cindex history substitution
16917 @cindex history file
16918 @kindex set history filename
16919 @cindex @env{GDBHISTFILE}, environment variable
16920 @item set history filename @var{fname}
16921 Set the name of the @value{GDBN} command history file to @var{fname}.
16922 This is the file where @value{GDBN} reads an initial command history
16923 list, and where it writes the command history from this session when it
16924 exits. You can access this list through history expansion or through
16925 the history command editing characters listed below. This file defaults
16926 to the value of the environment variable @code{GDBHISTFILE}, or to
16927 @file{./.gdb_history} (@file{./_gdb_history} on MS-DOS) if this variable
16928 is not set.
16929
16930 @cindex save command history
16931 @kindex set history save
16932 @item set history save
16933 @itemx set history save on
16934 Record command history in a file, whose name may be specified with the
16935 @code{set history filename} command. By default, this option is disabled.
16936
16937 @item set history save off
16938 Stop recording command history in a file.
16939
16940 @cindex history size
16941 @kindex set history size
16942 @cindex @env{HISTSIZE}, environment variable
16943 @item set history size @var{size}
16944 Set the number of commands which @value{GDBN} keeps in its history list.
16945 This defaults to the value of the environment variable
16946 @code{HISTSIZE}, or to 256 if this variable is not set.
16947 @end table
16948
16949 History expansion assigns special meaning to the character @kbd{!}.
16950 @xref{Event Designators}, for more details.
16951
16952 @cindex history expansion, turn on/off
16953 Since @kbd{!} is also the logical not operator in C, history expansion
16954 is off by default. If you decide to enable history expansion with the
16955 @code{set history expansion on} command, you may sometimes need to
16956 follow @kbd{!} (when it is used as logical not, in an expression) with
16957 a space or a tab to prevent it from being expanded. The readline
16958 history facilities do not attempt substitution on the strings
16959 @kbd{!=} and @kbd{!(}, even when history expansion is enabled.
16960
16961 The commands to control history expansion are:
16962
16963 @table @code
16964 @item set history expansion on
16965 @itemx set history expansion
16966 @kindex set history expansion
16967 Enable history expansion. History expansion is off by default.
16968
16969 @item set history expansion off
16970 Disable history expansion.
16971
16972 @c @group
16973 @kindex show history
16974 @item show history
16975 @itemx show history filename
16976 @itemx show history save
16977 @itemx show history size
16978 @itemx show history expansion
16979 These commands display the state of the @value{GDBN} history parameters.
16980 @code{show history} by itself displays all four states.
16981 @c @end group
16982 @end table
16983
16984 @table @code
16985 @kindex show commands
16986 @cindex show last commands
16987 @cindex display command history
16988 @item show commands
16989 Display the last ten commands in the command history.
16990
16991 @item show commands @var{n}
16992 Print ten commands centered on command number @var{n}.
16993
16994 @item show commands +
16995 Print ten commands just after the commands last printed.
16996 @end table
16997
16998 @node Screen Size
16999 @section Screen Size
17000 @cindex size of screen
17001 @cindex pauses in output
17002
17003 Certain commands to @value{GDBN} may produce large amounts of
17004 information output to the screen. To help you read all of it,
17005 @value{GDBN} pauses and asks you for input at the end of each page of
17006 output. Type @key{RET} when you want to continue the output, or @kbd{q}
17007 to discard the remaining output. Also, the screen width setting
17008 determines when to wrap lines of output. Depending on what is being
17009 printed, @value{GDBN} tries to break the line at a readable place,
17010 rather than simply letting it overflow onto the following line.
17011
17012 Normally @value{GDBN} knows the size of the screen from the terminal
17013 driver software. For example, on Unix @value{GDBN} uses the termcap data base
17014 together with the value of the @code{TERM} environment variable and the
17015 @code{stty rows} and @code{stty cols} settings. If this is not correct,
17016 you can override it with the @code{set height} and @code{set
17017 width} commands:
17018
17019 @table @code
17020 @kindex set height
17021 @kindex set width
17022 @kindex show width
17023 @kindex show height
17024 @item set height @var{lpp}
17025 @itemx show height
17026 @itemx set width @var{cpl}
17027 @itemx show width
17028 These @code{set} commands specify a screen height of @var{lpp} lines and
17029 a screen width of @var{cpl} characters. The associated @code{show}
17030 commands display the current settings.
17031
17032 If you specify a height of zero lines, @value{GDBN} does not pause during
17033 output no matter how long the output is. This is useful if output is to a
17034 file or to an editor buffer.
17035
17036 Likewise, you can specify @samp{set width 0} to prevent @value{GDBN}
17037 from wrapping its output.
17038
17039 @item set pagination on
17040 @itemx set pagination off
17041 @kindex set pagination
17042 Turn the output pagination on or off; the default is on. Turning
17043 pagination off is the alternative to @code{set height 0}.
17044
17045 @item show pagination
17046 @kindex show pagination
17047 Show the current pagination mode.
17048 @end table
17049
17050 @node Numbers
17051 @section Numbers
17052 @cindex number representation
17053 @cindex entering numbers
17054
17055 You can always enter numbers in octal, decimal, or hexadecimal in
17056 @value{GDBN} by the usual conventions: octal numbers begin with
17057 @samp{0}, decimal numbers end with @samp{.}, and hexadecimal numbers
17058 begin with @samp{0x}. Numbers that neither begin with @samp{0} or
17059 @samp{0x}, nor end with a @samp{.} are, by default, entered in base
17060 10; likewise, the default display for numbers---when no particular
17061 format is specified---is base 10. You can change the default base for
17062 both input and output with the commands described below.
17063
17064 @table @code
17065 @kindex set input-radix
17066 @item set input-radix @var{base}
17067 Set the default base for numeric input. Supported choices
17068 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
17069 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix; for
17070 example, any of
17071
17072 @smallexample
17073 set input-radix 012
17074 set input-radix 10.
17075 set input-radix 0xa
17076 @end smallexample
17077
17078 @noindent
17079 sets the input base to decimal. On the other hand, @samp{set input-radix 10}
17080 leaves the input radix unchanged, no matter what it was, since
17081 @samp{10}, being without any leading or trailing signs of its base, is
17082 interpreted in the current radix. Thus, if the current radix is 16,
17083 @samp{10} is interpreted in hex, i.e.@: as 16 decimal, which doesn't
17084 change the radix.
17085
17086 @kindex set output-radix
17087 @item set output-radix @var{base}
17088 Set the default base for numeric display. Supported choices
17089 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
17090 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix.
17091
17092 @kindex show input-radix
17093 @item show input-radix
17094 Display the current default base for numeric input.
17095
17096 @kindex show output-radix
17097 @item show output-radix
17098 Display the current default base for numeric display.
17099
17100 @item set radix @r{[}@var{base}@r{]}
17101 @itemx show radix
17102 @kindex set radix
17103 @kindex show radix
17104 These commands set and show the default base for both input and output
17105 of numbers. @code{set radix} sets the radix of input and output to
17106 the same base; without an argument, it resets the radix back to its
17107 default value of 10.
17108
17109 @end table
17110
17111 @node ABI
17112 @section Configuring the Current ABI
17113
17114 @value{GDBN} can determine the @dfn{ABI} (Application Binary Interface) of your
17115 application automatically. However, sometimes you need to override its
17116 conclusions. Use these commands to manage @value{GDBN}'s view of the
17117 current ABI.
17118
17119 @cindex OS ABI
17120 @kindex set osabi
17121 @kindex show osabi
17122
17123 One @value{GDBN} configuration can debug binaries for multiple operating
17124 system targets, either via remote debugging or native emulation.
17125 @value{GDBN} will autodetect the @dfn{OS ABI} (Operating System ABI) in use,
17126 but you can override its conclusion using the @code{set osabi} command.
17127 One example where this is useful is in debugging of binaries which use
17128 an alternate C library (e.g.@: @sc{uClibc} for @sc{gnu}/Linux) which does
17129 not have the same identifying marks that the standard C library for your
17130 platform provides.
17131
17132 @table @code
17133 @item show osabi
17134 Show the OS ABI currently in use.
17135
17136 @item set osabi
17137 With no argument, show the list of registered available OS ABI's.
17138
17139 @item set osabi @var{abi}
17140 Set the current OS ABI to @var{abi}.
17141 @end table
17142
17143 @cindex float promotion
17144
17145 Generally, the way that an argument of type @code{float} is passed to a
17146 function depends on whether the function is prototyped. For a prototyped
17147 (i.e.@: ANSI/ISO style) function, @code{float} arguments are passed unchanged,
17148 according to the architecture's convention for @code{float}. For unprototyped
17149 (i.e.@: K&R style) functions, @code{float} arguments are first promoted to type
17150 @code{double} and then passed.
17151
17152 Unfortunately, some forms of debug information do not reliably indicate whether
17153 a function is prototyped. If @value{GDBN} calls a function that is not marked
17154 as prototyped, it consults @kbd{set coerce-float-to-double}.
17155
17156 @table @code
17157 @kindex set coerce-float-to-double
17158 @item set coerce-float-to-double
17159 @itemx set coerce-float-to-double on
17160 Arguments of type @code{float} will be promoted to @code{double} when passed
17161 to an unprototyped function. This is the default setting.
17162
17163 @item set coerce-float-to-double off
17164 Arguments of type @code{float} will be passed directly to unprototyped
17165 functions.
17166
17167 @kindex show coerce-float-to-double
17168 @item show coerce-float-to-double
17169 Show the current setting of promoting @code{float} to @code{double}.
17170 @end table
17171
17172 @kindex set cp-abi
17173 @kindex show cp-abi
17174 @value{GDBN} needs to know the ABI used for your program's C@t{++}
17175 objects. The correct C@t{++} ABI depends on which C@t{++} compiler was
17176 used to build your application. @value{GDBN} only fully supports
17177 programs with a single C@t{++} ABI; if your program contains code using
17178 multiple C@t{++} ABI's or if @value{GDBN} can not identify your
17179 program's ABI correctly, you can tell @value{GDBN} which ABI to use.
17180 Currently supported ABI's include ``gnu-v2'', for @code{g++} versions
17181 before 3.0, ``gnu-v3'', for @code{g++} versions 3.0 and later, and
17182 ``hpaCC'' for the HP ANSI C@t{++} compiler. Other C@t{++} compilers may
17183 use the ``gnu-v2'' or ``gnu-v3'' ABI's as well. The default setting is
17184 ``auto''.
17185
17186 @table @code
17187 @item show cp-abi
17188 Show the C@t{++} ABI currently in use.
17189
17190 @item set cp-abi
17191 With no argument, show the list of supported C@t{++} ABI's.
17192
17193 @item set cp-abi @var{abi}
17194 @itemx set cp-abi auto
17195 Set the current C@t{++} ABI to @var{abi}, or return to automatic detection.
17196 @end table
17197
17198 @node Messages/Warnings
17199 @section Optional Warnings and Messages
17200
17201 @cindex verbose operation
17202 @cindex optional warnings
17203 By default, @value{GDBN} is silent about its inner workings. If you are
17204 running on a slow machine, you may want to use the @code{set verbose}
17205 command. This makes @value{GDBN} tell you when it does a lengthy
17206 internal operation, so you will not think it has crashed.
17207
17208 Currently, the messages controlled by @code{set verbose} are those
17209 which announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read;
17210 see @code{symbol-file} in @ref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}.
17211
17212 @table @code
17213 @kindex set verbose
17214 @item set verbose on
17215 Enables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
17216
17217 @item set verbose off
17218 Disables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
17219
17220 @kindex show verbose
17221 @item show verbose
17222 Displays whether @code{set verbose} is on or off.
17223 @end table
17224
17225 By default, if @value{GDBN} encounters bugs in the symbol table of an
17226 object file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may
17227 find this information useful (@pxref{Symbol Errors, ,Errors Reading
17228 Symbol Files}).
17229
17230 @table @code
17231
17232 @kindex set complaints
17233 @item set complaints @var{limit}
17234 Permits @value{GDBN} to output @var{limit} complaints about each type of
17235 unusual symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set
17236 @var{limit} to zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number
17237 to prevent complaints from being suppressed.
17238
17239 @kindex show complaints
17240 @item show complaints
17241 Displays how many symbol complaints @value{GDBN} is permitted to produce.
17242
17243 @end table
17244
17245 By default, @value{GDBN} is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a
17246 lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if
17247 you try to run a program which is already running:
17248
17249 @smallexample
17250 (@value{GDBP}) run
17251 The program being debugged has been started already.
17252 Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
17253 @end smallexample
17254
17255 If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own
17256 commands, you can disable this ``feature'':
17257
17258 @table @code
17259
17260 @kindex set confirm
17261 @cindex flinching
17262 @cindex confirmation
17263 @cindex stupid questions
17264 @item set confirm off
17265 Disables confirmation requests.
17266
17267 @item set confirm on
17268 Enables confirmation requests (the default).
17269
17270 @kindex show confirm
17271 @item show confirm
17272 Displays state of confirmation requests.
17273
17274 @end table
17275
17276 @cindex command tracing
17277 If you need to debug user-defined commands or sourced files you may find it
17278 useful to enable @dfn{command tracing}. In this mode each command will be
17279 printed as it is executed, prefixed with one or more @samp{+} symbols, the
17280 quantity denoting the call depth of each command.
17281
17282 @table @code
17283 @kindex set trace-commands
17284 @cindex command scripts, debugging
17285 @item set trace-commands on
17286 Enable command tracing.
17287 @item set trace-commands off
17288 Disable command tracing.
17289 @item show trace-commands
17290 Display the current state of command tracing.
17291 @end table
17292
17293 @node Debugging Output
17294 @section Optional Messages about Internal Happenings
17295 @cindex optional debugging messages
17296
17297 @value{GDBN} has commands that enable optional debugging messages from
17298 various @value{GDBN} subsystems; normally these commands are of
17299 interest to @value{GDBN} maintainers, or when reporting a bug. This
17300 section documents those commands.
17301
17302 @table @code
17303 @kindex set exec-done-display
17304 @item set exec-done-display
17305 Turns on or off the notification of asynchronous commands'
17306 completion. When on, @value{GDBN} will print a message when an
17307 asynchronous command finishes its execution. The default is off.
17308 @kindex show exec-done-display
17309 @item show exec-done-display
17310 Displays the current setting of asynchronous command completion
17311 notification.
17312 @kindex set debug
17313 @cindex gdbarch debugging info
17314 @cindex architecture debugging info
17315 @item set debug arch
17316 Turns on or off display of gdbarch debugging info. The default is off
17317 @kindex show debug
17318 @item show debug arch
17319 Displays the current state of displaying gdbarch debugging info.
17320 @item set debug aix-thread
17321 @cindex AIX threads
17322 Display debugging messages about inner workings of the AIX thread
17323 module.
17324 @item show debug aix-thread
17325 Show the current state of AIX thread debugging info display.
17326 @item set debug dwarf2-die
17327 @cindex DWARF2 DIEs
17328 Dump DWARF2 DIEs after they are read in.
17329 The value is the number of nesting levels to print.
17330 A value of zero turns off the display.
17331 @item show debug dwarf2-die
17332 Show the current state of DWARF2 DIE debugging.
17333 @item set debug displaced
17334 @cindex displaced stepping debugging info
17335 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for the
17336 displaced stepping support. The default is off.
17337 @item show debug displaced
17338 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} debugging info
17339 related to displaced stepping.
17340 @item set debug event
17341 @cindex event debugging info
17342 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} event debugging info. The
17343 default is off.
17344 @item show debug event
17345 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} event debugging
17346 info.
17347 @item set debug expression
17348 @cindex expression debugging info
17349 Turns on or off display of debugging info about @value{GDBN}
17350 expression parsing. The default is off.
17351 @item show debug expression
17352 Displays the current state of displaying debugging info about
17353 @value{GDBN} expression parsing.
17354 @item set debug frame
17355 @cindex frame debugging info
17356 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} frame debugging info. The
17357 default is off.
17358 @item show debug frame
17359 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} frame debugging
17360 info.
17361 @item set debug infrun
17362 @cindex inferior debugging info
17363 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for running the inferior.
17364 The default is off. @file{infrun.c} contains GDB's runtime state machine used
17365 for implementing operations such as single-stepping the inferior.
17366 @item show debug infrun
17367 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} inferior debugging.
17368 @item set debug lin-lwp
17369 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP debug messages
17370 @cindex Linux lightweight processes
17371 Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP debug support.
17372 @item show debug lin-lwp
17373 Show the current state of Linux LWP debugging messages.
17374 @item set debug lin-lwp-async
17375 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP async debug messages
17376 @cindex Linux lightweight processes
17377 Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP async debug support.
17378 @item show debug lin-lwp-async
17379 Show the current state of Linux LWP async debugging messages.
17380 @item set debug observer
17381 @cindex observer debugging info
17382 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} observer debugging. This
17383 includes info such as the notification of observable events.
17384 @item show debug observer
17385 Displays the current state of observer debugging.
17386 @item set debug overload
17387 @cindex C@t{++} overload debugging info
17388 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload debugging
17389 info. This includes info such as ranking of functions, etc. The default
17390 is off.
17391 @item show debug overload
17392 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload
17393 debugging info.
17394 @cindex packets, reporting on stdout
17395 @cindex serial connections, debugging
17396 @cindex debug remote protocol
17397 @cindex remote protocol debugging
17398 @cindex display remote packets
17399 @item set debug remote
17400 Turns on or off display of reports on all packets sent back and forth across
17401 the serial line to the remote machine. The info is printed on the
17402 @value{GDBN} standard output stream. The default is off.
17403 @item show debug remote
17404 Displays the state of display of remote packets.
17405 @item set debug serial
17406 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} serial debugging info. The
17407 default is off.
17408 @item show debug serial
17409 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} serial debugging
17410 info.
17411 @item set debug solib-frv
17412 @cindex FR-V shared-library debugging
17413 Turns on or off debugging messages for FR-V shared-library code.
17414 @item show debug solib-frv
17415 Display the current state of FR-V shared-library code debugging
17416 messages.
17417 @item set debug target
17418 @cindex target debugging info
17419 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} target debugging info. This info
17420 includes what is going on at the target level of GDB, as it happens. The
17421 default is 0. Set it to 1 to track events, and to 2 to also track the
17422 value of large memory transfers. Changes to this flag do not take effect
17423 until the next time you connect to a target or use the @code{run} command.
17424 @item show debug target
17425 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} target debugging
17426 info.
17427 @item set debug timestamp
17428 @cindex timestampping debugging info
17429 Turns on or off display of timestamps with @value{GDBN} debugging info.
17430 When enabled, seconds and microseconds are displayed before each debugging
17431 message.
17432 @item show debug timestamp
17433 Displays the current state of displaying timestamps with @value{GDBN}
17434 debugging info.
17435 @item set debugvarobj
17436 @cindex variable object debugging info
17437 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} variable object debugging
17438 info. The default is off.
17439 @item show debugvarobj
17440 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} variable object
17441 debugging info.
17442 @item set debug xml
17443 @cindex XML parser debugging
17444 Turns on or off debugging messages for built-in XML parsers.
17445 @item show debug xml
17446 Displays the current state of XML debugging messages.
17447 @end table
17448
17449 @node Extending GDB
17450 @chapter Extending @value{GDBN}
17451 @cindex extending GDB
17452
17453 @value{GDBN} provides two mechanisms for extension. The first is based
17454 on composition of @value{GDBN} commands, and the second is based on the
17455 Python scripting language.
17456
17457 @menu
17458 * Sequences:: Canned Sequences of Commands
17459 * Python:: Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
17460 @end menu
17461
17462 @node Sequences
17463 @section Canned Sequences of Commands
17464
17465 Aside from breakpoint commands (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint
17466 Command Lists}), @value{GDBN} provides two ways to store sequences of
17467 commands for execution as a unit: user-defined commands and command
17468 files.
17469
17470 @menu
17471 * Define:: How to define your own commands
17472 * Hooks:: Hooks for user-defined commands
17473 * Command Files:: How to write scripts of commands to be stored in a file
17474 * Output:: Commands for controlled output
17475 @end menu
17476
17477 @node Define
17478 @subsection User-defined Commands
17479
17480 @cindex user-defined command
17481 @cindex arguments, to user-defined commands
17482 A @dfn{user-defined command} is a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands to
17483 which you assign a new name as a command. This is done with the
17484 @code{define} command. User commands may accept up to 10 arguments
17485 separated by whitespace. Arguments are accessed within the user command
17486 via @code{$arg0@dots{}$arg9}. A trivial example:
17487
17488 @smallexample
17489 define adder
17490 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
17491 end
17492 @end smallexample
17493
17494 @noindent
17495 To execute the command use:
17496
17497 @smallexample
17498 adder 1 2 3
17499 @end smallexample
17500
17501 @noindent
17502 This defines the command @code{adder}, which prints the sum of
17503 its three arguments. Note the arguments are text substitutions, so they may
17504 reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
17505 functions calls.
17506
17507 @cindex argument count in user-defined commands
17508 @cindex how many arguments (user-defined commands)
17509 In addition, @code{$argc} may be used to find out how many arguments have
17510 been passed. This expands to a number in the range 0@dots{}10.
17511
17512 @smallexample
17513 define adder
17514 if $argc == 2
17515 print $arg0 + $arg1
17516 end
17517 if $argc == 3
17518 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
17519 end
17520 end
17521 @end smallexample
17522
17523 @table @code
17524
17525 @kindex define
17526 @item define @var{commandname}
17527 Define a command named @var{commandname}. If there is already a command
17528 by that name, you are asked to confirm that you want to redefine it.
17529
17530 The definition of the command is made up of other @value{GDBN} command lines,
17531 which are given following the @code{define} command. The end of these
17532 commands is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
17533
17534 @kindex document
17535 @kindex end@r{ (user-defined commands)}
17536 @item document @var{commandname}
17537 Document the user-defined command @var{commandname}, so that it can be
17538 accessed by @code{help}. The command @var{commandname} must already be
17539 defined. This command reads lines of documentation just as @code{define}
17540 reads the lines of the command definition, ending with @code{end}.
17541 After the @code{document} command is finished, @code{help} on command
17542 @var{commandname} displays the documentation you have written.
17543
17544 You may use the @code{document} command again to change the
17545 documentation of a command. Redefining the command with @code{define}
17546 does not change the documentation.
17547
17548 @kindex dont-repeat
17549 @cindex don't repeat command
17550 @item dont-repeat
17551 Used inside a user-defined command, this tells @value{GDBN} that this
17552 command should not be repeated when the user hits @key{RET}
17553 (@pxref{Command Syntax, repeat last command}).
17554
17555 @kindex help user-defined
17556 @item help user-defined
17557 List all user-defined commands, with the first line of the documentation
17558 (if any) for each.
17559
17560 @kindex show user
17561 @item show user
17562 @itemx show user @var{commandname}
17563 Display the @value{GDBN} commands used to define @var{commandname} (but
17564 not its documentation). If no @var{commandname} is given, display the
17565 definitions for all user-defined commands.
17566
17567 @cindex infinite recursion in user-defined commands
17568 @kindex show max-user-call-depth
17569 @kindex set max-user-call-depth
17570 @item show max-user-call-depth
17571 @itemx set max-user-call-depth
17572 The value of @code{max-user-call-depth} controls how many recursion
17573 levels are allowed in user-defined commands before @value{GDBN} suspects an
17574 infinite recursion and aborts the command.
17575 @end table
17576
17577 In addition to the above commands, user-defined commands frequently
17578 use control flow commands, described in @ref{Command Files}.
17579
17580 When user-defined commands are executed, the
17581 commands of the definition are not printed. An error in any command
17582 stops execution of the user-defined command.
17583
17584 If used interactively, commands that would ask for confirmation proceed
17585 without asking when used inside a user-defined command. Many @value{GDBN}
17586 commands that normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the
17587 messages when used in a user-defined command.
17588
17589 @node Hooks
17590 @subsection User-defined Command Hooks
17591 @cindex command hooks
17592 @cindex hooks, for commands
17593 @cindex hooks, pre-command
17594
17595 @kindex hook
17596 You may define @dfn{hooks}, which are a special kind of user-defined
17597 command. Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined
17598 command @samp{hook-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments)
17599 before that command.
17600
17601 @cindex hooks, post-command
17602 @kindex hookpost
17603 A hook may also be defined which is run after the command you executed.
17604 Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined command
17605 @samp{hookpost-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments) after
17606 that command. Post-execution hooks may exist simultaneously with
17607 pre-execution hooks, for the same command.
17608
17609 It is valid for a hook to call the command which it hooks. If this
17610 occurs, the hook is not re-executed, thereby avoiding infinite recursion.
17611
17612 @c It would be nice if hookpost could be passed a parameter indicating
17613 @c if the command it hooks executed properly or not. FIXME!
17614
17615 @kindex stop@r{, a pseudo-command}
17616 In addition, a pseudo-command, @samp{stop} exists. Defining
17617 (@samp{hook-stop}) makes the associated commands execute every time
17618 execution stops in your program: before breakpoint commands are run,
17619 displays are printed, or the stack frame is printed.
17620
17621 For example, to ignore @code{SIGALRM} signals while
17622 single-stepping, but treat them normally during normal execution,
17623 you could define:
17624
17625 @smallexample
17626 define hook-stop
17627 handle SIGALRM nopass
17628 end
17629
17630 define hook-run
17631 handle SIGALRM pass
17632 end
17633
17634 define hook-continue
17635 handle SIGALRM pass
17636 end
17637 @end smallexample
17638
17639 As a further example, to hook at the beginning and end of the @code{echo}
17640 command, and to add extra text to the beginning and end of the message,
17641 you could define:
17642
17643 @smallexample
17644 define hook-echo
17645 echo <<<---
17646 end
17647
17648 define hookpost-echo
17649 echo --->>>\n
17650 end
17651
17652 (@value{GDBP}) echo Hello World
17653 <<<---Hello World--->>>
17654 (@value{GDBP})
17655
17656 @end smallexample
17657
17658 You can define a hook for any single-word command in @value{GDBN}, but
17659 not for command aliases; you should define a hook for the basic command
17660 name, e.g.@: @code{backtrace} rather than @code{bt}.
17661 @c FIXME! So how does Joe User discover whether a command is an alias
17662 @c or not?
17663 If an error occurs during the execution of your hook, execution of
17664 @value{GDBN} commands stops and @value{GDBN} issues a prompt
17665 (before the command that you actually typed had a chance to run).
17666
17667 If you try to define a hook which does not match any known command, you
17668 get a warning from the @code{define} command.
17669
17670 @node Command Files
17671 @subsection Command Files
17672
17673 @cindex command files
17674 @cindex scripting commands
17675 A command file for @value{GDBN} is a text file made of lines that are
17676 @value{GDBN} commands. Comments (lines starting with @kbd{#}) may
17677 also be included. An empty line in a command file does nothing; it
17678 does not mean to repeat the last command, as it would from the
17679 terminal.
17680
17681 You can request the execution of a command file with the @code{source}
17682 command:
17683
17684 @table @code
17685 @kindex source
17686 @cindex execute commands from a file
17687 @item source [@code{-v}] @var{filename}
17688 Execute the command file @var{filename}.
17689 @end table
17690
17691 The lines in a command file are generally executed sequentially,
17692 unless the order of execution is changed by one of the
17693 @emph{flow-control commands} described below. The commands are not
17694 printed as they are executed. An error in any command terminates
17695 execution of the command file and control is returned to the console.
17696
17697 @value{GDBN} searches for @var{filename} in the current directory and then
17698 on the search path (specified with the @samp{directory} command).
17699
17700 If @code{-v}, for verbose mode, is given then @value{GDBN} displays
17701 each command as it is executed. The option must be given before
17702 @var{filename}, and is interpreted as part of the filename anywhere else.
17703
17704 Commands that would ask for confirmation if used interactively proceed
17705 without asking when used in a command file. Many @value{GDBN} commands that
17706 normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the messages
17707 when called from command files.
17708
17709 @value{GDBN} also accepts command input from standard input. In this
17710 mode, normal output goes to standard output and error output goes to
17711 standard error. Errors in a command file supplied on standard input do
17712 not terminate execution of the command file---execution continues with
17713 the next command.
17714
17715 @smallexample
17716 gdb < cmds > log 2>&1
17717 @end smallexample
17718
17719 (The syntax above will vary depending on the shell used.) This example
17720 will execute commands from the file @file{cmds}. All output and errors
17721 would be directed to @file{log}.
17722
17723 Since commands stored on command files tend to be more general than
17724 commands typed interactively, they frequently need to deal with
17725 complicated situations, such as different or unexpected values of
17726 variables and symbols, changes in how the program being debugged is
17727 built, etc. @value{GDBN} provides a set of flow-control commands to
17728 deal with these complexities. Using these commands, you can write
17729 complex scripts that loop over data structures, execute commands
17730 conditionally, etc.
17731
17732 @table @code
17733 @kindex if
17734 @kindex else
17735 @item if
17736 @itemx else
17737 This command allows to include in your script conditionally executed
17738 commands. The @code{if} command takes a single argument, which is an
17739 expression to evaluate. It is followed by a series of commands that
17740 are executed only if the expression is true (its value is nonzero).
17741 There can then optionally be an @code{else} line, followed by a series
17742 of commands that are only executed if the expression was false. The
17743 end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
17744
17745 @kindex while
17746 @item while
17747 This command allows to write loops. Its syntax is similar to
17748 @code{if}: the command takes a single argument, which is an expression
17749 to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to execute, one per
17750 line, terminated by an @code{end}. These commands are called the
17751 @dfn{body} of the loop. The commands in the body of @code{while} are
17752 executed repeatedly as long as the expression evaluates to true.
17753
17754 @kindex loop_break
17755 @item loop_break
17756 This command exits the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included.
17757 Execution of the script continues after that @code{while}s @code{end}
17758 line.
17759
17760 @kindex loop_continue
17761 @item loop_continue
17762 This command skips the execution of the rest of the body of commands
17763 in the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included. Execution
17764 branches to the beginning of the @code{while} loop, where it evaluates
17765 the controlling expression.
17766
17767 @kindex end@r{ (if/else/while commands)}
17768 @item end
17769 Terminate the block of commands that are the body of @code{if},
17770 @code{else}, or @code{while} flow-control commands.
17771 @end table
17772
17773
17774 @node Output
17775 @subsection Commands for Controlled Output
17776
17777 During the execution of a command file or a user-defined command, normal
17778 @value{GDBN} output is suppressed; the only output that appears is what is
17779 explicitly printed by the commands in the definition. This section
17780 describes three commands useful for generating exactly the output you
17781 want.
17782
17783 @table @code
17784 @kindex echo
17785 @item echo @var{text}
17786 @c I do not consider backslash-space a standard C escape sequence
17787 @c because it is not in ANSI.
17788 Print @var{text}. Nonprinting characters can be included in
17789 @var{text} using C escape sequences, such as @samp{\n} to print a
17790 newline. @strong{No newline is printed unless you specify one.}
17791 In addition to the standard C escape sequences, a backslash followed
17792 by a space stands for a space. This is useful for displaying a
17793 string with spaces at the beginning or the end, since leading and
17794 trailing spaces are otherwise trimmed from all arguments.
17795 To print @samp{@w{ }and foo =@w{ }}, use the command
17796 @samp{echo \@w{ }and foo = \@w{ }}.
17797
17798 A backslash at the end of @var{text} can be used, as in C, to continue
17799 the command onto subsequent lines. For example,
17800
17801 @smallexample
17802 echo This is some text\n\
17803 which is continued\n\
17804 onto several lines.\n
17805 @end smallexample
17806
17807 produces the same output as
17808
17809 @smallexample
17810 echo This is some text\n
17811 echo which is continued\n
17812 echo onto several lines.\n
17813 @end smallexample
17814
17815 @kindex output
17816 @item output @var{expression}
17817 Print the value of @var{expression} and nothing but that value: no
17818 newlines, no @samp{$@var{nn} = }. The value is not entered in the
17819 value history either. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information
17820 on expressions.
17821
17822 @item output/@var{fmt} @var{expression}
17823 Print the value of @var{expression} in format @var{fmt}. You can use
17824 the same formats as for @code{print}. @xref{Output Formats,,Output
17825 Formats}, for more information.
17826
17827 @kindex printf
17828 @item printf @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
17829 Print the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
17830 the string @var{template}. To print several values, make
17831 @var{expressions} be a comma-separated list of individual expressions,
17832 which may be either numbers or pointers. Their values are printed as
17833 specified by @var{template}, exactly as a C program would do by
17834 executing the code below:
17835
17836 @smallexample
17837 printf (@var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{});
17838 @end smallexample
17839
17840 As in @code{C} @code{printf}, ordinary characters in @var{template}
17841 are printed verbatim, while @dfn{conversion specification} introduced
17842 by the @samp{%} character cause subsequent @var{expressions} to be
17843 evaluated, their values converted and formatted according to type and
17844 style information encoded in the conversion specifications, and then
17845 printed.
17846
17847 For example, you can print two values in hex like this:
17848
17849 @smallexample
17850 printf "foo, bar-foo = 0x%x, 0x%x\n", foo, bar-foo
17851 @end smallexample
17852
17853 @code{printf} supports all the standard @code{C} conversion
17854 specifications, including the flags and modifiers between the @samp{%}
17855 character and the conversion letter, with the following exceptions:
17856
17857 @itemize @bullet
17858 @item
17859 The argument-ordering modifiers, such as @samp{2$}, are not supported.
17860
17861 @item
17862 The modifier @samp{*} is not supported for specifying precision or
17863 width.
17864
17865 @item
17866 The @samp{'} flag (for separation of digits into groups according to
17867 @code{LC_NUMERIC'}) is not supported.
17868
17869 @item
17870 The type modifiers @samp{hh}, @samp{j}, @samp{t}, and @samp{z} are not
17871 supported.
17872
17873 @item
17874 The conversion letter @samp{n} (as in @samp{%n}) is not supported.
17875
17876 @item
17877 The conversion letters @samp{a} and @samp{A} are not supported.
17878 @end itemize
17879
17880 @noindent
17881 Note that the @samp{ll} type modifier is supported only if the
17882 underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} supports
17883 the @code{long long int} type, and the @samp{L} type modifier is
17884 supported only if @code{long double} type is available.
17885
17886 As in @code{C}, @code{printf} supports simple backslash-escape
17887 sequences, such as @code{\n}, @samp{\t}, @samp{\\}, @samp{\"},
17888 @samp{\a}, and @samp{\f}, that consist of backslash followed by a
17889 single character. Octal and hexadecimal escape sequences are not
17890 supported.
17891
17892 Additionally, @code{printf} supports conversion specifications for DFP
17893 (@dfn{Decimal Floating Point}) types using the following length modifiers
17894 together with a floating point specifier.
17895 letters:
17896
17897 @itemize @bullet
17898 @item
17899 @samp{H} for printing @code{Decimal32} types.
17900
17901 @item
17902 @samp{D} for printing @code{Decimal64} types.
17903
17904 @item
17905 @samp{DD} for printing @code{Decimal128} types.
17906 @end itemize
17907
17908 If the underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} has
17909 support for the three length modifiers for DFP types, other modifiers
17910 such as width and precision will also be available for @value{GDBN} to use.
17911
17912 In case there is no such @code{C} support, no additional modifiers will be
17913 available and the value will be printed in the standard way.
17914
17915 Here's an example of printing DFP types using the above conversion letters:
17916 @smallexample
17917 printf "D32: %Hf - D64: %Df - D128: %DDf\n",1.2345df,1.2E10dd,1.2E1dl
17918 @end smallexample
17919
17920 @end table
17921
17922 @node Python
17923 @section Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
17924 @cindex python scripting
17925 @cindex scripting with python
17926
17927 You can script @value{GDBN} using the @uref{http://www.python.org/,
17928 Python programming language}. This feature is available only if
17929 @value{GDBN} was configured using @option{--with-python}.
17930
17931 @menu
17932 * Python Commands:: Accessing Python from @value{GDBN}.
17933 * Python API:: Accessing @value{GDBN} from Python.
17934 @end menu
17935
17936 @node Python Commands
17937 @subsection Python Commands
17938 @cindex python commands
17939 @cindex commands to access python
17940
17941 @value{GDBN} provides one command for accessing the Python interpreter,
17942 and one related setting:
17943
17944 @table @code
17945 @kindex python
17946 @item python @r{[}@var{code}@r{]}
17947 The @code{python} command can be used to evaluate Python code.
17948
17949 If given an argument, the @code{python} command will evaluate the
17950 argument as a Python command. For example:
17951
17952 @smallexample
17953 (@value{GDBP}) python print 23
17954 23
17955 @end smallexample
17956
17957 If you do not provide an argument to @code{python}, it will act as a
17958 multi-line command, like @code{define}. In this case, the Python
17959 script is made up of subsequent command lines, given after the
17960 @code{python} command. This command list is terminated using a line
17961 containing @code{end}. For example:
17962
17963 @smallexample
17964 (@value{GDBP}) python
17965 Type python script
17966 End with a line saying just "end".
17967 >print 23
17968 >end
17969 23
17970 @end smallexample
17971
17972 @kindex maint set python print-stack
17973 @item maint set python print-stack
17974 By default, @value{GDBN} will print a stack trace when an error occurs
17975 in a Python script. This can be controlled using @code{maint set
17976 python print-stack}: if @code{on}, the default, then Python stack
17977 printing is enabled; if @code{off}, then Python stack printing is
17978 disabled.
17979 @end table
17980
17981 @node Python API
17982 @subsection Python API
17983 @cindex python api
17984 @cindex programming in python
17985
17986 @cindex python stdout
17987 @cindex python pagination
17988 At startup, @value{GDBN} overrides Python's @code{sys.stdout} and
17989 @code{sys.stderr} to print using @value{GDBN}'s output-paging streams.
17990 A Python program which outputs to one of these streams may have its
17991 output interrupted by the user (@pxref{Screen Size}). In this
17992 situation, a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception is thrown.
17993
17994 @menu
17995 * Basic Python:: Basic Python Functions.
17996 * Exception Handling::
17997 * Values From Inferior::
17998 @end menu
17999
18000 @node Basic Python
18001 @subsubsection Basic Python
18002
18003 @cindex python functions
18004 @cindex python module
18005 @cindex gdb module
18006 @value{GDBN} introduces a new Python module, named @code{gdb}. All
18007 methods and classes added by @value{GDBN} are placed in this module.
18008 @value{GDBN} automatically @code{import}s the @code{gdb} module for
18009 use in all scripts evaluated by the @code{python} command.
18010
18011 @findex gdb.execute
18012 @defun execute command
18013 Evaluate @var{command}, a string, as a @value{GDBN} CLI command.
18014 If a GDB exception happens while @var{command} runs, it is
18015 translated as described in @ref{Exception Handling,,Exception Handling}.
18016 If no exceptions occur, this function returns @code{None}.
18017 @end defun
18018
18019 @findex gdb.get_parameter
18020 @defun get_parameter parameter
18021 Return the value of a @value{GDBN} parameter. @var{parameter} is a
18022 string naming the parameter to look up; @var{parameter} may contain
18023 spaces if the parameter has a multi-part name. For example,
18024 @samp{print object} is a valid parameter name.
18025
18026 If the named parameter does not exist, this function throws a
18027 @code{RuntimeError}. Otherwise, the parameter's value is converted to
18028 a Python value of the appropriate type, and returned.
18029 @end defun
18030
18031 @findex gdb.write
18032 @defun write string
18033 Print a string to @value{GDBN}'s paginated standard output stream.
18034 Writing to @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
18035 call this function.
18036 @end defun
18037
18038 @findex gdb.flush
18039 @defun flush
18040 Flush @value{GDBN}'s paginated standard output stream. Flushing
18041 @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically call this
18042 function.
18043 @end defun
18044
18045 @node Exception Handling
18046 @subsubsection Exception Handling
18047 @cindex python exceptions
18048 @cindex exceptions, python
18049
18050 When executing the @code{python} command, Python exceptions
18051 uncaught within the Python code are translated to calls to
18052 @value{GDBN} error-reporting mechanism. If the command that called
18053 @code{python} does not handle the error, @value{GDBN} will
18054 terminate it and print an error message containing the Python
18055 exception name, the associated value, and the Python call stack
18056 backtrace at the point where the exception was raised. Example:
18057
18058 @smallexample
18059 (@value{GDBP}) python print foo
18060 Traceback (most recent call last):
18061 File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
18062 NameError: name 'foo' is not defined
18063 @end smallexample
18064
18065 @value{GDBN} errors that happen in @value{GDBN} commands invoked by Python
18066 code are converted to Python @code{RuntimeError} exceptions. User
18067 interrupt (via @kbd{C-c} or by typing @kbd{q} at a pagination
18068 prompt) is translated to a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt}
18069 exception. If you catch these exceptions in your Python code, your
18070 exception handler will see @code{RuntimeError} or
18071 @code{KeyboardInterrupt} as the exception type, the @value{GDBN} error
18072 message as its value, and the Python call stack backtrace at the
18073 Python statement closest to where the @value{GDBN} error occured as the
18074 traceback.
18075
18076 @node Values From Inferior
18077 @subsubsection Values From Inferior
18078 @cindex values from inferior, with Python
18079 @cindex python, working with values from inferior
18080
18081 @cindex @code{gdb.Value}
18082 @value{GDBN} provides values it obtains from the inferior program in
18083 an object of type @code{gdb.Value}. @value{GDBN} uses this object
18084 for its internal bookkeeping of the inferior's values, and for
18085 fetching values when necessary.
18086
18087 Inferior values that are simple scalars can be used directly in
18088 Python expressions that are valid for the value's data type. Here's
18089 an example for an integer or floating-point value @code{some_val}:
18090
18091 @smallexample
18092 bar = some_val + 2
18093 @end smallexample
18094
18095 @noindent
18096 As result of this, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object
18097 whose values are of the same type as those of @code{some_val}.
18098
18099 Inferior values that are structures or instances of some class can
18100 be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}. For example, if
18101 @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance holding a structure, you
18102 can access its @code{foo} element with:
18103
18104 @smallexample
18105 bar = some_val['foo']
18106 @end smallexample
18107
18108 Again, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object.
18109
18110 For pointer data types, @code{gdb.Value} provides a method for
18111 dereferencing the pointer to obtain the object it points to.
18112
18113 @defmethod Value dereference
18114 This method returns a new @code{gdb.Value} object whose contents is
18115 the object pointed to by the pointer. For example, if @code{foo} is
18116 a C pointer to an @code{int}, declared in your C program as
18117
18118 @smallexample
18119 int *foo;
18120 @end smallexample
18121
18122 @noindent
18123 then you can use the corresponding @code{gdb.Value} to access what
18124 @code{foo} points to like this:
18125
18126 @smallexample
18127 bar = foo.dereference ()
18128 @end smallexample
18129
18130 The result @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Value} object holding the
18131 value pointed to by @code{foo}.
18132 @end defmethod
18133
18134 @node Interpreters
18135 @chapter Command Interpreters
18136 @cindex command interpreters
18137
18138 @value{GDBN} supports multiple command interpreters, and some command
18139 infrastructure to allow users or user interface writers to switch
18140 between interpreters or run commands in other interpreters.
18141
18142 @value{GDBN} currently supports two command interpreters, the console
18143 interpreter (sometimes called the command-line interpreter or @sc{cli})
18144 and the machine interface interpreter (or @sc{gdb/mi}). This manual
18145 describes both of these interfaces in great detail.
18146
18147 By default, @value{GDBN} will start with the console interpreter.
18148 However, the user may choose to start @value{GDBN} with another
18149 interpreter by specifying the @option{-i} or @option{--interpreter}
18150 startup options. Defined interpreters include:
18151
18152 @table @code
18153 @item console
18154 @cindex console interpreter
18155 The traditional console or command-line interpreter. This is the most often
18156 used interpreter with @value{GDBN}. With no interpreter specified at runtime,
18157 @value{GDBN} will use this interpreter.
18158
18159 @item mi
18160 @cindex mi interpreter
18161 The newest @sc{gdb/mi} interface (currently @code{mi2}). Used primarily
18162 by programs wishing to use @value{GDBN} as a backend for a debugger GUI
18163 or an IDE. For more information, see @ref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi}
18164 Interface}.
18165
18166 @item mi2
18167 @cindex mi2 interpreter
18168 The current @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
18169
18170 @item mi1
18171 @cindex mi1 interpreter
18172 The @sc{gdb/mi} interface included in @value{GDBN} 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3.
18173
18174 @end table
18175
18176 @cindex invoke another interpreter
18177 The interpreter being used by @value{GDBN} may not be dynamically
18178 switched at runtime. Although possible, this could lead to a very
18179 precarious situation. Consider an IDE using @sc{gdb/mi}. If a user
18180 enters the command "interpreter-set console" in a console view,
18181 @value{GDBN} would switch to using the console interpreter, rendering
18182 the IDE inoperable!
18183
18184 @kindex interpreter-exec
18185 Although you may only choose a single interpreter at startup, you may execute
18186 commands in any interpreter from the current interpreter using the appropriate
18187 command. If you are running the console interpreter, simply use the
18188 @code{interpreter-exec} command:
18189
18190 @smallexample
18191 interpreter-exec mi "-data-list-register-names"
18192 @end smallexample
18193
18194 @sc{gdb/mi} has a similar command, although it is only available in versions of
18195 @value{GDBN} which support @sc{gdb/mi} version 2 (or greater).
18196
18197 @node TUI
18198 @chapter @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
18199 @cindex TUI
18200 @cindex Text User Interface
18201
18202 @menu
18203 * TUI Overview:: TUI overview
18204 * TUI Keys:: TUI key bindings
18205 * TUI Single Key Mode:: TUI single key mode
18206 * TUI Commands:: TUI-specific commands
18207 * TUI Configuration:: TUI configuration variables
18208 @end menu
18209
18210 The @value{GDBN} Text User Interface (TUI) is a terminal
18211 interface which uses the @code{curses} library to show the source
18212 file, the assembly output, the program registers and @value{GDBN}
18213 commands in separate text windows. The TUI mode is supported only
18214 on platforms where a suitable version of the @code{curses} library
18215 is available.
18216
18217 @pindex @value{GDBTUI}
18218 The TUI mode is enabled by default when you invoke @value{GDBN} as
18219 either @samp{@value{GDBTUI}} or @samp{@value{GDBP} -tui}.
18220 You can also switch in and out of TUI mode while @value{GDBN} runs by
18221 using various TUI commands and key bindings, such as @kbd{C-x C-a}.
18222 @xref{TUI Keys, ,TUI Key Bindings}.
18223
18224 @node TUI Overview
18225 @section TUI Overview
18226
18227 In TUI mode, @value{GDBN} can display several text windows:
18228
18229 @table @emph
18230 @item command
18231 This window is the @value{GDBN} command window with the @value{GDBN}
18232 prompt and the @value{GDBN} output. The @value{GDBN} input is still
18233 managed using readline.
18234
18235 @item source
18236 The source window shows the source file of the program. The current
18237 line and active breakpoints are displayed in this window.
18238
18239 @item assembly
18240 The assembly window shows the disassembly output of the program.
18241
18242 @item register
18243 This window shows the processor registers. Registers are highlighted
18244 when their values change.
18245 @end table
18246
18247 The source and assembly windows show the current program position
18248 by highlighting the current line and marking it with a @samp{>} marker.
18249 Breakpoints are indicated with two markers. The first marker
18250 indicates the breakpoint type:
18251
18252 @table @code
18253 @item B
18254 Breakpoint which was hit at least once.
18255
18256 @item b
18257 Breakpoint which was never hit.
18258
18259 @item H
18260 Hardware breakpoint which was hit at least once.
18261
18262 @item h
18263 Hardware breakpoint which was never hit.
18264 @end table
18265
18266 The second marker indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled or not:
18267
18268 @table @code
18269 @item +
18270 Breakpoint is enabled.
18271
18272 @item -
18273 Breakpoint is disabled.
18274 @end table
18275
18276 The source, assembly and register windows are updated when the current
18277 thread changes, when the frame changes, or when the program counter
18278 changes.
18279
18280 These windows are not all visible at the same time. The command
18281 window is always visible. The others can be arranged in several
18282 layouts:
18283
18284 @itemize @bullet
18285 @item
18286 source only,
18287
18288 @item
18289 assembly only,
18290
18291 @item
18292 source and assembly,
18293
18294 @item
18295 source and registers, or
18296
18297 @item
18298 assembly and registers.
18299 @end itemize
18300
18301 A status line above the command window shows the following information:
18302
18303 @table @emph
18304 @item target
18305 Indicates the current @value{GDBN} target.
18306 (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
18307
18308 @item process
18309 Gives the current process or thread number.
18310 When no process is being debugged, this field is set to @code{No process}.
18311
18312 @item function
18313 Gives the current function name for the selected frame.
18314 The name is demangled if demangling is turned on (@pxref{Print Settings}).
18315 When there is no symbol corresponding to the current program counter,
18316 the string @code{??} is displayed.
18317
18318 @item line
18319 Indicates the current line number for the selected frame.
18320 When the current line number is not known, the string @code{??} is displayed.
18321
18322 @item pc
18323 Indicates the current program counter address.
18324 @end table
18325
18326 @node TUI Keys
18327 @section TUI Key Bindings
18328 @cindex TUI key bindings
18329
18330 The TUI installs several key bindings in the readline keymaps
18331 (@pxref{Command Line Editing}). The following key bindings
18332 are installed for both TUI mode and the @value{GDBN} standard mode.
18333
18334 @table @kbd
18335 @kindex C-x C-a
18336 @item C-x C-a
18337 @kindex C-x a
18338 @itemx C-x a
18339 @kindex C-x A
18340 @itemx C-x A
18341 Enter or leave the TUI mode. When leaving the TUI mode,
18342 the curses window management stops and @value{GDBN} operates using
18343 its standard mode, writing on the terminal directly. When reentering
18344 the TUI mode, control is given back to the curses windows.
18345 The screen is then refreshed.
18346
18347 @kindex C-x 1
18348 @item C-x 1
18349 Use a TUI layout with only one window. The layout will
18350 either be @samp{source} or @samp{assembly}. When the TUI mode
18351 is not active, it will switch to the TUI mode.
18352
18353 Think of this key binding as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 1} binding.
18354
18355 @kindex C-x 2
18356 @item C-x 2
18357 Use a TUI layout with at least two windows. When the current
18358 layout already has two windows, the next layout with two windows is used.
18359 When a new layout is chosen, one window will always be common to the
18360 previous layout and the new one.
18361
18362 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 2} binding.
18363
18364 @kindex C-x o
18365 @item C-x o
18366 Change the active window. The TUI associates several key bindings
18367 (like scrolling and arrow keys) with the active window. This command
18368 gives the focus to the next TUI window.
18369
18370 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x o} binding.
18371
18372 @kindex C-x s
18373 @item C-x s
18374 Switch in and out of the TUI SingleKey mode that binds single
18375 keys to @value{GDBN} commands (@pxref{TUI Single Key Mode}).
18376 @end table
18377
18378 The following key bindings only work in the TUI mode:
18379
18380 @table @asis
18381 @kindex PgUp
18382 @item @key{PgUp}
18383 Scroll the active window one page up.
18384
18385 @kindex PgDn
18386 @item @key{PgDn}
18387 Scroll the active window one page down.
18388
18389 @kindex Up
18390 @item @key{Up}
18391 Scroll the active window one line up.
18392
18393 @kindex Down
18394 @item @key{Down}
18395 Scroll the active window one line down.
18396
18397 @kindex Left
18398 @item @key{Left}
18399 Scroll the active window one column left.
18400
18401 @kindex Right
18402 @item @key{Right}
18403 Scroll the active window one column right.
18404
18405 @kindex C-L
18406 @item @kbd{C-L}
18407 Refresh the screen.
18408 @end table
18409
18410 Because the arrow keys scroll the active window in the TUI mode, they
18411 are not available for their normal use by readline unless the command
18412 window has the focus. When another window is active, you must use
18413 other readline key bindings such as @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}
18414 and @kbd{C-f} to control the command window.
18415
18416 @node TUI Single Key Mode
18417 @section TUI Single Key Mode
18418 @cindex TUI single key mode
18419
18420 The TUI also provides a @dfn{SingleKey} mode, which binds several
18421 frequently used @value{GDBN} commands to single keys. Type @kbd{C-x s} to
18422 switch into this mode, where the following key bindings are used:
18423
18424 @table @kbd
18425 @kindex c @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
18426 @item c
18427 continue
18428
18429 @kindex d @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
18430 @item d
18431 down
18432
18433 @kindex f @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
18434 @item f
18435 finish
18436
18437 @kindex n @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
18438 @item n
18439 next
18440
18441 @kindex q @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
18442 @item q
18443 exit the SingleKey mode.
18444
18445 @kindex r @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
18446 @item r
18447 run
18448
18449 @kindex s @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
18450 @item s
18451 step
18452
18453 @kindex u @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
18454 @item u
18455 up
18456
18457 @kindex v @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
18458 @item v
18459 info locals
18460
18461 @kindex w @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
18462 @item w
18463 where
18464 @end table
18465
18466 Other keys temporarily switch to the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
18467 The key that was pressed is inserted in the editing buffer so that
18468 it is possible to type most @value{GDBN} commands without interaction
18469 with the TUI SingleKey mode. Once the command is entered the TUI
18470 SingleKey mode is restored. The only way to permanently leave
18471 this mode is by typing @kbd{q} or @kbd{C-x s}.
18472
18473
18474 @node TUI Commands
18475 @section TUI-specific Commands
18476 @cindex TUI commands
18477
18478 The TUI has specific commands to control the text windows.
18479 These commands are always available, even when @value{GDBN} is not in
18480 the TUI mode. When @value{GDBN} is in the standard mode, most
18481 of these commands will automatically switch to the TUI mode.
18482
18483 @table @code
18484 @item info win
18485 @kindex info win
18486 List and give the size of all displayed windows.
18487
18488 @item layout next
18489 @kindex layout
18490 Display the next layout.
18491
18492 @item layout prev
18493 Display the previous layout.
18494
18495 @item layout src
18496 Display the source window only.
18497
18498 @item layout asm
18499 Display the assembly window only.
18500
18501 @item layout split
18502 Display the source and assembly window.
18503
18504 @item layout regs
18505 Display the register window together with the source or assembly window.
18506
18507 @item focus next
18508 @kindex focus
18509 Make the next window active for scrolling.
18510
18511 @item focus prev
18512 Make the previous window active for scrolling.
18513
18514 @item focus src
18515 Make the source window active for scrolling.
18516
18517 @item focus asm
18518 Make the assembly window active for scrolling.
18519
18520 @item focus regs
18521 Make the register window active for scrolling.
18522
18523 @item focus cmd
18524 Make the command window active for scrolling.
18525
18526 @item refresh
18527 @kindex refresh
18528 Refresh the screen. This is similar to typing @kbd{C-L}.
18529
18530 @item tui reg float
18531 @kindex tui reg
18532 Show the floating point registers in the register window.
18533
18534 @item tui reg general
18535 Show the general registers in the register window.
18536
18537 @item tui reg next
18538 Show the next register group. The list of register groups as well as
18539 their order is target specific. The predefined register groups are the
18540 following: @code{general}, @code{float}, @code{system}, @code{vector},
18541 @code{all}, @code{save}, @code{restore}.
18542
18543 @item tui reg system
18544 Show the system registers in the register window.
18545
18546 @item update
18547 @kindex update
18548 Update the source window and the current execution point.
18549
18550 @item winheight @var{name} +@var{count}
18551 @itemx winheight @var{name} -@var{count}
18552 @kindex winheight
18553 Change the height of the window @var{name} by @var{count}
18554 lines. Positive counts increase the height, while negative counts
18555 decrease it.
18556
18557 @item tabset @var{nchars}
18558 @kindex tabset
18559 Set the width of tab stops to be @var{nchars} characters.
18560 @end table
18561
18562 @node TUI Configuration
18563 @section TUI Configuration Variables
18564 @cindex TUI configuration variables
18565
18566 Several configuration variables control the appearance of TUI windows.
18567
18568 @table @code
18569 @item set tui border-kind @var{kind}
18570 @kindex set tui border-kind
18571 Select the border appearance for the source, assembly and register windows.
18572 The possible values are the following:
18573 @table @code
18574 @item space
18575 Use a space character to draw the border.
18576
18577 @item ascii
18578 Use @sc{ascii} characters @samp{+}, @samp{-} and @samp{|} to draw the border.
18579
18580 @item acs
18581 Use the Alternate Character Set to draw the border. The border is
18582 drawn using character line graphics if the terminal supports them.
18583 @end table
18584
18585 @item set tui border-mode @var{mode}
18586 @kindex set tui border-mode
18587 @itemx set tui active-border-mode @var{mode}
18588 @kindex set tui active-border-mode
18589 Select the display attributes for the borders of the inactive windows
18590 or the active window. The @var{mode} can be one of the following:
18591 @table @code
18592 @item normal
18593 Use normal attributes to display the border.
18594
18595 @item standout
18596 Use standout mode.
18597
18598 @item reverse
18599 Use reverse video mode.
18600
18601 @item half
18602 Use half bright mode.
18603
18604 @item half-standout
18605 Use half bright and standout mode.
18606
18607 @item bold
18608 Use extra bright or bold mode.
18609
18610 @item bold-standout
18611 Use extra bright or bold and standout mode.
18612 @end table
18613 @end table
18614
18615 @node Emacs
18616 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
18617
18618 @cindex Emacs
18619 @cindex @sc{gnu} Emacs
18620 A special interface allows you to use @sc{gnu} Emacs to view (and
18621 edit) the source files for the program you are debugging with
18622 @value{GDBN}.
18623
18624 To use this interface, use the command @kbd{M-x gdb} in Emacs. Give the
18625 executable file you want to debug as an argument. This command starts
18626 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess of Emacs, with input and output through a newly
18627 created Emacs buffer.
18628 @c (Do not use the @code{-tui} option to run @value{GDBN} from Emacs.)
18629
18630 Running @value{GDBN} under Emacs can be just like running @value{GDBN} normally except for two
18631 things:
18632
18633 @itemize @bullet
18634 @item
18635 All ``terminal'' input and output goes through an Emacs buffer, called
18636 the GUD buffer.
18637
18638 This applies both to @value{GDBN} commands and their output, and to the input
18639 and output done by the program you are debugging.
18640
18641 This is useful because it means that you can copy the text of previous
18642 commands and input them again; you can even use parts of the output
18643 in this way.
18644
18645 All the facilities of Emacs' Shell mode are available for interacting
18646 with your program. In particular, you can send signals the usual
18647 way---for example, @kbd{C-c C-c} for an interrupt, @kbd{C-c C-z} for a
18648 stop.
18649
18650 @item
18651 @value{GDBN} displays source code through Emacs.
18652
18653 Each time @value{GDBN} displays a stack frame, Emacs automatically finds the
18654 source file for that frame and puts an arrow (@samp{=>}) at the
18655 left margin of the current line. Emacs uses a separate buffer for
18656 source display, and splits the screen to show both your @value{GDBN} session
18657 and the source.
18658
18659 Explicit @value{GDBN} @code{list} or search commands still produce output as
18660 usual, but you probably have no reason to use them from Emacs.
18661 @end itemize
18662
18663 We call this @dfn{text command mode}. Emacs 22.1, and later, also uses
18664 a graphical mode, enabled by default, which provides further buffers
18665 that can control the execution and describe the state of your program.
18666 @xref{GDB Graphical Interface,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}.
18667
18668 If you specify an absolute file name when prompted for the @kbd{M-x
18669 gdb} argument, then Emacs sets your current working directory to where
18670 your program resides. If you only specify the file name, then Emacs
18671 sets your current working directory to to the directory associated
18672 with the previous buffer. In this case, @value{GDBN} may find your
18673 program by searching your environment's @code{PATH} variable, but on
18674 some operating systems it might not find the source. So, although the
18675 @value{GDBN} input and output session proceeds normally, the auxiliary
18676 buffer does not display the current source and line of execution.
18677
18678 The initial working directory of @value{GDBN} is printed on the top
18679 line of the GUD buffer and this serves as a default for the commands
18680 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files,
18681 ,Commands to Specify Files}.
18682
18683 By default, @kbd{M-x gdb} calls the program called @file{gdb}. If you
18684 need to call @value{GDBN} by a different name (for example, if you
18685 keep several configurations around, with different names) you can
18686 customize the Emacs variable @code{gud-gdb-command-name} to run the
18687 one you want.
18688
18689 In the GUD buffer, you can use these special Emacs commands in
18690 addition to the standard Shell mode commands:
18691
18692 @table @kbd
18693 @item C-h m
18694 Describe the features of Emacs' GUD Mode.
18695
18696 @item C-c C-s
18697 Execute to another source line, like the @value{GDBN} @code{step} command; also
18698 update the display window to show the current file and location.
18699
18700 @item C-c C-n
18701 Execute to next source line in this function, skipping all function
18702 calls, like the @value{GDBN} @code{next} command. Then update the display window
18703 to show the current file and location.
18704
18705 @item C-c C-i
18706 Execute one instruction, like the @value{GDBN} @code{stepi} command; update
18707 display window accordingly.
18708
18709 @item C-c C-f
18710 Execute until exit from the selected stack frame, like the @value{GDBN}
18711 @code{finish} command.
18712
18713 @item C-c C-r
18714 Continue execution of your program, like the @value{GDBN} @code{continue}
18715 command.
18716
18717 @item C-c <
18718 Go up the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument
18719 (@pxref{Arguments, , Numeric Arguments, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}),
18720 like the @value{GDBN} @code{up} command.
18721
18722 @item C-c >
18723 Go down the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument, like the
18724 @value{GDBN} @code{down} command.
18725 @end table
18726
18727 In any source file, the Emacs command @kbd{C-x @key{SPC}} (@code{gud-break})
18728 tells @value{GDBN} to set a breakpoint on the source line point is on.
18729
18730 In text command mode, if you type @kbd{M-x speedbar}, Emacs displays a
18731 separate frame which shows a backtrace when the GUD buffer is current.
18732 Move point to any frame in the stack and type @key{RET} to make it
18733 become the current frame and display the associated source in the
18734 source buffer. Alternatively, click @kbd{Mouse-2} to make the
18735 selected frame become the current one. In graphical mode, the
18736 speedbar displays watch expressions.
18737
18738 If you accidentally delete the source-display buffer, an easy way to get
18739 it back is to type the command @code{f} in the @value{GDBN} buffer, to
18740 request a frame display; when you run under Emacs, this recreates
18741 the source buffer if necessary to show you the context of the current
18742 frame.
18743
18744 The source files displayed in Emacs are in ordinary Emacs buffers
18745 which are visiting the source files in the usual way. You can edit
18746 the files with these buffers if you wish; but keep in mind that @value{GDBN}
18747 communicates with Emacs in terms of line numbers. If you add or
18748 delete lines from the text, the line numbers that @value{GDBN} knows cease
18749 to correspond properly with the code.
18750
18751 A more detailed description of Emacs' interaction with @value{GDBN} is
18752 given in the Emacs manual (@pxref{Debuggers,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu}
18753 Emacs Manual}).
18754
18755 @c The following dropped because Epoch is nonstandard. Reactivate
18756 @c if/when v19 does something similar. ---doc@cygnus.com 19dec1990
18757 @ignore
18758 @kindex Emacs Epoch environment
18759 @kindex Epoch
18760 @kindex inspect
18761
18762 Version 18 of @sc{gnu} Emacs has a built-in window system
18763 called the @code{epoch}
18764 environment. Users of this environment can use a new command,
18765 @code{inspect} which performs identically to @code{print} except that
18766 each value is printed in its own window.
18767 @end ignore
18768
18769
18770 @node GDB/MI
18771 @chapter The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface
18772
18773 @unnumberedsec Function and Purpose
18774
18775 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, its purpose
18776 @sc{gdb/mi} is a line based machine oriented text interface to
18777 @value{GDBN} and is activated by specifying using the
18778 @option{--interpreter} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}). It
18779 is specifically intended to support the development of systems which
18780 use the debugger as just one small component of a larger system.
18781
18782 This chapter is a specification of the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. It is written
18783 in the form of a reference manual.
18784
18785 Note that @sc{gdb/mi} is still under construction, so some of the
18786 features described below are incomplete and subject to change
18787 (@pxref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, , @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends}).
18788
18789 @unnumberedsec Notation and Terminology
18790
18791 @cindex notational conventions, for @sc{gdb/mi}
18792 This chapter uses the following notation:
18793
18794 @itemize @bullet
18795 @item
18796 @code{|} separates two alternatives.
18797
18798 @item
18799 @code{[ @var{something} ]} indicates that @var{something} is optional:
18800 it may or may not be given.
18801
18802 @item
18803 @code{( @var{group} )*} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
18804 may repeat zero or more times.
18805
18806 @item
18807 @code{( @var{group} )+} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
18808 may repeat one or more times.
18809
18810 @item
18811 @code{"@var{string}"} means a literal @var{string}.
18812 @end itemize
18813
18814 @ignore
18815 @heading Dependencies
18816 @end ignore
18817
18818 @menu
18819 * GDB/MI Command Syntax::
18820 * GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI::
18821 * GDB/MI Development and Front Ends::
18822 * GDB/MI Output Records::
18823 * GDB/MI Simple Examples::
18824 * GDB/MI Command Description Format::
18825 * GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands::
18826 * GDB/MI Program Context::
18827 * GDB/MI Thread Commands::
18828 * GDB/MI Program Execution::
18829 * GDB/MI Stack Manipulation::
18830 * GDB/MI Variable Objects::
18831 * GDB/MI Data Manipulation::
18832 * GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands::
18833 * GDB/MI Symbol Query::
18834 * GDB/MI File Commands::
18835 @ignore
18836 * GDB/MI Kod Commands::
18837 * GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands::
18838 * GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands::
18839 @end ignore
18840 * GDB/MI Target Manipulation::
18841 * GDB/MI File Transfer Commands::
18842 * GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands::
18843 @end menu
18844
18845 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
18846 @node GDB/MI Command Syntax
18847 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Syntax
18848
18849 @menu
18850 * GDB/MI Input Syntax::
18851 * GDB/MI Output Syntax::
18852 @end menu
18853
18854 @node GDB/MI Input Syntax
18855 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Input Syntax
18856
18857 @cindex input syntax for @sc{gdb/mi}
18858 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, input syntax
18859 @table @code
18860 @item @var{command} @expansion{}
18861 @code{@var{cli-command} | @var{mi-command}}
18862
18863 @item @var{cli-command} @expansion{}
18864 @code{[ @var{token} ] @var{cli-command} @var{nl}}, where
18865 @var{cli-command} is any existing @value{GDBN} CLI command.
18866
18867 @item @var{mi-command} @expansion{}
18868 @code{[ @var{token} ] "-" @var{operation} ( " " @var{option} )*
18869 @code{[} " --" @code{]} ( " " @var{parameter} )* @var{nl}}
18870
18871 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
18872 "any sequence of digits"
18873
18874 @item @var{option} @expansion{}
18875 @code{"-" @var{parameter} [ " " @var{parameter} ]}
18876
18877 @item @var{parameter} @expansion{}
18878 @code{@var{non-blank-sequence} | @var{c-string}}
18879
18880 @item @var{operation} @expansion{}
18881 @emph{any of the operations described in this chapter}
18882
18883 @item @var{non-blank-sequence} @expansion{}
18884 @emph{anything, provided it doesn't contain special characters such as
18885 "-", @var{nl}, """ and of course " "}
18886
18887 @item @var{c-string} @expansion{}
18888 @code{""" @var{seven-bit-iso-c-string-content} """}
18889
18890 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
18891 @code{CR | CR-LF}
18892 @end table
18893
18894 @noindent
18895 Notes:
18896
18897 @itemize @bullet
18898 @item
18899 The CLI commands are still handled by the @sc{mi} interpreter; their
18900 output is described below.
18901
18902 @item
18903 The @code{@var{token}}, when present, is passed back when the command
18904 finishes.
18905
18906 @item
18907 Some @sc{mi} commands accept optional arguments as part of the parameter
18908 list. Each option is identified by a leading @samp{-} (dash) and may be
18909 followed by an optional argument parameter. Options occur first in the
18910 parameter list and can be delimited from normal parameters using
18911 @samp{--} (this is useful when some parameters begin with a dash).
18912 @end itemize
18913
18914 Pragmatics:
18915
18916 @itemize @bullet
18917 @item
18918 We want easy access to the existing CLI syntax (for debugging).
18919
18920 @item
18921 We want it to be easy to spot a @sc{mi} operation.
18922 @end itemize
18923
18924 @node GDB/MI Output Syntax
18925 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax
18926
18927 @cindex output syntax of @sc{gdb/mi}
18928 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, output syntax
18929 The output from @sc{gdb/mi} consists of zero or more out-of-band records
18930 followed, optionally, by a single result record. This result record
18931 is for the most recent command. The sequence of output records is
18932 terminated by @samp{(gdb)}.
18933
18934 If an input command was prefixed with a @code{@var{token}} then the
18935 corresponding output for that command will also be prefixed by that same
18936 @var{token}.
18937
18938 @table @code
18939 @item @var{output} @expansion{}
18940 @code{( @var{out-of-band-record} )* [ @var{result-record} ] "(gdb)" @var{nl}}
18941
18942 @item @var{result-record} @expansion{}
18943 @code{ [ @var{token} ] "^" @var{result-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
18944
18945 @item @var{out-of-band-record} @expansion{}
18946 @code{@var{async-record} | @var{stream-record}}
18947
18948 @item @var{async-record} @expansion{}
18949 @code{@var{exec-async-output} | @var{status-async-output} | @var{notify-async-output}}
18950
18951 @item @var{exec-async-output} @expansion{}
18952 @code{[ @var{token} ] "*" @var{async-output}}
18953
18954 @item @var{status-async-output} @expansion{}
18955 @code{[ @var{token} ] "+" @var{async-output}}
18956
18957 @item @var{notify-async-output} @expansion{}
18958 @code{[ @var{token} ] "=" @var{async-output}}
18959
18960 @item @var{async-output} @expansion{}
18961 @code{@var{async-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
18962
18963 @item @var{result-class} @expansion{}
18964 @code{"done" | "running" | "connected" | "error" | "exit"}
18965
18966 @item @var{async-class} @expansion{}
18967 @code{"stopped" | @var{others}} (where @var{others} will be added
18968 depending on the needs---this is still in development).
18969
18970 @item @var{result} @expansion{}
18971 @code{ @var{variable} "=" @var{value}}
18972
18973 @item @var{variable} @expansion{}
18974 @code{ @var{string} }
18975
18976 @item @var{value} @expansion{}
18977 @code{ @var{const} | @var{tuple} | @var{list} }
18978
18979 @item @var{const} @expansion{}
18980 @code{@var{c-string}}
18981
18982 @item @var{tuple} @expansion{}
18983 @code{ "@{@}" | "@{" @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "@}" }
18984
18985 @item @var{list} @expansion{}
18986 @code{ "[]" | "[" @var{value} ( "," @var{value} )* "]" | "["
18987 @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "]" }
18988
18989 @item @var{stream-record} @expansion{}
18990 @code{@var{console-stream-output} | @var{target-stream-output} | @var{log-stream-output}}
18991
18992 @item @var{console-stream-output} @expansion{}
18993 @code{"~" @var{c-string}}
18994
18995 @item @var{target-stream-output} @expansion{}
18996 @code{"@@" @var{c-string}}
18997
18998 @item @var{log-stream-output} @expansion{}
18999 @code{"&" @var{c-string}}
19000
19001 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
19002 @code{CR | CR-LF}
19003
19004 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
19005 @emph{any sequence of digits}.
19006 @end table
19007
19008 @noindent
19009 Notes:
19010
19011 @itemize @bullet
19012 @item
19013 All output sequences end in a single line containing a period.
19014
19015 @item
19016 The @code{@var{token}} is from the corresponding request. Note that
19017 for all async output, while the token is allowed by the grammar and
19018 may be output by future versions of @value{GDBN} for select async
19019 output messages, it is generally omitted. Frontends should treat
19020 all async output as reporting general changes in the state of the
19021 target and there should be no need to associate async output to any
19022 prior command.
19023
19024 @item
19025 @cindex status output in @sc{gdb/mi}
19026 @var{status-async-output} contains on-going status information about the
19027 progress of a slow operation. It can be discarded. All status output is
19028 prefixed by @samp{+}.
19029
19030 @item
19031 @cindex async output in @sc{gdb/mi}
19032 @var{exec-async-output} contains asynchronous state change on the target
19033 (stopped, started, disappeared). All async output is prefixed by
19034 @samp{*}.
19035
19036 @item
19037 @cindex notify output in @sc{gdb/mi}
19038 @var{notify-async-output} contains supplementary information that the
19039 client should handle (e.g., a new breakpoint information). All notify
19040 output is prefixed by @samp{=}.
19041
19042 @item
19043 @cindex console output in @sc{gdb/mi}
19044 @var{console-stream-output} is output that should be displayed as is in the
19045 console. It is the textual response to a CLI command. All the console
19046 output is prefixed by @samp{~}.
19047
19048 @item
19049 @cindex target output in @sc{gdb/mi}
19050 @var{target-stream-output} is the output produced by the target program.
19051 All the target output is prefixed by @samp{@@}.
19052
19053 @item
19054 @cindex log output in @sc{gdb/mi}
19055 @var{log-stream-output} is output text coming from @value{GDBN}'s internals, for
19056 instance messages that should be displayed as part of an error log. All
19057 the log output is prefixed by @samp{&}.
19058
19059 @item
19060 @cindex list output in @sc{gdb/mi}
19061 New @sc{gdb/mi} commands should only output @var{lists} containing
19062 @var{values}.
19063
19064
19065 @end itemize
19066
19067 @xref{GDB/MI Stream Records, , @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records}, for more
19068 details about the various output records.
19069
19070 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
19071 @node GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI
19072 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Compatibility with CLI
19073
19074 @cindex compatibility, @sc{gdb/mi} and CLI
19075 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, compatibility with CLI
19076
19077 For the developers convenience CLI commands can be entered directly,
19078 but there may be some unexpected behaviour. For example, commands
19079 that query the user will behave as if the user replied yes, breakpoint
19080 command lists are not executed and some CLI commands, such as
19081 @code{if}, @code{when} and @code{define}, prompt for further input with
19082 @samp{>}, which is not valid MI output.
19083
19084 This feature may be removed at some stage in the future and it is
19085 recommended that front ends use the @code{-interpreter-exec} command
19086 (@pxref{-interpreter-exec}).
19087
19088 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
19089 @node GDB/MI Development and Front Ends
19090 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends
19091 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi} development
19092
19093 The application which takes the MI output and presents the state of the
19094 program being debugged to the user is called a @dfn{front end}.
19095
19096 Although @sc{gdb/mi} is still incomplete, it is currently being used
19097 by a variety of front ends to @value{GDBN}. This makes it difficult
19098 to introduce new functionality without breaking existing usage. This
19099 section tries to minimize the problems by describing how the protocol
19100 might change.
19101
19102 Some changes in MI need not break a carefully designed front end, and
19103 for these the MI version will remain unchanged. The following is a
19104 list of changes that may occur within one level, so front ends should
19105 parse MI output in a way that can handle them:
19106
19107 @itemize @bullet
19108 @item
19109 New MI commands may be added.
19110
19111 @item
19112 New fields may be added to the output of any MI command.
19113
19114 @item
19115 The range of values for fields with specified values, e.g.,
19116 @code{in_scope} (@pxref{-var-update}) may be extended.
19117
19118 @c The format of field's content e.g type prefix, may change so parse it
19119 @c at your own risk. Yes, in general?
19120
19121 @c The order of fields may change? Shouldn't really matter but it might
19122 @c resolve inconsistencies.
19123 @end itemize
19124
19125 If the changes are likely to break front ends, the MI version level
19126 will be increased by one. This will allow the front end to parse the
19127 output according to the MI version. Apart from mi0, new versions of
19128 @value{GDBN} will not support old versions of MI and it will be the
19129 responsibility of the front end to work with the new one.
19130
19131 @c Starting with mi3, add a new command -mi-version that prints the MI
19132 @c version?
19133
19134 The best way to avoid unexpected changes in MI that might break your front
19135 end is to make your project known to @value{GDBN} developers and
19136 follow development on @email{gdb@@sourceware.org} and
19137 @email{gdb-patches@@sourceware.org}.
19138 @cindex mailing lists
19139
19140 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
19141 @node GDB/MI Output Records
19142 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Output Records
19143
19144 @menu
19145 * GDB/MI Result Records::
19146 * GDB/MI Stream Records::
19147 * GDB/MI Async Records::
19148 @end menu
19149
19150 @node GDB/MI Result Records
19151 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Result Records
19152
19153 @cindex result records in @sc{gdb/mi}
19154 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, result records
19155 In addition to a number of out-of-band notifications, the response to a
19156 @sc{gdb/mi} command includes one of the following result indications:
19157
19158 @table @code
19159 @findex ^done
19160 @item "^done" [ "," @var{results} ]
19161 The synchronous operation was successful, @code{@var{results}} are the return
19162 values.
19163
19164 @item "^running"
19165 @findex ^running
19166 @c Is this one correct? Should it be an out-of-band notification?
19167 The asynchronous operation was successfully started. The target is
19168 running.
19169
19170 @item "^connected"
19171 @findex ^connected
19172 @value{GDBN} has connected to a remote target.
19173
19174 @item "^error" "," @var{c-string}
19175 @findex ^error
19176 The operation failed. The @code{@var{c-string}} contains the corresponding
19177 error message.
19178
19179 @item "^exit"
19180 @findex ^exit
19181 @value{GDBN} has terminated.
19182
19183 @end table
19184
19185 @node GDB/MI Stream Records
19186 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records
19187
19188 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, stream records
19189 @cindex stream records in @sc{gdb/mi}
19190 @value{GDBN} internally maintains a number of output streams: the console, the
19191 target, and the log. The output intended for each of these streams is
19192 funneled through the @sc{gdb/mi} interface using @dfn{stream records}.
19193
19194 Each stream record begins with a unique @dfn{prefix character} which
19195 identifies its stream (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, , @sc{gdb/mi} Output
19196 Syntax}). In addition to the prefix, each stream record contains a
19197 @code{@var{string-output}}. This is either raw text (with an implicit new
19198 line) or a quoted C string (which does not contain an implicit newline).
19199
19200 @table @code
19201 @item "~" @var{string-output}
19202 The console output stream contains text that should be displayed in the
19203 CLI console window. It contains the textual responses to CLI commands.
19204
19205 @item "@@" @var{string-output}
19206 The target output stream contains any textual output from the running
19207 target. This is only present when GDB's event loop is truly
19208 asynchronous, which is currently only the case for remote targets.
19209
19210 @item "&" @var{string-output}
19211 The log stream contains debugging messages being produced by @value{GDBN}'s
19212 internals.
19213 @end table
19214
19215 @node GDB/MI Async Records
19216 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Async Records
19217
19218 @cindex async records in @sc{gdb/mi}
19219 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, async records
19220 @dfn{Async} records are used to notify the @sc{gdb/mi} client of
19221 additional changes that have occurred. Those changes can either be a
19222 consequence of @sc{gdb/mi} commands (e.g., a breakpoint modified) or a result of
19223 target activity (e.g., target stopped).
19224
19225 The following is the list of possible async records:
19226
19227 @table @code
19228
19229 @item *running,thread-id="@var{thread}"
19230 The target is now running. The @var{thread} field tells which
19231 specific thread is now running, and can be @samp{all} if all threads
19232 are running. The frontend should assume that no interaction with a
19233 running thread is possible after this notification is produced.
19234 The frontend should not assume that this notification is output
19235 only once for any command. @value{GDBN} may emit this notification
19236 several times, either for different threads, because it cannot resume
19237 all threads together, or even for a single thread, if the thread must
19238 be stepped though some code before letting it run freely.
19239
19240 @item *stopped,reason="@var{reason}"
19241 The target has stopped. The @var{reason} field can have one of the
19242 following values:
19243
19244 @table @code
19245 @item breakpoint-hit
19246 A breakpoint was reached.
19247 @item watchpoint-trigger
19248 A watchpoint was triggered.
19249 @item read-watchpoint-trigger
19250 A read watchpoint was triggered.
19251 @item access-watchpoint-trigger
19252 An access watchpoint was triggered.
19253 @item function-finished
19254 An -exec-finish or similar CLI command was accomplished.
19255 @item location-reached
19256 An -exec-until or similar CLI command was accomplished.
19257 @item watchpoint-scope
19258 A watchpoint has gone out of scope.
19259 @item end-stepping-range
19260 An -exec-next, -exec-next-instruction, -exec-step, -exec-step-instruction or
19261 similar CLI command was accomplished.
19262 @item exited-signalled
19263 The inferior exited because of a signal.
19264 @item exited
19265 The inferior exited.
19266 @item exited-normally
19267 The inferior exited normally.
19268 @item signal-received
19269 A signal was received by the inferior.
19270 @end table
19271
19272 @item =thread-created,id="@var{id}"
19273 @itemx =thread-exited,id="@var{id}"
19274 A thread either was created, or has exited. The @var{id} field
19275 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread.
19276
19277 @item =thread-selected,id="@var{id}"
19278 Informs that the selected thread was changed as result of the last
19279 command. This notification is not emitted as result of @code{-thread-select}
19280 command but is emitted whenever an MI command that is not documented
19281 to change the selected thread actually changes it. In particular,
19282 invoking, directly or indirectly (via user-defined command), the CLI
19283 @code{thread} command, will generate this notification.
19284
19285 We suggest that in response to this notification, front ends
19286 highlight the selected thread and cause subsequent commands to apply to
19287 that thread.
19288
19289 @end table
19290
19291
19292
19293 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
19294 @node GDB/MI Simple Examples
19295 @section Simple Examples of @sc{gdb/mi} Interaction
19296 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, simple examples
19297
19298 This subsection presents several simple examples of interaction using
19299 the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. In these examples, @samp{->} means that the
19300 following line is passed to @sc{gdb/mi} as input, while @samp{<-} means
19301 the output received from @sc{gdb/mi}.
19302
19303 Note the line breaks shown in the examples are here only for
19304 readability, they don't appear in the real output.
19305
19306 @subheading Setting a Breakpoint
19307
19308 Setting a breakpoint generates synchronous output which contains detailed
19309 information of the breakpoint.
19310
19311 @smallexample
19312 -> -break-insert main
19313 <- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
19314 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
19315 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",times="0"@}
19316 <- (gdb)
19317 @end smallexample
19318
19319 @subheading Program Execution
19320
19321 Program execution generates asynchronous records and MI gives the
19322 reason that execution stopped.
19323
19324 @smallexample
19325 -> -exec-run
19326 <- ^running
19327 <- (gdb)
19328 <- *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
19329 frame=@{addr="0x08048564",func="main",
19330 args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},@{name="argv",value="0xbfc4d4d4"@}],
19331 file="myprog.c",fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68"@}
19332 <- (gdb)
19333 -> -exec-continue
19334 <- ^running
19335 <- (gdb)
19336 <- *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
19337 <- (gdb)
19338 @end smallexample
19339
19340 @subheading Quitting @value{GDBN}
19341
19342 Quitting @value{GDBN} just prints the result class @samp{^exit}.
19343
19344 @smallexample
19345 -> (gdb)
19346 <- -gdb-exit
19347 <- ^exit
19348 @end smallexample
19349
19350 @subheading A Bad Command
19351
19352 Here's what happens if you pass a non-existent command:
19353
19354 @smallexample
19355 -> -rubbish
19356 <- ^error,msg="Undefined MI command: rubbish"
19357 <- (gdb)
19358 @end smallexample
19359
19360
19361 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
19362 @node GDB/MI Command Description Format
19363 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Description Format
19364
19365 The remaining sections describe blocks of commands. Each block of
19366 commands is laid out in a fashion similar to this section.
19367
19368 @subheading Motivation
19369
19370 The motivation for this collection of commands.
19371
19372 @subheading Introduction
19373
19374 A brief introduction to this collection of commands as a whole.
19375
19376 @subheading Commands
19377
19378 For each command in the block, the following is described:
19379
19380 @subsubheading Synopsis
19381
19382 @smallexample
19383 -command @var{args}@dots{}
19384 @end smallexample
19385
19386 @subsubheading Result
19387
19388 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
19389
19390 The corresponding @value{GDBN} CLI command(s), if any.
19391
19392 @subsubheading Example
19393
19394 Example(s) formatted for readability. Some of the described commands have
19395 not been implemented yet and these are labeled N.A.@: (not available).
19396
19397
19398 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
19399 @node GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands
19400 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Commands
19401
19402 @cindex breakpoint commands for @sc{gdb/mi}
19403 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, breakpoint commands
19404 This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
19405 breakpoints.
19406
19407 @subheading The @code{-break-after} Command
19408 @findex -break-after
19409
19410 @subsubheading Synopsis
19411
19412 @smallexample
19413 -break-after @var{number} @var{count}
19414 @end smallexample
19415
19416 The breakpoint number @var{number} is not in effect until it has been
19417 hit @var{count} times. To see how this is reflected in the output of
19418 the @samp{-break-list} command, see the description of the
19419 @samp{-break-list} command below.
19420
19421 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
19422
19423 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ignore}.
19424
19425 @subsubheading Example
19426
19427 @smallexample
19428 (gdb)
19429 -break-insert main
19430 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
19431 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
19432 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
19433 (gdb)
19434 -break-after 1 3
19435 ~
19436 ^done
19437 (gdb)
19438 -break-list
19439 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
19440 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
19441 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
19442 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
19443 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
19444 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
19445 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
19446 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
19447 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
19448 line="5",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
19449 (gdb)
19450 @end smallexample
19451
19452 @ignore
19453 @subheading The @code{-break-catch} Command
19454 @findex -break-catch
19455
19456 @subheading The @code{-break-commands} Command
19457 @findex -break-commands
19458 @end ignore
19459
19460
19461 @subheading The @code{-break-condition} Command
19462 @findex -break-condition
19463
19464 @subsubheading Synopsis
19465
19466 @smallexample
19467 -break-condition @var{number} @var{expr}
19468 @end smallexample
19469
19470 Breakpoint @var{number} will stop the program only if the condition in
19471 @var{expr} is true. The condition becomes part of the
19472 @samp{-break-list} output (see the description of the @samp{-break-list}
19473 command below).
19474
19475 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
19476
19477 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{condition}.
19478
19479 @subsubheading Example
19480
19481 @smallexample
19482 (gdb)
19483 -break-condition 1 1
19484 ^done
19485 (gdb)
19486 -break-list
19487 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
19488 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
19489 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
19490 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
19491 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
19492 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
19493 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
19494 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
19495 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
19496 line="5",cond="1",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
19497 (gdb)
19498 @end smallexample
19499
19500 @subheading The @code{-break-delete} Command
19501 @findex -break-delete
19502
19503 @subsubheading Synopsis
19504
19505 @smallexample
19506 -break-delete ( @var{breakpoint} )+
19507 @end smallexample
19508
19509 Delete the breakpoint(s) whose number(s) are specified in the argument
19510 list. This is obviously reflected in the breakpoint list.
19511
19512 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
19513
19514 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{delete}.
19515
19516 @subsubheading Example
19517
19518 @smallexample
19519 (gdb)
19520 -break-delete 1
19521 ^done
19522 (gdb)
19523 -break-list
19524 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
19525 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
19526 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
19527 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
19528 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
19529 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
19530 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
19531 body=[]@}
19532 (gdb)
19533 @end smallexample
19534
19535 @subheading The @code{-break-disable} Command
19536 @findex -break-disable
19537
19538 @subsubheading Synopsis
19539
19540 @smallexample
19541 -break-disable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
19542 @end smallexample
19543
19544 Disable the named @var{breakpoint}(s). The field @samp{enabled} in the
19545 break list is now set to @samp{n} for the named @var{breakpoint}(s).
19546
19547 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
19548
19549 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disable}.
19550
19551 @subsubheading Example
19552
19553 @smallexample
19554 (gdb)
19555 -break-disable 2
19556 ^done
19557 (gdb)
19558 -break-list
19559 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
19560 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
19561 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
19562 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
19563 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
19564 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
19565 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
19566 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
19567 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
19568 line="5",times="0"@}]@}
19569 (gdb)
19570 @end smallexample
19571
19572 @subheading The @code{-break-enable} Command
19573 @findex -break-enable
19574
19575 @subsubheading Synopsis
19576
19577 @smallexample
19578 -break-enable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
19579 @end smallexample
19580
19581 Enable (previously disabled) @var{breakpoint}(s).
19582
19583 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
19584
19585 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{enable}.
19586
19587 @subsubheading Example
19588
19589 @smallexample
19590 (gdb)
19591 -break-enable 2
19592 ^done
19593 (gdb)
19594 -break-list
19595 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
19596 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
19597 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
19598 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
19599 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
19600 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
19601 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
19602 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
19603 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
19604 line="5",times="0"@}]@}
19605 (gdb)
19606 @end smallexample
19607
19608 @subheading The @code{-break-info} Command
19609 @findex -break-info
19610
19611 @subsubheading Synopsis
19612
19613 @smallexample
19614 -break-info @var{breakpoint}
19615 @end smallexample
19616
19617 @c REDUNDANT???
19618 Get information about a single breakpoint.
19619
19620 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
19621
19622 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break @var{breakpoint}}.
19623
19624 @subsubheading Example
19625 N.A.
19626
19627 @subheading The @code{-break-insert} Command
19628 @findex -break-insert
19629
19630 @subsubheading Synopsis
19631
19632 @smallexample
19633 -break-insert [ -t ] [ -h ] [ -f ]
19634 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
19635 [ -p @var{thread} ] [ @var{location} ]
19636 @end smallexample
19637
19638 @noindent
19639 If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
19640
19641 @itemize @bullet
19642 @item function
19643 @c @item +offset
19644 @c @item -offset
19645 @c @item linenum
19646 @item filename:linenum
19647 @item filename:function
19648 @item *address
19649 @end itemize
19650
19651 The possible optional parameters of this command are:
19652
19653 @table @samp
19654 @item -t
19655 Insert a temporary breakpoint.
19656 @item -h
19657 Insert a hardware breakpoint.
19658 @item -c @var{condition}
19659 Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
19660 @item -i @var{ignore-count}
19661 Initialize the @var{ignore-count}.
19662 @item -f
19663 If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example if it
19664 refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
19665 breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
19666 an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
19667 cannot be parsed.
19668 @end table
19669
19670 @subsubheading Result
19671
19672 The result is in the form:
19673
19674 @smallexample
19675 ^done,bkpt=@{number="@var{number}",type="@var{type}",disp="del"|"keep",
19676 enabled="y"|"n",addr="@var{hex}",func="@var{funcname}",file="@var{filename}",
19677 fullname="@var{full_filename}",line="@var{lineno}",[thread="@var{threadno},]
19678 times="@var{times}"@}
19679 @end smallexample
19680
19681 @noindent
19682 where @var{number} is the @value{GDBN} number for this breakpoint,
19683 @var{funcname} is the name of the function where the breakpoint was
19684 inserted, @var{filename} is the name of the source file which contains
19685 this function, @var{lineno} is the source line number within that file
19686 and @var{times} the number of times that the breakpoint has been hit
19687 (always 0 for -break-insert but may be greater for -break-info or -break-list
19688 which use the same output).
19689
19690 Note: this format is open to change.
19691 @c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
19692
19693 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
19694
19695 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{break}, @samp{tbreak},
19696 @samp{hbreak}, @samp{thbreak}, and @samp{rbreak}.
19697
19698 @subsubheading Example
19699
19700 @smallexample
19701 (gdb)
19702 -break-insert main
19703 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",
19704 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="4",times="0"@}
19705 (gdb)
19706 -break-insert -t foo
19707 ^done,bkpt=@{number="2",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c",
19708 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="11",times="0"@}
19709 (gdb)
19710 -break-list
19711 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
19712 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
19713 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
19714 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
19715 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
19716 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
19717 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
19718 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
19719 addr="0x0001072c", func="main",file="recursive2.c",
19720 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,"line="4",times="0"@},
19721 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
19722 addr="0x00010774",func="foo",file="recursive2.c",
19723 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}]@}
19724 (gdb)
19725 -break-insert -r foo.*
19726 ~int foo(int, int);
19727 ^done,bkpt=@{number="3",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c,
19728 "fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}
19729 (gdb)
19730 @end smallexample
19731
19732 @subheading The @code{-break-list} Command
19733 @findex -break-list
19734
19735 @subsubheading Synopsis
19736
19737 @smallexample
19738 -break-list
19739 @end smallexample
19740
19741 Displays the list of inserted breakpoints, showing the following fields:
19742
19743 @table @samp
19744 @item Number
19745 number of the breakpoint
19746 @item Type
19747 type of the breakpoint: @samp{breakpoint} or @samp{watchpoint}
19748 @item Disposition
19749 should the breakpoint be deleted or disabled when it is hit: @samp{keep}
19750 or @samp{nokeep}
19751 @item Enabled
19752 is the breakpoint enabled or no: @samp{y} or @samp{n}
19753 @item Address
19754 memory location at which the breakpoint is set
19755 @item What
19756 logical location of the breakpoint, expressed by function name, file
19757 name, line number
19758 @item Times
19759 number of times the breakpoint has been hit
19760 @end table
19761
19762 If there are no breakpoints or watchpoints, the @code{BreakpointTable}
19763 @code{body} field is an empty list.
19764
19765 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
19766
19767 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break}.
19768
19769 @subsubheading Example
19770
19771 @smallexample
19772 (gdb)
19773 -break-list
19774 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
19775 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
19776 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
19777 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
19778 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
19779 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
19780 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
19781 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
19782 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",line="5",times="0"@},
19783 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
19784 addr="0x00010114",func="foo",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
19785 line="13",times="0"@}]@}
19786 (gdb)
19787 @end smallexample
19788
19789 Here's an example of the result when there are no breakpoints:
19790
19791 @smallexample
19792 (gdb)
19793 -break-list
19794 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
19795 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
19796 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
19797 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
19798 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
19799 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
19800 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
19801 body=[]@}
19802 (gdb)
19803 @end smallexample
19804
19805 @subheading The @code{-break-watch} Command
19806 @findex -break-watch
19807
19808 @subsubheading Synopsis
19809
19810 @smallexample
19811 -break-watch [ -a | -r ]
19812 @end smallexample
19813
19814 Create a watchpoint. With the @samp{-a} option it will create an
19815 @dfn{access} watchpoint, i.e., a watchpoint that triggers either on a
19816 read from or on a write to the memory location. With the @samp{-r}
19817 option, the watchpoint created is a @dfn{read} watchpoint, i.e., it will
19818 trigger only when the memory location is accessed for reading. Without
19819 either of the options, the watchpoint created is a regular watchpoint,
19820 i.e., it will trigger when the memory location is accessed for writing.
19821 @xref{Set Watchpoints, , Setting Watchpoints}.
19822
19823 Note that @samp{-break-list} will report a single list of watchpoints and
19824 breakpoints inserted.
19825
19826 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
19827
19828 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{watch}, @samp{awatch}, and
19829 @samp{rwatch}.
19830
19831 @subsubheading Example
19832
19833 Setting a watchpoint on a variable in the @code{main} function:
19834
19835 @smallexample
19836 (gdb)
19837 -break-watch x
19838 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@}
19839 (gdb)
19840 -exec-continue
19841 ^running
19842 (gdb)
19843 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@},
19844 value=@{old="-268439212",new="55"@},
19845 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
19846 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="5"@}
19847 (gdb)
19848 @end smallexample
19849
19850 Setting a watchpoint on a variable local to a function. @value{GDBN} will stop
19851 the program execution twice: first for the variable changing value, then
19852 for the watchpoint going out of scope.
19853
19854 @smallexample
19855 (gdb)
19856 -break-watch C
19857 ^done,wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@}
19858 (gdb)
19859 -exec-continue
19860 ^running
19861 (gdb)
19862 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",
19863 wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@},value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
19864 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
19865 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
19866 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
19867 (gdb)
19868 -exec-continue
19869 ^running
19870 (gdb)
19871 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="5",
19872 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
19873 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
19874 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
19875 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
19876 (gdb)
19877 @end smallexample
19878
19879 Listing breakpoints and watchpoints, at different points in the program
19880 execution. Note that once the watchpoint goes out of scope, it is
19881 deleted.
19882
19883 @smallexample
19884 (gdb)
19885 -break-watch C
19886 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@}
19887 (gdb)
19888 -break-list
19889 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
19890 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
19891 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
19892 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
19893 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
19894 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
19895 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
19896 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
19897 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
19898 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
19899 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c"line="8",times="1"@},
19900 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
19901 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="0"@}]@}
19902 (gdb)
19903 -exec-continue
19904 ^running
19905 (gdb)
19906 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@},
19907 value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
19908 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
19909 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
19910 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
19911 (gdb)
19912 -break-list
19913 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
19914 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
19915 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
19916 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
19917 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
19918 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
19919 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
19920 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
19921 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
19922 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
19923 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",times="1"@},
19924 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
19925 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="-5"@}]@}
19926 (gdb)
19927 -exec-continue
19928 ^running
19929 ^done,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="2",
19930 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
19931 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
19932 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
19933 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
19934 (gdb)
19935 -break-list
19936 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
19937 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
19938 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
19939 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
19940 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
19941 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
19942 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
19943 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
19944 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
19945 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
19946 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",
19947 times="1"@}]@}
19948 (gdb)
19949 @end smallexample
19950
19951 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
19952 @node GDB/MI Program Context
19953 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Context
19954
19955 @subheading The @code{-exec-arguments} Command
19956 @findex -exec-arguments
19957
19958
19959 @subsubheading Synopsis
19960
19961 @smallexample
19962 -exec-arguments @var{args}
19963 @end smallexample
19964
19965 Set the inferior program arguments, to be used in the next
19966 @samp{-exec-run}.
19967
19968 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
19969
19970 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set args}.
19971
19972 @subsubheading Example
19973
19974 @smallexample
19975 (gdb)
19976 -exec-arguments -v word
19977 ^done
19978 (gdb)
19979 @end smallexample
19980
19981
19982 @subheading The @code{-exec-show-arguments} Command
19983 @findex -exec-show-arguments
19984
19985 @subsubheading Synopsis
19986
19987 @smallexample
19988 -exec-show-arguments
19989 @end smallexample
19990
19991 Print the arguments of the program.
19992
19993 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
19994
19995 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show args}.
19996
19997 @subsubheading Example
19998 N.A.
19999
20000
20001 @subheading The @code{-environment-cd} Command
20002 @findex -environment-cd
20003
20004 @subsubheading Synopsis
20005
20006 @smallexample
20007 -environment-cd @var{pathdir}
20008 @end smallexample
20009
20010 Set @value{GDBN}'s working directory.
20011
20012 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20013
20014 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{cd}.
20015
20016 @subsubheading Example
20017
20018 @smallexample
20019 (gdb)
20020 -environment-cd /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
20021 ^done
20022 (gdb)
20023 @end smallexample
20024
20025
20026 @subheading The @code{-environment-directory} Command
20027 @findex -environment-directory
20028
20029 @subsubheading Synopsis
20030
20031 @smallexample
20032 -environment-directory [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
20033 @end smallexample
20034
20035 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for source files.
20036 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the default
20037 search path. If directories @var{pathdir} are supplied in addition to the
20038 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
20039 occurs as normal.
20040 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
20041 multiple directories in a single command
20042 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
20043 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
20044 If blanks are needed as
20045 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
20046 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
20047 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
20048 character must not be used
20049 in any directory name.
20050 If no directories are specified, the current search path is displayed.
20051
20052 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20053
20054 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dir}.
20055
20056 @subsubheading Example
20057
20058 @smallexample
20059 (gdb)
20060 -environment-directory /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
20061 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
20062 (gdb)
20063 -environment-directory ""
20064 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
20065 (gdb)
20066 -environment-directory -r /home/jjohnstn/src/gdb /usr/src
20067 ^done,source-path="/home/jjohnstn/src/gdb:/usr/src:$cdir:$cwd"
20068 (gdb)
20069 -environment-directory -r
20070 ^done,source-path="$cdir:$cwd"
20071 (gdb)
20072 @end smallexample
20073
20074
20075 @subheading The @code{-environment-path} Command
20076 @findex -environment-path
20077
20078 @subsubheading Synopsis
20079
20080 @smallexample
20081 -environment-path [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
20082 @end smallexample
20083
20084 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for object files.
20085 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the original
20086 search path that existed at gdb start-up. If directories @var{pathdir} are
20087 supplied in addition to the
20088 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
20089 occurs as normal.
20090 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
20091 multiple directories in a single command
20092 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
20093 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
20094 If blanks are needed as
20095 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
20096 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
20097 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
20098 character must not be used
20099 in any directory name.
20100 If no directories are specified, the current path is displayed.
20101
20102
20103 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20104
20105 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{path}.
20106
20107 @subsubheading Example
20108
20109 @smallexample
20110 (gdb)
20111 -environment-path
20112 ^done,path="/usr/bin"
20113 (gdb)
20114 -environment-path /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb /bin
20115 ^done,path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb:/bin:/usr/bin"
20116 (gdb)
20117 -environment-path -r /usr/local/bin
20118 ^done,path="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin"
20119 (gdb)
20120 @end smallexample
20121
20122
20123 @subheading The @code{-environment-pwd} Command
20124 @findex -environment-pwd
20125
20126 @subsubheading Synopsis
20127
20128 @smallexample
20129 -environment-pwd
20130 @end smallexample
20131
20132 Show the current working directory.
20133
20134 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20135
20136 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{pwd}.
20137
20138 @subsubheading Example
20139
20140 @smallexample
20141 (gdb)
20142 -environment-pwd
20143 ^done,cwd="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb"
20144 (gdb)
20145 @end smallexample
20146
20147 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
20148 @node GDB/MI Thread Commands
20149 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Commands
20150
20151
20152 @subheading The @code{-thread-info} Command
20153 @findex -thread-info
20154
20155 @subsubheading Synopsis
20156
20157 @smallexample
20158 -thread-info [ @var{thread-id} ]
20159 @end smallexample
20160
20161 Reports information about either a specific thread, if
20162 the @var{thread-id} parameter is present, or about all
20163 threads. When printing information about all threads,
20164 also reports the current thread.
20165
20166 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20167
20168 The @samp{info thread} command prints the same information
20169 about all threads.
20170
20171 @subsubheading Example
20172
20173 @smallexample
20174 -thread-info
20175 ^done,threads=[
20176 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
20177 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},
20178 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
20179 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
20180 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@}@}],
20181 current-thread-id="1"
20182 (gdb)
20183 @end smallexample
20184
20185 @subheading The @code{-thread-list-ids} Command
20186 @findex -thread-list-ids
20187
20188 @subsubheading Synopsis
20189
20190 @smallexample
20191 -thread-list-ids
20192 @end smallexample
20193
20194 Produces a list of the currently known @value{GDBN} thread ids. At the
20195 end of the list it also prints the total number of such threads.
20196
20197 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20198
20199 Part of @samp{info threads} supplies the same information.
20200
20201 @subsubheading Example
20202
20203 No threads present, besides the main process:
20204
20205 @smallexample
20206 (gdb)
20207 -thread-list-ids
20208 ^done,thread-ids=@{@},number-of-threads="0"
20209 (gdb)
20210 @end smallexample
20211
20212
20213 Several threads:
20214
20215 @smallexample
20216 (gdb)
20217 -thread-list-ids
20218 ^done,thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
20219 number-of-threads="3"
20220 (gdb)
20221 @end smallexample
20222
20223
20224 @subheading The @code{-thread-select} Command
20225 @findex -thread-select
20226
20227 @subsubheading Synopsis
20228
20229 @smallexample
20230 -thread-select @var{threadnum}
20231 @end smallexample
20232
20233 Make @var{threadnum} the current thread. It prints the number of the new
20234 current thread, and the topmost frame for that thread.
20235
20236 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20237
20238 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{thread}.
20239
20240 @subsubheading Example
20241
20242 @smallexample
20243 (gdb)
20244 -exec-next
20245 ^running
20246 (gdb)
20247 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",thread-id="2",line="187",
20248 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/linux-dp.c"
20249 (gdb)
20250 -thread-list-ids
20251 ^done,
20252 thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
20253 number-of-threads="3"
20254 (gdb)
20255 -thread-select 3
20256 ^done,new-thread-id="3",
20257 frame=@{level="0",func="vprintf",
20258 args=[@{name="format",value="0x8048e9c \"%*s%c %d %c\\n\""@},
20259 @{name="arg",value="0x2"@}],file="vprintf.c",line="31"@}
20260 (gdb)
20261 @end smallexample
20262
20263 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
20264 @node GDB/MI Program Execution
20265 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Execution
20266
20267 These are the asynchronous commands which generate the out-of-band
20268 record @samp{*stopped}. Currently @value{GDBN} only really executes
20269 asynchronously with remote targets and this interaction is mimicked in
20270 other cases.
20271
20272 @subheading The @code{-exec-continue} Command
20273 @findex -exec-continue
20274
20275 @subsubheading Synopsis
20276
20277 @smallexample
20278 -exec-continue
20279 @end smallexample
20280
20281 Resumes the execution of the inferior program until a breakpoint is
20282 encountered, or until the inferior exits.
20283
20284 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20285
20286 The corresponding @value{GDBN} corresponding is @samp{continue}.
20287
20288 @subsubheading Example
20289
20290 @smallexample
20291 -exec-continue
20292 ^running
20293 (gdb)
20294 @@Hello world
20295 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="2",frame=@{
20296 func="foo",args=[],file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",
20297 line="13"@}
20298 (gdb)
20299 @end smallexample
20300
20301
20302 @subheading The @code{-exec-finish} Command
20303 @findex -exec-finish
20304
20305 @subsubheading Synopsis
20306
20307 @smallexample
20308 -exec-finish
20309 @end smallexample
20310
20311 Resumes the execution of the inferior program until the current
20312 function is exited. Displays the results returned by the function.
20313
20314 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20315
20316 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{finish}.
20317
20318 @subsubheading Example
20319
20320 Function returning @code{void}.
20321
20322 @smallexample
20323 -exec-finish
20324 ^running
20325 (gdb)
20326 @@hello from foo
20327 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
20328 file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",line="7"@}
20329 (gdb)
20330 @end smallexample
20331
20332 Function returning other than @code{void}. The name of the internal
20333 @value{GDBN} variable storing the result is printed, together with the
20334 value itself.
20335
20336 @smallexample
20337 -exec-finish
20338 ^running
20339 (gdb)
20340 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{addr="0x000107b0",func="foo",
20341 args=[@{name="a",value="1"],@{name="b",value="9"@}@},
20342 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
20343 gdb-result-var="$1",return-value="0"
20344 (gdb)
20345 @end smallexample
20346
20347
20348 @subheading The @code{-exec-interrupt} Command
20349 @findex -exec-interrupt
20350
20351 @subsubheading Synopsis
20352
20353 @smallexample
20354 -exec-interrupt
20355 @end smallexample
20356
20357 Interrupts the background execution of the target. Note how the token
20358 associated with the stop message is the one for the execution command
20359 that has been interrupted. The token for the interrupt itself only
20360 appears in the @samp{^done} output. If the user is trying to
20361 interrupt a non-running program, an error message will be printed.
20362
20363 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20364
20365 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interrupt}.
20366
20367 @subsubheading Example
20368
20369 @smallexample
20370 (gdb)
20371 111-exec-continue
20372 111^running
20373
20374 (gdb)
20375 222-exec-interrupt
20376 222^done
20377 (gdb)
20378 111*stopped,signal-name="SIGINT",signal-meaning="Interrupt",
20379 frame=@{addr="0x00010140",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
20380 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="13"@}
20381 (gdb)
20382
20383 (gdb)
20384 -exec-interrupt
20385 ^error,msg="mi_cmd_exec_interrupt: Inferior not executing."
20386 (gdb)
20387 @end smallexample
20388
20389
20390 @subheading The @code{-exec-next} Command
20391 @findex -exec-next
20392
20393 @subsubheading Synopsis
20394
20395 @smallexample
20396 -exec-next
20397 @end smallexample
20398
20399 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
20400 of the next source line is reached.
20401
20402 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20403
20404 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{next}.
20405
20406 @subsubheading Example
20407
20408 @smallexample
20409 -exec-next
20410 ^running
20411 (gdb)
20412 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="8",file="hello.c"
20413 (gdb)
20414 @end smallexample
20415
20416
20417 @subheading The @code{-exec-next-instruction} Command
20418 @findex -exec-next-instruction
20419
20420 @subsubheading Synopsis
20421
20422 @smallexample
20423 -exec-next-instruction
20424 @end smallexample
20425
20426 Executes one machine instruction. If the instruction is a function
20427 call, continues until the function returns. If the program stops at an
20428 instruction in the middle of a source line, the address will be
20429 printed as well.
20430
20431 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20432
20433 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{nexti}.
20434
20435 @subsubheading Example
20436
20437 @smallexample
20438 (gdb)
20439 -exec-next-instruction
20440 ^running
20441
20442 (gdb)
20443 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
20444 addr="0x000100d4",line="5",file="hello.c"
20445 (gdb)
20446 @end smallexample
20447
20448
20449 @subheading The @code{-exec-return} Command
20450 @findex -exec-return
20451
20452 @subsubheading Synopsis
20453
20454 @smallexample
20455 -exec-return
20456 @end smallexample
20457
20458 Makes current function return immediately. Doesn't execute the inferior.
20459 Displays the new current frame.
20460
20461 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20462
20463 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{return}.
20464
20465 @subsubheading Example
20466
20467 @smallexample
20468 (gdb)
20469 200-break-insert callee4
20470 200^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x00010734",
20471 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
20472 (gdb)
20473 000-exec-run
20474 000^running
20475 (gdb)
20476 000*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
20477 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
20478 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
20479 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
20480 (gdb)
20481 205-break-delete
20482 205^done
20483 (gdb)
20484 111-exec-return
20485 111^done,frame=@{level="0",func="callee3",
20486 args=[@{name="strarg",
20487 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
20488 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
20489 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
20490 (gdb)
20491 @end smallexample
20492
20493
20494 @subheading The @code{-exec-run} Command
20495 @findex -exec-run
20496
20497 @subsubheading Synopsis
20498
20499 @smallexample
20500 -exec-run
20501 @end smallexample
20502
20503 Starts execution of the inferior from the beginning. The inferior
20504 executes until either a breakpoint is encountered or the program
20505 exits. In the latter case the output will include an exit code, if
20506 the program has exited exceptionally.
20507
20508 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20509
20510 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{run}.
20511
20512 @subsubheading Examples
20513
20514 @smallexample
20515 (gdb)
20516 -break-insert main
20517 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",line="4"@}
20518 (gdb)
20519 -exec-run
20520 ^running
20521 (gdb)
20522 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
20523 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
20524 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}
20525 (gdb)
20526 @end smallexample
20527
20528 @noindent
20529 Program exited normally:
20530
20531 @smallexample
20532 (gdb)
20533 -exec-run
20534 ^running
20535 (gdb)
20536 x = 55
20537 *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
20538 (gdb)
20539 @end smallexample
20540
20541 @noindent
20542 Program exited exceptionally:
20543
20544 @smallexample
20545 (gdb)
20546 -exec-run
20547 ^running
20548 (gdb)
20549 x = 55
20550 *stopped,reason="exited",exit-code="01"
20551 (gdb)
20552 @end smallexample
20553
20554 Another way the program can terminate is if it receives a signal such as
20555 @code{SIGINT}. In this case, @sc{gdb/mi} displays this:
20556
20557 @smallexample
20558 (gdb)
20559 *stopped,reason="exited-signalled",signal-name="SIGINT",
20560 signal-meaning="Interrupt"
20561 @end smallexample
20562
20563
20564 @c @subheading -exec-signal
20565
20566
20567 @subheading The @code{-exec-step} Command
20568 @findex -exec-step
20569
20570 @subsubheading Synopsis
20571
20572 @smallexample
20573 -exec-step
20574 @end smallexample
20575
20576 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
20577 of the next source line is reached, if the next source line is not a
20578 function call. If it is, stop at the first instruction of the called
20579 function.
20580
20581 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20582
20583 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{step}.
20584
20585 @subsubheading Example
20586
20587 Stepping into a function:
20588
20589 @smallexample
20590 -exec-step
20591 ^running
20592 (gdb)
20593 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
20594 frame=@{func="foo",args=[@{name="a",value="10"@},
20595 @{name="b",value="0"@}],file="recursive2.c",
20596 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@}
20597 (gdb)
20598 @end smallexample
20599
20600 Regular stepping:
20601
20602 @smallexample
20603 -exec-step
20604 ^running
20605 (gdb)
20606 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="14",file="recursive2.c"
20607 (gdb)
20608 @end smallexample
20609
20610
20611 @subheading The @code{-exec-step-instruction} Command
20612 @findex -exec-step-instruction
20613
20614 @subsubheading Synopsis
20615
20616 @smallexample
20617 -exec-step-instruction
20618 @end smallexample
20619
20620 Resumes the inferior which executes one machine instruction. The
20621 output, once @value{GDBN} has stopped, will vary depending on whether
20622 we have stopped in the middle of a source line or not. In the former
20623 case, the address at which the program stopped will be printed as
20624 well.
20625
20626 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20627
20628 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{stepi}.
20629
20630 @subsubheading Example
20631
20632 @smallexample
20633 (gdb)
20634 -exec-step-instruction
20635 ^running
20636
20637 (gdb)
20638 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
20639 frame=@{func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
20640 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
20641 (gdb)
20642 -exec-step-instruction
20643 ^running
20644
20645 (gdb)
20646 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
20647 frame=@{addr="0x000100f4",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
20648 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
20649 (gdb)
20650 @end smallexample
20651
20652
20653 @subheading The @code{-exec-until} Command
20654 @findex -exec-until
20655
20656 @subsubheading Synopsis
20657
20658 @smallexample
20659 -exec-until [ @var{location} ]
20660 @end smallexample
20661
20662 Executes the inferior until the @var{location} specified in the
20663 argument is reached. If there is no argument, the inferior executes
20664 until a source line greater than the current one is reached. The
20665 reason for stopping in this case will be @samp{location-reached}.
20666
20667 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20668
20669 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{until}.
20670
20671 @subsubheading Example
20672
20673 @smallexample
20674 (gdb)
20675 -exec-until recursive2.c:6
20676 ^running
20677 (gdb)
20678 x = 55
20679 *stopped,reason="location-reached",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
20680 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="6"@}
20681 (gdb)
20682 @end smallexample
20683
20684 @ignore
20685 @subheading -file-clear
20686 Is this going away????
20687 @end ignore
20688
20689 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
20690 @node GDB/MI Stack Manipulation
20691 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Stack Manipulation Commands
20692
20693
20694 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-frame} Command
20695 @findex -stack-info-frame
20696
20697 @subsubheading Synopsis
20698
20699 @smallexample
20700 -stack-info-frame
20701 @end smallexample
20702
20703 Get info on the selected frame.
20704
20705 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20706
20707 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info frame} or @samp{frame}
20708 (without arguments).
20709
20710 @subsubheading Example
20711
20712 @smallexample
20713 (gdb)
20714 -stack-info-frame
20715 ^done,frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
20716 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
20717 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@}
20718 (gdb)
20719 @end smallexample
20720
20721 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-depth} Command
20722 @findex -stack-info-depth
20723
20724 @subsubheading Synopsis
20725
20726 @smallexample
20727 -stack-info-depth [ @var{max-depth} ]
20728 @end smallexample
20729
20730 Return the depth of the stack. If the integer argument @var{max-depth}
20731 is specified, do not count beyond @var{max-depth} frames.
20732
20733 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20734
20735 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
20736
20737 @subsubheading Example
20738
20739 For a stack with frame levels 0 through 11:
20740
20741 @smallexample
20742 (gdb)
20743 -stack-info-depth
20744 ^done,depth="12"
20745 (gdb)
20746 -stack-info-depth 4
20747 ^done,depth="4"
20748 (gdb)
20749 -stack-info-depth 12
20750 ^done,depth="12"
20751 (gdb)
20752 -stack-info-depth 11
20753 ^done,depth="11"
20754 (gdb)
20755 -stack-info-depth 13
20756 ^done,depth="12"
20757 (gdb)
20758 @end smallexample
20759
20760 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-arguments} Command
20761 @findex -stack-list-arguments
20762
20763 @subsubheading Synopsis
20764
20765 @smallexample
20766 -stack-list-arguments @var{show-values}
20767 [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
20768 @end smallexample
20769
20770 Display a list of the arguments for the frames between @var{low-frame}
20771 and @var{high-frame} (inclusive). If @var{low-frame} and
20772 @var{high-frame} are not provided, list the arguments for the whole
20773 call stack. If the two arguments are equal, show the single frame
20774 at the corresponding level. It is an error if @var{low-frame} is
20775 larger than the actual number of frames. On the other hand,
20776 @var{high-frame} may be larger than the actual number of frames, in
20777 which case only existing frames will be returned.
20778
20779 The @var{show-values} argument must have a value of 0 or 1. A value of
20780 0 means that only the names of the arguments are listed, a value of 1
20781 means that both names and values of the arguments are printed.
20782
20783 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20784
20785 @value{GDBN} does not have an equivalent command. @code{gdbtk} has a
20786 @samp{gdb_get_args} command which partially overlaps with the
20787 functionality of @samp{-stack-list-arguments}.
20788
20789 @subsubheading Example
20790
20791 @smallexample
20792 (gdb)
20793 -stack-list-frames
20794 ^done,
20795 stack=[
20796 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
20797 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
20798 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@},
20799 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
20800 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
20801 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@},
20802 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x0001078c",func="callee2",
20803 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
20804 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="22"@},
20805 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107b4",func="callee1",
20806 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
20807 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="27"@},
20808 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107e0",func="main",
20809 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
20810 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="32"@}]
20811 (gdb)
20812 -stack-list-arguments 0
20813 ^done,
20814 stack-args=[
20815 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
20816 frame=@{level="1",args=[name="strarg"]@},
20817 frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@},
20818 frame=@{level="3",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg",name="fltarg"]@},
20819 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
20820 (gdb)
20821 -stack-list-arguments 1
20822 ^done,
20823 stack-args=[
20824 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
20825 frame=@{level="1",
20826 args=[@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
20827 frame=@{level="2",args=[
20828 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
20829 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
20830 @{frame=@{level="3",args=[
20831 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
20832 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@},
20833 @{name="fltarg",value="3.5"@}]@},
20834 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
20835 (gdb)
20836 -stack-list-arguments 0 2 2
20837 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@}]
20838 (gdb)
20839 -stack-list-arguments 1 2 2
20840 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",
20841 args=[@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
20842 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@}]
20843 (gdb)
20844 @end smallexample
20845
20846 @c @subheading -stack-list-exception-handlers
20847
20848
20849 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-frames} Command
20850 @findex -stack-list-frames
20851
20852 @subsubheading Synopsis
20853
20854 @smallexample
20855 -stack-list-frames [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
20856 @end smallexample
20857
20858 List the frames currently on the stack. For each frame it displays the
20859 following info:
20860
20861 @table @samp
20862 @item @var{level}
20863 The frame number, 0 being the topmost frame, i.e., the innermost function.
20864 @item @var{addr}
20865 The @code{$pc} value for that frame.
20866 @item @var{func}
20867 Function name.
20868 @item @var{file}
20869 File name of the source file where the function lives.
20870 @item @var{line}
20871 Line number corresponding to the @code{$pc}.
20872 @end table
20873
20874 If invoked without arguments, this command prints a backtrace for the
20875 whole stack. If given two integer arguments, it shows the frames whose
20876 levels are between the two arguments (inclusive). If the two arguments
20877 are equal, it shows the single frame at the corresponding level. It is
20878 an error if @var{low-frame} is larger than the actual number of
20879 frames. On the other hand, @var{high-frame} may be larger than the
20880 actual number of frames, in which case only existing frames will be returned.
20881
20882 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20883
20884 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{backtrace} and @samp{where}.
20885
20886 @subsubheading Example
20887
20888 Full stack backtrace:
20889
20890 @smallexample
20891 (gdb)
20892 -stack-list-frames
20893 ^done,stack=
20894 [frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0001076c",func="foo",
20895 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@},
20896 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
20897 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
20898 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
20899 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
20900 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
20901 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
20902 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
20903 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
20904 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
20905 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
20906 frame=@{level="6",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
20907 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
20908 frame=@{level="7",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
20909 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
20910 frame=@{level="8",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
20911 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
20912 frame=@{level="9",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
20913 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
20914 frame=@{level="10",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
20915 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
20916 frame=@{level="11",addr="0x00010738",func="main",
20917 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}]
20918 (gdb)
20919 @end smallexample
20920
20921 Show frames between @var{low_frame} and @var{high_frame}:
20922
20923 @smallexample
20924 (gdb)
20925 -stack-list-frames 3 5
20926 ^done,stack=
20927 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
20928 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
20929 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
20930 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
20931 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
20932 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
20933 (gdb)
20934 @end smallexample
20935
20936 Show a single frame:
20937
20938 @smallexample
20939 (gdb)
20940 -stack-list-frames 3 3
20941 ^done,stack=
20942 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
20943 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
20944 (gdb)
20945 @end smallexample
20946
20947
20948 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-locals} Command
20949 @findex -stack-list-locals
20950
20951 @subsubheading Synopsis
20952
20953 @smallexample
20954 -stack-list-locals @var{print-values}
20955 @end smallexample
20956
20957 Display the local variable names for the selected frame. If
20958 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
20959 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
20960 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
20961 type and value for simple data types and the name and type for arrays,
20962 structures and unions. In this last case, a frontend can immediately
20963 display the value of simple data types and create variable objects for
20964 other data types when the user wishes to explore their values in
20965 more detail.
20966
20967 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
20968
20969 @samp{info locals} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_get_locals} in @code{gdbtk}.
20970
20971 @subsubheading Example
20972
20973 @smallexample
20974 (gdb)
20975 -stack-list-locals 0
20976 ^done,locals=[name="A",name="B",name="C"]
20977 (gdb)
20978 -stack-list-locals --all-values
20979 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",value="1"@},@{name="B",value="2"@},
20980 @{name="C",value="@{1, 2, 3@}"@}]
20981 -stack-list-locals --simple-values
20982 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",type="int",value="1"@},
20983 @{name="B",type="int",value="2"@},@{name="C",type="int [3]"@}]
20984 (gdb)
20985 @end smallexample
20986
20987
20988 @subheading The @code{-stack-select-frame} Command
20989 @findex -stack-select-frame
20990
20991 @subsubheading Synopsis
20992
20993 @smallexample
20994 -stack-select-frame @var{framenum}
20995 @end smallexample
20996
20997 Change the selected frame. Select a different frame @var{framenum} on
20998 the stack.
20999
21000 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21001
21002 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{frame}, @samp{up},
21003 @samp{down}, @samp{select-frame}, @samp{up-silent}, and @samp{down-silent}.
21004
21005 @subsubheading Example
21006
21007 @smallexample
21008 (gdb)
21009 -stack-select-frame 2
21010 ^done
21011 (gdb)
21012 @end smallexample
21013
21014 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
21015 @node GDB/MI Variable Objects
21016 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Variable Objects
21017
21018 @ignore
21019
21020 @subheading Motivation for Variable Objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
21021
21022 For the implementation of a variable debugger window (locals, watched
21023 expressions, etc.), we are proposing the adaptation of the existing code
21024 used by @code{Insight}.
21025
21026 The two main reasons for that are:
21027
21028 @enumerate 1
21029 @item
21030 It has been proven in practice (it is already on its second generation).
21031
21032 @item
21033 It will shorten development time (needless to say how important it is
21034 now).
21035 @end enumerate
21036
21037 The original interface was designed to be used by Tcl code, so it was
21038 slightly changed so it could be used through @sc{gdb/mi}. This section
21039 describes the @sc{gdb/mi} operations that will be available and gives some
21040 hints about their use.
21041
21042 @emph{Note}: In addition to the set of operations described here, we
21043 expect the @sc{gui} implementation of a variable window to require, at
21044 least, the following operations:
21045
21046 @itemize @bullet
21047 @item @code{-gdb-show} @code{output-radix}
21048 @item @code{-stack-list-arguments}
21049 @item @code{-stack-list-locals}
21050 @item @code{-stack-select-frame}
21051 @end itemize
21052
21053 @end ignore
21054
21055 @subheading Introduction to Variable Objects
21056
21057 @cindex variable objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
21058
21059 Variable objects are "object-oriented" MI interface for examining and
21060 changing values of expressions. Unlike some other MI interfaces that
21061 work with expressions, variable objects are specifically designed for
21062 simple and efficient presentation in the frontend. A variable object
21063 is identified by string name. When a variable object is created, the
21064 frontend specifies the expression for that variable object. The
21065 expression can be a simple variable, or it can be an arbitrary complex
21066 expression, and can even involve CPU registers. After creating a
21067 variable object, the frontend can invoke other variable object
21068 operations---for example to obtain or change the value of a variable
21069 object, or to change display format.
21070
21071 Variable objects have hierarchical tree structure. Any variable object
21072 that corresponds to a composite type, such as structure in C, has
21073 a number of child variable objects, for example corresponding to each
21074 element of a structure. A child variable object can itself have
21075 children, recursively. Recursion ends when we reach
21076 leaf variable objects, which always have built-in types. Child variable
21077 objects are created only by explicit request, so if a frontend
21078 is not interested in the children of a particular variable object, no
21079 child will be created.
21080
21081 For a leaf variable object it is possible to obtain its value as a
21082 string, or set the value from a string. String value can be also
21083 obtained for a non-leaf variable object, but it's generally a string
21084 that only indicates the type of the object, and does not list its
21085 contents. Assignment to a non-leaf variable object is not allowed.
21086
21087 A frontend does not need to read the values of all variable objects each time
21088 the program stops. Instead, MI provides an update command that lists all
21089 variable objects whose values has changed since the last update
21090 operation. This considerably reduces the amount of data that must
21091 be transferred to the frontend. As noted above, children variable
21092 objects are created on demand, and only leaf variable objects have a
21093 real value. As result, gdb will read target memory only for leaf
21094 variables that frontend has created.
21095
21096 The automatic update is not always desirable. For example, a frontend
21097 might want to keep a value of some expression for future reference,
21098 and never update it. For another example, fetching memory is
21099 relatively slow for embedded targets, so a frontend might want
21100 to disable automatic update for the variables that are either not
21101 visible on the screen, or ``closed''. This is possible using so
21102 called ``frozen variable objects''. Such variable objects are never
21103 implicitly updated.
21104
21105 The following is the complete set of @sc{gdb/mi} operations defined to
21106 access this functionality:
21107
21108 @multitable @columnfractions .4 .6
21109 @item @strong{Operation}
21110 @tab @strong{Description}
21111
21112 @item @code{-var-create}
21113 @tab create a variable object
21114 @item @code{-var-delete}
21115 @tab delete the variable object and/or its children
21116 @item @code{-var-set-format}
21117 @tab set the display format of this variable
21118 @item @code{-var-show-format}
21119 @tab show the display format of this variable
21120 @item @code{-var-info-num-children}
21121 @tab tells how many children this object has
21122 @item @code{-var-list-children}
21123 @tab return a list of the object's children
21124 @item @code{-var-info-type}
21125 @tab show the type of this variable object
21126 @item @code{-var-info-expression}
21127 @tab print parent-relative expression that this variable object represents
21128 @item @code{-var-info-path-expression}
21129 @tab print full expression that this variable object represents
21130 @item @code{-var-show-attributes}
21131 @tab is this variable editable? does it exist here?
21132 @item @code{-var-evaluate-expression}
21133 @tab get the value of this variable
21134 @item @code{-var-assign}
21135 @tab set the value of this variable
21136 @item @code{-var-update}
21137 @tab update the variable and its children
21138 @item @code{-var-set-frozen}
21139 @tab set frozeness attribute
21140 @end multitable
21141
21142 In the next subsection we describe each operation in detail and suggest
21143 how it can be used.
21144
21145 @subheading Description And Use of Operations on Variable Objects
21146
21147 @subheading The @code{-var-create} Command
21148 @findex -var-create
21149
21150 @subsubheading Synopsis
21151
21152 @smallexample
21153 -var-create @{@var{name} | "-"@}
21154 @{@var{frame-addr} | "*"@} @var{expression}
21155 @end smallexample
21156
21157 This operation creates a variable object, which allows the monitoring of
21158 a variable, the result of an expression, a memory cell or a CPU
21159 register.
21160
21161 The @var{name} parameter is the string by which the object can be
21162 referenced. It must be unique. If @samp{-} is specified, the varobj
21163 system will generate a string ``varNNNNNN'' automatically. It will be
21164 unique provided that one does not specify @var{name} on that format.
21165 The command fails if a duplicate name is found.
21166
21167 The frame under which the expression should be evaluated can be
21168 specified by @var{frame-addr}. A @samp{*} indicates that the current
21169 frame should be used.
21170
21171 @var{expression} is any expression valid on the current language set (must not
21172 begin with a @samp{*}), or one of the following:
21173
21174 @itemize @bullet
21175 @item
21176 @samp{*@var{addr}}, where @var{addr} is the address of a memory cell
21177
21178 @item
21179 @samp{*@var{addr}-@var{addr}} --- a memory address range (TBD)
21180
21181 @item
21182 @samp{$@var{regname}} --- a CPU register name
21183 @end itemize
21184
21185 @subsubheading Result
21186
21187 This operation returns the name, number of children and the type of the
21188 object created. Type is returned as a string as the ones generated by
21189 the @value{GDBN} CLI:
21190
21191 @smallexample
21192 name="@var{name}",numchild="N",type="@var{type}"
21193 @end smallexample
21194
21195
21196 @subheading The @code{-var-delete} Command
21197 @findex -var-delete
21198
21199 @subsubheading Synopsis
21200
21201 @smallexample
21202 -var-delete [ -c ] @var{name}
21203 @end smallexample
21204
21205 Deletes a previously created variable object and all of its children.
21206 With the @samp{-c} option, just deletes the children.
21207
21208 Returns an error if the object @var{name} is not found.
21209
21210
21211 @subheading The @code{-var-set-format} Command
21212 @findex -var-set-format
21213
21214 @subsubheading Synopsis
21215
21216 @smallexample
21217 -var-set-format @var{name} @var{format-spec}
21218 @end smallexample
21219
21220 Sets the output format for the value of the object @var{name} to be
21221 @var{format-spec}.
21222
21223 @anchor{-var-set-format}
21224 The syntax for the @var{format-spec} is as follows:
21225
21226 @smallexample
21227 @var{format-spec} @expansion{}
21228 @{binary | decimal | hexadecimal | octal | natural@}
21229 @end smallexample
21230
21231 The natural format is the default format choosen automatically
21232 based on the variable type (like decimal for an @code{int}, hex
21233 for pointers, etc.).
21234
21235 For a variable with children, the format is set only on the
21236 variable itself, and the children are not affected.
21237
21238 @subheading The @code{-var-show-format} Command
21239 @findex -var-show-format
21240
21241 @subsubheading Synopsis
21242
21243 @smallexample
21244 -var-show-format @var{name}
21245 @end smallexample
21246
21247 Returns the format used to display the value of the object @var{name}.
21248
21249 @smallexample
21250 @var{format} @expansion{}
21251 @var{format-spec}
21252 @end smallexample
21253
21254
21255 @subheading The @code{-var-info-num-children} Command
21256 @findex -var-info-num-children
21257
21258 @subsubheading Synopsis
21259
21260 @smallexample
21261 -var-info-num-children @var{name}
21262 @end smallexample
21263
21264 Returns the number of children of a variable object @var{name}:
21265
21266 @smallexample
21267 numchild=@var{n}
21268 @end smallexample
21269
21270
21271 @subheading The @code{-var-list-children} Command
21272 @findex -var-list-children
21273
21274 @subsubheading Synopsis
21275
21276 @smallexample
21277 -var-list-children [@var{print-values}] @var{name}
21278 @end smallexample
21279 @anchor{-var-list-children}
21280
21281 Return a list of the children of the specified variable object and
21282 create variable objects for them, if they do not already exist. With
21283 a single argument or if @var{print-values} has a value for of 0 or
21284 @code{--no-values}, print only the names of the variables; if
21285 @var{print-values} is 1 or @code{--all-values}, also print their
21286 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values} print the name and
21287 value for simple data types and just the name for arrays, structures
21288 and unions.
21289
21290 @subsubheading Example
21291
21292 @smallexample
21293 (gdb)
21294 -var-list-children n
21295 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[@{name=@var{name},
21296 numchild=@var{n},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
21297 (gdb)
21298 -var-list-children --all-values n
21299 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[@{name=@var{name},
21300 numchild=@var{n},value=@var{value},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
21301 @end smallexample
21302
21303
21304 @subheading The @code{-var-info-type} Command
21305 @findex -var-info-type
21306
21307 @subsubheading Synopsis
21308
21309 @smallexample
21310 -var-info-type @var{name}
21311 @end smallexample
21312
21313 Returns the type of the specified variable @var{name}. The type is
21314 returned as a string in the same format as it is output by the
21315 @value{GDBN} CLI:
21316
21317 @smallexample
21318 type=@var{typename}
21319 @end smallexample
21320
21321
21322 @subheading The @code{-var-info-expression} Command
21323 @findex -var-info-expression
21324
21325 @subsubheading Synopsis
21326
21327 @smallexample
21328 -var-info-expression @var{name}
21329 @end smallexample
21330
21331 Returns a string that is suitable for presenting this
21332 variable object in user interface. The string is generally
21333 not valid expression in the current language, and cannot be evaluated.
21334
21335 For example, if @code{a} is an array, and variable object
21336 @code{A} was created for @code{a}, then we'll get this output:
21337
21338 @smallexample
21339 (gdb) -var-info-expression A.1
21340 ^done,lang="C",exp="1"
21341 @end smallexample
21342
21343 @noindent
21344 Here, the values of @code{lang} can be @code{@{"C" | "C++" | "Java"@}}.
21345
21346 Note that the output of the @code{-var-list-children} command also
21347 includes those expressions, so the @code{-var-info-expression} command
21348 is of limited use.
21349
21350 @subheading The @code{-var-info-path-expression} Command
21351 @findex -var-info-path-expression
21352
21353 @subsubheading Synopsis
21354
21355 @smallexample
21356 -var-info-path-expression @var{name}
21357 @end smallexample
21358
21359 Returns an expression that can be evaluated in the current
21360 context and will yield the same value that a variable object has.
21361 Compare this with the @code{-var-info-expression} command, which
21362 result can be used only for UI presentation. Typical use of
21363 the @code{-var-info-path-expression} command is creating a
21364 watchpoint from a variable object.
21365
21366 For example, suppose @code{C} is a C@t{++} class, derived from class
21367 @code{Base}, and that the @code{Base} class has a member called
21368 @code{m_size}. Assume a variable @code{c} is has the type of
21369 @code{C} and a variable object @code{C} was created for variable
21370 @code{c}. Then, we'll get this output:
21371 @smallexample
21372 (gdb) -var-info-path-expression C.Base.public.m_size
21373 ^done,path_expr=((Base)c).m_size)
21374 @end smallexample
21375
21376 @subheading The @code{-var-show-attributes} Command
21377 @findex -var-show-attributes
21378
21379 @subsubheading Synopsis
21380
21381 @smallexample
21382 -var-show-attributes @var{name}
21383 @end smallexample
21384
21385 List attributes of the specified variable object @var{name}:
21386
21387 @smallexample
21388 status=@var{attr} [ ( ,@var{attr} )* ]
21389 @end smallexample
21390
21391 @noindent
21392 where @var{attr} is @code{@{ @{ editable | noneditable @} | TBD @}}.
21393
21394 @subheading The @code{-var-evaluate-expression} Command
21395 @findex -var-evaluate-expression
21396
21397 @subsubheading Synopsis
21398
21399 @smallexample
21400 -var-evaluate-expression [-f @var{format-spec}] @var{name}
21401 @end smallexample
21402
21403 Evaluates the expression that is represented by the specified variable
21404 object and returns its value as a string. The format of the string
21405 can be specified with the @samp{-f} option. The possible values of
21406 this option are the same as for @code{-var-set-format}
21407 (@pxref{-var-set-format}). If the @samp{-f} option is not specified,
21408 the current display format will be used. The current display format
21409 can be changed using the @code{-var-set-format} command.
21410
21411 @smallexample
21412 value=@var{value}
21413 @end smallexample
21414
21415 Note that one must invoke @code{-var-list-children} for a variable
21416 before the value of a child variable can be evaluated.
21417
21418 @subheading The @code{-var-assign} Command
21419 @findex -var-assign
21420
21421 @subsubheading Synopsis
21422
21423 @smallexample
21424 -var-assign @var{name} @var{expression}
21425 @end smallexample
21426
21427 Assigns the value of @var{expression} to the variable object specified
21428 by @var{name}. The object must be @samp{editable}. If the variable's
21429 value is altered by the assign, the variable will show up in any
21430 subsequent @code{-var-update} list.
21431
21432 @subsubheading Example
21433
21434 @smallexample
21435 (gdb)
21436 -var-assign var1 3
21437 ^done,value="3"
21438 (gdb)
21439 -var-update *
21440 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",in_scope="true",type_changed="false"@}]
21441 (gdb)
21442 @end smallexample
21443
21444 @subheading The @code{-var-update} Command
21445 @findex -var-update
21446
21447 @subsubheading Synopsis
21448
21449 @smallexample
21450 -var-update [@var{print-values}] @{@var{name} | "*"@}
21451 @end smallexample
21452
21453 Reevaluate the expressions corresponding to the variable object
21454 @var{name} and all its direct and indirect children, and return the
21455 list of variable objects whose values have changed; @var{name} must
21456 be a root variable object. Here, ``changed'' means that the result of
21457 @code{-var-evaluate-expression} before and after the
21458 @code{-var-update} is different. If @samp{*} is used as the variable
21459 object names, all existing variable objects are updated, except
21460 for frozen ones (@pxref{-var-set-frozen}). The option
21461 @var{print-values} determines whether both names and values, or just
21462 names are printed. The possible values of this option are the same
21463 as for @code{-var-list-children} (@pxref{-var-list-children}). It is
21464 recommended to use the @samp{--all-values} option, to reduce the
21465 number of MI commands needed on each program stop.
21466
21467
21468 @subsubheading Example
21469
21470 @smallexample
21471 (gdb)
21472 -var-assign var1 3
21473 ^done,value="3"
21474 (gdb)
21475 -var-update --all-values var1
21476 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",value="3",in_scope="true",
21477 type_changed="false"@}]
21478 (gdb)
21479 @end smallexample
21480
21481 @anchor{-var-update}
21482 The field in_scope may take three values:
21483
21484 @table @code
21485 @item "true"
21486 The variable object's current value is valid.
21487
21488 @item "false"
21489 The variable object does not currently hold a valid value but it may
21490 hold one in the future if its associated expression comes back into
21491 scope.
21492
21493 @item "invalid"
21494 The variable object no longer holds a valid value.
21495 This can occur when the executable file being debugged has changed,
21496 either through recompilation or by using the @value{GDBN} @code{file}
21497 command. The front end should normally choose to delete these variable
21498 objects.
21499 @end table
21500
21501 In the future new values may be added to this list so the front should
21502 be prepared for this possibility. @xref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, ,@sc{GDB/MI} Development and Front Ends}.
21503
21504 @subheading The @code{-var-set-frozen} Command
21505 @findex -var-set-frozen
21506 @anchor{-var-set-frozen}
21507
21508 @subsubheading Synopsis
21509
21510 @smallexample
21511 -var-set-frozen @var{name} @var{flag}
21512 @end smallexample
21513
21514 Set the frozenness flag on the variable object @var{name}. The
21515 @var{flag} parameter should be either @samp{1} to make the variable
21516 frozen or @samp{0} to make it unfrozen. If a variable object is
21517 frozen, then neither itself, nor any of its children, are
21518 implicitly updated by @code{-var-update} of
21519 a parent variable or by @code{-var-update *}. Only
21520 @code{-var-update} of the variable itself will update its value and
21521 values of its children. After a variable object is unfrozen, it is
21522 implicitly updated by all subsequent @code{-var-update} operations.
21523 Unfreezing a variable does not update it, only subsequent
21524 @code{-var-update} does.
21525
21526 @subsubheading Example
21527
21528 @smallexample
21529 (gdb)
21530 -var-set-frozen V 1
21531 ^done
21532 (gdb)
21533 @end smallexample
21534
21535
21536 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
21537 @node GDB/MI Data Manipulation
21538 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Data Manipulation
21539
21540 @cindex data manipulation, in @sc{gdb/mi}
21541 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, data manipulation
21542 This section describes the @sc{gdb/mi} commands that manipulate data:
21543 examine memory and registers, evaluate expressions, etc.
21544
21545 @c REMOVED FROM THE INTERFACE.
21546 @c @subheading -data-assign
21547 @c Change the value of a program variable. Plenty of side effects.
21548 @c @subsubheading GDB Command
21549 @c set variable
21550 @c @subsubheading Example
21551 @c N.A.
21552
21553 @subheading The @code{-data-disassemble} Command
21554 @findex -data-disassemble
21555
21556 @subsubheading Synopsis
21557
21558 @smallexample
21559 -data-disassemble
21560 [ -s @var{start-addr} -e @var{end-addr} ]
21561 | [ -f @var{filename} -l @var{linenum} [ -n @var{lines} ] ]
21562 -- @var{mode}
21563 @end smallexample
21564
21565 @noindent
21566 Where:
21567
21568 @table @samp
21569 @item @var{start-addr}
21570 is the beginning address (or @code{$pc})
21571 @item @var{end-addr}
21572 is the end address
21573 @item @var{filename}
21574 is the name of the file to disassemble
21575 @item @var{linenum}
21576 is the line number to disassemble around
21577 @item @var{lines}
21578 is the number of disassembly lines to be produced. If it is -1,
21579 the whole function will be disassembled, in case no @var{end-addr} is
21580 specified. If @var{end-addr} is specified as a non-zero value, and
21581 @var{lines} is lower than the number of disassembly lines between
21582 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only @var{lines} lines are
21583 displayed; if @var{lines} is higher than the number of lines between
21584 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only the lines up to @var{end-addr}
21585 are displayed.
21586 @item @var{mode}
21587 is either 0 (meaning only disassembly) or 1 (meaning mixed source and
21588 disassembly).
21589 @end table
21590
21591 @subsubheading Result
21592
21593 The output for each instruction is composed of four fields:
21594
21595 @itemize @bullet
21596 @item Address
21597 @item Func-name
21598 @item Offset
21599 @item Instruction
21600 @end itemize
21601
21602 Note that whatever included in the instruction field, is not manipulated
21603 directly by @sc{gdb/mi}, i.e., it is not possible to adjust its format.
21604
21605 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21606
21607 There's no direct mapping from this command to the CLI.
21608
21609 @subsubheading Example
21610
21611 Disassemble from the current value of @code{$pc} to @code{$pc + 20}:
21612
21613 @smallexample
21614 (gdb)
21615 -data-disassemble -s $pc -e "$pc + 20" -- 0
21616 ^done,
21617 asm_insns=[
21618 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
21619 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
21620 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
21621 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
21622 @{address="0x000107c8",func-name="main",offset="12",
21623 inst="or %o2, 0x140, %o1\t! 0x11940 <_lib_version+8>"@},
21624 @{address="0x000107cc",func-name="main",offset="16",
21625 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
21626 @{address="0x000107d0",func-name="main",offset="20",
21627 inst="or %o2, 0x168, %o4\t! 0x11968 <_lib_version+48>"@}]
21628 (gdb)
21629 @end smallexample
21630
21631 Disassemble the whole @code{main} function. Line 32 is part of
21632 @code{main}.
21633
21634 @smallexample
21635 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -- 0
21636 ^done,asm_insns=[
21637 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
21638 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
21639 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
21640 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
21641 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
21642 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
21643 [@dots{}]
21644 @{address="0x0001081c",func-name="main",offset="96",inst="ret "@},
21645 @{address="0x00010820",func-name="main",offset="100",inst="restore "@}]
21646 (gdb)
21647 @end smallexample
21648
21649 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main}:
21650
21651 @smallexample
21652 (gdb)
21653 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 0
21654 ^done,asm_insns=[
21655 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
21656 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
21657 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
21658 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
21659 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
21660 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]
21661 (gdb)
21662 @end smallexample
21663
21664 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main} in mixed mode:
21665
21666 @smallexample
21667 (gdb)
21668 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 1
21669 ^done,asm_insns=[
21670 src_and_asm_line=@{line="31",
21671 file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
21672 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
21673 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
21674 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@}]@},
21675 src_and_asm_line=@{line="32",
21676 file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
21677 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
21678 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
21679 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
21680 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
21681 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]@}]
21682 (gdb)
21683 @end smallexample
21684
21685
21686 @subheading The @code{-data-evaluate-expression} Command
21687 @findex -data-evaluate-expression
21688
21689 @subsubheading Synopsis
21690
21691 @smallexample
21692 -data-evaluate-expression @var{expr}
21693 @end smallexample
21694
21695 Evaluate @var{expr} as an expression. The expression could contain an
21696 inferior function call. The function call will execute synchronously.
21697 If the expression contains spaces, it must be enclosed in double quotes.
21698
21699 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21700
21701 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{print}, @samp{output}, and
21702 @samp{call}. In @code{gdbtk} only, there's a corresponding
21703 @samp{gdb_eval} command.
21704
21705 @subsubheading Example
21706
21707 In the following example, the numbers that precede the commands are the
21708 @dfn{tokens} described in @ref{GDB/MI Command Syntax, ,@sc{gdb/mi}
21709 Command Syntax}. Notice how @sc{gdb/mi} returns the same tokens in its
21710 output.
21711
21712 @smallexample
21713 211-data-evaluate-expression A
21714 211^done,value="1"
21715 (gdb)
21716 311-data-evaluate-expression &A
21717 311^done,value="0xefffeb7c"
21718 (gdb)
21719 411-data-evaluate-expression A+3
21720 411^done,value="4"
21721 (gdb)
21722 511-data-evaluate-expression "A + 3"
21723 511^done,value="4"
21724 (gdb)
21725 @end smallexample
21726
21727
21728 @subheading The @code{-data-list-changed-registers} Command
21729 @findex -data-list-changed-registers
21730
21731 @subsubheading Synopsis
21732
21733 @smallexample
21734 -data-list-changed-registers
21735 @end smallexample
21736
21737 Display a list of the registers that have changed.
21738
21739 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21740
21741 @value{GDBN} doesn't have a direct analog for this command; @code{gdbtk}
21742 has the corresponding command @samp{gdb_changed_register_list}.
21743
21744 @subsubheading Example
21745
21746 On a PPC MBX board:
21747
21748 @smallexample
21749 (gdb)
21750 -exec-continue
21751 ^running
21752
21753 (gdb)
21754 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",frame=@{
21755 func="main",args=[],file="try.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",
21756 line="5"@}
21757 (gdb)
21758 -data-list-changed-registers
21759 ^done,changed-registers=["0","1","2","4","5","6","7","8","9",
21760 "10","11","13","14","15","16","17","18","19","20","21","22","23",
21761 "24","25","26","27","28","30","31","64","65","66","67","69"]
21762 (gdb)
21763 @end smallexample
21764
21765
21766 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-names} Command
21767 @findex -data-list-register-names
21768
21769 @subsubheading Synopsis
21770
21771 @smallexample
21772 -data-list-register-names [ ( @var{regno} )+ ]
21773 @end smallexample
21774
21775 Show a list of register names for the current target. If no arguments
21776 are given, it shows a list of the names of all the registers. If
21777 integer numbers are given as arguments, it will print a list of the
21778 names of the registers corresponding to the arguments. To ensure
21779 consistency between a register name and its number, the output list may
21780 include empty register names.
21781
21782 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21783
21784 @value{GDBN} does not have a command which corresponds to
21785 @samp{-data-list-register-names}. In @code{gdbtk} there is a
21786 corresponding command @samp{gdb_regnames}.
21787
21788 @subsubheading Example
21789
21790 For the PPC MBX board:
21791 @smallexample
21792 (gdb)
21793 -data-list-register-names
21794 ^done,register-names=["r0","r1","r2","r3","r4","r5","r6","r7",
21795 "r8","r9","r10","r11","r12","r13","r14","r15","r16","r17","r18",
21796 "r19","r20","r21","r22","r23","r24","r25","r26","r27","r28","r29",
21797 "r30","r31","f0","f1","f2","f3","f4","f5","f6","f7","f8","f9",
21798 "f10","f11","f12","f13","f14","f15","f16","f17","f18","f19","f20",
21799 "f21","f22","f23","f24","f25","f26","f27","f28","f29","f30","f31",
21800 "", "pc","ps","cr","lr","ctr","xer"]
21801 (gdb)
21802 -data-list-register-names 1 2 3
21803 ^done,register-names=["r1","r2","r3"]
21804 (gdb)
21805 @end smallexample
21806
21807 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-values} Command
21808 @findex -data-list-register-values
21809
21810 @subsubheading Synopsis
21811
21812 @smallexample
21813 -data-list-register-values @var{fmt} [ ( @var{regno} )*]
21814 @end smallexample
21815
21816 Display the registers' contents. @var{fmt} is the format according to
21817 which the registers' contents are to be returned, followed by an optional
21818 list of numbers specifying the registers to display. A missing list of
21819 numbers indicates that the contents of all the registers must be returned.
21820
21821 Allowed formats for @var{fmt} are:
21822
21823 @table @code
21824 @item x
21825 Hexadecimal
21826 @item o
21827 Octal
21828 @item t
21829 Binary
21830 @item d
21831 Decimal
21832 @item r
21833 Raw
21834 @item N
21835 Natural
21836 @end table
21837
21838 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21839
21840 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{info reg}, @samp{info
21841 all-reg}, and (in @code{gdbtk}) @samp{gdb_fetch_registers}.
21842
21843 @subsubheading Example
21844
21845 For a PPC MBX board (note: line breaks are for readability only, they
21846 don't appear in the actual output):
21847
21848 @smallexample
21849 (gdb)
21850 -data-list-register-values r 64 65
21851 ^done,register-values=[@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
21852 @{number="65",value="0x00029002"@}]
21853 (gdb)
21854 -data-list-register-values x
21855 ^done,register-values=[@{number="0",value="0xfe0043c8"@},
21856 @{number="1",value="0x3fff88"@},@{number="2",value="0xfffffffe"@},
21857 @{number="3",value="0x0"@},@{number="4",value="0xa"@},
21858 @{number="5",value="0x3fff68"@},@{number="6",value="0x3fff58"@},
21859 @{number="7",value="0xfe011e98"@},@{number="8",value="0x2"@},
21860 @{number="9",value="0xfa202820"@},@{number="10",value="0xfa202808"@},
21861 @{number="11",value="0x1"@},@{number="12",value="0x0"@},
21862 @{number="13",value="0x4544"@},@{number="14",value="0xffdfffff"@},
21863 @{number="15",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="16",value="0xfffffeff"@},
21864 @{number="17",value="0xefffffed"@},@{number="18",value="0xfffffffe"@},
21865 @{number="19",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="20",value="0xffffffff"@},
21866 @{number="21",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="22",value="0xfffffff7"@},
21867 @{number="23",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="24",value="0xffffffff"@},
21868 @{number="25",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="26",value="0xfffffffb"@},
21869 @{number="27",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="28",value="0xf7bfffff"@},
21870 @{number="29",value="0x0"@},@{number="30",value="0xfe010000"@},
21871 @{number="31",value="0x0"@},@{number="32",value="0x0"@},
21872 @{number="33",value="0x0"@},@{number="34",value="0x0"@},
21873 @{number="35",value="0x0"@},@{number="36",value="0x0"@},
21874 @{number="37",value="0x0"@},@{number="38",value="0x0"@},
21875 @{number="39",value="0x0"@},@{number="40",value="0x0"@},
21876 @{number="41",value="0x0"@},@{number="42",value="0x0"@},
21877 @{number="43",value="0x0"@},@{number="44",value="0x0"@},
21878 @{number="45",value="0x0"@},@{number="46",value="0x0"@},
21879 @{number="47",value="0x0"@},@{number="48",value="0x0"@},
21880 @{number="49",value="0x0"@},@{number="50",value="0x0"@},
21881 @{number="51",value="0x0"@},@{number="52",value="0x0"@},
21882 @{number="53",value="0x0"@},@{number="54",value="0x0"@},
21883 @{number="55",value="0x0"@},@{number="56",value="0x0"@},
21884 @{number="57",value="0x0"@},@{number="58",value="0x0"@},
21885 @{number="59",value="0x0"@},@{number="60",value="0x0"@},
21886 @{number="61",value="0x0"@},@{number="62",value="0x0"@},
21887 @{number="63",value="0x0"@},@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
21888 @{number="65",value="0x29002"@},@{number="66",value="0x202f04b5"@},
21889 @{number="67",value="0xfe0043b0"@},@{number="68",value="0xfe00b3e4"@},
21890 @{number="69",value="0x20002b03"@}]
21891 (gdb)
21892 @end smallexample
21893
21894
21895 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory} Command
21896 @findex -data-read-memory
21897
21898 @subsubheading Synopsis
21899
21900 @smallexample
21901 -data-read-memory [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
21902 @var{address} @var{word-format} @var{word-size}
21903 @var{nr-rows} @var{nr-cols} [ @var{aschar} ]
21904 @end smallexample
21905
21906 @noindent
21907 where:
21908
21909 @table @samp
21910 @item @var{address}
21911 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
21912 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
21913 quoted using the C convention.
21914
21915 @item @var{word-format}
21916 The format to be used to print the memory words. The notation is the
21917 same as for @value{GDBN}'s @code{print} command (@pxref{Output Formats,
21918 ,Output Formats}).
21919
21920 @item @var{word-size}
21921 The size of each memory word in bytes.
21922
21923 @item @var{nr-rows}
21924 The number of rows in the output table.
21925
21926 @item @var{nr-cols}
21927 The number of columns in the output table.
21928
21929 @item @var{aschar}
21930 If present, indicates that each row should include an @sc{ascii} dump. The
21931 value of @var{aschar} is used as a padding character when a byte is not a
21932 member of the printable @sc{ascii} character set (printable @sc{ascii}
21933 characters are those whose code is between 32 and 126, inclusively).
21934
21935 @item @var{byte-offset}
21936 An offset to add to the @var{address} before fetching memory.
21937 @end table
21938
21939 This command displays memory contents as a table of @var{nr-rows} by
21940 @var{nr-cols} words, each word being @var{word-size} bytes. In total,
21941 @code{@var{nr-rows} * @var{nr-cols} * @var{word-size}} bytes are read
21942 (returned as @samp{total-bytes}). Should less than the requested number
21943 of bytes be returned by the target, the missing words are identified
21944 using @samp{N/A}. The number of bytes read from the target is returned
21945 in @samp{nr-bytes} and the starting address used to read memory in
21946 @samp{addr}.
21947
21948 The address of the next/previous row or page is available in
21949 @samp{next-row} and @samp{prev-row}, @samp{next-page} and
21950 @samp{prev-page}.
21951
21952 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
21953
21954 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}. @code{gdbtk} has
21955 @samp{gdb_get_mem} memory read command.
21956
21957 @subsubheading Example
21958
21959 Read six bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+6} but then offset by
21960 @code{-6} bytes. Format as three rows of two columns. One byte per
21961 word. Display each word in hex.
21962
21963 @smallexample
21964 (gdb)
21965 9-data-read-memory -o -6 -- bytes+6 x 1 3 2
21966 9^done,addr="0x00001390",nr-bytes="6",total-bytes="6",
21967 next-row="0x00001396",prev-row="0x0000138e",next-page="0x00001396",
21968 prev-page="0x0000138a",memory=[
21969 @{addr="0x00001390",data=["0x00","0x01"]@},
21970 @{addr="0x00001392",data=["0x02","0x03"]@},
21971 @{addr="0x00001394",data=["0x04","0x05"]@}]
21972 (gdb)
21973 @end smallexample
21974
21975 Read two bytes of memory starting at address @code{shorts + 64} and
21976 display as a single word formatted in decimal.
21977
21978 @smallexample
21979 (gdb)
21980 5-data-read-memory shorts+64 d 2 1 1
21981 5^done,addr="0x00001510",nr-bytes="2",total-bytes="2",
21982 next-row="0x00001512",prev-row="0x0000150e",
21983 next-page="0x00001512",prev-page="0x0000150e",memory=[
21984 @{addr="0x00001510",data=["128"]@}]
21985 (gdb)
21986 @end smallexample
21987
21988 Read thirty two bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+16} and format
21989 as eight rows of four columns. Include a string encoding with @samp{x}
21990 used as the non-printable character.
21991
21992 @smallexample
21993 (gdb)
21994 4-data-read-memory bytes+16 x 1 8 4 x
21995 4^done,addr="0x000013a0",nr-bytes="32",total-bytes="32",
21996 next-row="0x000013c0",prev-row="0x0000139c",
21997 next-page="0x000013c0",prev-page="0x00001380",memory=[
21998 @{addr="0x000013a0",data=["0x10","0x11","0x12","0x13"],ascii="xxxx"@},
21999 @{addr="0x000013a4",data=["0x14","0x15","0x16","0x17"],ascii="xxxx"@},
22000 @{addr="0x000013a8",data=["0x18","0x19","0x1a","0x1b"],ascii="xxxx"@},
22001 @{addr="0x000013ac",data=["0x1c","0x1d","0x1e","0x1f"],ascii="xxxx"@},
22002 @{addr="0x000013b0",data=["0x20","0x21","0x22","0x23"],ascii=" !\"#"@},
22003 @{addr="0x000013b4",data=["0x24","0x25","0x26","0x27"],ascii="$%&'"@},
22004 @{addr="0x000013b8",data=["0x28","0x29","0x2a","0x2b"],ascii="()*+"@},
22005 @{addr="0x000013bc",data=["0x2c","0x2d","0x2e","0x2f"],ascii=",-./"@}]
22006 (gdb)
22007 @end smallexample
22008
22009 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
22010 @node GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands
22011 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Tracepoint Commands
22012
22013 The tracepoint commands are not yet implemented.
22014
22015 @c @subheading -trace-actions
22016
22017 @c @subheading -trace-delete
22018
22019 @c @subheading -trace-disable
22020
22021 @c @subheading -trace-dump
22022
22023 @c @subheading -trace-enable
22024
22025 @c @subheading -trace-exists
22026
22027 @c @subheading -trace-find
22028
22029 @c @subheading -trace-frame-number
22030
22031 @c @subheading -trace-info
22032
22033 @c @subheading -trace-insert
22034
22035 @c @subheading -trace-list
22036
22037 @c @subheading -trace-pass-count
22038
22039 @c @subheading -trace-save
22040
22041 @c @subheading -trace-start
22042
22043 @c @subheading -trace-stop
22044
22045
22046 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
22047 @node GDB/MI Symbol Query
22048 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Symbol Query Commands
22049
22050
22051 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-address} Command
22052 @findex -symbol-info-address
22053
22054 @subsubheading Synopsis
22055
22056 @smallexample
22057 -symbol-info-address @var{symbol}
22058 @end smallexample
22059
22060 Describe where @var{symbol} is stored.
22061
22062 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22063
22064 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info address}.
22065
22066 @subsubheading Example
22067 N.A.
22068
22069
22070 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-file} Command
22071 @findex -symbol-info-file
22072
22073 @subsubheading Synopsis
22074
22075 @smallexample
22076 -symbol-info-file
22077 @end smallexample
22078
22079 Show the file for the symbol.
22080
22081 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22082
22083 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command. @code{gdbtk} has
22084 @samp{gdb_find_file}.
22085
22086 @subsubheading Example
22087 N.A.
22088
22089
22090 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-function} Command
22091 @findex -symbol-info-function
22092
22093 @subsubheading Synopsis
22094
22095 @smallexample
22096 -symbol-info-function
22097 @end smallexample
22098
22099 Show which function the symbol lives in.
22100
22101 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22102
22103 @samp{gdb_get_function} in @code{gdbtk}.
22104
22105 @subsubheading Example
22106 N.A.
22107
22108
22109 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-line} Command
22110 @findex -symbol-info-line
22111
22112 @subsubheading Synopsis
22113
22114 @smallexample
22115 -symbol-info-line
22116 @end smallexample
22117
22118 Show the core addresses of the code for a source line.
22119
22120 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22121
22122 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info line}.
22123 @code{gdbtk} has the @samp{gdb_get_line} and @samp{gdb_get_file} commands.
22124
22125 @subsubheading Example
22126 N.A.
22127
22128
22129 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-symbol} Command
22130 @findex -symbol-info-symbol
22131
22132 @subsubheading Synopsis
22133
22134 @smallexample
22135 -symbol-info-symbol @var{addr}
22136 @end smallexample
22137
22138 Describe what symbol is at location @var{addr}.
22139
22140 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22141
22142 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info symbol}.
22143
22144 @subsubheading Example
22145 N.A.
22146
22147
22148 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-functions} Command
22149 @findex -symbol-list-functions
22150
22151 @subsubheading Synopsis
22152
22153 @smallexample
22154 -symbol-list-functions
22155 @end smallexample
22156
22157 List the functions in the executable.
22158
22159 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22160
22161 @samp{info functions} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_listfunc} and
22162 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
22163
22164 @subsubheading Example
22165 N.A.
22166
22167
22168 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-lines} Command
22169 @findex -symbol-list-lines
22170
22171 @subsubheading Synopsis
22172
22173 @smallexample
22174 -symbol-list-lines @var{filename}
22175 @end smallexample
22176
22177 Print the list of lines that contain code and their associated program
22178 addresses for the given source filename. The entries are sorted in
22179 ascending PC order.
22180
22181 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22182
22183 There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
22184
22185 @subsubheading Example
22186 @smallexample
22187 (gdb)
22188 -symbol-list-lines basics.c
22189 ^done,lines=[@{pc="0x08048554",line="7"@},@{pc="0x0804855a",line="8"@}]
22190 (gdb)
22191 @end smallexample
22192
22193
22194 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-types} Command
22195 @findex -symbol-list-types
22196
22197 @subsubheading Synopsis
22198
22199 @smallexample
22200 -symbol-list-types
22201 @end smallexample
22202
22203 List all the type names.
22204
22205 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22206
22207 The corresponding commands are @samp{info types} in @value{GDBN},
22208 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
22209
22210 @subsubheading Example
22211 N.A.
22212
22213
22214 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-variables} Command
22215 @findex -symbol-list-variables
22216
22217 @subsubheading Synopsis
22218
22219 @smallexample
22220 -symbol-list-variables
22221 @end smallexample
22222
22223 List all the global and static variable names.
22224
22225 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22226
22227 @samp{info variables} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
22228
22229 @subsubheading Example
22230 N.A.
22231
22232
22233 @subheading The @code{-symbol-locate} Command
22234 @findex -symbol-locate
22235
22236 @subsubheading Synopsis
22237
22238 @smallexample
22239 -symbol-locate
22240 @end smallexample
22241
22242 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22243
22244 @samp{gdb_loc} in @code{gdbtk}.
22245
22246 @subsubheading Example
22247 N.A.
22248
22249
22250 @subheading The @code{-symbol-type} Command
22251 @findex -symbol-type
22252
22253 @subsubheading Synopsis
22254
22255 @smallexample
22256 -symbol-type @var{variable}
22257 @end smallexample
22258
22259 Show type of @var{variable}.
22260
22261 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22262
22263 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ptype}, @code{gdbtk} has
22264 @samp{gdb_obj_variable}.
22265
22266 @subsubheading Example
22267 N.A.
22268
22269
22270 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
22271 @node GDB/MI File Commands
22272 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Commands
22273
22274 This section describes the GDB/MI commands to specify executable file names
22275 and to read in and obtain symbol table information.
22276
22277 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-and-symbols} Command
22278 @findex -file-exec-and-symbols
22279
22280 @subsubheading Synopsis
22281
22282 @smallexample
22283 -file-exec-and-symbols @var{file}
22284 @end smallexample
22285
22286 Specify the executable file to be debugged. This file is the one from
22287 which the symbol table is also read. If no file is specified, the
22288 command clears the executable and symbol information. If breakpoints
22289 are set when using this command with no arguments, @value{GDBN} will produce
22290 error messages. Otherwise, no output is produced, except a completion
22291 notification.
22292
22293 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22294
22295 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{file}.
22296
22297 @subsubheading Example
22298
22299 @smallexample
22300 (gdb)
22301 -file-exec-and-symbols /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
22302 ^done
22303 (gdb)
22304 @end smallexample
22305
22306
22307 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-file} Command
22308 @findex -file-exec-file
22309
22310 @subsubheading Synopsis
22311
22312 @smallexample
22313 -file-exec-file @var{file}
22314 @end smallexample
22315
22316 Specify the executable file to be debugged. Unlike
22317 @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols}, the symbol table is @emph{not} read
22318 from this file. If used without argument, @value{GDBN} clears the information
22319 about the executable file. No output is produced, except a completion
22320 notification.
22321
22322 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22323
22324 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{exec-file}.
22325
22326 @subsubheading Example
22327
22328 @smallexample
22329 (gdb)
22330 -file-exec-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
22331 ^done
22332 (gdb)
22333 @end smallexample
22334
22335
22336 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-sections} Command
22337 @findex -file-list-exec-sections
22338
22339 @subsubheading Synopsis
22340
22341 @smallexample
22342 -file-list-exec-sections
22343 @end smallexample
22344
22345 List the sections of the current executable file.
22346
22347 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22348
22349 The @value{GDBN} command @samp{info file} shows, among the rest, the same
22350 information as this command. @code{gdbtk} has a corresponding command
22351 @samp{gdb_load_info}.
22352
22353 @subsubheading Example
22354 N.A.
22355
22356
22357 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-file} Command
22358 @findex -file-list-exec-source-file
22359
22360 @subsubheading Synopsis
22361
22362 @smallexample
22363 -file-list-exec-source-file
22364 @end smallexample
22365
22366 List the line number, the current source file, and the absolute path
22367 to the current source file for the current executable. The macro
22368 information field has a value of @samp{1} or @samp{0} depending on
22369 whether or not the file includes preprocessor macro information.
22370
22371 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22372
22373 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info source}
22374
22375 @subsubheading Example
22376
22377 @smallexample
22378 (gdb)
22379 123-file-list-exec-source-file
22380 123^done,line="1",file="foo.c",fullname="/home/bar/foo.c,macro-info="1"
22381 (gdb)
22382 @end smallexample
22383
22384
22385 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-files} Command
22386 @findex -file-list-exec-source-files
22387
22388 @subsubheading Synopsis
22389
22390 @smallexample
22391 -file-list-exec-source-files
22392 @end smallexample
22393
22394 List the source files for the current executable.
22395
22396 It will always output the filename, but only when @value{GDBN} can find
22397 the absolute file name of a source file, will it output the fullname.
22398
22399 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22400
22401 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info sources}.
22402 @code{gdbtk} has an analogous command @samp{gdb_listfiles}.
22403
22404 @subsubheading Example
22405 @smallexample
22406 (gdb)
22407 -file-list-exec-source-files
22408 ^done,files=[
22409 @{file=foo.c,fullname=/home/foo.c@},
22410 @{file=/home/bar.c,fullname=/home/bar.c@},
22411 @{file=gdb_could_not_find_fullpath.c@}]
22412 (gdb)
22413 @end smallexample
22414
22415 @subheading The @code{-file-list-shared-libraries} Command
22416 @findex -file-list-shared-libraries
22417
22418 @subsubheading Synopsis
22419
22420 @smallexample
22421 -file-list-shared-libraries
22422 @end smallexample
22423
22424 List the shared libraries in the program.
22425
22426 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22427
22428 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info shared}.
22429
22430 @subsubheading Example
22431 N.A.
22432
22433
22434 @subheading The @code{-file-list-symbol-files} Command
22435 @findex -file-list-symbol-files
22436
22437 @subsubheading Synopsis
22438
22439 @smallexample
22440 -file-list-symbol-files
22441 @end smallexample
22442
22443 List symbol files.
22444
22445 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22446
22447 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info file} (part of it).
22448
22449 @subsubheading Example
22450 N.A.
22451
22452
22453 @subheading The @code{-file-symbol-file} Command
22454 @findex -file-symbol-file
22455
22456 @subsubheading Synopsis
22457
22458 @smallexample
22459 -file-symbol-file @var{file}
22460 @end smallexample
22461
22462 Read symbol table info from the specified @var{file} argument. When
22463 used without arguments, clears @value{GDBN}'s symbol table info. No output is
22464 produced, except for a completion notification.
22465
22466 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22467
22468 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{symbol-file}.
22469
22470 @subsubheading Example
22471
22472 @smallexample
22473 (gdb)
22474 -file-symbol-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
22475 ^done
22476 (gdb)
22477 @end smallexample
22478
22479 @ignore
22480 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
22481 @node GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands
22482 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Memory Overlay Commands
22483
22484 The memory overlay commands are not implemented.
22485
22486 @c @subheading -overlay-auto
22487
22488 @c @subheading -overlay-list-mapping-state
22489
22490 @c @subheading -overlay-list-overlays
22491
22492 @c @subheading -overlay-map
22493
22494 @c @subheading -overlay-off
22495
22496 @c @subheading -overlay-on
22497
22498 @c @subheading -overlay-unmap
22499
22500 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
22501 @node GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands
22502 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Signal Handling Commands
22503
22504 Signal handling commands are not implemented.
22505
22506 @c @subheading -signal-handle
22507
22508 @c @subheading -signal-list-handle-actions
22509
22510 @c @subheading -signal-list-signal-types
22511 @end ignore
22512
22513
22514 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
22515 @node GDB/MI Target Manipulation
22516 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Target Manipulation Commands
22517
22518
22519 @subheading The @code{-target-attach} Command
22520 @findex -target-attach
22521
22522 @subsubheading Synopsis
22523
22524 @smallexample
22525 -target-attach @var{pid} | @var{file}
22526 @end smallexample
22527
22528 Attach to a process @var{pid} or a file @var{file} outside of @value{GDBN}.
22529
22530 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22531
22532 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{attach}.
22533
22534 @subsubheading Example
22535 @smallexample
22536 (gdb)
22537 -target-attach 34
22538 =thread-created,id="1"
22539 *stopped,thread-id="1",frame=@{addr="0xb7f7e410",func="bar",args=[]@}
22540 ^done
22541 (gdb)
22542 @end smallexample
22543
22544 @subheading The @code{-target-compare-sections} Command
22545 @findex -target-compare-sections
22546
22547 @subsubheading Synopsis
22548
22549 @smallexample
22550 -target-compare-sections [ @var{section} ]
22551 @end smallexample
22552
22553 Compare data of section @var{section} on target to the exec file.
22554 Without the argument, all sections are compared.
22555
22556 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22557
22558 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{compare-sections}.
22559
22560 @subsubheading Example
22561 N.A.
22562
22563
22564 @subheading The @code{-target-detach} Command
22565 @findex -target-detach
22566
22567 @subsubheading Synopsis
22568
22569 @smallexample
22570 -target-detach
22571 @end smallexample
22572
22573 Detach from the remote target which normally resumes its execution.
22574 There's no output.
22575
22576 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22577
22578 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{detach}.
22579
22580 @subsubheading Example
22581
22582 @smallexample
22583 (gdb)
22584 -target-detach
22585 ^done
22586 (gdb)
22587 @end smallexample
22588
22589
22590 @subheading The @code{-target-disconnect} Command
22591 @findex -target-disconnect
22592
22593 @subsubheading Synopsis
22594
22595 @smallexample
22596 -target-disconnect
22597 @end smallexample
22598
22599 Disconnect from the remote target. There's no output and the target is
22600 generally not resumed.
22601
22602 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22603
22604 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disconnect}.
22605
22606 @subsubheading Example
22607
22608 @smallexample
22609 (gdb)
22610 -target-disconnect
22611 ^done
22612 (gdb)
22613 @end smallexample
22614
22615
22616 @subheading The @code{-target-download} Command
22617 @findex -target-download
22618
22619 @subsubheading Synopsis
22620
22621 @smallexample
22622 -target-download
22623 @end smallexample
22624
22625 Loads the executable onto the remote target.
22626 It prints out an update message every half second, which includes the fields:
22627
22628 @table @samp
22629 @item section
22630 The name of the section.
22631 @item section-sent
22632 The size of what has been sent so far for that section.
22633 @item section-size
22634 The size of the section.
22635 @item total-sent
22636 The total size of what was sent so far (the current and the previous sections).
22637 @item total-size
22638 The size of the overall executable to download.
22639 @end table
22640
22641 @noindent
22642 Each message is sent as status record (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, ,
22643 @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax}).
22644
22645 In addition, it prints the name and size of the sections, as they are
22646 downloaded. These messages include the following fields:
22647
22648 @table @samp
22649 @item section
22650 The name of the section.
22651 @item section-size
22652 The size of the section.
22653 @item total-size
22654 The size of the overall executable to download.
22655 @end table
22656
22657 @noindent
22658 At the end, a summary is printed.
22659
22660 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22661
22662 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{load}.
22663
22664 @subsubheading Example
22665
22666 Note: each status message appears on a single line. Here the messages
22667 have been broken down so that they can fit onto a page.
22668
22669 @smallexample
22670 (gdb)
22671 -target-download
22672 +download,@{section=".text",section-size="6668",total-size="9880"@}
22673 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="512",section-size="6668",
22674 total-sent="512",total-size="9880"@}
22675 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1024",section-size="6668",
22676 total-sent="1024",total-size="9880"@}
22677 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1536",section-size="6668",
22678 total-sent="1536",total-size="9880"@}
22679 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2048",section-size="6668",
22680 total-sent="2048",total-size="9880"@}
22681 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2560",section-size="6668",
22682 total-sent="2560",total-size="9880"@}
22683 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3072",section-size="6668",
22684 total-sent="3072",total-size="9880"@}
22685 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3584",section-size="6668",
22686 total-sent="3584",total-size="9880"@}
22687 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4096",section-size="6668",
22688 total-sent="4096",total-size="9880"@}
22689 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4608",section-size="6668",
22690 total-sent="4608",total-size="9880"@}
22691 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5120",section-size="6668",
22692 total-sent="5120",total-size="9880"@}
22693 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5632",section-size="6668",
22694 total-sent="5632",total-size="9880"@}
22695 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6144",section-size="6668",
22696 total-sent="6144",total-size="9880"@}
22697 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6656",section-size="6668",
22698 total-sent="6656",total-size="9880"@}
22699 +download,@{section=".init",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
22700 +download,@{section=".fini",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
22701 +download,@{section=".data",section-size="3156",total-size="9880"@}
22702 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="512",section-size="3156",
22703 total-sent="7236",total-size="9880"@}
22704 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1024",section-size="3156",
22705 total-sent="7748",total-size="9880"@}
22706 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1536",section-size="3156",
22707 total-sent="8260",total-size="9880"@}
22708 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2048",section-size="3156",
22709 total-sent="8772",total-size="9880"@}
22710 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2560",section-size="3156",
22711 total-sent="9284",total-size="9880"@}
22712 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="3072",section-size="3156",
22713 total-sent="9796",total-size="9880"@}
22714 ^done,address="0x10004",load-size="9880",transfer-rate="6586",
22715 write-rate="429"
22716 (gdb)
22717 @end smallexample
22718
22719
22720 @subheading The @code{-target-exec-status} Command
22721 @findex -target-exec-status
22722
22723 @subsubheading Synopsis
22724
22725 @smallexample
22726 -target-exec-status
22727 @end smallexample
22728
22729 Provide information on the state of the target (whether it is running or
22730 not, for instance).
22731
22732 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22733
22734 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
22735
22736 @subsubheading Example
22737 N.A.
22738
22739
22740 @subheading The @code{-target-list-available-targets} Command
22741 @findex -target-list-available-targets
22742
22743 @subsubheading Synopsis
22744
22745 @smallexample
22746 -target-list-available-targets
22747 @end smallexample
22748
22749 List the possible targets to connect to.
22750
22751 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22752
22753 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{help target}.
22754
22755 @subsubheading Example
22756 N.A.
22757
22758
22759 @subheading The @code{-target-list-current-targets} Command
22760 @findex -target-list-current-targets
22761
22762 @subsubheading Synopsis
22763
22764 @smallexample
22765 -target-list-current-targets
22766 @end smallexample
22767
22768 Describe the current target.
22769
22770 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22771
22772 The corresponding information is printed by @samp{info file} (among
22773 other things).
22774
22775 @subsubheading Example
22776 N.A.
22777
22778
22779 @subheading The @code{-target-list-parameters} Command
22780 @findex -target-list-parameters
22781
22782 @subsubheading Synopsis
22783
22784 @smallexample
22785 -target-list-parameters
22786 @end smallexample
22787
22788 @c ????
22789
22790 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22791
22792 No equivalent.
22793
22794 @subsubheading Example
22795 N.A.
22796
22797
22798 @subheading The @code{-target-select} Command
22799 @findex -target-select
22800
22801 @subsubheading Synopsis
22802
22803 @smallexample
22804 -target-select @var{type} @var{parameters @dots{}}
22805 @end smallexample
22806
22807 Connect @value{GDBN} to the remote target. This command takes two args:
22808
22809 @table @samp
22810 @item @var{type}
22811 The type of target, for instance @samp{remote}, etc.
22812 @item @var{parameters}
22813 Device names, host names and the like. @xref{Target Commands, ,
22814 Commands for Managing Targets}, for more details.
22815 @end table
22816
22817 The output is a connection notification, followed by the address at
22818 which the target program is, in the following form:
22819
22820 @smallexample
22821 ^connected,addr="@var{address}",func="@var{function name}",
22822 args=[@var{arg list}]
22823 @end smallexample
22824
22825 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22826
22827 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{target}.
22828
22829 @subsubheading Example
22830
22831 @smallexample
22832 (gdb)
22833 -target-select remote /dev/ttya
22834 ^connected,addr="0xfe00a300",func="??",args=[]
22835 (gdb)
22836 @end smallexample
22837
22838 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
22839 @node GDB/MI File Transfer Commands
22840 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Transfer Commands
22841
22842
22843 @subheading The @code{-target-file-put} Command
22844 @findex -target-file-put
22845
22846 @subsubheading Synopsis
22847
22848 @smallexample
22849 -target-file-put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
22850 @end smallexample
22851
22852 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
22853 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
22854
22855 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22856
22857 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote put}.
22858
22859 @subsubheading Example
22860
22861 @smallexample
22862 (gdb)
22863 -target-file-put localfile remotefile
22864 ^done
22865 (gdb)
22866 @end smallexample
22867
22868
22869 @subheading The @code{-target-file-get} Command
22870 @findex -target-file-get
22871
22872 @subsubheading Synopsis
22873
22874 @smallexample
22875 -target-file-get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
22876 @end smallexample
22877
22878 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
22879 on the host system.
22880
22881 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22882
22883 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote get}.
22884
22885 @subsubheading Example
22886
22887 @smallexample
22888 (gdb)
22889 -target-file-get remotefile localfile
22890 ^done
22891 (gdb)
22892 @end smallexample
22893
22894
22895 @subheading The @code{-target-file-delete} Command
22896 @findex -target-file-delete
22897
22898 @subsubheading Synopsis
22899
22900 @smallexample
22901 -target-file-delete @var{targetfile}
22902 @end smallexample
22903
22904 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
22905
22906 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22907
22908 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote delete}.
22909
22910 @subsubheading Example
22911
22912 @smallexample
22913 (gdb)
22914 -target-file-delete remotefile
22915 ^done
22916 (gdb)
22917 @end smallexample
22918
22919
22920 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
22921 @node GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands
22922 @section Miscellaneous @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
22923
22924 @c @subheading -gdb-complete
22925
22926 @subheading The @code{-gdb-exit} Command
22927 @findex -gdb-exit
22928
22929 @subsubheading Synopsis
22930
22931 @smallexample
22932 -gdb-exit
22933 @end smallexample
22934
22935 Exit @value{GDBN} immediately.
22936
22937 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22938
22939 Approximately corresponds to @samp{quit}.
22940
22941 @subsubheading Example
22942
22943 @smallexample
22944 (gdb)
22945 -gdb-exit
22946 ^exit
22947 @end smallexample
22948
22949
22950 @subheading The @code{-exec-abort} Command
22951 @findex -exec-abort
22952
22953 @subsubheading Synopsis
22954
22955 @smallexample
22956 -exec-abort
22957 @end smallexample
22958
22959 Kill the inferior running program.
22960
22961 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22962
22963 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{kill}.
22964
22965 @subsubheading Example
22966 N.A.
22967
22968
22969 @subheading The @code{-gdb-set} Command
22970 @findex -gdb-set
22971
22972 @subsubheading Synopsis
22973
22974 @smallexample
22975 -gdb-set
22976 @end smallexample
22977
22978 Set an internal @value{GDBN} variable.
22979 @c IS THIS A DOLLAR VARIABLE? OR SOMETHING LIKE ANNOTATE ?????
22980
22981 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
22982
22983 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set}.
22984
22985 @subsubheading Example
22986
22987 @smallexample
22988 (gdb)
22989 -gdb-set $foo=3
22990 ^done
22991 (gdb)
22992 @end smallexample
22993
22994
22995 @subheading The @code{-gdb-show} Command
22996 @findex -gdb-show
22997
22998 @subsubheading Synopsis
22999
23000 @smallexample
23001 -gdb-show
23002 @end smallexample
23003
23004 Show the current value of a @value{GDBN} variable.
23005
23006 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23007
23008 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show}.
23009
23010 @subsubheading Example
23011
23012 @smallexample
23013 (gdb)
23014 -gdb-show annotate
23015 ^done,value="0"
23016 (gdb)
23017 @end smallexample
23018
23019 @c @subheading -gdb-source
23020
23021
23022 @subheading The @code{-gdb-version} Command
23023 @findex -gdb-version
23024
23025 @subsubheading Synopsis
23026
23027 @smallexample
23028 -gdb-version
23029 @end smallexample
23030
23031 Show version information for @value{GDBN}. Used mostly in testing.
23032
23033 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23034
23035 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{show version}. @value{GDBN} by
23036 default shows this information when you start an interactive session.
23037
23038 @subsubheading Example
23039
23040 @c This example modifies the actual output from GDB to avoid overfull
23041 @c box in TeX.
23042 @smallexample
23043 (gdb)
23044 -gdb-version
23045 ~GNU gdb 5.2.1
23046 ~Copyright 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
23047 ~GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License, and
23048 ~you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under
23049 ~ certain conditions.
23050 ~Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
23051 ~There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty" for
23052 ~ details.
23053 ~This GDB was configured as
23054 "--host=sparc-sun-solaris2.5.1 --target=ppc-eabi".
23055 ^done
23056 (gdb)
23057 @end smallexample
23058
23059 @subheading The @code{-list-features} Command
23060 @findex -list-features
23061
23062 Returns a list of particular features of the MI protocol that
23063 this version of gdb implements. A feature can be a command,
23064 or a new field in an output of some command, or even an
23065 important bugfix. While a frontend can sometimes detect presence
23066 of a feature at runtime, it is easier to perform detection at debugger
23067 startup.
23068
23069 The command returns a list of strings, with each string naming an
23070 available feature. Each returned string is just a name, it does not
23071 have any internal structure. The list of possible feature names
23072 is given below.
23073
23074 Example output:
23075
23076 @smallexample
23077 (gdb) -list-features
23078 ^done,result=["feature1","feature2"]
23079 @end smallexample
23080
23081 The current list of features is:
23082
23083 @table @samp
23084 @item frozen-varobjs
23085 Indicates presence of the @code{-var-set-frozen} command, as well
23086 as possible presense of the @code{frozen} field in the output
23087 of @code{-varobj-create}.
23088 @item pending-breakpoints
23089 Indicates presence of the @option{-f} option to the @code{-break-insert} command.
23090 @item thread-info
23091 Indicates presence of the @code{-thread-info} command.
23092
23093 @end table
23094
23095 @subheading The @code{-list-target-features} Command
23096 @findex -list-target-features
23097
23098 Returns a list of particular features that are supported by the
23099 target. Those features affect the permitted MI commands, but
23100 unlike the features reported by the @code{-list-features} command, the
23101 features depend on which target GDB is using at the moment. Whenever
23102 a target can change, due to commands such as @code{-target-select},
23103 @code{-target-attach} or @code{-exec-run}, the list of target features
23104 may change, and the frontend should obtain it again.
23105 Example output:
23106
23107 @smallexample
23108 (gdb) -list-features
23109 ^done,result=["async"]
23110 @end smallexample
23111
23112 The current list of features is:
23113
23114 @table @samp
23115 @item async
23116 Indicates that the target is capable of asynchronous command
23117 execution, which means that @value{GDBN} will accept further commands
23118 while the target is running.
23119
23120 @end table
23121
23122
23123 @subheading The @code{-interpreter-exec} Command
23124 @findex -interpreter-exec
23125
23126 @subheading Synopsis
23127
23128 @smallexample
23129 -interpreter-exec @var{interpreter} @var{command}
23130 @end smallexample
23131 @anchor{-interpreter-exec}
23132
23133 Execute the specified @var{command} in the given @var{interpreter}.
23134
23135 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
23136
23137 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interpreter-exec}.
23138
23139 @subheading Example
23140
23141 @smallexample
23142 (gdb)
23143 -interpreter-exec console "break main"
23144 &"During symbol reading, couldn't parse type; debugger out of date?.\n"
23145 &"During symbol reading, bad structure-type format.\n"
23146 ~"Breakpoint 1 at 0x8074fc6: file ../../src/gdb/main.c, line 743.\n"
23147 ^done
23148 (gdb)
23149 @end smallexample
23150
23151 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-set} Command
23152 @findex -inferior-tty-set
23153
23154 @subheading Synopsis
23155
23156 @smallexample
23157 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
23158 @end smallexample
23159
23160 Set terminal for future runs of the program being debugged.
23161
23162 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
23163
23164 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set inferior-tty} /dev/pts/1.
23165
23166 @subheading Example
23167
23168 @smallexample
23169 (gdb)
23170 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
23171 ^done
23172 (gdb)
23173 @end smallexample
23174
23175 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-show} Command
23176 @findex -inferior-tty-show
23177
23178 @subheading Synopsis
23179
23180 @smallexample
23181 -inferior-tty-show
23182 @end smallexample
23183
23184 Show terminal for future runs of program being debugged.
23185
23186 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
23187
23188 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show inferior-tty}.
23189
23190 @subheading Example
23191
23192 @smallexample
23193 (gdb)
23194 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
23195 ^done
23196 (gdb)
23197 -inferior-tty-show
23198 ^done,inferior_tty_terminal="/dev/pts/1"
23199 (gdb)
23200 @end smallexample
23201
23202 @subheading The @code{-enable-timings} Command
23203 @findex -enable-timings
23204
23205 @subheading Synopsis
23206
23207 @smallexample
23208 -enable-timings [yes | no]
23209 @end smallexample
23210
23211 Toggle the printing of the wallclock, user and system times for an MI
23212 command as a field in its output. This command is to help frontend
23213 developers optimize the performance of their code. No argument is
23214 equivalent to @samp{yes}.
23215
23216 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
23217
23218 No equivalent.
23219
23220 @subheading Example
23221
23222 @smallexample
23223 (gdb)
23224 -enable-timings
23225 ^done
23226 (gdb)
23227 -break-insert main
23228 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
23229 addr="0x080484ed",func="main",file="myprog.c",
23230 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73",times="0"@},
23231 time=@{wallclock="0.05185",user="0.00800",system="0.00000"@}
23232 (gdb)
23233 -enable-timings no
23234 ^done
23235 (gdb)
23236 -exec-run
23237 ^running
23238 (gdb)
23239 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
23240 frame=@{addr="0x080484ed",func="main",args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},
23241 @{name="argv",value="0xbfb60364"@}],file="myprog.c",
23242 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73"@}
23243 (gdb)
23244 @end smallexample
23245
23246 @node Annotations
23247 @chapter @value{GDBN} Annotations
23248
23249 This chapter describes annotations in @value{GDBN}. Annotations were
23250 designed to interface @value{GDBN} to graphical user interfaces or other
23251 similar programs which want to interact with @value{GDBN} at a
23252 relatively high level.
23253
23254 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
23255 (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
23256
23257 @ignore
23258 This is Edition @value{EDITION}, @value{DATE}.
23259 @end ignore
23260
23261 @menu
23262 * Annotations Overview:: What annotations are; the general syntax.
23263 * Server Prefix:: Issuing a command without affecting user state.
23264 * Prompting:: Annotations marking @value{GDBN}'s need for input.
23265 * Errors:: Annotations for error messages.
23266 * Invalidation:: Some annotations describe things now invalid.
23267 * Annotations for Running::
23268 Whether the program is running, how it stopped, etc.
23269 * Source Annotations:: Annotations describing source code.
23270 @end menu
23271
23272 @node Annotations Overview
23273 @section What is an Annotation?
23274 @cindex annotations
23275
23276 Annotations start with a newline character, two @samp{control-z}
23277 characters, and the name of the annotation. If there is no additional
23278 information associated with this annotation, the name of the annotation
23279 is followed immediately by a newline. If there is additional
23280 information, the name of the annotation is followed by a space, the
23281 additional information, and a newline. The additional information
23282 cannot contain newline characters.
23283
23284 Any output not beginning with a newline and two @samp{control-z}
23285 characters denotes literal output from @value{GDBN}. Currently there is
23286 no need for @value{GDBN} to output a newline followed by two
23287 @samp{control-z} characters, but if there was such a need, the
23288 annotations could be extended with an @samp{escape} annotation which
23289 means those three characters as output.
23290
23291 The annotation @var{level}, which is specified using the
23292 @option{--annotate} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}), controls
23293 how much information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt,
23294 values of expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0
23295 is for no annotations, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a
23296 subprocess of @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable
23297 for programs that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 annotations have
23298 been made obsolete (@pxref{Limitations, , Limitations of the Annotation
23299 Interface, annotate, GDB's Obsolete Annotations}).
23300
23301 @table @code
23302 @kindex set annotate
23303 @item set annotate @var{level}
23304 The @value{GDBN} command @code{set annotate} sets the level of
23305 annotations to the specified @var{level}.
23306
23307 @item show annotate
23308 @kindex show annotate
23309 Show the current annotation level.
23310 @end table
23311
23312 This chapter describes level 3 annotations.
23313
23314 A simple example of starting up @value{GDBN} with annotations is:
23315
23316 @smallexample
23317 $ @kbd{gdb --annotate=3}
23318 GNU gdb 6.0
23319 Copyright 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
23320 GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License,
23321 and you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it
23322 under certain conditions.
23323 Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
23324 There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty"
23325 for details.
23326 This GDB was configured as "i386-pc-linux-gnu"
23327
23328 ^Z^Zpre-prompt
23329 (@value{GDBP})
23330 ^Z^Zprompt
23331 @kbd{quit}
23332
23333 ^Z^Zpost-prompt
23334 $
23335 @end smallexample
23336
23337 Here @samp{quit} is input to @value{GDBN}; the rest is output from
23338 @value{GDBN}. The three lines beginning @samp{^Z^Z} (where @samp{^Z}
23339 denotes a @samp{control-z} character) are annotations; the rest is
23340 output from @value{GDBN}.
23341
23342 @node Server Prefix
23343 @section The Server Prefix
23344 @cindex server prefix
23345
23346 If you prefix a command with @samp{server } then it will not affect
23347 the command history, nor will it affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which
23348 command to repeat if @key{RET} is pressed on a line by itself. This
23349 means that commands can be run behind a user's back by a front-end in
23350 a transparent manner.
23351
23352 The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the value
23353 history; to print a value without recording it into the value history,
23354 use the @code{output} command instead of the @code{print} command.
23355
23356 @node Prompting
23357 @section Annotation for @value{GDBN} Input
23358
23359 @cindex annotations for prompts
23360 When @value{GDBN} prompts for input, it annotates this fact so it is possible
23361 to know when to send output, when the output from a given command is
23362 over, etc.
23363
23364 Different kinds of input each have a different @dfn{input type}. Each
23365 input type has three annotations: a @code{pre-} annotation, which
23366 denotes the beginning of any prompt which is being output, a plain
23367 annotation, which denotes the end of the prompt, and then a @code{post-}
23368 annotation which denotes the end of any echo which may (or may not) be
23369 associated with the input. For example, the @code{prompt} input type
23370 features the following annotations:
23371
23372 @smallexample
23373 ^Z^Zpre-prompt
23374 ^Z^Zprompt
23375 ^Z^Zpost-prompt
23376 @end smallexample
23377
23378 The input types are
23379
23380 @table @code
23381 @findex pre-prompt annotation
23382 @findex prompt annotation
23383 @findex post-prompt annotation
23384 @item prompt
23385 When @value{GDBN} is prompting for a command (the main @value{GDBN} prompt).
23386
23387 @findex pre-commands annotation
23388 @findex commands annotation
23389 @findex post-commands annotation
23390 @item commands
23391 When @value{GDBN} prompts for a set of commands, like in the @code{commands}
23392 command. The annotations are repeated for each command which is input.
23393
23394 @findex pre-overload-choice annotation
23395 @findex overload-choice annotation
23396 @findex post-overload-choice annotation
23397 @item overload-choice
23398 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to select between various overloaded functions.
23399
23400 @findex pre-query annotation
23401 @findex query annotation
23402 @findex post-query annotation
23403 @item query
23404 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to confirm a potentially dangerous operation.
23405
23406 @findex pre-prompt-for-continue annotation
23407 @findex prompt-for-continue annotation
23408 @findex post-prompt-for-continue annotation
23409 @item prompt-for-continue
23410 When @value{GDBN} is asking the user to press return to continue. Note: Don't
23411 expect this to work well; instead use @code{set height 0} to disable
23412 prompting. This is because the counting of lines is buggy in the
23413 presence of annotations.
23414 @end table
23415
23416 @node Errors
23417 @section Errors
23418 @cindex annotations for errors, warnings and interrupts
23419
23420 @findex quit annotation
23421 @smallexample
23422 ^Z^Zquit
23423 @end smallexample
23424
23425 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an interrupt.
23426
23427 @findex error annotation
23428 @smallexample
23429 ^Z^Zerror
23430 @end smallexample
23431
23432 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an error.
23433
23434 Quit and error annotations indicate that any annotations which @value{GDBN} was
23435 in the middle of may end abruptly. For example, if a
23436 @code{value-history-begin} annotation is followed by a @code{error}, one
23437 cannot expect to receive the matching @code{value-history-end}. One
23438 cannot expect not to receive it either, however; an error annotation
23439 does not necessarily mean that @value{GDBN} is immediately returning all the way
23440 to the top level.
23441
23442 @findex error-begin annotation
23443 A quit or error annotation may be preceded by
23444
23445 @smallexample
23446 ^Z^Zerror-begin
23447 @end smallexample
23448
23449 Any output between that and the quit or error annotation is the error
23450 message.
23451
23452 Warning messages are not yet annotated.
23453 @c If we want to change that, need to fix warning(), type_error(),
23454 @c range_error(), and possibly other places.
23455
23456 @node Invalidation
23457 @section Invalidation Notices
23458
23459 @cindex annotations for invalidation messages
23460 The following annotations say that certain pieces of state may have
23461 changed.
23462
23463 @table @code
23464 @findex frames-invalid annotation
23465 @item ^Z^Zframes-invalid
23466
23467 The frames (for example, output from the @code{backtrace} command) may
23468 have changed.
23469
23470 @findex breakpoints-invalid annotation
23471 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoints-invalid
23472
23473 The breakpoints may have changed. For example, the user just added or
23474 deleted a breakpoint.
23475 @end table
23476
23477 @node Annotations for Running
23478 @section Running the Program
23479 @cindex annotations for running programs
23480
23481 @findex starting annotation
23482 @findex stopping annotation
23483 When the program starts executing due to a @value{GDBN} command such as
23484 @code{step} or @code{continue},
23485
23486 @smallexample
23487 ^Z^Zstarting
23488 @end smallexample
23489
23490 is output. When the program stops,
23491
23492 @smallexample
23493 ^Z^Zstopped
23494 @end smallexample
23495
23496 is output. Before the @code{stopped} annotation, a variety of
23497 annotations describe how the program stopped.
23498
23499 @table @code
23500 @findex exited annotation
23501 @item ^Z^Zexited @var{exit-status}
23502 The program exited, and @var{exit-status} is the exit status (zero for
23503 successful exit, otherwise nonzero).
23504
23505 @findex signalled annotation
23506 @findex signal-name annotation
23507 @findex signal-name-end annotation
23508 @findex signal-string annotation
23509 @findex signal-string-end annotation
23510 @item ^Z^Zsignalled
23511 The program exited with a signal. After the @code{^Z^Zsignalled}, the
23512 annotation continues:
23513
23514 @smallexample
23515 @var{intro-text}
23516 ^Z^Zsignal-name
23517 @var{name}
23518 ^Z^Zsignal-name-end
23519 @var{middle-text}
23520 ^Z^Zsignal-string
23521 @var{string}
23522 ^Z^Zsignal-string-end
23523 @var{end-text}
23524 @end smallexample
23525
23526 @noindent
23527 where @var{name} is the name of the signal, such as @code{SIGILL} or
23528 @code{SIGSEGV}, and @var{string} is the explanation of the signal, such
23529 as @code{Illegal Instruction} or @code{Segmentation fault}.
23530 @var{intro-text}, @var{middle-text}, and @var{end-text} are for the
23531 user's benefit and have no particular format.
23532
23533 @findex signal annotation
23534 @item ^Z^Zsignal
23535 The syntax of this annotation is just like @code{signalled}, but @value{GDBN} is
23536 just saying that the program received the signal, not that it was
23537 terminated with it.
23538
23539 @findex breakpoint annotation
23540 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoint @var{number}
23541 The program hit breakpoint number @var{number}.
23542
23543 @findex watchpoint annotation
23544 @item ^Z^Zwatchpoint @var{number}
23545 The program hit watchpoint number @var{number}.
23546 @end table
23547
23548 @node Source Annotations
23549 @section Displaying Source
23550 @cindex annotations for source display
23551
23552 @findex source annotation
23553 The following annotation is used instead of displaying source code:
23554
23555 @smallexample
23556 ^Z^Zsource @var{filename}:@var{line}:@var{character}:@var{middle}:@var{addr}
23557 @end smallexample
23558
23559 where @var{filename} is an absolute file name indicating which source
23560 file, @var{line} is the line number within that file (where 1 is the
23561 first line in the file), @var{character} is the character position
23562 within the file (where 0 is the first character in the file) (for most
23563 debug formats this will necessarily point to the beginning of a line),
23564 @var{middle} is @samp{middle} if @var{addr} is in the middle of the
23565 line, or @samp{beg} if @var{addr} is at the beginning of the line, and
23566 @var{addr} is the address in the target program associated with the
23567 source which is being displayed. @var{addr} is in the form @samp{0x}
23568 followed by one or more lowercase hex digits (note that this does not
23569 depend on the language).
23570
23571 @node GDB Bugs
23572 @chapter Reporting Bugs in @value{GDBN}
23573 @cindex bugs in @value{GDBN}
23574 @cindex reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
23575
23576 Your bug reports play an essential role in making @value{GDBN} reliable.
23577
23578 Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it
23579 may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help
23580 the entire community by making the next version of @value{GDBN} work better. Bug
23581 reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @value{GDBN}.
23582
23583 In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
23584 information that enables us to fix the bug.
23585
23586 @menu
23587 * Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
23588 * Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
23589 @end menu
23590
23591 @node Bug Criteria
23592 @section Have You Found a Bug?
23593 @cindex bug criteria
23594
23595 If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
23596
23597 @itemize @bullet
23598 @cindex fatal signal
23599 @cindex debugger crash
23600 @cindex crash of debugger
23601 @item
23602 If the debugger gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
23603 @value{GDBN} bug. Reliable debuggers never crash.
23604
23605 @cindex error on valid input
23606 @item
23607 If @value{GDBN} produces an error message for valid input, that is a
23608 bug. (Note that if you're cross debugging, the problem may also be
23609 somewhere in the connection to the target.)
23610
23611 @cindex invalid input
23612 @item
23613 If @value{GDBN} does not produce an error message for invalid input,
23614 that is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of
23615 ``invalid input'' might be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support
23616 for traditional practice''.
23617
23618 @item
23619 If you are an experienced user of debugging tools, your suggestions
23620 for improvement of @value{GDBN} are welcome in any case.
23621 @end itemize
23622
23623 @node Bug Reporting
23624 @section How to Report Bugs
23625 @cindex bug reports
23626 @cindex @value{GDBN} bugs, reporting
23627
23628 A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products.
23629 If you obtained @value{GDBN} from a support organization, we recommend you
23630 contact that organization first.
23631
23632 You can find contact information for many support companies and
23633 individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
23634 distribution.
23635 @c should add a web page ref...
23636
23637 @ifset BUGURL
23638 @ifset BUGURL_DEFAULT
23639 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
23640 @value{GDBN}. The preferred method is to submit them directly using
23641 @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/, @value{GDBN}'s Bugs web
23642 page}. Alternatively, the @email{bug-gdb@@gnu.org, e-mail gateway} can
23643 be used.
23644
23645 @strong{Do not send bug reports to @samp{info-gdb}, or to
23646 @samp{help-gdb}, or to any newsgroups.} Most users of @value{GDBN} do
23647 not want to receive bug reports. Those that do have arranged to receive
23648 @samp{bug-gdb}.
23649
23650 The mailing list @samp{bug-gdb} has a newsgroup @samp{gnu.gdb.bug} which
23651 serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
23652 the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
23653 newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
23654 problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
23655 path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
23656 we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
23657 bug reports to the mailing list.
23658 @end ifset
23659 @ifclear BUGURL_DEFAULT
23660 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
23661 @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.
23662 @end ifclear
23663 @end ifset
23664
23665 The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
23666 @strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
23667 fact or leave it out, state it!
23668
23669 Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
23670 problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
23671 assume that the name of the variable you use in an example does not matter.
23672 Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a
23673 stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where that
23674 name is stored in memory; perhaps, if the name were different, the contents
23675 of that location would fool the debugger into doing the right thing despite
23676 the bug. Play it safe and give a specific, complete example. That is the
23677 easiest thing for you to do, and the most helpful.
23678
23679 Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the
23680 bug. It may be that the bug has been reported previously, but neither
23681 you nor we can know that unless your bug report is complete and
23682 self-contained.
23683
23684 Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
23685 bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
23686 @emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
23687 bugs properly.
23688
23689 To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
23690
23691 @itemize @bullet
23692 @item
23693 The version of @value{GDBN}. @value{GDBN} announces it if you start
23694 with no arguments; you can also print it at any time using @code{show
23695 version}.
23696
23697 Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
23698 the bug in the current version of @value{GDBN}.
23699
23700 @item
23701 The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
23702 version number.
23703
23704 @item
23705 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @value{GDBN}---e.g.@:
23706 ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1''.
23707
23708 @item
23709 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the program you are
23710 debugging---e.g.@: ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1'', or ``HP92453-01 A.10.32.03 HP
23711 C Compiler''. For @value{NGCC}, you can say @kbd{@value{GCC} --version}
23712 to get this information; for other compilers, see the documentation for
23713 those compilers.
23714
23715 @item
23716 The command arguments you gave the compiler to compile your example and
23717 observe the bug. For example, did you use @samp{-O}? To guarantee
23718 you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy of the
23719 Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
23720
23721 If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
23722 and then we might not encounter the bug.
23723
23724 @item
23725 A complete input script, and all necessary source files, that will
23726 reproduce the bug.
23727
23728 @item
23729 A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
23730 incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
23731
23732 Of course, if the bug is that @value{GDBN} gets a fatal signal, then we
23733 will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
23734 not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
23735 a chance to make a mistake.
23736
23737 Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
23738 say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
23739 copy of @value{GDBN} is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
23740 the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
23741 crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
23742 ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
23743 us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
23744 to draw any conclusion from our observations.
23745
23746 @pindex script
23747 @cindex recording a session script
23748 To collect all this information, you can use a session recording program
23749 such as @command{script}, which is available on many Unix systems.
23750 Just run your @value{GDBN} session inside @command{script} and then
23751 include the @file{typescript} file with your bug report.
23752
23753 Another way to record a @value{GDBN} session is to run @value{GDBN}
23754 inside Emacs and then save the entire buffer to a file.
23755
23756 @item
23757 If you wish to suggest changes to the @value{GDBN} source, send us context
23758 diffs. If you even discuss something in the @value{GDBN} source, refer to
23759 it by context, not by line number.
23760
23761 The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
23762 sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
23763
23764 @end itemize
23765
23766 Here are some things that are not necessary:
23767
23768 @itemize @bullet
23769 @item
23770 A description of the envelope of the bug.
23771
23772 Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
23773 which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
23774 changes will not affect it.
23775
23776 This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
23777 will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
23778 with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
23779 We recommend that you save your time for something else.
23780
23781 Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
23782 of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
23783 output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
23784 less time, and so on.
23785
23786 However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
23787 report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
23788
23789 @item
23790 A patch for the bug.
23791
23792 A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
23793 the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
23794 a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
23795 to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
23796
23797 Sometimes with a program as complicated as @value{GDBN} it is very hard to
23798 construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path
23799 through the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able
23800 to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
23801
23802 And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
23803 patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
23804 help us to understand.
23805
23806 @item
23807 A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
23808
23809 Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
23810 things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
23811 @end itemize
23812
23813 @c The readline documentation is distributed with the readline code
23814 @c and consists of the two following files:
23815 @c rluser.texinfo
23816 @c inc-hist.texinfo
23817 @c Use -I with makeinfo to point to the appropriate directory,
23818 @c environment var TEXINPUTS with TeX.
23819 @include rluser.texi
23820 @include inc-hist.texinfo
23821
23822
23823 @node Formatting Documentation
23824 @appendix Formatting Documentation
23825
23826 @cindex @value{GDBN} reference card
23827 @cindex reference card
23828 The @value{GDBN} 4 release includes an already-formatted reference card, ready
23829 for printing with PostScript or Ghostscript, in the @file{gdb}
23830 subdirectory of the main source directory@footnote{In
23831 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/refcard.ps} of the version @value{GDBVN}
23832 release.}. If you can use PostScript or Ghostscript with your printer,
23833 you can print the reference card immediately with @file{refcard.ps}.
23834
23835 The release also includes the source for the reference card. You
23836 can format it, using @TeX{}, by typing:
23837
23838 @smallexample
23839 make refcard.dvi
23840 @end smallexample
23841
23842 The @value{GDBN} reference card is designed to print in @dfn{landscape}
23843 mode on US ``letter'' size paper;
23844 that is, on a sheet 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches
23845 high. You will need to specify this form of printing as an option to
23846 your @sc{dvi} output program.
23847
23848 @cindex documentation
23849
23850 All the documentation for @value{GDBN} comes as part of the machine-readable
23851 distribution. The documentation is written in Texinfo format, which is
23852 a documentation system that uses a single source file to produce both
23853 on-line information and a printed manual. You can use one of the Info
23854 formatting commands to create the on-line version of the documentation
23855 and @TeX{} (or @code{texi2roff}) to typeset the printed version.
23856
23857 @value{GDBN} includes an already formatted copy of the on-line Info
23858 version of this manual in the @file{gdb} subdirectory. The main Info
23859 file is @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/gdb.info}, and it refers to
23860 subordinate files matching @samp{gdb.info*} in the same directory. If
23861 necessary, you can print out these files, or read them with any editor;
23862 but they are easier to read using the @code{info} subsystem in @sc{gnu}
23863 Emacs or the standalone @code{info} program, available as part of the
23864 @sc{gnu} Texinfo distribution.
23865
23866 If you want to format these Info files yourself, you need one of the
23867 Info formatting programs, such as @code{texinfo-format-buffer} or
23868 @code{makeinfo}.
23869
23870 If you have @code{makeinfo} installed, and are in the top level
23871 @value{GDBN} source directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, in the case of
23872 version @value{GDBVN}), you can make the Info file by typing:
23873
23874 @smallexample
23875 cd gdb
23876 make gdb.info
23877 @end smallexample
23878
23879 If you want to typeset and print copies of this manual, you need @TeX{},
23880 a program to print its @sc{dvi} output files, and @file{texinfo.tex}, the
23881 Texinfo definitions file.
23882
23883 @TeX{} is a typesetting program; it does not print files directly, but
23884 produces output files called @sc{dvi} files. To print a typeset
23885 document, you need a program to print @sc{dvi} files. If your system
23886 has @TeX{} installed, chances are it has such a program. The precise
23887 command to use depends on your system; @kbd{lpr -d} is common; another
23888 (for PostScript devices) is @kbd{dvips}. The @sc{dvi} print command may
23889 require a file name without any extension or a @samp{.dvi} extension.
23890
23891 @TeX{} also requires a macro definitions file called
23892 @file{texinfo.tex}. This file tells @TeX{} how to typeset a document
23893 written in Texinfo format. On its own, @TeX{} cannot either read or
23894 typeset a Texinfo file. @file{texinfo.tex} is distributed with GDB
23895 and is located in the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}/texinfo}
23896 directory.
23897
23898 If you have @TeX{} and a @sc{dvi} printer program installed, you can
23899 typeset and print this manual. First switch to the @file{gdb}
23900 subdirectory of the main source directory (for example, to
23901 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb}) and type:
23902
23903 @smallexample
23904 make gdb.dvi
23905 @end smallexample
23906
23907 Then give @file{gdb.dvi} to your @sc{dvi} printing program.
23908
23909 @node Installing GDB
23910 @appendix Installing @value{GDBN}
23911 @cindex installation
23912
23913 @menu
23914 * Requirements:: Requirements for building @value{GDBN}
23915 * Running Configure:: Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} script
23916 * Separate Objdir:: Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
23917 * Config Names:: Specifying names for hosts and targets
23918 * Configure Options:: Summary of options for configure
23919 @end menu
23920
23921 @node Requirements
23922 @section Requirements for Building @value{GDBN}
23923 @cindex building @value{GDBN}, requirements for
23924
23925 Building @value{GDBN} requires various tools and packages to be available.
23926 Other packages will be used only if they are found.
23927
23928 @heading Tools/Packages Necessary for Building @value{GDBN}
23929 @table @asis
23930 @item ISO C90 compiler
23931 @value{GDBN} is written in ISO C90. It should be buildable with any
23932 working C90 compiler, e.g.@: GCC.
23933
23934 @end table
23935
23936 @heading Tools/Packages Optional for Building @value{GDBN}
23937 @table @asis
23938 @item Expat
23939 @anchor{Expat}
23940 @value{GDBN} can use the Expat XML parsing library. This library may be
23941 included with your operating system distribution; if it is not, you
23942 can get the latest version from @url{http://expat.sourceforge.net}.
23943 The @file{configure} script will search for this library in several
23944 standard locations; if it is installed in an unusual path, you can
23945 use the @option{--with-libexpat-prefix} option to specify its location.
23946
23947 Expat is used for:
23948
23949 @itemize @bullet
23950 @item
23951 Remote protocol memory maps (@pxref{Memory Map Format})
23952 @item
23953 Target descriptions (@pxref{Target Descriptions})
23954 @item
23955 Remote shared library lists (@pxref{Library List Format})
23956 @item
23957 MS-Windows shared libraries (@pxref{Shared Libraries})
23958 @end itemize
23959
23960 @item zlib
23961 @cindex compressed debug sections
23962 @value{GDBN} will use the @samp{zlib} library, if available, to read
23963 compressed debug sections. Some linkers, such as GNU gold, are capable
23964 of producing binaries with compressed debug sections. If @value{GDBN}
23965 is compiled with @samp{zlib}, it will be able to read the debug
23966 information in such binaries.
23967
23968 The @samp{zlib} library is likely included with your operating system
23969 distribution; if it is not, you can get the latest version from
23970 @url{http://zlib.net}.
23971
23972 @end table
23973
23974 @node Running Configure
23975 @section Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} Script
23976 @cindex configuring @value{GDBN}
23977 @value{GDBN} comes with a @file{configure} script that automates the process
23978 of preparing @value{GDBN} for installation; you can then use @code{make} to
23979 build the @code{gdb} program.
23980 @iftex
23981 @c irrelevant in info file; it's as current as the code it lives with.
23982 @footnote{If you have a more recent version of @value{GDBN} than @value{GDBVN},
23983 look at the @file{README} file in the sources; we may have improved the
23984 installation procedures since publishing this manual.}
23985 @end iftex
23986
23987 The @value{GDBN} distribution includes all the source code you need for
23988 @value{GDBN} in a single directory, whose name is usually composed by
23989 appending the version number to @samp{gdb}.
23990
23991 For example, the @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN} distribution is in the
23992 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory. That directory contains:
23993
23994 @table @code
23995 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure @r{(and supporting files)}
23996 script for configuring @value{GDBN} and all its supporting libraries
23997
23998 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb
23999 the source specific to @value{GDBN} itself
24000
24001 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
24002 source for the Binary File Descriptor library
24003
24004 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/include
24005 @sc{gnu} include files
24006
24007 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/libiberty
24008 source for the @samp{-liberty} free software library
24009
24010 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/opcodes
24011 source for the library of opcode tables and disassemblers
24012
24013 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/readline
24014 source for the @sc{gnu} command-line interface
24015
24016 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/glob
24017 source for the @sc{gnu} filename pattern-matching subroutine
24018
24019 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/mmalloc
24020 source for the @sc{gnu} memory-mapped malloc package
24021 @end table
24022
24023 The simplest way to configure and build @value{GDBN} is to run @file{configure}
24024 from the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory, which in
24025 this example is the @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory.
24026
24027 First switch to the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory
24028 if you are not already in it; then run @file{configure}. Pass the
24029 identifier for the platform on which @value{GDBN} will run as an
24030 argument.
24031
24032 For example:
24033
24034 @smallexample
24035 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
24036 ./configure @var{host}
24037 make
24038 @end smallexample
24039
24040 @noindent
24041 where @var{host} is an identifier such as @samp{sun4} or
24042 @samp{decstation}, that identifies the platform where @value{GDBN} will run.
24043 (You can often leave off @var{host}; @file{configure} tries to guess the
24044 correct value by examining your system.)
24045
24046 Running @samp{configure @var{host}} and then running @code{make} builds the
24047 @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, @file{mmalloc}, and @file{libiberty}
24048 libraries, then @code{gdb} itself. The configured source files, and the
24049 binaries, are left in the corresponding source directories.
24050
24051 @need 750
24052 @file{configure} is a Bourne-shell (@code{/bin/sh}) script; if your
24053 system does not recognize this automatically when you run a different
24054 shell, you may need to run @code{sh} on it explicitly:
24055
24056 @smallexample
24057 sh configure @var{host}
24058 @end smallexample
24059
24060 If you run @file{configure} from a directory that contains source
24061 directories for multiple libraries or programs, such as the
24062 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} source directory for version @value{GDBVN},
24063 @file{configure}
24064 creates configuration files for every directory level underneath (unless
24065 you tell it not to, with the @samp{--norecursion} option).
24066
24067 You should run the @file{configure} script from the top directory in the
24068 source tree, the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory. If you run
24069 @file{configure} from one of the subdirectories, you will configure only
24070 that subdirectory. That is usually not what you want. In particular,
24071 if you run the first @file{configure} from the @file{gdb} subdirectory
24072 of the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory, you will omit the
24073 configuration of @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, and other sibling
24074 directories of the @file{gdb} subdirectory. This leads to build errors
24075 about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
24076
24077 You can install @code{@value{GDBP}} anywhere; it has no hardwired paths.
24078 However, you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by
24079 the @samp{SHELL} environment variable) is publicly readable. Remember
24080 that @value{GDBN} uses the shell to start your program---some systems refuse to
24081 let @value{GDBN} debug child processes whose programs are not readable.
24082
24083 @node Separate Objdir
24084 @section Compiling @value{GDBN} in Another Directory
24085
24086 If you want to run @value{GDBN} versions for several host or target machines,
24087 you need a different @code{gdb} compiled for each combination of
24088 host and target. @file{configure} is designed to make this easy by
24089 allowing you to generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory,
24090 rather than in the source directory. If your @code{make} program
24091 handles the @samp{VPATH} feature (@sc{gnu} @code{make} does), running
24092 @code{make} in each of these directories builds the @code{gdb}
24093 program specified there.
24094
24095 To build @code{gdb} in a separate directory, run @file{configure}
24096 with the @samp{--srcdir} option to specify where to find the source.
24097 (You also need to specify a path to find @file{configure}
24098 itself from your working directory. If the path to @file{configure}
24099 would be the same as the argument to @samp{--srcdir}, you can leave out
24100 the @samp{--srcdir} option; it is assumed.)
24101
24102 For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, you can build @value{GDBN} in a
24103 separate directory for a Sun 4 like this:
24104
24105 @smallexample
24106 @group
24107 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
24108 mkdir ../gdb-sun4
24109 cd ../gdb-sun4
24110 ../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure sun4
24111 make
24112 @end group
24113 @end smallexample
24114
24115 When @file{configure} builds a configuration using a remote source
24116 directory, it creates a tree for the binaries with the same structure
24117 (and using the same names) as the tree under the source directory. In
24118 the example, you'd find the Sun 4 library @file{libiberty.a} in the
24119 directory @file{gdb-sun4/libiberty}, and @value{GDBN} itself in
24120 @file{gdb-sun4/gdb}.
24121
24122 Make sure that your path to the @file{configure} script has just one
24123 instance of @file{gdb} in it. If your path to @file{configure} looks
24124 like @file{../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/configure}, you are configuring only
24125 one subdirectory of @value{GDBN}, not the whole package. This leads to
24126 build errors about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
24127
24128 One popular reason to build several @value{GDBN} configurations in separate
24129 directories is to configure @value{GDBN} for cross-compiling (where
24130 @value{GDBN} runs on one machine---the @dfn{host}---while debugging
24131 programs that run on another machine---the @dfn{target}).
24132 You specify a cross-debugging target by
24133 giving the @samp{--target=@var{target}} option to @file{configure}.
24134
24135 When you run @code{make} to build a program or library, you must run
24136 it in a configured directory---whatever directory you were in when you
24137 called @file{configure} (or one of its subdirectories).
24138
24139 The @code{Makefile} that @file{configure} generates in each source
24140 directory also runs recursively. If you type @code{make} in a source
24141 directory such as @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} (or in a separate configured
24142 directory configured with @samp{--srcdir=@var{dirname}/gdb-@value{GDBVN}}), you
24143 will build all the required libraries, and then build GDB.
24144
24145 When you have multiple hosts or targets configured in separate
24146 directories, you can run @code{make} on them in parallel (for example,
24147 if they are NFS-mounted on each of the hosts); they will not interfere
24148 with each other.
24149
24150 @node Config Names
24151 @section Specifying Names for Hosts and Targets
24152
24153 The specifications used for hosts and targets in the @file{configure}
24154 script are based on a three-part naming scheme, but some short predefined
24155 aliases are also supported. The full naming scheme encodes three pieces
24156 of information in the following pattern:
24157
24158 @smallexample
24159 @var{architecture}-@var{vendor}-@var{os}
24160 @end smallexample
24161
24162 For example, you can use the alias @code{sun4} as a @var{host} argument,
24163 or as the value for @var{target} in a @code{--target=@var{target}}
24164 option. The equivalent full name is @samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}.
24165
24166 The @file{configure} script accompanying @value{GDBN} does not provide
24167 any query facility to list all supported host and target names or
24168 aliases. @file{configure} calls the Bourne shell script
24169 @code{config.sub} to map abbreviations to full names; you can read the
24170 script, if you wish, or you can use it to test your guesses on
24171 abbreviations---for example:
24172
24173 @smallexample
24174 % sh config.sub i386-linux
24175 i386-pc-linux-gnu
24176 % sh config.sub alpha-linux
24177 alpha-unknown-linux-gnu
24178 % sh config.sub hp9k700
24179 hppa1.1-hp-hpux
24180 % sh config.sub sun4
24181 sparc-sun-sunos4.1.1
24182 % sh config.sub sun3
24183 m68k-sun-sunos4.1.1
24184 % sh config.sub i986v
24185 Invalid configuration `i986v': machine `i986v' not recognized
24186 @end smallexample
24187
24188 @noindent
24189 @code{config.sub} is also distributed in the @value{GDBN} source
24190 directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, for version @value{GDBVN}).
24191
24192 @node Configure Options
24193 @section @file{configure} Options
24194
24195 Here is a summary of the @file{configure} options and arguments that
24196 are most often useful for building @value{GDBN}. @file{configure} also has
24197 several other options not listed here. @inforef{What Configure
24198 Does,,configure.info}, for a full explanation of @file{configure}.
24199
24200 @smallexample
24201 configure @r{[}--help@r{]}
24202 @r{[}--prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
24203 @r{[}--exec-prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
24204 @r{[}--srcdir=@var{dirname}@r{]}
24205 @r{[}--norecursion@r{]} @r{[}--rm@r{]}
24206 @r{[}--target=@var{target}@r{]}
24207 @var{host}
24208 @end smallexample
24209
24210 @noindent
24211 You may introduce options with a single @samp{-} rather than
24212 @samp{--} if you prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use
24213 @samp{--}.
24214
24215 @table @code
24216 @item --help
24217 Display a quick summary of how to invoke @file{configure}.
24218
24219 @item --prefix=@var{dir}
24220 Configure the source to install programs and files under directory
24221 @file{@var{dir}}.
24222
24223 @item --exec-prefix=@var{dir}
24224 Configure the source to install programs under directory
24225 @file{@var{dir}}.
24226
24227 @c avoid splitting the warning from the explanation:
24228 @need 2000
24229 @item --srcdir=@var{dirname}
24230 @strong{Warning: using this option requires @sc{gnu} @code{make}, or another
24231 @code{make} that implements the @code{VPATH} feature.}@*
24232 Use this option to make configurations in directories separate from the
24233 @value{GDBN} source directories. Among other things, you can use this to
24234 build (or maintain) several configurations simultaneously, in separate
24235 directories. @file{configure} writes configuration-specific files in
24236 the current directory, but arranges for them to use the source in the
24237 directory @var{dirname}. @file{configure} creates directories under
24238 the working directory in parallel to the source directories below
24239 @var{dirname}.
24240
24241 @item --norecursion
24242 Configure only the directory level where @file{configure} is executed; do not
24243 propagate configuration to subdirectories.
24244
24245 @item --target=@var{target}
24246 Configure @value{GDBN} for cross-debugging programs running on the specified
24247 @var{target}. Without this option, @value{GDBN} is configured to debug
24248 programs that run on the same machine (@var{host}) as @value{GDBN} itself.
24249
24250 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available targets.
24251
24252 @item @var{host} @dots{}
24253 Configure @value{GDBN} to run on the specified @var{host}.
24254
24255 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available hosts.
24256 @end table
24257
24258 There are many other options available as well, but they are generally
24259 needed for special purposes only.
24260
24261 @node Maintenance Commands
24262 @appendix Maintenance Commands
24263 @cindex maintenance commands
24264 @cindex internal commands
24265
24266 In addition to commands intended for @value{GDBN} users, @value{GDBN}
24267 includes a number of commands intended for @value{GDBN} developers,
24268 that are not documented elsewhere in this manual. These commands are
24269 provided here for reference. (For commands that turn on debugging
24270 messages, see @ref{Debugging Output}.)
24271
24272 @table @code
24273 @kindex maint agent
24274 @item maint agent @var{expression}
24275 Translate the given @var{expression} into remote agent bytecodes.
24276 This command is useful for debugging the Agent Expression mechanism
24277 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}).
24278
24279 @kindex maint info breakpoints
24280 @item @anchor{maint info breakpoints}maint info breakpoints
24281 Using the same format as @samp{info breakpoints}, display both the
24282 breakpoints you've set explicitly, and those @value{GDBN} is using for
24283 internal purposes. Internal breakpoints are shown with negative
24284 breakpoint numbers. The type column identifies what kind of breakpoint
24285 is shown:
24286
24287 @table @code
24288 @item breakpoint
24289 Normal, explicitly set breakpoint.
24290
24291 @item watchpoint
24292 Normal, explicitly set watchpoint.
24293
24294 @item longjmp
24295 Internal breakpoint, used to handle correctly stepping through
24296 @code{longjmp} calls.
24297
24298 @item longjmp resume
24299 Internal breakpoint at the target of a @code{longjmp}.
24300
24301 @item until
24302 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{until} command.
24303
24304 @item finish
24305 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{finish} command.
24306
24307 @item shlib events
24308 Shared library events.
24309
24310 @end table
24311
24312 @kindex set displaced-stepping
24313 @kindex show displaced-stepping
24314 @cindex displaced stepping support
24315 @cindex out-of-line single-stepping
24316 @item set displaced-stepping
24317 @itemx show displaced-stepping
24318 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will do @dfn{displaced stepping}
24319 if the target supports it. Displaced stepping is a way to single-step
24320 over breakpoints without removing them from the inferior, by executing
24321 an out-of-line copy of the instruction that was originally at the
24322 breakpoint location. It is also known as out-of-line single-stepping.
24323
24324 @table @code
24325 @item set displaced-stepping on
24326 If the target architecture supports it, @value{GDBN} will use
24327 displaced stepping to step over breakpoints.
24328
24329 @item set displaced-stepping off
24330 @value{GDBN} will not use displaced stepping to step over breakpoints,
24331 even if such is supported by the target architecture.
24332
24333 @cindex non-stop mode, and @samp{set displaced-stepping}
24334 @item set displaced-stepping auto
24335 This is the default mode. @value{GDBN} will use displaced stepping
24336 only if non-stop mode is active (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) and the target
24337 architecture supports displaced stepping.
24338 @end table
24339
24340 @kindex maint check-symtabs
24341 @item maint check-symtabs
24342 Check the consistency of psymtabs and symtabs.
24343
24344 @kindex maint cplus first_component
24345 @item maint cplus first_component @var{name}
24346 Print the first C@t{++} class/namespace component of @var{name}.
24347
24348 @kindex maint cplus namespace
24349 @item maint cplus namespace
24350 Print the list of possible C@t{++} namespaces.
24351
24352 @kindex maint demangle
24353 @item maint demangle @var{name}
24354 Demangle a C@t{++} or Objective-C mangled @var{name}.
24355
24356 @kindex maint deprecate
24357 @kindex maint undeprecate
24358 @cindex deprecated commands
24359 @item maint deprecate @var{command} @r{[}@var{replacement}@r{]}
24360 @itemx maint undeprecate @var{command}
24361 Deprecate or undeprecate the named @var{command}. Deprecated commands
24362 cause @value{GDBN} to issue a warning when you use them. The optional
24363 argument @var{replacement} says which newer command should be used in
24364 favor of the deprecated one; if it is given, @value{GDBN} will mention
24365 the replacement as part of the warning.
24366
24367 @kindex maint dump-me
24368 @item maint dump-me
24369 @cindex @code{SIGQUIT} signal, dump core of @value{GDBN}
24370 Cause a fatal signal in the debugger and force it to dump its core.
24371 This is supported only on systems which support aborting a program
24372 with the @code{SIGQUIT} signal.
24373
24374 @kindex maint internal-error
24375 @kindex maint internal-warning
24376 @item maint internal-error @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
24377 @itemx maint internal-warning @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
24378 Cause @value{GDBN} to call the internal function @code{internal_error}
24379 or @code{internal_warning} and hence behave as though an internal error
24380 or internal warning has been detected. In addition to reporting the
24381 internal problem, these functions give the user the opportunity to
24382 either quit @value{GDBN} or create a core file of the current
24383 @value{GDBN} session.
24384
24385 These commands take an optional parameter @var{message-text} that is
24386 used as the text of the error or warning message.
24387
24388 Here's an example of using @code{internal-error}:
24389
24390 @smallexample
24391 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint internal-error testing, 1, 2}
24392 @dots{}/maint.c:121: internal-error: testing, 1, 2
24393 A problem internal to GDB has been detected. Further
24394 debugging may prove unreliable.
24395 Quit this debugging session? (y or n) @kbd{n}
24396 Create a core file? (y or n) @kbd{n}
24397 (@value{GDBP})
24398 @end smallexample
24399
24400 @kindex maint packet
24401 @item maint packet @var{text}
24402 If @value{GDBN} is talking to an inferior via the serial protocol,
24403 then this command sends the string @var{text} to the inferior, and
24404 displays the response packet. @value{GDBN} supplies the initial
24405 @samp{$} character, the terminating @samp{#} character, and the
24406 checksum.
24407
24408 @kindex maint print architecture
24409 @item maint print architecture @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
24410 Print the entire architecture configuration. The optional argument
24411 @var{file} names the file where the output goes.
24412
24413 @kindex maint print c-tdesc
24414 @item maint print c-tdesc
24415 Print the current target description (@pxref{Target Descriptions}) as
24416 a C source file. The created source file can be used in @value{GDBN}
24417 when an XML parser is not available to parse the description.
24418
24419 @kindex maint print dummy-frames
24420 @item maint print dummy-frames
24421 Prints the contents of @value{GDBN}'s internal dummy-frame stack.
24422
24423 @smallexample
24424 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{b add}
24425 @dots{}
24426 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{print add(2,3)}
24427 Breakpoint 2, add (a=2, b=3) at @dots{}
24428 58 return (a + b);
24429 The program being debugged stopped while in a function called from GDB.
24430 @dots{}
24431 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print dummy-frames}
24432 0x1a57c80: pc=0x01014068 fp=0x0200bddc sp=0x0200bdd6
24433 top=0x0200bdd4 id=@{stack=0x200bddc,code=0x101405c@}
24434 call_lo=0x01014000 call_hi=0x01014001
24435 (@value{GDBP})
24436 @end smallexample
24437
24438 Takes an optional file parameter.
24439
24440 @kindex maint print registers
24441 @kindex maint print raw-registers
24442 @kindex maint print cooked-registers
24443 @kindex maint print register-groups
24444 @item maint print registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
24445 @itemx maint print raw-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
24446 @itemx maint print cooked-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
24447 @itemx maint print register-groups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
24448 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register data structures.
24449
24450 The command @code{maint print raw-registers} includes the contents of
24451 the raw register cache; the command @code{maint print cooked-registers}
24452 includes the (cooked) value of all registers; and the command
24453 @code{maint print register-groups} includes the groups that each
24454 register is a member of. @xref{Registers,, Registers, gdbint,
24455 @value{GDBN} Internals}.
24456
24457 These commands take an optional parameter, a file name to which to
24458 write the information.
24459
24460 @kindex maint print reggroups
24461 @item maint print reggroups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
24462 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register group data structures. The
24463 optional argument @var{file} tells to what file to write the
24464 information.
24465
24466 The register groups info looks like this:
24467
24468 @smallexample
24469 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print reggroups}
24470 Group Type
24471 general user
24472 float user
24473 all user
24474 vector user
24475 system user
24476 save internal
24477 restore internal
24478 @end smallexample
24479
24480 @kindex flushregs
24481 @item flushregs
24482 This command forces @value{GDBN} to flush its internal register cache.
24483
24484 @kindex maint print objfiles
24485 @cindex info for known object files
24486 @item maint print objfiles
24487 Print a dump of all known object files. For each object file, this
24488 command prints its name, address in memory, and all of its psymtabs
24489 and symtabs.
24490
24491 @kindex maint print statistics
24492 @cindex bcache statistics
24493 @item maint print statistics
24494 This command prints, for each object file in the program, various data
24495 about that object file followed by the byte cache (@dfn{bcache})
24496 statistics for the object file. The objfile data includes the number
24497 of minimal, partial, full, and stabs symbols, the number of types
24498 defined by the objfile, the number of as yet unexpanded psym tables,
24499 the number of line tables and string tables, and the amount of memory
24500 used by the various tables. The bcache statistics include the counts,
24501 sizes, and counts of duplicates of all and unique objects, max,
24502 average, and median entry size, total memory used and its overhead and
24503 savings, and various measures of the hash table size and chain
24504 lengths.
24505
24506 @kindex maint print target-stack
24507 @cindex target stack description
24508 @item maint print target-stack
24509 A @dfn{target} is an interface between the debugger and a particular
24510 kind of file or process. Targets can be stacked in @dfn{strata},
24511 so that more than one target can potentially respond to a request.
24512 In particular, memory accesses will walk down the stack of targets
24513 until they find a target that is interested in handling that particular
24514 address.
24515
24516 This command prints a short description of each layer that was pushed on
24517 the @dfn{target stack}, starting from the top layer down to the bottom one.
24518
24519 @kindex maint print type
24520 @cindex type chain of a data type
24521 @item maint print type @var{expr}
24522 Print the type chain for a type specified by @var{expr}. The argument
24523 can be either a type name or a symbol. If it is a symbol, the type of
24524 that symbol is described. The type chain produced by this command is
24525 a recursive definition of the data type as stored in @value{GDBN}'s
24526 data structures, including its flags and contained types.
24527
24528 @kindex maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
24529 @kindex maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
24530 @item maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
24531 @itemx maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
24532 Control the DWARF 2 compilation unit cache.
24533
24534 @cindex DWARF 2 compilation units cache
24535 In object files with inter-compilation-unit references, such as those
24536 produced by the GCC option @samp{-feliminate-dwarf2-dups}, the DWARF 2
24537 reader needs to frequently refer to previously read compilation units.
24538 This setting controls how long a compilation unit will remain in the
24539 cache if it is not referenced. A higher limit means that cached
24540 compilation units will be stored in memory longer, and more total
24541 memory will be used. Setting it to zero disables caching, which will
24542 slow down @value{GDBN} startup, but reduce memory consumption.
24543
24544 @kindex maint set profile
24545 @kindex maint show profile
24546 @cindex profiling GDB
24547 @item maint set profile
24548 @itemx maint show profile
24549 Control profiling of @value{GDBN}.
24550
24551 Profiling will be disabled until you use the @samp{maint set profile}
24552 command to enable it. When you enable profiling, the system will begin
24553 collecting timing and execution count data; when you disable profiling or
24554 exit @value{GDBN}, the results will be written to a log file. Remember that
24555 if you use profiling, @value{GDBN} will overwrite the profiling log file
24556 (often called @file{gmon.out}). If you have a record of important profiling
24557 data in a @file{gmon.out} file, be sure to move it to a safe location.
24558
24559 Configuring with @samp{--enable-profiling} arranges for @value{GDBN} to be
24560 compiled with the @samp{-pg} compiler option.
24561
24562 @kindex maint set linux-async
24563 @kindex maint show linux-async
24564 @cindex asynchronous support
24565 @item maint set linux-async
24566 @itemx maint show linux-async
24567 Control the GNU/Linux native asynchronous support
24568 (@pxref{Background Execution}) of @value{GDBN}.
24569
24570 GNU/Linux native asynchronous support will be disabled until you use
24571 the @samp{maint set linux-async} command to enable it.
24572
24573 @kindex maint set remote-async
24574 @kindex maint show remote-async
24575 @cindex asynchronous support
24576 @item maint set remote-async
24577 @itemx maint show remote-async
24578 Control the remote asynchronous support
24579 (@pxref{Background Execution}) of @value{GDBN}.
24580
24581 Remote asynchronous support will be disabled until you use
24582 the @samp{maint set remote-async} command to enable it.
24583
24584 @kindex maint show-debug-regs
24585 @cindex x86 hardware debug registers
24586 @item maint show-debug-regs
24587 Control whether to show variables that mirror the x86 hardware debug
24588 registers. Use @code{ON} to enable, @code{OFF} to disable. If
24589 enabled, the debug registers values are shown when @value{GDBN} inserts or
24590 removes a hardware breakpoint or watchpoint, and when the inferior
24591 triggers a hardware-assisted breakpoint or watchpoint.
24592
24593 @kindex maint space
24594 @cindex memory used by commands
24595 @item maint space
24596 Control whether to display memory usage for each command. If set to a
24597 nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much memory each command
24598 took, following the command's own output. This can also be requested
24599 by invoking @value{GDBN} with the @option{--statistics} command-line
24600 switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
24601
24602 @kindex maint time
24603 @cindex time of command execution
24604 @item maint time
24605 Control whether to display the execution time for each command. If
24606 set to a nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much time it
24607 took to execute each command, following the command's own output.
24608 The time is not printed for the commands that run the target, since
24609 there's no mechanism currently to compute how much time was spend
24610 by @value{GDBN} and how much time was spend by the program been debugged.
24611 it's not possibly currently
24612 This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
24613 @option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
24614
24615 @kindex maint translate-address
24616 @item maint translate-address @r{[}@var{section}@r{]} @var{addr}
24617 Find the symbol stored at the location specified by the address
24618 @var{addr} and an optional section name @var{section}. If found,
24619 @value{GDBN} prints the name of the closest symbol and an offset from
24620 the symbol's location to the specified address. This is similar to
24621 the @code{info address} command (@pxref{Symbols}), except that this
24622 command also allows to find symbols in other sections.
24623
24624 If section was not specified, the section in which the symbol was found
24625 is also printed. For dynamically linked executables, the name of
24626 executable or shared library containing the symbol is printed as well.
24627
24628 @end table
24629
24630 The following command is useful for non-interactive invocations of
24631 @value{GDBN}, such as in the test suite.
24632
24633 @table @code
24634 @item set watchdog @var{nsec}
24635 @kindex set watchdog
24636 @cindex watchdog timer
24637 @cindex timeout for commands
24638 Set the maximum number of seconds @value{GDBN} will wait for the
24639 target operation to finish. If this time expires, @value{GDBN}
24640 reports and error and the command is aborted.
24641
24642 @item show watchdog
24643 Show the current setting of the target wait timeout.
24644 @end table
24645
24646 @node Remote Protocol
24647 @appendix @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol
24648
24649 @menu
24650 * Overview::
24651 * Packets::
24652 * Stop Reply Packets::
24653 * General Query Packets::
24654 * Register Packet Format::
24655 * Tracepoint Packets::
24656 * Host I/O Packets::
24657 * Interrupts::
24658 * Notification Packets::
24659 * Remote Non-Stop::
24660 * Packet Acknowledgment::
24661 * Examples::
24662 * File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension::
24663 * Library List Format::
24664 * Memory Map Format::
24665 @end menu
24666
24667 @node Overview
24668 @section Overview
24669
24670 There may be occasions when you need to know something about the
24671 protocol---for example, if there is only one serial port to your target
24672 machine, you might want your program to do something special if it
24673 recognizes a packet meant for @value{GDBN}.
24674
24675 In the examples below, @samp{->} and @samp{<-} are used to indicate
24676 transmitted and received data, respectively.
24677
24678 @cindex protocol, @value{GDBN} remote serial
24679 @cindex serial protocol, @value{GDBN} remote
24680 @cindex remote serial protocol
24681 All @value{GDBN} commands and responses (other than acknowledgments
24682 and notifications, see @ref{Notification Packets}) are sent as a
24683 @var{packet}. A @var{packet} is introduced with the character
24684 @samp{$}, the actual @var{packet-data}, and the terminating character
24685 @samp{#} followed by a two-digit @var{checksum}:
24686
24687 @smallexample
24688 @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
24689 @end smallexample
24690 @noindent
24691
24692 @cindex checksum, for @value{GDBN} remote
24693 @noindent
24694 The two-digit @var{checksum} is computed as the modulo 256 sum of all
24695 characters between the leading @samp{$} and the trailing @samp{#} (an
24696 eight bit unsigned checksum).
24697
24698 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0 the protocol
24699 specification also included an optional two-digit @var{sequence-id}:
24700
24701 @smallexample
24702 @code{$}@var{sequence-id}@code{:}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
24703 @end smallexample
24704
24705 @cindex sequence-id, for @value{GDBN} remote
24706 @noindent
24707 That @var{sequence-id} was appended to the acknowledgment. @value{GDBN}
24708 has never output @var{sequence-id}s. Stubs that handle packets added
24709 since @value{GDBN} 5.0 must not accept @var{sequence-id}.
24710
24711 When either the host or the target machine receives a packet, the first
24712 response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
24713 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request
24714 retransmission):
24715
24716 @smallexample
24717 -> @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
24718 <- @code{+}
24719 @end smallexample
24720 @noindent
24721
24722 The @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments can be disabled
24723 once a connection is established.
24724 @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}, for details.
24725
24726 The host (@value{GDBN}) sends @var{command}s, and the target (the
24727 debugging stub incorporated in your program) sends a @var{response}. In
24728 the case of step and continue @var{command}s, the response is only sent
24729 when the operation has completed, and the target has again stopped all
24730 threads in all attached processes. This is the default all-stop mode
24731 behavior, but the remote protocol also supports @value{GDBN}'s non-stop
24732 execution mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}, for details.
24733
24734 @var{packet-data} consists of a sequence of characters with the
24735 exception of @samp{#} and @samp{$} (see @samp{X} packet for additional
24736 exceptions).
24737
24738 @cindex remote protocol, field separator
24739 Fields within the packet should be separated using @samp{,} @samp{;} or
24740 @samp{:}. Except where otherwise noted all numbers are represented in
24741 @sc{hex} with leading zeros suppressed.
24742
24743 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0, the character
24744 @samp{:} could not appear as the third character in a packet (as it
24745 would potentially conflict with the @var{sequence-id}).
24746
24747 @cindex remote protocol, binary data
24748 @anchor{Binary Data}
24749 Binary data in most packets is encoded either as two hexadecimal
24750 digits per byte of binary data. This allowed the traditional remote
24751 protocol to work over connections which were only seven-bit clean.
24752 Some packets designed more recently assume an eight-bit clean
24753 connection, and use a more efficient encoding to send and receive
24754 binary data.
24755
24756 The binary data representation uses @code{7d} (@sc{ascii} @samp{@}})
24757 as an escape character. Any escaped byte is transmitted as the escape
24758 character followed by the original character XORed with @code{0x20}.
24759 For example, the byte @code{0x7d} would be transmitted as the two
24760 bytes @code{0x7d 0x5d}. The bytes @code{0x23} (@sc{ascii} @samp{#}),
24761 @code{0x24} (@sc{ascii} @samp{$}), and @code{0x7d} (@sc{ascii}
24762 @samp{@}}) must always be escaped. Responses sent by the stub
24763 must also escape @code{0x2a} (@sc{ascii} @samp{*}), so that it
24764 is not interpreted as the start of a run-length encoded sequence
24765 (described next).
24766
24767 Response @var{data} can be run-length encoded to save space.
24768 Run-length encoding replaces runs of identical characters with one
24769 instance of the repeated character, followed by a @samp{*} and a
24770 repeat count. The repeat count is itself sent encoded, to avoid
24771 binary characters in @var{data}: a value of @var{n} is sent as
24772 @code{@var{n}+29}. For a repeat count greater or equal to 3, this
24773 produces a printable @sc{ascii} character, e.g.@: a space (@sc{ascii}
24774 code 32) for a repeat count of 3. (This is because run-length
24775 encoding starts to win for counts 3 or more.) Thus, for example,
24776 @samp{0* } is a run-length encoding of ``0000'': the space character
24777 after @samp{*} means repeat the leading @code{0} @w{@code{32 - 29 =
24778 3}} more times.
24779
24780 The printable characters @samp{#} and @samp{$} or with a numeric value
24781 greater than 126 must not be used. Runs of six repeats (@samp{#}) or
24782 seven repeats (@samp{$}) can be expanded using a repeat count of only
24783 five (@samp{"}). For example, @samp{00000000} can be encoded as
24784 @samp{0*"00}.
24785
24786 The error response returned for some packets includes a two character
24787 error number. That number is not well defined.
24788
24789 @cindex empty response, for unsupported packets
24790 For any @var{command} not supported by the stub, an empty response
24791 (@samp{$#00}) should be returned. That way it is possible to extend the
24792 protocol. A newer @value{GDBN} can tell if a packet is supported based
24793 on that response.
24794
24795 A stub is required to support the @samp{g}, @samp{G}, @samp{m}, @samp{M},
24796 @samp{c}, and @samp{s} @var{command}s. All other @var{command}s are
24797 optional.
24798
24799 @node Packets
24800 @section Packets
24801
24802 The following table provides a complete list of all currently defined
24803 @var{command}s and their corresponding response @var{data}.
24804 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for details about the File
24805 I/O extension of the remote protocol.
24806
24807 Each packet's description has a template showing the packet's overall
24808 syntax, followed by an explanation of the packet's meaning. We
24809 include spaces in some of the templates for clarity; these are not
24810 part of the packet's syntax. No @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to
24811 separate its components. For example, a template like @samp{foo
24812 @var{bar} @var{baz}} describes a packet beginning with the three ASCII
24813 bytes @samp{foo}, followed by a @var{bar}, followed directly by a
24814 @var{baz}. @value{GDBN} does not transmit a space character between the
24815 @samp{foo} and the @var{bar}, or between the @var{bar} and the
24816 @var{baz}.
24817
24818 @cindex @var{thread-id}, in remote protocol
24819 @anchor{thread-id syntax}
24820 Several packets and replies include a @var{thread-id} field to identify
24821 a thread. Normally these are positive numbers with a target-specific
24822 interpretation, formatted as big-endian hex strings. A @var{thread-id}
24823 can also be a literal @samp{-1} to indicate all threads, or @samp{0} to
24824 pick any thread.
24825
24826 In addition, the remote protocol supports a multiprocess feature in
24827 which the @var{thread-id} syntax is extended to optionally include both
24828 process and thread ID fields, as @samp{p@var{pid}.@var{tid}}.
24829 The @var{pid} (process) and @var{tid} (thread) components each have the
24830 format described above: a positive number with target-specific
24831 interpretation formatted as a big-endian hex string, literal @samp{-1}
24832 to indicate all processes or threads (respectively), or @samp{0} to
24833 indicate an arbitrary process or thread. Specifying just a process, as
24834 @samp{p@var{pid}}, is equivalent to @samp{p@var{pid}.-1}. It is an
24835 error to specify all processes but a specific thread, such as
24836 @samp{p-1.@var{tid}}. Note that the @samp{p} prefix is @emph{not} used
24837 for those packets and replies explicitly documented to include a process
24838 ID, rather than a @var{thread-id}.
24839
24840 The multiprocess @var{thread-id} syntax extensions are only used if both
24841 @value{GDBN} and the stub report support for the @samp{multiprocess}
24842 feature using @samp{qSupported}. @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for
24843 more information.
24844
24845 Note that all packet forms beginning with an upper- or lower-case
24846 letter, other than those described here, are reserved for future use.
24847
24848 Here are the packet descriptions.
24849
24850 @table @samp
24851
24852 @item !
24853 @cindex @samp{!} packet
24854 @anchor{extended mode}
24855 Enable extended mode. In extended mode, the remote server is made
24856 persistent. The @samp{R} packet is used to restart the program being
24857 debugged.
24858
24859 Reply:
24860 @table @samp
24861 @item OK
24862 The remote target both supports and has enabled extended mode.
24863 @end table
24864
24865 @item ?
24866 @cindex @samp{?} packet
24867 Indicate the reason the target halted. The reply is the same as for
24868 step and continue. This packet has a special interpretation when the
24869 target is in non-stop mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}.
24870
24871 Reply:
24872 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
24873
24874 @item A @var{arglen},@var{argnum},@var{arg},@dots{}
24875 @cindex @samp{A} packet
24876 Initialized @code{argv[]} array passed into program. @var{arglen}
24877 specifies the number of bytes in the hex encoded byte stream
24878 @var{arg}. See @code{gdbserver} for more details.
24879
24880 Reply:
24881 @table @samp
24882 @item OK
24883 The arguments were set.
24884 @item E @var{NN}
24885 An error occurred.
24886 @end table
24887
24888 @item b @var{baud}
24889 @cindex @samp{b} packet
24890 (Don't use this packet; its behavior is not well-defined.)
24891 Change the serial line speed to @var{baud}.
24892
24893 JTC: @emph{When does the transport layer state change? When it's
24894 received, or after the ACK is transmitted. In either case, there are
24895 problems if the command or the acknowledgment packet is dropped.}
24896
24897 Stan: @emph{If people really wanted to add something like this, and get
24898 it working for the first time, they ought to modify ser-unix.c to send
24899 some kind of out-of-band message to a specially-setup stub and have the
24900 switch happen "in between" packets, so that from remote protocol's point
24901 of view, nothing actually happened.}
24902
24903 @item B @var{addr},@var{mode}
24904 @cindex @samp{B} packet
24905 Set (@var{mode} is @samp{S}) or clear (@var{mode} is @samp{C}) a
24906 breakpoint at @var{addr}.
24907
24908 Don't use this packet. Use the @samp{Z} and @samp{z} packets instead
24909 (@pxref{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}).
24910
24911 @item bc
24912 @cindex @samp{bc} packet
24913 Backward continue. Execute the target system in reverse. No parameter.
24914 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
24915
24916 Reply:
24917 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
24918
24919 @item bs
24920 @cindex @samp{bs} packet
24921 Backward single step. Execute one instruction in reverse. No parameter.
24922 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
24923
24924 Reply:
24925 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
24926
24927 @item c @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
24928 @cindex @samp{c} packet
24929 Continue. @var{addr} is address to resume. If @var{addr} is omitted,
24930 resume at current address.
24931
24932 Reply:
24933 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
24934
24935 @item C @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
24936 @cindex @samp{C} packet
24937 Continue with signal @var{sig} (hex signal number). If
24938 @samp{;@var{addr}} is omitted, resume at same address.
24939
24940 Reply:
24941 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
24942
24943 @item d
24944 @cindex @samp{d} packet
24945 Toggle debug flag.
24946
24947 Don't use this packet; instead, define a general set packet
24948 (@pxref{General Query Packets}).
24949
24950 @item D
24951 @itemx D;@var{pid}
24952 @cindex @samp{D} packet
24953 The first form of the packet is used to detach @value{GDBN} from the
24954 remote system. It is sent to the remote target
24955 before @value{GDBN} disconnects via the @code{detach} command.
24956
24957 The second form, including a process ID, is used when multiprocess
24958 protocol extensions are enabled (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}), to
24959 detach only a specific process. The @var{pid} is specified as a
24960 big-endian hex string.
24961
24962 Reply:
24963 @table @samp
24964 @item OK
24965 for success
24966 @item E @var{NN}
24967 for an error
24968 @end table
24969
24970 @item F @var{RC},@var{EE},@var{CF};@var{XX}
24971 @cindex @samp{F} packet
24972 A reply from @value{GDBN} to an @samp{F} packet sent by the target.
24973 This is part of the File-I/O protocol extension. @xref{File-I/O
24974 Remote Protocol Extension}, for the specification.
24975
24976 @item g
24977 @anchor{read registers packet}
24978 @cindex @samp{g} packet
24979 Read general registers.
24980
24981 Reply:
24982 @table @samp
24983 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
24984 Each byte of register data is described by two hex digits. The bytes
24985 with the register are transmitted in target byte order. The size of
24986 each register and their position within the @samp{g} packet are
24987 determined by the @value{GDBN} internal gdbarch functions
24988 @code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE} and @code{gdbarch_register_name}. The
24989 specification of several standard @samp{g} packets is specified below.
24990 @item E @var{NN}
24991 for an error.
24992 @end table
24993
24994 @item G @var{XX@dots{}}
24995 @cindex @samp{G} packet
24996 Write general registers. @xref{read registers packet}, for a
24997 description of the @var{XX@dots{}} data.
24998
24999 Reply:
25000 @table @samp
25001 @item OK
25002 for success
25003 @item E @var{NN}
25004 for an error
25005 @end table
25006
25007 @item H @var{c} @var{thread-id}
25008 @cindex @samp{H} packet
25009 Set thread for subsequent operations (@samp{m}, @samp{M}, @samp{g},
25010 @samp{G}, et.al.). @var{c} depends on the operation to be performed: it
25011 should be @samp{c} for step and continue operations, @samp{g} for other
25012 operations. The thread designator @var{thread-id} has the format and
25013 interpretation described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
25014
25015 Reply:
25016 @table @samp
25017 @item OK
25018 for success
25019 @item E @var{NN}
25020 for an error
25021 @end table
25022
25023 @c FIXME: JTC:
25024 @c 'H': How restrictive (or permissive) is the thread model. If a
25025 @c thread is selected and stopped, are other threads allowed
25026 @c to continue to execute? As I mentioned above, I think the
25027 @c semantics of each command when a thread is selected must be
25028 @c described. For example:
25029 @c
25030 @c 'g': If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
25031 @c selected, returns the register block from that thread;
25032 @c otherwise returns current registers.
25033 @c
25034 @c 'G' If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
25035 @c selected, sets the registers of the register block of
25036 @c that thread; otherwise sets current registers.
25037
25038 @item i @r{[}@var{addr}@r{[},@var{nnn}@r{]]}
25039 @anchor{cycle step packet}
25040 @cindex @samp{i} packet
25041 Step the remote target by a single clock cycle. If @samp{,@var{nnn}} is
25042 present, cycle step @var{nnn} cycles. If @var{addr} is present, cycle
25043 step starting at that address.
25044
25045 @item I
25046 @cindex @samp{I} packet
25047 Signal, then cycle step. @xref{step with signal packet}. @xref{cycle
25048 step packet}.
25049
25050 @item k
25051 @cindex @samp{k} packet
25052 Kill request.
25053
25054 FIXME: @emph{There is no description of how to operate when a specific
25055 thread context has been selected (i.e.@: does 'k' kill only that
25056 thread?)}.
25057
25058 @item m @var{addr},@var{length}
25059 @cindex @samp{m} packet
25060 Read @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
25061 Note that @var{addr} may not be aligned to any particular boundary.
25062
25063 The stub need not use any particular size or alignment when gathering
25064 data from memory for the response; even if @var{addr} is word-aligned
25065 and @var{length} is a multiple of the word size, the stub is free to
25066 use byte accesses, or not. For this reason, this packet may not be
25067 suitable for accessing memory-mapped I/O devices.
25068 @cindex alignment of remote memory accesses
25069 @cindex size of remote memory accesses
25070 @cindex memory, alignment and size of remote accesses
25071
25072 Reply:
25073 @table @samp
25074 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
25075 Memory contents; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit hexadecimal
25076 number. The reply may contain fewer bytes than requested if the
25077 server was able to read only part of the region of memory.
25078 @item E @var{NN}
25079 @var{NN} is errno
25080 @end table
25081
25082 @item M @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
25083 @cindex @samp{M} packet
25084 Write @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
25085 @var{XX@dots{}} is the data; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit
25086 hexadecimal number.
25087
25088 Reply:
25089 @table @samp
25090 @item OK
25091 for success
25092 @item E @var{NN}
25093 for an error (this includes the case where only part of the data was
25094 written).
25095 @end table
25096
25097 @item p @var{n}
25098 @cindex @samp{p} packet
25099 Read the value of register @var{n}; @var{n} is in hex.
25100 @xref{read registers packet}, for a description of how the returned
25101 register value is encoded.
25102
25103 Reply:
25104 @table @samp
25105 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
25106 the register's value
25107 @item E @var{NN}
25108 for an error
25109 @item
25110 Indicating an unrecognized @var{query}.
25111 @end table
25112
25113 @item P @var{n@dots{}}=@var{r@dots{}}
25114 @anchor{write register packet}
25115 @cindex @samp{P} packet
25116 Write register @var{n@dots{}} with value @var{r@dots{}}. The register
25117 number @var{n} is in hexadecimal, and @var{r@dots{}} contains two hex
25118 digits for each byte in the register (target byte order).
25119
25120 Reply:
25121 @table @samp
25122 @item OK
25123 for success
25124 @item E @var{NN}
25125 for an error
25126 @end table
25127
25128 @item q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
25129 @itemx Q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
25130 @cindex @samp{q} packet
25131 @cindex @samp{Q} packet
25132 General query (@samp{q}) and set (@samp{Q}). These packets are
25133 described fully in @ref{General Query Packets}.
25134
25135 @item r
25136 @cindex @samp{r} packet
25137 Reset the entire system.
25138
25139 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{R} packet instead.
25140
25141 @item R @var{XX}
25142 @cindex @samp{R} packet
25143 Restart the program being debugged. @var{XX}, while needed, is ignored.
25144 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
25145
25146 The @samp{R} packet has no reply.
25147
25148 @item s @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
25149 @cindex @samp{s} packet
25150 Single step. @var{addr} is the address at which to resume. If
25151 @var{addr} is omitted, resume at same address.
25152
25153 Reply:
25154 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
25155
25156 @item S @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
25157 @anchor{step with signal packet}
25158 @cindex @samp{S} packet
25159 Step with signal. This is analogous to the @samp{C} packet, but
25160 requests a single-step, rather than a normal resumption of execution.
25161
25162 Reply:
25163 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
25164
25165 @item t @var{addr}:@var{PP},@var{MM}
25166 @cindex @samp{t} packet
25167 Search backwards starting at address @var{addr} for a match with pattern
25168 @var{PP} and mask @var{MM}. @var{PP} and @var{MM} are 4 bytes.
25169 @var{addr} must be at least 3 digits.
25170
25171 @item T @var{thread-id}
25172 @cindex @samp{T} packet
25173 Find out if the thread @var{thread-id} is alive. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
25174
25175 Reply:
25176 @table @samp
25177 @item OK
25178 thread is still alive
25179 @item E @var{NN}
25180 thread is dead
25181 @end table
25182
25183 @item v
25184 Packets starting with @samp{v} are identified by a multi-letter name,
25185 up to the first @samp{;} or @samp{?} (or the end of the packet).
25186
25187 @item vAttach;@var{pid}
25188 @cindex @samp{vAttach} packet
25189 Attach to a new process with the specified process ID @var{pid}.
25190 The process ID is a
25191 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. In all-stop mode, all
25192 threads in the attached process are stopped; in non-stop mode, it may be
25193 attached without being stopped if that is supported by the target.
25194
25195 @c In non-stop mode, on a successful vAttach, the stub should set the
25196 @c current thread to a thread of the newly-attached process. After
25197 @c attaching, GDB queries for the attached process's thread ID with qC.
25198 @c Also note that, from a user perspective, whether or not the
25199 @c target is stopped on attach in non-stop mode depends on whether you
25200 @c use the foreground or background version of the attach command, not
25201 @c on what vAttach does; GDB does the right thing with respect to either
25202 @c stopping or restarting threads.
25203
25204 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
25205
25206 Reply:
25207 @table @samp
25208 @item E @var{nn}
25209 for an error
25210 @item @r{Any stop packet}
25211 for success in all-stop mode (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
25212 @item OK
25213 for success in non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop})
25214 @end table
25215
25216 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@r{[}:@var{thread-id}@r{]]}@dots{}
25217 @cindex @samp{vCont} packet
25218 Resume the inferior, specifying different actions for each thread.
25219 If an action is specified with no @var{thread-id}, then it is applied to any
25220 threads that don't have a specific action specified; if no default action is
25221 specified then other threads should remain stopped in all-stop mode and
25222 in their current state in non-stop mode.
25223 Specifying multiple
25224 default actions is an error; specifying no actions is also an error.
25225 Thread IDs are specified using the syntax described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
25226
25227 Currently supported actions are:
25228
25229 @table @samp
25230 @item c
25231 Continue.
25232 @item C @var{sig}
25233 Continue with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
25234 @item s
25235 Step.
25236 @item S @var{sig}
25237 Step with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
25238 @item t
25239 Stop.
25240 @item T @var{sig}
25241 Stop with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
25242 @end table
25243
25244 The optional argument @var{addr} normally associated with the
25245 @samp{c}, @samp{C}, @samp{s}, and @samp{S} packets is
25246 not supported in @samp{vCont}.
25247
25248 The @samp{t} and @samp{T} actions are only relevant in non-stop mode
25249 (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}) and may be ignored by the stub otherwise.
25250 A stop reply should be generated for any affected thread not already stopped.
25251 When a thread is stopped by means of a @samp{t} action,
25252 the corresponding stop reply should indicate that the thread has stopped with
25253 signal @samp{0}, regardless of whether the target uses some other signal
25254 as an implementation detail.
25255
25256 Reply:
25257 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
25258
25259 @item vCont?
25260 @cindex @samp{vCont?} packet
25261 Request a list of actions supported by the @samp{vCont} packet.
25262
25263 Reply:
25264 @table @samp
25265 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@dots{}@r{]}
25266 The @samp{vCont} packet is supported. Each @var{action} is a supported
25267 command in the @samp{vCont} packet.
25268 @item
25269 The @samp{vCont} packet is not supported.
25270 @end table
25271
25272 @item vFile:@var{operation}:@var{parameter}@dots{}
25273 @cindex @samp{vFile} packet
25274 Perform a file operation on the target system. For details,
25275 see @ref{Host I/O Packets}.
25276
25277 @item vFlashErase:@var{addr},@var{length}
25278 @cindex @samp{vFlashErase} packet
25279 Direct the stub to erase @var{length} bytes of flash starting at
25280 @var{addr}. The region may enclose any number of flash blocks, but
25281 its start and end must fall on block boundaries, as indicated by the
25282 flash block size appearing in the memory map (@pxref{Memory Map
25283 Format}). @value{GDBN} groups flash memory programming operations
25284 together, and sends a @samp{vFlashDone} request after each group; the
25285 stub is allowed to delay erase operation until the @samp{vFlashDone}
25286 packet is received.
25287
25288 The stub must support @samp{vCont} if it reports support for
25289 multiprocess extensions (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}). Note that in
25290 this case @samp{vCont} actions can be specified to apply to all threads
25291 in a process by using the @samp{p@var{pid}.-1} form of the
25292 @var{thread-id}.
25293
25294 Reply:
25295 @table @samp
25296 @item OK
25297 for success
25298 @item E @var{NN}
25299 for an error
25300 @end table
25301
25302 @item vFlashWrite:@var{addr}:@var{XX@dots{}}
25303 @cindex @samp{vFlashWrite} packet
25304 Direct the stub to write data to flash address @var{addr}. The data
25305 is passed in binary form using the same encoding as for the @samp{X}
25306 packet (@pxref{Binary Data}). The memory ranges specified by
25307 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets preceding a @samp{vFlashDone} packet must
25308 not overlap, and must appear in order of increasing addresses
25309 (although @samp{vFlashErase} packets for higher addresses may already
25310 have been received; the ordering is guaranteed only between
25311 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets). If a packet writes to an address that was
25312 neither erased by a preceding @samp{vFlashErase} packet nor by some other
25313 target-specific method, the results are unpredictable.
25314
25315
25316 Reply:
25317 @table @samp
25318 @item OK
25319 for success
25320 @item E.memtype
25321 for vFlashWrite addressing non-flash memory
25322 @item E @var{NN}
25323 for an error
25324 @end table
25325
25326 @item vFlashDone
25327 @cindex @samp{vFlashDone} packet
25328 Indicate to the stub that flash programming operation is finished.
25329 The stub is permitted to delay or batch the effects of a group of
25330 @samp{vFlashErase} and @samp{vFlashWrite} packets until a
25331 @samp{vFlashDone} packet is received. The contents of the affected
25332 regions of flash memory are unpredictable until the @samp{vFlashDone}
25333 request is completed.
25334
25335 @item vKill;@var{pid}
25336 @cindex @samp{vKill} packet
25337 Kill the process with the specified process ID. @var{pid} is a
25338 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. This packet is used in
25339 preference to @samp{k} when multiprocess protocol extensions are
25340 supported; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
25341
25342 Reply:
25343 @table @samp
25344 @item E @var{nn}
25345 for an error
25346 @item OK
25347 for success
25348 @end table
25349
25350 @item vRun;@var{filename}@r{[};@var{argument}@r{]}@dots{}
25351 @cindex @samp{vRun} packet
25352 Run the program @var{filename}, passing it each @var{argument} on its
25353 command line. The file and arguments are hex-encoded strings. If
25354 @var{filename} is an empty string, the stub may use a default program
25355 (e.g.@: the last program run). The program is created in the stopped
25356 state.
25357
25358 @c FIXME: What about non-stop mode?
25359
25360 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
25361
25362 Reply:
25363 @table @samp
25364 @item E @var{nn}
25365 for an error
25366 @item @r{Any stop packet}
25367 for success (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
25368 @end table
25369
25370 @item vStopped
25371 @anchor{vStopped packet}
25372 @cindex @samp{vStopped} packet
25373
25374 In non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}), acknowledge a previous stop
25375 reply and prompt for the stub to report another one.
25376
25377 Reply:
25378 @table @samp
25379 @item @r{Any stop packet}
25380 if there is another unreported stop event (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
25381 @item OK
25382 if there are no unreported stop events
25383 @end table
25384
25385 @item X @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
25386 @anchor{X packet}
25387 @cindex @samp{X} packet
25388 Write data to memory, where the data is transmitted in binary.
25389 @var{addr} is address, @var{length} is number of bytes,
25390 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
25391
25392 Reply:
25393 @table @samp
25394 @item OK
25395 for success
25396 @item E @var{NN}
25397 for an error
25398 @end table
25399
25400 @item z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{length}
25401 @itemx Z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{length}
25402 @anchor{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}
25403 @cindex @samp{z} packet
25404 @cindex @samp{Z} packets
25405 Insert (@samp{Z}) or remove (@samp{z}) a @var{type} breakpoint or
25406 watchpoint starting at address @var{address} and covering the next
25407 @var{length} bytes.
25408
25409 Each breakpoint and watchpoint packet @var{type} is documented
25410 separately.
25411
25412 @emph{Implementation notes: A remote target shall return an empty string
25413 for an unrecognized breakpoint or watchpoint packet @var{type}. A
25414 remote target shall support either both or neither of a given
25415 @samp{Z@var{type}@dots{}} and @samp{z@var{type}@dots{}} packet pair. To
25416 avoid potential problems with duplicate packets, the operations should
25417 be implemented in an idempotent way.}
25418
25419 @item z0,@var{addr},@var{length}
25420 @itemx Z0,@var{addr},@var{length}
25421 @cindex @samp{z0} packet
25422 @cindex @samp{Z0} packet
25423 Insert (@samp{Z0}) or remove (@samp{z0}) a memory breakpoint at address
25424 @var{addr} of size @var{length}.
25425
25426 A memory breakpoint is implemented by replacing the instruction at
25427 @var{addr} with a software breakpoint or trap instruction. The
25428 @var{length} is used by targets that indicates the size of the
25429 breakpoint (in bytes) that should be inserted (e.g., the @sc{arm} and
25430 @sc{mips} can insert either a 2 or 4 byte breakpoint).
25431
25432 @emph{Implementation note: It is possible for a target to copy or move
25433 code that contains memory breakpoints (e.g., when implementing
25434 overlays). The behavior of this packet, in the presence of such a
25435 target, is not defined.}
25436
25437 Reply:
25438 @table @samp
25439 @item OK
25440 success
25441 @item
25442 not supported
25443 @item E @var{NN}
25444 for an error
25445 @end table
25446
25447 @item z1,@var{addr},@var{length}
25448 @itemx Z1,@var{addr},@var{length}
25449 @cindex @samp{z1} packet
25450 @cindex @samp{Z1} packet
25451 Insert (@samp{Z1}) or remove (@samp{z1}) a hardware breakpoint at
25452 address @var{addr} of size @var{length}.
25453
25454 A hardware breakpoint is implemented using a mechanism that is not
25455 dependant on being able to modify the target's memory.
25456
25457 @emph{Implementation note: A hardware breakpoint is not affected by code
25458 movement.}
25459
25460 Reply:
25461 @table @samp
25462 @item OK
25463 success
25464 @item
25465 not supported
25466 @item E @var{NN}
25467 for an error
25468 @end table
25469
25470 @item z2,@var{addr},@var{length}
25471 @itemx Z2,@var{addr},@var{length}
25472 @cindex @samp{z2} packet
25473 @cindex @samp{Z2} packet
25474 Insert (@samp{Z2}) or remove (@samp{z2}) a write watchpoint.
25475
25476 Reply:
25477 @table @samp
25478 @item OK
25479 success
25480 @item
25481 not supported
25482 @item E @var{NN}
25483 for an error
25484 @end table
25485
25486 @item z3,@var{addr},@var{length}
25487 @itemx Z3,@var{addr},@var{length}
25488 @cindex @samp{z3} packet
25489 @cindex @samp{Z3} packet
25490 Insert (@samp{Z3}) or remove (@samp{z3}) a read watchpoint.
25491
25492 Reply:
25493 @table @samp
25494 @item OK
25495 success
25496 @item
25497 not supported
25498 @item E @var{NN}
25499 for an error
25500 @end table
25501
25502 @item z4,@var{addr},@var{length}
25503 @itemx Z4,@var{addr},@var{length}
25504 @cindex @samp{z4} packet
25505 @cindex @samp{Z4} packet
25506 Insert (@samp{Z4}) or remove (@samp{z4}) an access watchpoint.
25507
25508 Reply:
25509 @table @samp
25510 @item OK
25511 success
25512 @item
25513 not supported
25514 @item E @var{NN}
25515 for an error
25516 @end table
25517
25518 @end table
25519
25520 @node Stop Reply Packets
25521 @section Stop Reply Packets
25522 @cindex stop reply packets
25523
25524 The @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}, @samp{s}, @samp{vCont},
25525 @samp{vAttach}, @samp{vRun}, @samp{vStopped}, and @samp{?} packets can
25526 receive any of the below as a reply. Except for @samp{?}
25527 and @samp{vStopped}, that reply is only returned
25528 when the target halts. In the below the exact meaning of @dfn{signal
25529 number} is defined by the header @file{include/gdb/signals.h} in the
25530 @value{GDBN} source code.
25531
25532 As in the description of request packets, we include spaces in the
25533 reply templates for clarity; these are not part of the reply packet's
25534 syntax. No @value{GDBN} stop reply packet uses spaces to separate its
25535 components.
25536
25537 @table @samp
25538
25539 @item S @var{AA}
25540 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
25541 number). This is equivalent to a @samp{T} response with no
25542 @var{n}:@var{r} pairs.
25543
25544 @item T @var{AA} @var{n1}:@var{r1};@var{n2}:@var{r2};@dots{}
25545 @cindex @samp{T} packet reply
25546 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
25547 number). This is equivalent to an @samp{S} response, except that the
25548 @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pairs can carry values of important registers
25549 and other information directly in the stop reply packet, reducing
25550 round-trip latency. Single-step and breakpoint traps are reported
25551 this way. Each @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair is interpreted as follows:
25552
25553 @itemize @bullet
25554 @item
25555 If @var{n} is a hexadecimal number, it is a register number, and the
25556 corresponding @var{r} gives that register's value. @var{r} is a
25557 series of bytes in target byte order, with each byte given by a
25558 two-digit hex number.
25559
25560 @item
25561 If @var{n} is @samp{thread}, then @var{r} is the @var{thread-id} of
25562 the stopped thread, as specified in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
25563
25564 @item
25565 If @var{n} is a recognized @dfn{stop reason}, it describes a more
25566 specific event that stopped the target. The currently defined stop
25567 reasons are listed below. @var{aa} should be @samp{05}, the trap
25568 signal. At most one stop reason should be present.
25569
25570 @item
25571 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} should ignore this @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair
25572 and go on to the next; this allows us to extend the protocol in the
25573 future.
25574 @end itemize
25575
25576 The currently defined stop reasons are:
25577
25578 @table @samp
25579 @item watch
25580 @itemx rwatch
25581 @itemx awatch
25582 The packet indicates a watchpoint hit, and @var{r} is the data address, in
25583 hex.
25584
25585 @cindex shared library events, remote reply
25586 @item library
25587 The packet indicates that the loaded libraries have changed.
25588 @value{GDBN} should use @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} to fetch a new
25589 list of loaded libraries. @var{r} is ignored.
25590
25591 @cindex replay log events, remote reply
25592 @item replaylog
25593 The packet indicates that the target cannot continue replaying
25594 logged execution events, because it has reached the end (or the
25595 beginning when executing backward) of the log. The value of @var{r}
25596 will be either @samp{begin} or @samp{end}. @xref{Reverse Execution},
25597 for more information.
25598
25599
25600 @end table
25601
25602 @item W @var{AA}
25603 @itemx W @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
25604 The process exited, and @var{AA} is the exit status. This is only
25605 applicable to certain targets.
25606
25607 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the exited
25608 process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported support for
25609 multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
25610 The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
25611
25612 @item X @var{AA}
25613 @itemx X @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
25614 The process terminated with signal @var{AA}.
25615
25616 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the
25617 terminated process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported
25618 support for multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess
25619 extensions}. The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
25620
25621 @item O @var{XX}@dots{}
25622 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data, to be
25623 written as the program's console output. This can happen at any time
25624 while the program is running and the debugger should continue to wait
25625 for @samp{W}, @samp{T}, etc. This reply is not permitted in non-stop mode.
25626
25627 @item F @var{call-id},@var{parameter}@dots{}
25628 @var{call-id} is the identifier which says which host system call should
25629 be called. This is just the name of the function. Translation into the
25630 correct system call is only applicable as it's defined in @value{GDBN}.
25631 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for a list of implemented
25632 system calls.
25633
25634 @samp{@var{parameter}@dots{}} is a list of parameters as defined for
25635 this very system call.
25636
25637 The target replies with this packet when it expects @value{GDBN} to
25638 call a host system call on behalf of the target. @value{GDBN} replies
25639 with an appropriate @samp{F} packet and keeps up waiting for the next
25640 reply packet from the target. The latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
25641 or @samp{s} action is expected to be continued. @xref{File-I/O Remote
25642 Protocol Extension}, for more details.
25643
25644 @end table
25645
25646 @node General Query Packets
25647 @section General Query Packets
25648 @cindex remote query requests
25649
25650 Packets starting with @samp{q} are @dfn{general query packets};
25651 packets starting with @samp{Q} are @dfn{general set packets}. General
25652 query and set packets are a semi-unified form for retrieving and
25653 sending information to and from the stub.
25654
25655 The initial letter of a query or set packet is followed by a name
25656 indicating what sort of thing the packet applies to. For example,
25657 @value{GDBN} may use a @samp{qSymbol} packet to exchange symbol
25658 definitions with the stub. These packet names follow some
25659 conventions:
25660
25661 @itemize @bullet
25662 @item
25663 The name must not contain commas, colons or semicolons.
25664 @item
25665 Most @value{GDBN} query and set packets have a leading upper case
25666 letter.
25667 @item
25668 The names of custom vendor packets should use a company prefix, in
25669 lower case, followed by a period. For example, packets designed at
25670 the Acme Corporation might begin with @samp{qacme.foo} (for querying
25671 foos) or @samp{Qacme.bar} (for setting bars).
25672 @end itemize
25673
25674 The name of a query or set packet should be separated from any
25675 parameters by a @samp{:}; the parameters themselves should be
25676 separated by @samp{,} or @samp{;}. Stubs must be careful to match the
25677 full packet name, and check for a separator or the end of the packet,
25678 in case two packet names share a common prefix. New packets should not begin
25679 with @samp{qC}, @samp{qP}, or @samp{qL}@footnote{The @samp{qP} and @samp{qL}
25680 packets predate these conventions, and have arguments without any terminator
25681 for the packet name; we suspect they are in widespread use in places that
25682 are difficult to upgrade. The @samp{qC} packet has no arguments, but some
25683 existing stubs (e.g.@: RedBoot) are known to not check for the end of the
25684 packet.}.
25685
25686 Like the descriptions of the other packets, each description here
25687 has a template showing the packet's overall syntax, followed by an
25688 explanation of the packet's meaning. We include spaces in some of the
25689 templates for clarity; these are not part of the packet's syntax. No
25690 @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to separate its components.
25691
25692 Here are the currently defined query and set packets:
25693
25694 @table @samp
25695
25696 @item qC
25697 @cindex current thread, remote request
25698 @cindex @samp{qC} packet
25699 Return the current thread ID.
25700
25701 Reply:
25702 @table @samp
25703 @item QC @var{thread-id}
25704 Where @var{thread-id} is a thread ID as documented in
25705 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
25706 @item @r{(anything else)}
25707 Any other reply implies the old thread ID.
25708 @end table
25709
25710 @item qCRC:@var{addr},@var{length}
25711 @cindex CRC of memory block, remote request
25712 @cindex @samp{qCRC} packet
25713 Compute the CRC checksum of a block of memory.
25714 Reply:
25715 @table @samp
25716 @item E @var{NN}
25717 An error (such as memory fault)
25718 @item C @var{crc32}
25719 The specified memory region's checksum is @var{crc32}.
25720 @end table
25721
25722 @item qfThreadInfo
25723 @itemx qsThreadInfo
25724 @cindex list active threads, remote request
25725 @cindex @samp{qfThreadInfo} packet
25726 @cindex @samp{qsThreadInfo} packet
25727 Obtain a list of all active thread IDs from the target (OS). Since there
25728 may be too many active threads to fit into one reply packet, this query
25729 works iteratively: it may require more than one query/reply sequence to
25730 obtain the entire list of threads. The first query of the sequence will
25731 be the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query; subsequent queries in the
25732 sequence will be the @samp{qsThreadInfo} query.
25733
25734 NOTE: This packet replaces the @samp{qL} query (see below).
25735
25736 Reply:
25737 @table @samp
25738 @item m @var{thread-id}
25739 A single thread ID
25740 @item m @var{thread-id},@var{thread-id}@dots{}
25741 a comma-separated list of thread IDs
25742 @item l
25743 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
25744 @end table
25745
25746 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
25747 more thread IDs, separated by commas.
25748 @value{GDBN} will respond to each reply with a request for more thread
25749 ids (using the @samp{qs} form of the query), until the target responds
25750 with @samp{l} (lower-case el, for @dfn{last}).
25751 Refer to @ref{thread-id syntax}, for the format of the @var{thread-id}
25752 fields.
25753
25754 @item qGetTLSAddr:@var{thread-id},@var{offset},@var{lm}
25755 @cindex get thread-local storage address, remote request
25756 @cindex @samp{qGetTLSAddr} packet
25757 Fetch the address associated with thread local storage specified
25758 by @var{thread-id}, @var{offset}, and @var{lm}.
25759
25760 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the
25761 thread for which to fetch the TLS address. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
25762
25763 @var{offset} is the (big endian, hex encoded) offset associated with the
25764 thread local variable. (This offset is obtained from the debug
25765 information associated with the variable.)
25766
25767 @var{lm} is the (big endian, hex encoded) OS/ABI-specific encoding of the
25768 the load module associated with the thread local storage. For example,
25769 a @sc{gnu}/Linux system will pass the link map address of the shared
25770 object associated with the thread local storage under consideration.
25771 Other operating environments may choose to represent the load module
25772 differently, so the precise meaning of this parameter will vary.
25773
25774 Reply:
25775 @table @samp
25776 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
25777 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the address of the thread
25778 local storage requested.
25779
25780 @item E @var{nn}
25781 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
25782
25783 @item
25784 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTLSAddr} is not supported by the stub.
25785 @end table
25786
25787 @item qL @var{startflag} @var{threadcount} @var{nextthread}
25788 Obtain thread information from RTOS. Where: @var{startflag} (one hex
25789 digit) is one to indicate the first query and zero to indicate a
25790 subsequent query; @var{threadcount} (two hex digits) is the maximum
25791 number of threads the response packet can contain; and @var{nextthread}
25792 (eight hex digits), for subsequent queries (@var{startflag} is zero), is
25793 returned in the response as @var{argthread}.
25794
25795 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query instead (see above).
25796
25797 Reply:
25798 @table @samp
25799 @item qM @var{count} @var{done} @var{argthread} @var{thread}@dots{}
25800 Where: @var{count} (two hex digits) is the number of threads being
25801 returned; @var{done} (one hex digit) is zero to indicate more threads
25802 and one indicates no further threads; @var{argthreadid} (eight hex
25803 digits) is @var{nextthread} from the request packet; @var{thread}@dots{}
25804 is a sequence of thread IDs from the target. @var{threadid} (eight hex
25805 digits). See @code{remote.c:parse_threadlist_response()}.
25806 @end table
25807
25808 @item qOffsets
25809 @cindex section offsets, remote request
25810 @cindex @samp{qOffsets} packet
25811 Get section offsets that the target used when relocating the downloaded
25812 image.
25813
25814 Reply:
25815 @table @samp
25816 @item Text=@var{xxx};Data=@var{yyy}@r{[};Bss=@var{zzz}@r{]}
25817 Relocate the @code{Text} section by @var{xxx} from its original address.
25818 Relocate the @code{Data} section by @var{yyy} from its original address.
25819 If the object file format provides segment information (e.g.@: @sc{elf}
25820 @samp{PT_LOAD} program headers), @value{GDBN} will relocate entire
25821 segments by the supplied offsets.
25822
25823 @emph{Note: while a @code{Bss} offset may be included in the response,
25824 @value{GDBN} ignores this and instead applies the @code{Data} offset
25825 to the @code{Bss} section.}
25826
25827 @item TextSeg=@var{xxx}@r{[};DataSeg=@var{yyy}@r{]}
25828 Relocate the first segment of the object file, which conventionally
25829 contains program code, to a starting address of @var{xxx}. If
25830 @samp{DataSeg} is specified, relocate the second segment, which
25831 conventionally contains modifiable data, to a starting address of
25832 @var{yyy}. @value{GDBN} will report an error if the object file
25833 does not contain segment information, or does not contain at least
25834 as many segments as mentioned in the reply. Extra segments are
25835 kept at fixed offsets relative to the last relocated segment.
25836 @end table
25837
25838 @item qP @var{mode} @var{thread-id}
25839 @cindex thread information, remote request
25840 @cindex @samp{qP} packet
25841 Returns information on @var{thread-id}. Where: @var{mode} is a hex
25842 encoded 32 bit mode; @var{thread-id} is a thread ID
25843 (@pxref{thread-id syntax}).
25844
25845 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} query instead
25846 (see below).
25847
25848 Reply: see @code{remote.c:remote_unpack_thread_info_response()}.
25849
25850 @item QNonStop:1
25851 @item QNonStop:0
25852 @cindex non-stop mode, remote request
25853 @cindex @samp{QNonStop} packet
25854 @anchor{QNonStop}
25855 Enter non-stop (@samp{QNonStop:1}) or all-stop (@samp{QNonStop:0}) mode.
25856 @xref{Remote Non-Stop}, for more information.
25857
25858 Reply:
25859 @table @samp
25860 @item OK
25861 The request succeeded.
25862
25863 @item E @var{nn}
25864 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
25865
25866 @item
25867 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QNonStop} is not supported by
25868 the stub.
25869 @end table
25870
25871 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
25872 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
25873 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set non-stop} command;
25874 @pxref{Non-Stop Mode}.
25875
25876 @item QPassSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
25877 @cindex pass signals to inferior, remote request
25878 @cindex @samp{QPassSignals} packet
25879 @anchor{QPassSignals}
25880 Each listed @var{signal} should be passed directly to the inferior process.
25881 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
25882 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
25883 strictly greater than the previous item. These signals do not need to stop
25884 the inferior, or be reported to @value{GDBN}. All other signals should be
25885 reported to @value{GDBN}. Multiple @samp{QPassSignals} packets do not
25886 combine; any earlier @samp{QPassSignals} list is completely replaced by the
25887 new list. This packet improves performance when using @samp{handle
25888 @var{signal} nostop noprint pass}.
25889
25890 Reply:
25891 @table @samp
25892 @item OK
25893 The request succeeded.
25894
25895 @item E @var{nn}
25896 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
25897
25898 @item
25899 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QPassSignals} is not supported by
25900 the stub.
25901 @end table
25902
25903 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote pass-signals}
25904 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote pass-signals}).
25905 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
25906 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
25907
25908 @item qRcmd,@var{command}
25909 @cindex execute remote command, remote request
25910 @cindex @samp{qRcmd} packet
25911 @var{command} (hex encoded) is passed to the local interpreter for
25912 execution. Invalid commands should be reported using the output
25913 string. Before the final result packet, the target may also respond
25914 with a number of intermediate @samp{O@var{output}} console output
25915 packets. @emph{Implementors should note that providing access to a
25916 stubs's interpreter may have security implications}.
25917
25918 Reply:
25919 @table @samp
25920 @item OK
25921 A command response with no output.
25922 @item @var{OUTPUT}
25923 A command response with the hex encoded output string @var{OUTPUT}.
25924 @item E @var{NN}
25925 Indicate a badly formed request.
25926 @item
25927 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qRcmd} is not recognized.
25928 @end table
25929
25930 (Note that the @code{qRcmd} packet's name is separated from the
25931 command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
25932 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
25933 packets.)
25934
25935 @item qSearch:memory:@var{address};@var{length};@var{search-pattern}
25936 @cindex searching memory, in remote debugging
25937 @cindex @samp{qSearch:memory} packet
25938 @anchor{qSearch memory}
25939 Search @var{length} bytes at @var{address} for @var{search-pattern}.
25940 @var{address} and @var{length} are encoded in hex.
25941 @var{search-pattern} is a sequence of bytes, hex encoded.
25942
25943 Reply:
25944 @table @samp
25945 @item 0
25946 The pattern was not found.
25947 @item 1,address
25948 The pattern was found at @var{address}.
25949 @item E @var{NN}
25950 A badly formed request or an error was encountered while searching memory.
25951 @item
25952 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSearch:memory} is not recognized.
25953 @end table
25954
25955 @item QStartNoAckMode
25956 @cindex @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet
25957 @anchor{QStartNoAckMode}
25958 Request that the remote stub disable the normal @samp{+}/@samp{-}
25959 protocol acknowledgments (@pxref{Packet Acknowledgment}).
25960
25961 Reply:
25962 @table @samp
25963 @item OK
25964 The stub has switched to no-acknowledgment mode.
25965 @value{GDBN} acknowledges this reponse,
25966 but neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or expect further
25967 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments in the current connection.
25968 @item
25969 An empty reply indicates that the stub does not support no-acknowledgment mode.
25970 @end table
25971
25972 @item qSupported @r{[}:@var{gdbfeature} @r{[};@var{gdbfeature}@r{]}@dots{} @r{]}
25973 @cindex supported packets, remote query
25974 @cindex features of the remote protocol
25975 @cindex @samp{qSupported} packet
25976 @anchor{qSupported}
25977 Tell the remote stub about features supported by @value{GDBN}, and
25978 query the stub for features it supports. This packet allows
25979 @value{GDBN} and the remote stub to take advantage of each others'
25980 features. @samp{qSupported} also consolidates multiple feature probes
25981 at startup, to improve @value{GDBN} performance---a single larger
25982 packet performs better than multiple smaller probe packets on
25983 high-latency links. Some features may enable behavior which must not
25984 be on by default, e.g.@: because it would confuse older clients or
25985 stubs. Other features may describe packets which could be
25986 automatically probed for, but are not. These features must be
25987 reported before @value{GDBN} will use them. This ``default
25988 unsupported'' behavior is not appropriate for all packets, but it
25989 helps to keep the initial connection time under control with new
25990 versions of @value{GDBN} which support increasing numbers of packets.
25991
25992 Reply:
25993 @table @samp
25994 @item @var{stubfeature} @r{[};@var{stubfeature}@r{]}@dots{}
25995 The stub supports or does not support each returned @var{stubfeature},
25996 depending on the form of each @var{stubfeature} (see below for the
25997 possible forms).
25998 @item
25999 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSupported} is not recognized,
26000 or that no features needed to be reported to @value{GDBN}.
26001 @end table
26002
26003 The allowed forms for each feature (either a @var{gdbfeature} in the
26004 @samp{qSupported} packet, or a @var{stubfeature} in the response)
26005 are:
26006
26007 @table @samp
26008 @item @var{name}=@var{value}
26009 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and associated
26010 with the specified @var{value}. The format of @var{value} depends
26011 on the feature, but it must not include a semicolon.
26012 @item @var{name}+
26013 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and does not
26014 need an associated value.
26015 @item @var{name}-
26016 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is not supported.
26017 @item @var{name}?
26018 The remote protocol feature @var{name} may be supported, and
26019 @value{GDBN} should auto-detect support in some other way when it is
26020 needed. This form will not be used for @var{gdbfeature} notifications,
26021 but may be used for @var{stubfeature} responses.
26022 @end table
26023
26024 Whenever the stub receives a @samp{qSupported} request, the
26025 supplied set of @value{GDBN} features should override any previous
26026 request. This allows @value{GDBN} to put the stub in a known
26027 state, even if the stub had previously been communicating with
26028 a different version of @value{GDBN}.
26029
26030 The following values of @var{gdbfeature} (for the packet sent by @value{GDBN})
26031 are defined:
26032
26033 @table @samp
26034 @item multiprocess
26035 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports multiprocess
26036 extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
26037 extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
26038 including @samp{multiprocess+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
26039 @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for details.
26040 @end table
26041
26042 Stubs should ignore any unknown values for
26043 @var{gdbfeature}. Any @value{GDBN} which sends a @samp{qSupported}
26044 packet supports receiving packets of unlimited length (earlier
26045 versions of @value{GDBN} may reject overly long responses). Additional values
26046 for @var{gdbfeature} may be defined in the future to let the stub take
26047 advantage of new features in @value{GDBN}, e.g.@: incompatible
26048 improvements in the remote protocol---the @samp{multiprocess} feature is
26049 an example of such a feature. The stub's reply should be independent
26050 of the @var{gdbfeature} entries sent by @value{GDBN}; first @value{GDBN}
26051 describes all the features it supports, and then the stub replies with
26052 all the features it supports.
26053
26054 Similarly, @value{GDBN} will silently ignore unrecognized stub feature
26055 responses, as long as each response uses one of the standard forms.
26056
26057 Some features are flags. A stub which supports a flag feature
26058 should respond with a @samp{+} form response. Other features
26059 require values, and the stub should respond with an @samp{=}
26060 form response.
26061
26062 Each feature has a default value, which @value{GDBN} will use if
26063 @samp{qSupported} is not available or if the feature is not mentioned
26064 in the @samp{qSupported} response. The default values are fixed; a
26065 stub is free to omit any feature responses that match the defaults.
26066
26067 Not all features can be probed, but for those which can, the probing
26068 mechanism is useful: in some cases, a stub's internal
26069 architecture may not allow the protocol layer to know some information
26070 about the underlying target in advance. This is especially common in
26071 stubs which may be configured for multiple targets.
26072
26073 These are the currently defined stub features and their properties:
26074
26075 @multitable @columnfractions 0.35 0.2 0.12 0.2
26076 @c NOTE: The first row should be @headitem, but we do not yet require
26077 @c a new enough version of Texinfo (4.7) to use @headitem.
26078 @item Feature Name
26079 @tab Value Required
26080 @tab Default
26081 @tab Probe Allowed
26082
26083 @item @samp{PacketSize}
26084 @tab Yes
26085 @tab @samp{-}
26086 @tab No
26087
26088 @item @samp{qXfer:auxv:read}
26089 @tab No
26090 @tab @samp{-}
26091 @tab Yes
26092
26093 @item @samp{qXfer:features:read}
26094 @tab No
26095 @tab @samp{-}
26096 @tab Yes
26097
26098 @item @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
26099 @tab No
26100 @tab @samp{-}
26101 @tab Yes
26102
26103 @item @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
26104 @tab No
26105 @tab @samp{-}
26106 @tab Yes
26107
26108 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:read}
26109 @tab No
26110 @tab @samp{-}
26111 @tab Yes
26112
26113 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:write}
26114 @tab No
26115 @tab @samp{-}
26116 @tab Yes
26117
26118 @item @samp{QNonStop}
26119 @tab No
26120 @tab @samp{-}
26121 @tab Yes
26122
26123 @item @samp{QPassSignals}
26124 @tab No
26125 @tab @samp{-}
26126 @tab Yes
26127
26128 @item @samp{QStartNoAckMode}
26129 @tab No
26130 @tab @samp{-}
26131 @tab Yes
26132
26133 @item @samp{multiprocess}
26134 @tab No
26135 @tab @samp{-}
26136 @tab No
26137
26138 @end multitable
26139
26140 These are the currently defined stub features, in more detail:
26141
26142 @table @samp
26143 @cindex packet size, remote protocol
26144 @item PacketSize=@var{bytes}
26145 The remote stub can accept packets up to at least @var{bytes} in
26146 length. @value{GDBN} will send packets up to this size for bulk
26147 transfers, and will never send larger packets. This is a limit on the
26148 data characters in the packet, including the frame and checksum.
26149 There is no trailing NUL byte in a remote protocol packet; if the stub
26150 stores packets in a NUL-terminated format, it should allow an extra
26151 byte in its buffer for the NUL. If this stub feature is not supported,
26152 @value{GDBN} guesses based on the size of the @samp{g} packet response.
26153
26154 @item qXfer:auxv:read
26155 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet
26156 (@pxref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}).
26157
26158 @item qXfer:features:read
26159 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:features:read} packet
26160 (@pxref{qXfer target description read}).
26161
26162 @item qXfer:libraries:read
26163 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet
26164 (@pxref{qXfer library list read}).
26165
26166 @item qXfer:memory-map:read
26167 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read} packet
26168 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}).
26169
26170 @item qXfer:spu:read
26171 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:read} packet
26172 (@pxref{qXfer spu read}).
26173
26174 @item qXfer:spu:write
26175 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:write} packet
26176 (@pxref{qXfer spu write}).
26177
26178 @item QNonStop
26179 The remote stub understands the @samp{QNonStop} packet
26180 (@pxref{QNonStop}).
26181
26182 @item QPassSignals
26183 The remote stub understands the @samp{QPassSignals} packet
26184 (@pxref{QPassSignals}).
26185
26186 @item QStartNoAckMode
26187 The remote stub understands the @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet and
26188 prefers to operate in no-acknowledgment mode. @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}.
26189
26190 @item multiprocess
26191 @anchor{multiprocess extensions}
26192 @cindex multiprocess extensions, in remote protocol
26193 The remote stub understands the multiprocess extensions to the remote
26194 protocol syntax. The multiprocess extensions affect the syntax of
26195 thread IDs in both packets and replies (@pxref{thread-id syntax}), and
26196 add process IDs to the @samp{D} packet and @samp{W} and @samp{X}
26197 replies. Note that reporting this feature indicates support for the
26198 syntactic extensions only, not that the stub necessarily supports
26199 debugging of more than one process at a time. The stub must not use
26200 multiprocess extensions in packet replies unless @value{GDBN} has also
26201 indicated it supports them in its @samp{qSupported} request.
26202
26203 @end table
26204
26205 @item qSymbol::
26206 @cindex symbol lookup, remote request
26207 @cindex @samp{qSymbol} packet
26208 Notify the target that @value{GDBN} is prepared to serve symbol lookup
26209 requests. Accept requests from the target for the values of symbols.
26210
26211 Reply:
26212 @table @samp
26213 @item OK
26214 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
26215 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
26216 The target requests the value of symbol @var{sym_name} (hex encoded).
26217 @value{GDBN} may provide the value by using the
26218 @samp{qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}} message, described
26219 below.
26220 @end table
26221
26222 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}
26223 Set the value of @var{sym_name} to @var{sym_value}.
26224
26225 @var{sym_name} (hex encoded) is the name of a symbol whose value the
26226 target has previously requested.
26227
26228 @var{sym_value} (hex) is the value for symbol @var{sym_name}. If
26229 @value{GDBN} cannot supply a value for @var{sym_name}, then this field
26230 will be empty.
26231
26232 Reply:
26233 @table @samp
26234 @item OK
26235 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
26236 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
26237 The target requests the value of a new symbol @var{sym_name} (hex
26238 encoded). @value{GDBN} will continue to supply the values of symbols
26239 (if available), until the target ceases to request them.
26240 @end table
26241
26242 @item QTDP
26243 @itemx QTFrame
26244 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
26245
26246 @item qThreadExtraInfo,@var{thread-id}
26247 @cindex thread attributes info, remote request
26248 @cindex @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} packet
26249 Obtain a printable string description of a thread's attributes from
26250 the target OS. @var{thread-id} is a thread ID;
26251 see @ref{thread-id syntax}. This
26252 string may contain anything that the target OS thinks is interesting
26253 for @value{GDBN} to tell the user about the thread. The string is
26254 displayed in @value{GDBN}'s @code{info threads} display. Some
26255 examples of possible thread extra info strings are @samp{Runnable}, or
26256 @samp{Blocked on Mutex}.
26257
26258 Reply:
26259 @table @samp
26260 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
26261 Where @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is a hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data,
26262 comprising the printable string containing the extra information about
26263 the thread's attributes.
26264 @end table
26265
26266 (Note that the @code{qThreadExtraInfo} packet's name is separated from
26267 the command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
26268 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
26269 packets.)
26270
26271 @item QTStart
26272 @itemx QTStop
26273 @itemx QTinit
26274 @itemx QTro
26275 @itemx qTStatus
26276 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
26277
26278 @item qXfer:@var{object}:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
26279 @cindex read special object, remote request
26280 @cindex @samp{qXfer} packet
26281 @anchor{qXfer read}
26282 Read uninterpreted bytes from the target's special data area
26283 identified by the keyword @var{object}. Request @var{length} bytes
26284 starting at @var{offset} bytes into the data. The content and
26285 encoding of @var{annex} is specific to @var{object}; it can supply
26286 additional details about what data to access.
26287
26288 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
26289 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:read:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
26290 formats, listed below.
26291
26292 @table @samp
26293 @item qXfer:auxv:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
26294 @anchor{qXfer auxiliary vector read}
26295 Access the target's @dfn{auxiliary vector}. @xref{OS Information,
26296 auxiliary vector}. Note @var{annex} must be empty.
26297
26298 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
26299 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
26300
26301 @item qXfer:features:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
26302 @anchor{qXfer target description read}
26303 Access the @dfn{target description}. @xref{Target Descriptions}. The
26304 annex specifies which XML document to access. The main description is
26305 always loaded from the @samp{target.xml} annex.
26306
26307 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
26308 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
26309
26310 @item qXfer:libraries:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
26311 @anchor{qXfer library list read}
26312 Access the target's list of loaded libraries. @xref{Library List Format}.
26313 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
26314 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
26315
26316 Targets which maintain a list of libraries in the program's memory do
26317 not need to implement this packet; it is designed for platforms where
26318 the operating system manages the list of loaded libraries.
26319
26320 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
26321 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
26322
26323 @item qXfer:memory-map:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
26324 @anchor{qXfer memory map read}
26325 Access the target's @dfn{memory-map}. @xref{Memory Map Format}. The
26326 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
26327 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
26328
26329 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
26330 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
26331
26332 @item qXfer:spu:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
26333 @anchor{qXfer spu read}
26334 Read contents of an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
26335 annex specifies which file to read; it must be of the form
26336 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
26337 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
26338 in that context to be accessed.
26339
26340 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
26341 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
26342 @end table
26343
26344 Reply:
26345 @table @samp
26346 @item m @var{data}
26347 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the
26348 target. There may be more data at a higher address (although
26349 it is permitted to return @samp{m} even for the last valid
26350 block of data, as long as at least one byte of data was read).
26351 @var{data} may have fewer bytes than the @var{length} in the
26352 request.
26353
26354 @item l @var{data}
26355 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the target.
26356 There is no more data to be read. @var{data} may have fewer bytes
26357 than the @var{length} in the request.
26358
26359 @item l
26360 The @var{offset} in the request is at the end of the data.
26361 There is no more data to be read.
26362
26363 @item E00
26364 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
26365
26366 @item E @var{nn}
26367 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered reading the data.
26368 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
26369
26370 @item
26371 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not recognized by
26372 the stub, or that the object does not support reading.
26373 @end table
26374
26375 @item qXfer:@var{object}:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
26376 @cindex write data into object, remote request
26377 Write uninterpreted bytes into the target's special data area
26378 identified by the keyword @var{object}, starting at @var{offset} bytes
26379 into the data. @var{data}@dots{} is the binary-encoded data
26380 (@pxref{Binary Data}) to be written. The content and encoding of @var{annex}
26381 is specific to @var{object}; it can supply additional details about what data
26382 to access.
26383
26384 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
26385 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:write:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
26386 formats, listed below.
26387
26388 @table @samp
26389 @item qXfer:@var{spu}:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
26390 @anchor{qXfer spu write}
26391 Write @var{data} to an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
26392 annex specifies which file to write; it must be of the form
26393 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
26394 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
26395 in that context to be accessed.
26396
26397 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
26398 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
26399 @end table
26400
26401 Reply:
26402 @table @samp
26403 @item @var{nn}
26404 @var{nn} (hex encoded) is the number of bytes written.
26405 This may be fewer bytes than supplied in the request.
26406
26407 @item E00
26408 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
26409
26410 @item E @var{nn}
26411 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered writing the data.
26412 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
26413
26414 @item
26415 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not
26416 recognized by the stub, or that the object does not support writing.
26417 @end table
26418
26419 @item qXfer:@var{object}:@var{operation}:@dots{}
26420 Requests of this form may be added in the future. When a stub does
26421 not recognize the @var{object} keyword, or its support for
26422 @var{object} does not recognize the @var{operation} keyword, the stub
26423 must respond with an empty packet.
26424
26425 @end table
26426
26427 @node Register Packet Format
26428 @section Register Packet Format
26429
26430 The following @code{g}/@code{G} packets have previously been defined.
26431 In the below, some thirty-two bit registers are transferred as
26432 sixty-four bits. Those registers should be zero/sign extended (which?)
26433 to fill the space allocated. Register bytes are transferred in target
26434 byte order. The two nibbles within a register byte are transferred
26435 most-significant - least-significant.
26436
26437 @table @r
26438
26439 @item MIPS32
26440
26441 All registers are transferred as thirty-two bit quantities in the order:
26442 32 general-purpose; sr; lo; hi; bad; cause; pc; 32 floating-point
26443 registers; fsr; fir; fp.
26444
26445 @item MIPS64
26446
26447 All registers are transferred as sixty-four bit quantities (including
26448 thirty-two bit registers such as @code{sr}). The ordering is the same
26449 as @code{MIPS32}.
26450
26451 @end table
26452
26453 @node Tracepoint Packets
26454 @section Tracepoint Packets
26455 @cindex tracepoint packets
26456 @cindex packets, tracepoint
26457
26458 Here we describe the packets @value{GDBN} uses to implement
26459 tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
26460
26461 @table @samp
26462
26463 @item QTDP:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{ena}:@var{step}:@var{pass}@r{[}-@r{]}
26464 Create a new tracepoint, number @var{n}, at @var{addr}. If @var{ena}
26465 is @samp{E}, then the tracepoint is enabled; if it is @samp{D}, then
26466 the tracepoint is disabled. @var{step} is the tracepoint's step
26467 count, and @var{pass} is its pass count. If the trailing @samp{-} is
26468 present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow to specify this
26469 tracepoint's actions.
26470
26471 Replies:
26472 @table @samp
26473 @item OK
26474 The packet was understood and carried out.
26475 @item
26476 The packet was not recognized.
26477 @end table
26478
26479 @item QTDP:-@var{n}:@var{addr}:@r{[}S@r{]}@var{action}@dots{}@r{[}-@r{]}
26480 Define actions to be taken when a tracepoint is hit. @var{n} and
26481 @var{addr} must be the same as in the initial @samp{QTDP} packet for
26482 this tracepoint. This packet may only be sent immediately after
26483 another @samp{QTDP} packet that ended with a @samp{-}. If the
26484 trailing @samp{-} is present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow,
26485 specifying more actions for this tracepoint.
26486
26487 In the series of action packets for a given tracepoint, at most one
26488 can have an @samp{S} before its first @var{action}. If such a packet
26489 is sent, it and the following packets define ``while-stepping''
26490 actions. Any prior packets define ordinary actions --- that is, those
26491 taken when the tracepoint is first hit. If no action packet has an
26492 @samp{S}, then all the packets in the series specify ordinary
26493 tracepoint actions.
26494
26495 The @samp{@var{action}@dots{}} portion of the packet is a series of
26496 actions, concatenated without separators. Each action has one of the
26497 following forms:
26498
26499 @table @samp
26500
26501 @item R @var{mask}
26502 Collect the registers whose bits are set in @var{mask}. @var{mask} is
26503 a hexadecimal number whose @var{i}'th bit is set if register number
26504 @var{i} should be collected. (The least significant bit is numbered
26505 zero.) Note that @var{mask} may be any number of digits long; it may
26506 not fit in a 32-bit word.
26507
26508 @item M @var{basereg},@var{offset},@var{len}
26509 Collect @var{len} bytes of memory starting at the address in register
26510 number @var{basereg}, plus @var{offset}. If @var{basereg} is
26511 @samp{-1}, then the range has a fixed address: @var{offset} is the
26512 address of the lowest byte to collect. The @var{basereg},
26513 @var{offset}, and @var{len} parameters are all unsigned hexadecimal
26514 values (the @samp{-1} value for @var{basereg} is a special case).
26515
26516 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
26517 Evaluate @var{expr}, whose length is @var{len}, and collect memory as
26518 it directs. @var{expr} is an agent expression, as described in
26519 @ref{Agent Expressions}. Each byte of the expression is encoded as a
26520 two-digit hex number in the packet; @var{len} is the number of bytes
26521 in the expression (and thus one-half the number of hex digits in the
26522 packet).
26523
26524 @end table
26525
26526 Any number of actions may be packed together in a single @samp{QTDP}
26527 packet, as long as the packet does not exceed the maximum packet
26528 length (400 bytes, for many stubs). There may be only one @samp{R}
26529 action per tracepoint, and it must precede any @samp{M} or @samp{X}
26530 actions. Any registers referred to by @samp{M} and @samp{X} actions
26531 must be collected by a preceding @samp{R} action. (The
26532 ``while-stepping'' actions are treated as if they were attached to a
26533 separate tracepoint, as far as these restrictions are concerned.)
26534
26535 Replies:
26536 @table @samp
26537 @item OK
26538 The packet was understood and carried out.
26539 @item
26540 The packet was not recognized.
26541 @end table
26542
26543 @item QTFrame:@var{n}
26544 Select the @var{n}'th tracepoint frame from the buffer, and use the
26545 register and memory contents recorded there to answer subsequent
26546 request packets from @value{GDBN}.
26547
26548 A successful reply from the stub indicates that the stub has found the
26549 requested frame. The response is a series of parts, concatenated
26550 without separators, describing the frame we selected. Each part has
26551 one of the following forms:
26552
26553 @table @samp
26554 @item F @var{f}
26555 The selected frame is number @var{n} in the trace frame buffer;
26556 @var{f} is a hexadecimal number. If @var{f} is @samp{-1}, then there
26557 was no frame matching the criteria in the request packet.
26558
26559 @item T @var{t}
26560 The selected trace frame records a hit of tracepoint number @var{t};
26561 @var{t} is a hexadecimal number.
26562
26563 @end table
26564
26565 @item QTFrame:pc:@var{addr}
26566 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
26567 currently selected frame whose PC is @var{addr};
26568 @var{addr} is a hexadecimal number.
26569
26570 @item QTFrame:tdp:@var{t}
26571 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
26572 currently selected frame that is a hit of tracepoint @var{t}; @var{t}
26573 is a hexadecimal number.
26574
26575 @item QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}
26576 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
26577 currently selected frame whose PC is between @var{start} (inclusive)
26578 and @var{end} (exclusive); @var{start} and @var{end} are hexadecimal
26579 numbers.
26580
26581 @item QTFrame:outside:@var{start}:@var{end}
26582 Like @samp{QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}}, but select the first
26583 frame @emph{outside} the given range of addresses.
26584
26585 @item QTStart
26586 Begin the tracepoint experiment. Begin collecting data from tracepoint
26587 hits in the trace frame buffer.
26588
26589 @item QTStop
26590 End the tracepoint experiment. Stop collecting trace frames.
26591
26592 @item QTinit
26593 Clear the table of tracepoints, and empty the trace frame buffer.
26594
26595 @item QTro:@var{start1},@var{end1}:@var{start2},@var{end2}:@dots{}
26596 Establish the given ranges of memory as ``transparent''. The stub
26597 will answer requests for these ranges from memory's current contents,
26598 if they were not collected as part of the tracepoint hit.
26599
26600 @value{GDBN} uses this to mark read-only regions of memory, like those
26601 containing program code. Since these areas never change, they should
26602 still have the same contents they did when the tracepoint was hit, so
26603 there's no reason for the stub to refuse to provide their contents.
26604
26605 @item qTStatus
26606 Ask the stub if there is a trace experiment running right now.
26607
26608 Replies:
26609 @table @samp
26610 @item T0
26611 There is no trace experiment running.
26612 @item T1
26613 There is a trace experiment running.
26614 @end table
26615
26616 @end table
26617
26618
26619 @node Host I/O Packets
26620 @section Host I/O Packets
26621 @cindex Host I/O, remote protocol
26622 @cindex file transfer, remote protocol
26623
26624 The @dfn{Host I/O} packets allow @value{GDBN} to perform I/O
26625 operations on the far side of a remote link. For example, Host I/O is
26626 used to upload and download files to a remote target with its own
26627 filesystem. Host I/O uses the same constant values and data structure
26628 layout as the target-initiated File-I/O protocol. However, the
26629 Host I/O packets are structured differently. The target-initiated
26630 protocol relies on target memory to store parameters and buffers.
26631 Host I/O requests are initiated by @value{GDBN}, and the
26632 target's memory is not involved. @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol
26633 Extension}, for more details on the target-initiated protocol.
26634
26635 The Host I/O request packets all encode a single operation along with
26636 its arguments. They have this format:
26637
26638 @table @samp
26639
26640 @item vFile:@var{operation}: @var{parameter}@dots{}
26641 @var{operation} is the name of the particular request; the target
26642 should compare the entire packet name up to the second colon when checking
26643 for a supported operation. The format of @var{parameter} depends on
26644 the operation. Numbers are always passed in hexadecimal. Negative
26645 numbers have an explicit minus sign (i.e.@: two's complement is not
26646 used). Strings (e.g.@: filenames) are encoded as a series of
26647 hexadecimal bytes. The last argument to a system call may be a
26648 buffer of escaped binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
26649
26650 @end table
26651
26652 The valid responses to Host I/O packets are:
26653
26654 @table @samp
26655
26656 @item F @var{result} [, @var{errno}] [; @var{attachment}]
26657 @var{result} is the integer value returned by this operation, usually
26658 non-negative for success and -1 for errors. If an error has occured,
26659 @var{errno} will be included in the result. @var{errno} will have a
26660 value defined by the File-I/O protocol (@pxref{Errno Values}). For
26661 operations which return data, @var{attachment} supplies the data as a
26662 binary buffer. Binary buffers in response packets are escaped in the
26663 normal way (@pxref{Binary Data}). See the individual packet
26664 documentation for the interpretation of @var{result} and
26665 @var{attachment}.
26666
26667 @item
26668 An empty response indicates that this operation is not recognized.
26669
26670 @end table
26671
26672 These are the supported Host I/O operations:
26673
26674 @table @samp
26675 @item vFile:open: @var{pathname}, @var{flags}, @var{mode}
26676 Open a file at @var{pathname} and return a file descriptor for it, or
26677 return -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string,
26678 @var{flags} is an integer indicating a mask of open flags
26679 (@pxref{Open Flags}), and @var{mode} is an integer indicating a mask
26680 of mode bits to use if the file is created (@pxref{mode_t Values}).
26681 @xref{open}, for details of the open flags and mode values.
26682
26683 @item vFile:close: @var{fd}
26684 Close the open file corresponding to @var{fd} and return 0, or
26685 -1 if an error occurs.
26686
26687 @item vFile:pread: @var{fd}, @var{count}, @var{offset}
26688 Read data from the open file corresponding to @var{fd}. Up to
26689 @var{count} bytes will be read from the file, starting at @var{offset}
26690 relative to the start of the file. The target may read fewer bytes;
26691 common reasons include packet size limits and an end-of-file
26692 condition. The number of bytes read is returned. Zero should only be
26693 returned for a successful read at the end of the file, or if
26694 @var{count} was zero.
26695
26696 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
26697 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
26698 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
26699 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
26700 some characters were escaped.
26701
26702 @item vFile:pwrite: @var{fd}, @var{offset}, @var{data}
26703 Write @var{data} (a binary buffer) to the open file corresponding
26704 to @var{fd}. Start the write at @var{offset} from the start of the
26705 file. Unlike many @code{write} system calls, there is no
26706 separate @var{count} argument; the length of @var{data} in the
26707 packet is used. @samp{vFile:write} returns the number of bytes written,
26708 which may be shorter than the length of @var{data}, or -1 if an
26709 error occurred.
26710
26711 @item vFile:unlink: @var{pathname}
26712 Delete the file at @var{pathname} on the target. Return 0,
26713 or -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string.
26714
26715 @end table
26716
26717 @node Interrupts
26718 @section Interrupts
26719 @cindex interrupts (remote protocol)
26720
26721 When a program on the remote target is running, @value{GDBN} may
26722 attempt to interrupt it by sending a @samp{Ctrl-C} or a @code{BREAK},
26723 control of which is specified via @value{GDBN}'s @samp{remotebreak}
26724 setting (@pxref{set remotebreak}).
26725
26726 The precise meaning of @code{BREAK} is defined by the transport
26727 mechanism and may, in fact, be undefined. @value{GDBN} does not
26728 currently define a @code{BREAK} mechanism for any of the network
26729 interfaces except for TCP, in which case @value{GDBN} sends the
26730 @code{telnet} BREAK sequence.
26731
26732 @samp{Ctrl-C}, on the other hand, is defined and implemented for all
26733 transport mechanisms. It is represented by sending the single byte
26734 @code{0x03} without any of the usual packet overhead described in
26735 the Overview section (@pxref{Overview}). When a @code{0x03} byte is
26736 transmitted as part of a packet, it is considered to be packet data
26737 and does @emph{not} represent an interrupt. E.g., an @samp{X} packet
26738 (@pxref{X packet}), used for binary downloads, may include an unescaped
26739 @code{0x03} as part of its packet.
26740
26741 Stubs are not required to recognize these interrupt mechanisms and the
26742 precise meaning associated with receipt of the interrupt is
26743 implementation defined. If the target supports debugging of multiple
26744 threads and/or processes, it should attempt to interrupt all
26745 currently-executing threads and processes.
26746 If the stub is successful at interrupting the
26747 running program, it should send one of the stop
26748 reply packets (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}) to @value{GDBN} as a result
26749 of successfully stopping the program in all-stop mode, and a stop reply
26750 for each stopped thread in non-stop mode.
26751 Interrupts received while the
26752 program is stopped are discarded.
26753
26754 @node Notification Packets
26755 @section Notification Packets
26756 @cindex notification packets
26757 @cindex packets, notification
26758
26759 The @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol includes @dfn{notifications},
26760 packets that require no acknowledgment. Both the GDB and the stub
26761 may send notifications (although the only notifications defined at
26762 present are sent by the stub). Notifications carry information
26763 without incurring the round-trip latency of an acknowledgment, and so
26764 are useful for low-impact communications where occasional packet loss
26765 is not a problem.
26766
26767 A notification packet has the form @samp{% @var{data} #
26768 @var{checksum}}, where @var{data} is the content of the notification,
26769 and @var{checksum} is a checksum of @var{data}, computed and formatted
26770 as for ordinary @value{GDBN} packets. A notification's @var{data}
26771 never contains @samp{$}, @samp{%} or @samp{#} characters. Upon
26772 receiving a notification, the recipient sends no @samp{+} or @samp{-}
26773 to acknowledge the notification's receipt or to report its corruption.
26774
26775 Every notification's @var{data} begins with a name, which contains no
26776 colon characters, followed by a colon character.
26777
26778 Recipients should silently ignore corrupted notifications and
26779 notifications they do not understand. Recipients should restart
26780 timeout periods on receipt of a well-formed notification, whether or
26781 not they understand it.
26782
26783 Senders should only send the notifications described here when this
26784 protocol description specifies that they are permitted. In the
26785 future, we may extend the protocol to permit existing notifications in
26786 new contexts; this rule helps older senders avoid confusing newer
26787 recipients.
26788
26789 (Older versions of @value{GDBN} ignore bytes received until they see
26790 the @samp{$} byte that begins an ordinary packet, so new stubs may
26791 transmit notifications without fear of confusing older clients. There
26792 are no notifications defined for @value{GDBN} to send at the moment, but we
26793 assume that most older stubs would ignore them, as well.)
26794
26795 The following notification packets from the stub to @value{GDBN} are
26796 defined:
26797
26798 @table @samp
26799 @item Stop: @var{reply}
26800 Report an asynchronous stop event in non-stop mode.
26801 The @var{reply} has the form of a stop reply, as
26802 described in @ref{Stop Reply Packets}. Refer to @ref{Remote Non-Stop},
26803 for information on how these notifications are acknowledged by
26804 @value{GDBN}.
26805 @end table
26806
26807 @node Remote Non-Stop
26808 @section Remote Protocol Support for Non-Stop Mode
26809
26810 @value{GDBN}'s remote protocol supports non-stop debugging of
26811 multi-threaded programs, as described in @ref{Non-Stop Mode}. If the stub
26812 supports non-stop mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN} by including
26813 @samp{QNonStop+} in its @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
26814
26815 @value{GDBN} typically sends a @samp{QNonStop} packet only when
26816 establishing a new connection with the stub. Entering non-stop mode
26817 does not alter the state of any currently-running threads, but targets
26818 must stop all threads in any already-attached processes when entering
26819 all-stop mode. @value{GDBN} uses the @samp{?} packet as necessary to
26820 probe the target state after a mode change.
26821
26822 In non-stop mode, when an attached process encounters an event that
26823 would otherwise be reported with a stop reply, it uses the
26824 asynchronous notification mechanism (@pxref{Notification Packets}) to
26825 inform @value{GDBN}. In contrast to all-stop mode, where all threads
26826 in all processes are stopped when a stop reply is sent, in non-stop
26827 mode only the thread reporting the stop event is stopped. That is,
26828 when reporting a @samp{S} or @samp{T} response to indicate completion
26829 of a step operation, hitting a breakpoint, or a fault, only the
26830 affected thread is stopped; any other still-running threads continue
26831 to run. When reporting a @samp{W} or @samp{X} response, all running
26832 threads belonging to other attached processes continue to run.
26833
26834 Only one stop reply notification at a time may be pending; if
26835 additional stop events occur before @value{GDBN} has acknowledged the
26836 previous notification, they must be queued by the stub for later
26837 synchronous transmission in response to @samp{vStopped} packets from
26838 @value{GDBN}. Because the notification mechanism is unreliable,
26839 the stub is permitted to resend a stop reply notification
26840 if it believes @value{GDBN} may not have received it. @value{GDBN}
26841 ignores additional stop reply notifications received before it has
26842 finished processing a previous notification and the stub has completed
26843 sending any queued stop events.
26844
26845 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} must be prepared to receive a stop reply
26846 notification at any time. Specifically, they may appear when
26847 @value{GDBN} is not otherwise reading input from the stub, or when
26848 @value{GDBN} is expecting to read a normal synchronous response or a
26849 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgment to a packet it has sent.
26850 Notification packets are distinct from any other communication from
26851 the stub so there is no ambiguity.
26852
26853 After receiving a stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall
26854 acknowledge it by sending a @samp{vStopped} packet (@pxref{vStopped packet})
26855 as a regular, synchronous request to the stub. Such acknowledgment
26856 is not required to happen immediately, as @value{GDBN} is permitted to
26857 send other, unrelated packets to the stub first, which the stub should
26858 process normally.
26859
26860 Upon receiving a @samp{vStopped} packet, if the stub has other queued
26861 stop events to report to @value{GDBN}, it shall respond by sending a
26862 normal stop reply response. @value{GDBN} shall then send another
26863 @samp{vStopped} packet to solicit further responses; again, it is
26864 permitted to send other, unrelated packets as well which the stub
26865 should process normally.
26866
26867 If the stub receives a @samp{vStopped} packet and there are no
26868 additional stop events to report, the stub shall return an @samp{OK}
26869 response. At this point, if further stop events occur, the stub shall
26870 send a new stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall accept the
26871 notification, and the process shall be repeated.
26872
26873 In non-stop mode, the target shall respond to the @samp{?} packet as
26874 follows. First, any incomplete stop reply notification/@samp{vStopped}
26875 sequence in progress is abandoned. The target must begin a new
26876 sequence reporting stop events for all stopped threads, whether or not
26877 it has previously reported those events to @value{GDBN}. The first
26878 stop reply is sent as a synchronous reply to the @samp{?} packet, and
26879 subsequent stop replies are sent as responses to @samp{vStopped} packets
26880 using the mechanism described above. The target must not send
26881 asynchronous stop reply notifications until the sequence is complete.
26882 If all threads are running when the target receives the @samp{?} packet,
26883 or if the target is not attached to any process, it shall respond
26884 @samp{OK}.
26885
26886 @node Packet Acknowledgment
26887 @section Packet Acknowledgment
26888
26889 @cindex acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
26890 @cindex packet acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
26891 By default, when either the host or the target machine receives a packet,
26892 the first response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
26893 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request retransmission).
26894 This mechanism allows the @value{GDBN} remote protocol to operate over
26895 unreliable transport mechanisms, such as a serial line.
26896
26897 In cases where the transport mechanism is itself reliable (such as a pipe or
26898 TCP connection), the @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are redundant.
26899 It may be desirable to disable them in that case to reduce communication
26900 overhead, or for other reasons. This can be accomplished by means of the
26901 @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet; @pxref{QStartNoAckMode}.
26902
26903 When in no-acknowledgment mode, neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or
26904 expect @samp{+}/@samp{-} protocol acknowledgments. The packet
26905 and response format still includes the normal checksum, as described in
26906 @ref{Overview}, but the checksum may be ignored by the receiver.
26907
26908 If the stub supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and prefers to operate in
26909 no-acknowledgment mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN}
26910 by including @samp{QStartNoAckMode+} in its response to @samp{qSupported};
26911 @pxref{qSupported}.
26912 If @value{GDBN} also supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and it has not been
26913 disabled via the @code{set remote noack-packet off} command
26914 (@pxref{Remote Configuration}),
26915 @value{GDBN} may then send a @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet to the stub.
26916 Only then may the stub actually turn off packet acknowledgments.
26917 @value{GDBN} sends a final @samp{+} acknowledgment of the stub's @samp{OK}
26918 response, which can be safely ignored by the stub.
26919
26920 Note that @code{set remote noack-packet} command only affects negotiation
26921 between @value{GDBN} and the stub when subsequent connections are made;
26922 it does not affect the protocol acknowledgment state for any current
26923 connection.
26924 Since @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are enabled by default when a
26925 new connection is established,
26926 there is also no protocol request to re-enable the acknowledgments
26927 for the current connection, once disabled.
26928
26929 @node Examples
26930 @section Examples
26931
26932 Example sequence of a target being re-started. Notice how the restart
26933 does not get any direct output:
26934
26935 @smallexample
26936 -> @code{R00}
26937 <- @code{+}
26938 @emph{target restarts}
26939 -> @code{?}
26940 <- @code{+}
26941 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
26942 -> @code{+}
26943 @end smallexample
26944
26945 Example sequence of a target being stepped by a single instruction:
26946
26947 @smallexample
26948 -> @code{G1445@dots{}}
26949 <- @code{+}
26950 -> @code{s}
26951 <- @code{+}
26952 @emph{time passes}
26953 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
26954 -> @code{+}
26955 -> @code{g}
26956 <- @code{+}
26957 <- @code{1455@dots{}}
26958 -> @code{+}
26959 @end smallexample
26960
26961 @node File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
26962 @section File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
26963 @cindex File-I/O remote protocol extension
26964
26965 @menu
26966 * File-I/O Overview::
26967 * Protocol Basics::
26968 * The F Request Packet::
26969 * The F Reply Packet::
26970 * The Ctrl-C Message::
26971 * Console I/O::
26972 * List of Supported Calls::
26973 * Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes::
26974 * Constants::
26975 * File-I/O Examples::
26976 @end menu
26977
26978 @node File-I/O Overview
26979 @subsection File-I/O Overview
26980 @cindex file-i/o overview
26981
26982 The @dfn{File I/O remote protocol extension} (short: File-I/O) allows the
26983 target to use the host's file system and console I/O to perform various
26984 system calls. System calls on the target system are translated into a
26985 remote protocol packet to the host system, which then performs the needed
26986 actions and returns a response packet to the target system.
26987 This simulates file system operations even on targets that lack file systems.
26988
26989 The protocol is defined to be independent of both the host and target systems.
26990 It uses its own internal representation of datatypes and values. Both
26991 @value{GDBN} and the target's @value{GDBN} stub are responsible for
26992 translating the system-dependent value representations into the internal
26993 protocol representations when data is transmitted.
26994
26995 The communication is synchronous. A system call is possible only when
26996 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
26997 or @samp{s} packets. While @value{GDBN} handles the request for a system call,
26998 the target is stopped to allow deterministic access to the target's
26999 memory. Therefore File-I/O is not interruptible by target signals. On
27000 the other hand, it is possible to interrupt File-I/O by a user interrupt
27001 (@samp{Ctrl-C}) within @value{GDBN}.
27002
27003 The target's request to perform a host system call does not finish
27004 the latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} action. That means,
27005 after finishing the system call, the target returns to continuing the
27006 previous activity (continue, step). No additional continue or step
27007 request from @value{GDBN} is required.
27008
27009 @smallexample
27010 (@value{GDBP}) continue
27011 <- target requests 'system call X'
27012 target is stopped, @value{GDBN} executes system call
27013 -> @value{GDBN} returns result
27014 ... target continues, @value{GDBN} returns to wait for the target
27015 <- target hits breakpoint and sends a Txx packet
27016 @end smallexample
27017
27018 The protocol only supports I/O on the console and to regular files on
27019 the host file system. Character or block special devices, pipes,
27020 named pipes, sockets or any other communication method on the host
27021 system are not supported by this protocol.
27022
27023 File I/O is not supported in non-stop mode.
27024
27025 @node Protocol Basics
27026 @subsection Protocol Basics
27027 @cindex protocol basics, file-i/o
27028
27029 The File-I/O protocol uses the @code{F} packet as the request as well
27030 as reply packet. Since a File-I/O system call can only occur when
27031 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the continuing or stepping target,
27032 the File-I/O request is a reply that @value{GDBN} has to expect as a result
27033 of a previous @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} packet.
27034 This @code{F} packet contains all information needed to allow @value{GDBN}
27035 to call the appropriate host system call:
27036
27037 @itemize @bullet
27038 @item
27039 A unique identifier for the requested system call.
27040
27041 @item
27042 All parameters to the system call. Pointers are given as addresses
27043 in the target memory address space. Pointers to strings are given as
27044 pointer/length pair. Numerical values are given as they are.
27045 Numerical control flags are given in a protocol-specific representation.
27046
27047 @end itemize
27048
27049 At this point, @value{GDBN} has to perform the following actions.
27050
27051 @itemize @bullet
27052 @item
27053 If the parameters include pointer values to data needed as input to a
27054 system call, @value{GDBN} requests this data from the target with a
27055 standard @code{m} packet request. This additional communication has to be
27056 expected by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{m}
27057 packet.
27058
27059 @item
27060 @value{GDBN} translates all value from protocol representation to host
27061 representation as needed. Datatypes are coerced into the host types.
27062
27063 @item
27064 @value{GDBN} calls the system call.
27065
27066 @item
27067 It then coerces datatypes back to protocol representation.
27068
27069 @item
27070 If the system call is expected to return data in buffer space specified
27071 by pointer parameters to the call, the data is transmitted to the
27072 target using a @code{M} or @code{X} packet. This packet has to be expected
27073 by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{M} or @code{X}
27074 packet.
27075
27076 @end itemize
27077
27078 Eventually @value{GDBN} replies with another @code{F} packet which contains all
27079 necessary information for the target to continue. This at least contains
27080
27081 @itemize @bullet
27082 @item
27083 Return value.
27084
27085 @item
27086 @code{errno}, if has been changed by the system call.
27087
27088 @item
27089 ``Ctrl-C'' flag.
27090
27091 @end itemize
27092
27093 After having done the needed type and value coercion, the target continues
27094 the latest continue or step action.
27095
27096 @node The F Request Packet
27097 @subsection The @code{F} Request Packet
27098 @cindex file-i/o request packet
27099 @cindex @code{F} request packet
27100
27101 The @code{F} request packet has the following format:
27102
27103 @table @samp
27104 @item F@var{call-id},@var{parameter@dots{}}
27105
27106 @var{call-id} is the identifier to indicate the host system call to be called.
27107 This is just the name of the function.
27108
27109 @var{parameter@dots{}} are the parameters to the system call.
27110 Parameters are hexadecimal integer values, either the actual values in case
27111 of scalar datatypes, pointers to target buffer space in case of compound
27112 datatypes and unspecified memory areas, or pointer/length pairs in case
27113 of string parameters. These are appended to the @var{call-id} as a
27114 comma-delimited list. All values are transmitted in ASCII
27115 string representation, pointer/length pairs separated by a slash.
27116
27117 @end table
27118
27119
27120
27121 @node The F Reply Packet
27122 @subsection The @code{F} Reply Packet
27123 @cindex file-i/o reply packet
27124 @cindex @code{F} reply packet
27125
27126 The @code{F} reply packet has the following format:
27127
27128 @table @samp
27129
27130 @item F@var{retcode},@var{errno},@var{Ctrl-C flag};@var{call-specific attachment}
27131
27132 @var{retcode} is the return code of the system call as hexadecimal value.
27133
27134 @var{errno} is the @code{errno} set by the call, in protocol-specific
27135 representation.
27136 This parameter can be omitted if the call was successful.
27137
27138 @var{Ctrl-C flag} is only sent if the user requested a break. In this
27139 case, @var{errno} must be sent as well, even if the call was successful.
27140 The @var{Ctrl-C flag} itself consists of the character @samp{C}:
27141
27142 @smallexample
27143 F0,0,C
27144 @end smallexample
27145
27146 @noindent
27147 or, if the call was interrupted before the host call has been performed:
27148
27149 @smallexample
27150 F-1,4,C
27151 @end smallexample
27152
27153 @noindent
27154 assuming 4 is the protocol-specific representation of @code{EINTR}.
27155
27156 @end table
27157
27158
27159 @node The Ctrl-C Message
27160 @subsection The @samp{Ctrl-C} Message
27161 @cindex ctrl-c message, in file-i/o protocol
27162
27163 If the @samp{Ctrl-C} flag is set in the @value{GDBN}
27164 reply packet (@pxref{The F Reply Packet}),
27165 the target should behave as if it had
27166 gotten a break message. The meaning for the target is ``system call
27167 interrupted by @code{SIGINT}''. Consequentially, the target should actually stop
27168 (as with a break message) and return to @value{GDBN} with a @code{T02}
27169 packet.
27170
27171 It's important for the target to know in which
27172 state the system call was interrupted. There are two possible cases:
27173
27174 @itemize @bullet
27175 @item
27176 The system call hasn't been performed on the host yet.
27177
27178 @item
27179 The system call on the host has been finished.
27180
27181 @end itemize
27182
27183 These two states can be distinguished by the target by the value of the
27184 returned @code{errno}. If it's the protocol representation of @code{EINTR}, the system
27185 call hasn't been performed. This is equivalent to the @code{EINTR} handling
27186 on POSIX systems. In any other case, the target may presume that the
27187 system call has been finished --- successfully or not --- and should behave
27188 as if the break message arrived right after the system call.
27189
27190 @value{GDBN} must behave reliably. If the system call has not been called
27191 yet, @value{GDBN} may send the @code{F} reply immediately, setting @code{EINTR} as
27192 @code{errno} in the packet. If the system call on the host has been finished
27193 before the user requests a break, the full action must be finished by
27194 @value{GDBN}. This requires sending @code{M} or @code{X} packets as necessary.
27195 The @code{F} packet may only be sent when either nothing has happened
27196 or the full action has been completed.
27197
27198 @node Console I/O
27199 @subsection Console I/O
27200 @cindex console i/o as part of file-i/o
27201
27202 By default and if not explicitly closed by the target system, the file
27203 descriptors 0, 1 and 2 are connected to the @value{GDBN} console. Output
27204 on the @value{GDBN} console is handled as any other file output operation
27205 (@code{write(1, @dots{})} or @code{write(2, @dots{})}). Console input is handled
27206 by @value{GDBN} so that after the target read request from file descriptor
27207 0 all following typing is buffered until either one of the following
27208 conditions is met:
27209
27210 @itemize @bullet
27211 @item
27212 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The behaviour is as explained above, and the
27213 @code{read}
27214 system call is treated as finished.
27215
27216 @item
27217 The user presses @key{RET}. This is treated as end of input with a trailing
27218 newline.
27219
27220 @item
27221 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-d}. This is treated as end of input. No trailing
27222 character (neither newline nor @samp{Ctrl-D}) is appended to the input.
27223
27224 @end itemize
27225
27226 If the user has typed more characters than fit in the buffer given to
27227 the @code{read} call, the trailing characters are buffered in @value{GDBN} until
27228 either another @code{read(0, @dots{})} is requested by the target, or debugging
27229 is stopped at the user's request.
27230
27231
27232 @node List of Supported Calls
27233 @subsection List of Supported Calls
27234 @cindex list of supported file-i/o calls
27235
27236 @menu
27237 * open::
27238 * close::
27239 * read::
27240 * write::
27241 * lseek::
27242 * rename::
27243 * unlink::
27244 * stat/fstat::
27245 * gettimeofday::
27246 * isatty::
27247 * system::
27248 @end menu
27249
27250 @node open
27251 @unnumberedsubsubsec open
27252 @cindex open, file-i/o system call
27253
27254 @table @asis
27255 @item Synopsis:
27256 @smallexample
27257 int open(const char *pathname, int flags);
27258 int open(const char *pathname, int flags, mode_t mode);
27259 @end smallexample
27260
27261 @item Request:
27262 @samp{Fopen,@var{pathptr}/@var{len},@var{flags},@var{mode}}
27263
27264 @noindent
27265 @var{flags} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
27266
27267 @table @code
27268 @item O_CREAT
27269 If the file does not exist it will be created. The host
27270 rules apply as far as file ownership and time stamps
27271 are concerned.
27272
27273 @item O_EXCL
27274 When used with @code{O_CREAT}, if the file already exists it is
27275 an error and open() fails.
27276
27277 @item O_TRUNC
27278 If the file already exists and the open mode allows
27279 writing (@code{O_RDWR} or @code{O_WRONLY} is given) it will be
27280 truncated to zero length.
27281
27282 @item O_APPEND
27283 The file is opened in append mode.
27284
27285 @item O_RDONLY
27286 The file is opened for reading only.
27287
27288 @item O_WRONLY
27289 The file is opened for writing only.
27290
27291 @item O_RDWR
27292 The file is opened for reading and writing.
27293 @end table
27294
27295 @noindent
27296 Other bits are silently ignored.
27297
27298
27299 @noindent
27300 @var{mode} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
27301
27302 @table @code
27303 @item S_IRUSR
27304 User has read permission.
27305
27306 @item S_IWUSR
27307 User has write permission.
27308
27309 @item S_IRGRP
27310 Group has read permission.
27311
27312 @item S_IWGRP
27313 Group has write permission.
27314
27315 @item S_IROTH
27316 Others have read permission.
27317
27318 @item S_IWOTH
27319 Others have write permission.
27320 @end table
27321
27322 @noindent
27323 Other bits are silently ignored.
27324
27325
27326 @item Return value:
27327 @code{open} returns the new file descriptor or -1 if an error
27328 occurred.
27329
27330 @item Errors:
27331
27332 @table @code
27333 @item EEXIST
27334 @var{pathname} already exists and @code{O_CREAT} and @code{O_EXCL} were used.
27335
27336 @item EISDIR
27337 @var{pathname} refers to a directory.
27338
27339 @item EACCES
27340 The requested access is not allowed.
27341
27342 @item ENAMETOOLONG
27343 @var{pathname} was too long.
27344
27345 @item ENOENT
27346 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
27347
27348 @item ENODEV
27349 @var{pathname} refers to a device, pipe, named pipe or socket.
27350
27351 @item EROFS
27352 @var{pathname} refers to a file on a read-only filesystem and
27353 write access was requested.
27354
27355 @item EFAULT
27356 @var{pathname} is an invalid pointer value.
27357
27358 @item ENOSPC
27359 No space on device to create the file.
27360
27361 @item EMFILE
27362 The process already has the maximum number of files open.
27363
27364 @item ENFILE
27365 The limit on the total number of files open on the system
27366 has been reached.
27367
27368 @item EINTR
27369 The call was interrupted by the user.
27370 @end table
27371
27372 @end table
27373
27374 @node close
27375 @unnumberedsubsubsec close
27376 @cindex close, file-i/o system call
27377
27378 @table @asis
27379 @item Synopsis:
27380 @smallexample
27381 int close(int fd);
27382 @end smallexample
27383
27384 @item Request:
27385 @samp{Fclose,@var{fd}}
27386
27387 @item Return value:
27388 @code{close} returns zero on success, or -1 if an error occurred.
27389
27390 @item Errors:
27391
27392 @table @code
27393 @item EBADF
27394 @var{fd} isn't a valid open file descriptor.
27395
27396 @item EINTR
27397 The call was interrupted by the user.
27398 @end table
27399
27400 @end table
27401
27402 @node read
27403 @unnumberedsubsubsec read
27404 @cindex read, file-i/o system call
27405
27406 @table @asis
27407 @item Synopsis:
27408 @smallexample
27409 int read(int fd, void *buf, unsigned int count);
27410 @end smallexample
27411
27412 @item Request:
27413 @samp{Fread,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
27414
27415 @item Return value:
27416 On success, the number of bytes read is returned.
27417 Zero indicates end of file. If count is zero, read
27418 returns zero as well. On error, -1 is returned.
27419
27420 @item Errors:
27421
27422 @table @code
27423 @item EBADF
27424 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
27425 reading.
27426
27427 @item EFAULT
27428 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
27429
27430 @item EINTR
27431 The call was interrupted by the user.
27432 @end table
27433
27434 @end table
27435
27436 @node write
27437 @unnumberedsubsubsec write
27438 @cindex write, file-i/o system call
27439
27440 @table @asis
27441 @item Synopsis:
27442 @smallexample
27443 int write(int fd, const void *buf, unsigned int count);
27444 @end smallexample
27445
27446 @item Request:
27447 @samp{Fwrite,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
27448
27449 @item Return value:
27450 On success, the number of bytes written are returned.
27451 Zero indicates nothing was written. On error, -1
27452 is returned.
27453
27454 @item Errors:
27455
27456 @table @code
27457 @item EBADF
27458 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
27459 writing.
27460
27461 @item EFAULT
27462 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
27463
27464 @item EFBIG
27465 An attempt was made to write a file that exceeds the
27466 host-specific maximum file size allowed.
27467
27468 @item ENOSPC
27469 No space on device to write the data.
27470
27471 @item EINTR
27472 The call was interrupted by the user.
27473 @end table
27474
27475 @end table
27476
27477 @node lseek
27478 @unnumberedsubsubsec lseek
27479 @cindex lseek, file-i/o system call
27480
27481 @table @asis
27482 @item Synopsis:
27483 @smallexample
27484 long lseek (int fd, long offset, int flag);
27485 @end smallexample
27486
27487 @item Request:
27488 @samp{Flseek,@var{fd},@var{offset},@var{flag}}
27489
27490 @var{flag} is one of:
27491
27492 @table @code
27493 @item SEEK_SET
27494 The offset is set to @var{offset} bytes.
27495
27496 @item SEEK_CUR
27497 The offset is set to its current location plus @var{offset}
27498 bytes.
27499
27500 @item SEEK_END
27501 The offset is set to the size of the file plus @var{offset}
27502 bytes.
27503 @end table
27504
27505 @item Return value:
27506 On success, the resulting unsigned offset in bytes from
27507 the beginning of the file is returned. Otherwise, a
27508 value of -1 is returned.
27509
27510 @item Errors:
27511
27512 @table @code
27513 @item EBADF
27514 @var{fd} is not a valid open file descriptor.
27515
27516 @item ESPIPE
27517 @var{fd} is associated with the @value{GDBN} console.
27518
27519 @item EINVAL
27520 @var{flag} is not a proper value.
27521
27522 @item EINTR
27523 The call was interrupted by the user.
27524 @end table
27525
27526 @end table
27527
27528 @node rename
27529 @unnumberedsubsubsec rename
27530 @cindex rename, file-i/o system call
27531
27532 @table @asis
27533 @item Synopsis:
27534 @smallexample
27535 int rename(const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
27536 @end smallexample
27537
27538 @item Request:
27539 @samp{Frename,@var{oldpathptr}/@var{len},@var{newpathptr}/@var{len}}
27540
27541 @item Return value:
27542 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
27543
27544 @item Errors:
27545
27546 @table @code
27547 @item EISDIR
27548 @var{newpath} is an existing directory, but @var{oldpath} is not a
27549 directory.
27550
27551 @item EEXIST
27552 @var{newpath} is a non-empty directory.
27553
27554 @item EBUSY
27555 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} is a directory that is in use by some
27556 process.
27557
27558 @item EINVAL
27559 An attempt was made to make a directory a subdirectory
27560 of itself.
27561
27562 @item ENOTDIR
27563 A component used as a directory in @var{oldpath} or new
27564 path is not a directory. Or @var{oldpath} is a directory
27565 and @var{newpath} exists but is not a directory.
27566
27567 @item EFAULT
27568 @var{oldpathptr} or @var{newpathptr} are invalid pointer values.
27569
27570 @item EACCES
27571 No access to the file or the path of the file.
27572
27573 @item ENAMETOOLONG
27574
27575 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} was too long.
27576
27577 @item ENOENT
27578 A directory component in @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} does not exist.
27579
27580 @item EROFS
27581 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
27582
27583 @item ENOSPC
27584 The device containing the file has no room for the new
27585 directory entry.
27586
27587 @item EINTR
27588 The call was interrupted by the user.
27589 @end table
27590
27591 @end table
27592
27593 @node unlink
27594 @unnumberedsubsubsec unlink
27595 @cindex unlink, file-i/o system call
27596
27597 @table @asis
27598 @item Synopsis:
27599 @smallexample
27600 int unlink(const char *pathname);
27601 @end smallexample
27602
27603 @item Request:
27604 @samp{Funlink,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len}}
27605
27606 @item Return value:
27607 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
27608
27609 @item Errors:
27610
27611 @table @code
27612 @item EACCES
27613 No access to the file or the path of the file.
27614
27615 @item EPERM
27616 The system does not allow unlinking of directories.
27617
27618 @item EBUSY
27619 The file @var{pathname} cannot be unlinked because it's
27620 being used by another process.
27621
27622 @item EFAULT
27623 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
27624
27625 @item ENAMETOOLONG
27626 @var{pathname} was too long.
27627
27628 @item ENOENT
27629 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
27630
27631 @item ENOTDIR
27632 A component of the path is not a directory.
27633
27634 @item EROFS
27635 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
27636
27637 @item EINTR
27638 The call was interrupted by the user.
27639 @end table
27640
27641 @end table
27642
27643 @node stat/fstat
27644 @unnumberedsubsubsec stat/fstat
27645 @cindex fstat, file-i/o system call
27646 @cindex stat, file-i/o system call
27647
27648 @table @asis
27649 @item Synopsis:
27650 @smallexample
27651 int stat(const char *pathname, struct stat *buf);
27652 int fstat(int fd, struct stat *buf);
27653 @end smallexample
27654
27655 @item Request:
27656 @samp{Fstat,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len},@var{bufptr}}@*
27657 @samp{Ffstat,@var{fd},@var{bufptr}}
27658
27659 @item Return value:
27660 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
27661
27662 @item Errors:
27663
27664 @table @code
27665 @item EBADF
27666 @var{fd} is not a valid open file.
27667
27668 @item ENOENT
27669 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist or the
27670 path is an empty string.
27671
27672 @item ENOTDIR
27673 A component of the path is not a directory.
27674
27675 @item EFAULT
27676 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
27677
27678 @item EACCES
27679 No access to the file or the path of the file.
27680
27681 @item ENAMETOOLONG
27682 @var{pathname} was too long.
27683
27684 @item EINTR
27685 The call was interrupted by the user.
27686 @end table
27687
27688 @end table
27689
27690 @node gettimeofday
27691 @unnumberedsubsubsec gettimeofday
27692 @cindex gettimeofday, file-i/o system call
27693
27694 @table @asis
27695 @item Synopsis:
27696 @smallexample
27697 int gettimeofday(struct timeval *tv, void *tz);
27698 @end smallexample
27699
27700 @item Request:
27701 @samp{Fgettimeofday,@var{tvptr},@var{tzptr}}
27702
27703 @item Return value:
27704 On success, 0 is returned, -1 otherwise.
27705
27706 @item Errors:
27707
27708 @table @code
27709 @item EINVAL
27710 @var{tz} is a non-NULL pointer.
27711
27712 @item EFAULT
27713 @var{tvptr} and/or @var{tzptr} is an invalid pointer value.
27714 @end table
27715
27716 @end table
27717
27718 @node isatty
27719 @unnumberedsubsubsec isatty
27720 @cindex isatty, file-i/o system call
27721
27722 @table @asis
27723 @item Synopsis:
27724 @smallexample
27725 int isatty(int fd);
27726 @end smallexample
27727
27728 @item Request:
27729 @samp{Fisatty,@var{fd}}
27730
27731 @item Return value:
27732 Returns 1 if @var{fd} refers to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise.
27733
27734 @item Errors:
27735
27736 @table @code
27737 @item EINTR
27738 The call was interrupted by the user.
27739 @end table
27740
27741 @end table
27742
27743 Note that the @code{isatty} call is treated as a special case: it returns
27744 1 to the target if the file descriptor is attached
27745 to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise. Implementing through system calls
27746 would require implementing @code{ioctl} and would be more complex than
27747 needed.
27748
27749
27750 @node system
27751 @unnumberedsubsubsec system
27752 @cindex system, file-i/o system call
27753
27754 @table @asis
27755 @item Synopsis:
27756 @smallexample
27757 int system(const char *command);
27758 @end smallexample
27759
27760 @item Request:
27761 @samp{Fsystem,@var{commandptr}/@var{len}}
27762
27763 @item Return value:
27764 If @var{len} is zero, the return value indicates whether a shell is
27765 available. A zero return value indicates a shell is not available.
27766 For non-zero @var{len}, the value returned is -1 on error and the
27767 return status of the command otherwise. Only the exit status of the
27768 command is returned, which is extracted from the host's @code{system}
27769 return value by calling @code{WEXITSTATUS(retval)}. In case
27770 @file{/bin/sh} could not be executed, 127 is returned.
27771
27772 @item Errors:
27773
27774 @table @code
27775 @item EINTR
27776 The call was interrupted by the user.
27777 @end table
27778
27779 @end table
27780
27781 @value{GDBN} takes over the full task of calling the necessary host calls
27782 to perform the @code{system} call. The return value of @code{system} on
27783 the host is simplified before it's returned
27784 to the target. Any termination signal information from the child process
27785 is discarded, and the return value consists
27786 entirely of the exit status of the called command.
27787
27788 Due to security concerns, the @code{system} call is by default refused
27789 by @value{GDBN}. The user has to allow this call explicitly with the
27790 @code{set remote system-call-allowed 1} command.
27791
27792 @table @code
27793 @item set remote system-call-allowed
27794 @kindex set remote system-call-allowed
27795 Control whether to allow the @code{system} calls in the File I/O
27796 protocol for the remote target. The default is zero (disabled).
27797
27798 @item show remote system-call-allowed
27799 @kindex show remote system-call-allowed
27800 Show whether the @code{system} calls are allowed in the File I/O
27801 protocol.
27802 @end table
27803
27804 @node Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
27805 @subsection Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
27806 @cindex protocol-specific representation of datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
27807
27808 @menu
27809 * Integral Datatypes::
27810 * Pointer Values::
27811 * Memory Transfer::
27812 * struct stat::
27813 * struct timeval::
27814 @end menu
27815
27816 @node Integral Datatypes
27817 @unnumberedsubsubsec Integral Datatypes
27818 @cindex integral datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
27819
27820 The integral datatypes used in the system calls are @code{int},
27821 @code{unsigned int}, @code{long}, @code{unsigned long},
27822 @code{mode_t}, and @code{time_t}.
27823
27824 @code{int}, @code{unsigned int}, @code{mode_t} and @code{time_t} are
27825 implemented as 32 bit values in this protocol.
27826
27827 @code{long} and @code{unsigned long} are implemented as 64 bit types.
27828
27829 @xref{Limits}, for corresponding MIN and MAX values (similar to those
27830 in @file{limits.h}) to allow range checking on host and target.
27831
27832 @code{time_t} datatypes are defined as seconds since the Epoch.
27833
27834 All integral datatypes transferred as part of a memory read or write of a
27835 structured datatype e.g.@: a @code{struct stat} have to be given in big endian
27836 byte order.
27837
27838 @node Pointer Values
27839 @unnumberedsubsubsec Pointer Values
27840 @cindex pointer values, in file-i/o protocol
27841
27842 Pointers to target data are transmitted as they are. An exception
27843 is made for pointers to buffers for which the length isn't
27844 transmitted as part of the function call, namely strings. Strings
27845 are transmitted as a pointer/length pair, both as hex values, e.g.@:
27846
27847 @smallexample
27848 @code{1aaf/12}
27849 @end smallexample
27850
27851 @noindent
27852 which is a pointer to data of length 18 bytes at position 0x1aaf.
27853 The length is defined as the full string length in bytes, including
27854 the trailing null byte. For example, the string @code{"hello world"}
27855 at address 0x123456 is transmitted as
27856
27857 @smallexample
27858 @code{123456/d}
27859 @end smallexample
27860
27861 @node Memory Transfer
27862 @unnumberedsubsubsec Memory Transfer
27863 @cindex memory transfer, in file-i/o protocol
27864
27865 Structured data which is transferred using a memory read or write (for
27866 example, a @code{struct stat}) is expected to be in a protocol-specific format
27867 with all scalar multibyte datatypes being big endian. Translation to
27868 this representation needs to be done both by the target before the @code{F}
27869 packet is sent, and by @value{GDBN} before
27870 it transfers memory to the target. Transferred pointers to structured
27871 data should point to the already-coerced data at any time.
27872
27873
27874 @node struct stat
27875 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct stat
27876 @cindex struct stat, in file-i/o protocol
27877
27878 The buffer of type @code{struct stat} used by the target and @value{GDBN}
27879 is defined as follows:
27880
27881 @smallexample
27882 struct stat @{
27883 unsigned int st_dev; /* device */
27884 unsigned int st_ino; /* inode */
27885 mode_t st_mode; /* protection */
27886 unsigned int st_nlink; /* number of hard links */
27887 unsigned int st_uid; /* user ID of owner */
27888 unsigned int st_gid; /* group ID of owner */
27889 unsigned int st_rdev; /* device type (if inode device) */
27890 unsigned long st_size; /* total size, in bytes */
27891 unsigned long st_blksize; /* blocksize for filesystem I/O */
27892 unsigned long st_blocks; /* number of blocks allocated */
27893 time_t st_atime; /* time of last access */
27894 time_t st_mtime; /* time of last modification */
27895 time_t st_ctime; /* time of last change */
27896 @};
27897 @end smallexample
27898
27899 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
27900 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
27901 structure is of size 64 bytes.
27902
27903 The values of several fields have a restricted meaning and/or
27904 range of values.
27905
27906 @table @code
27907
27908 @item st_dev
27909 A value of 0 represents a file, 1 the console.
27910
27911 @item st_ino
27912 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
27913
27914 @item st_mode
27915 Valid mode bits are described in @ref{Constants}. Any other
27916 bits have currently no meaning for the target.
27917
27918 @item st_uid
27919 @itemx st_gid
27920 @itemx st_rdev
27921 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
27922
27923 @item st_atime
27924 @itemx st_mtime
27925 @itemx st_ctime
27926 These values have a host and file system dependent
27927 accuracy. Especially on Windows hosts, the file system may not
27928 support exact timing values.
27929 @end table
27930
27931 The target gets a @code{struct stat} of the above representation and is
27932 responsible for coercing it to the target representation before
27933 continuing.
27934
27935 Note that due to size differences between the host, target, and protocol
27936 representations of @code{struct stat} members, these members could eventually
27937 get truncated on the target.
27938
27939 @node struct timeval
27940 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct timeval
27941 @cindex struct timeval, in file-i/o protocol
27942
27943 The buffer of type @code{struct timeval} used by the File-I/O protocol
27944 is defined as follows:
27945
27946 @smallexample
27947 struct timeval @{
27948 time_t tv_sec; /* second */
27949 long tv_usec; /* microsecond */
27950 @};
27951 @end smallexample
27952
27953 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
27954 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
27955 structure is of size 8 bytes.
27956
27957 @node Constants
27958 @subsection Constants
27959 @cindex constants, in file-i/o protocol
27960
27961 The following values are used for the constants inside of the
27962 protocol. @value{GDBN} and target are responsible for translating these
27963 values before and after the call as needed.
27964
27965 @menu
27966 * Open Flags::
27967 * mode_t Values::
27968 * Errno Values::
27969 * Lseek Flags::
27970 * Limits::
27971 @end menu
27972
27973 @node Open Flags
27974 @unnumberedsubsubsec Open Flags
27975 @cindex open flags, in file-i/o protocol
27976
27977 All values are given in hexadecimal representation.
27978
27979 @smallexample
27980 O_RDONLY 0x0
27981 O_WRONLY 0x1
27982 O_RDWR 0x2
27983 O_APPEND 0x8
27984 O_CREAT 0x200
27985 O_TRUNC 0x400
27986 O_EXCL 0x800
27987 @end smallexample
27988
27989 @node mode_t Values
27990 @unnumberedsubsubsec mode_t Values
27991 @cindex mode_t values, in file-i/o protocol
27992
27993 All values are given in octal representation.
27994
27995 @smallexample
27996 S_IFREG 0100000
27997 S_IFDIR 040000
27998 S_IRUSR 0400
27999 S_IWUSR 0200
28000 S_IXUSR 0100
28001 S_IRGRP 040
28002 S_IWGRP 020
28003 S_IXGRP 010
28004 S_IROTH 04
28005 S_IWOTH 02
28006 S_IXOTH 01
28007 @end smallexample
28008
28009 @node Errno Values
28010 @unnumberedsubsubsec Errno Values
28011 @cindex errno values, in file-i/o protocol
28012
28013 All values are given in decimal representation.
28014
28015 @smallexample
28016 EPERM 1
28017 ENOENT 2
28018 EINTR 4
28019 EBADF 9
28020 EACCES 13
28021 EFAULT 14
28022 EBUSY 16
28023 EEXIST 17
28024 ENODEV 19
28025 ENOTDIR 20
28026 EISDIR 21
28027 EINVAL 22
28028 ENFILE 23
28029 EMFILE 24
28030 EFBIG 27
28031 ENOSPC 28
28032 ESPIPE 29
28033 EROFS 30
28034 ENAMETOOLONG 91
28035 EUNKNOWN 9999
28036 @end smallexample
28037
28038 @code{EUNKNOWN} is used as a fallback error value if a host system returns
28039 any error value not in the list of supported error numbers.
28040
28041 @node Lseek Flags
28042 @unnumberedsubsubsec Lseek Flags
28043 @cindex lseek flags, in file-i/o protocol
28044
28045 @smallexample
28046 SEEK_SET 0
28047 SEEK_CUR 1
28048 SEEK_END 2
28049 @end smallexample
28050
28051 @node Limits
28052 @unnumberedsubsubsec Limits
28053 @cindex limits, in file-i/o protocol
28054
28055 All values are given in decimal representation.
28056
28057 @smallexample
28058 INT_MIN -2147483648
28059 INT_MAX 2147483647
28060 UINT_MAX 4294967295
28061 LONG_MIN -9223372036854775808
28062 LONG_MAX 9223372036854775807
28063 ULONG_MAX 18446744073709551615
28064 @end smallexample
28065
28066 @node File-I/O Examples
28067 @subsection File-I/O Examples
28068 @cindex file-i/o examples
28069
28070 Example sequence of a write call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
28071 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be written:
28072
28073 @smallexample
28074 <- @code{Fwrite,3,1234,6}
28075 @emph{request memory read from target}
28076 -> @code{m1234,6}
28077 <- XXXXXX
28078 @emph{return "6 bytes written"}
28079 -> @code{F6}
28080 @end smallexample
28081
28082 Example sequence of a read call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
28083 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be read:
28084
28085 @smallexample
28086 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
28087 @emph{request memory write to target}
28088 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
28089 @emph{return "6 bytes read"}
28090 -> @code{F6}
28091 @end smallexample
28092
28093 Example sequence of a read call, call fails on the host due to invalid
28094 file descriptor (@code{EBADF}):
28095
28096 @smallexample
28097 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
28098 -> @code{F-1,9}
28099 @end smallexample
28100
28101 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} before syscall on
28102 host is called:
28103
28104 @smallexample
28105 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
28106 -> @code{F-1,4,C}
28107 <- @code{T02}
28108 @end smallexample
28109
28110 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} after syscall on
28111 host is called:
28112
28113 @smallexample
28114 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
28115 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
28116 <- @code{T02}
28117 @end smallexample
28118
28119 @node Library List Format
28120 @section Library List Format
28121 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
28122
28123 On some platforms, a dynamic loader (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) runs in the
28124 same process as your application to manage libraries. In this case,
28125 @value{GDBN} can use the loader's symbol table and normal memory
28126 operations to maintain a list of shared libraries. On other
28127 platforms, the operating system manages loaded libraries.
28128 @value{GDBN} can not retrieve the list of currently loaded libraries
28129 through memory operations, so it uses the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
28130 packet (@pxref{qXfer library list read}) instead. The remote stub
28131 queries the target's operating system and reports which libraries
28132 are loaded.
28133
28134 The @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet returns an XML document which
28135 lists loaded libraries and their offsets. Each library has an
28136 associated name and one or more segment or section base addresses,
28137 which report where the library was loaded in memory.
28138
28139 For the common case of libraries that are fully linked binaries, the
28140 library should have a list of segments. If the target supports
28141 dynamic linking of a relocatable object file, its library XML element
28142 should instead include a list of allocated sections. The segment or
28143 section bases are start addresses, not relocation offsets; they do not
28144 depend on the library's link-time base addresses.
28145
28146 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
28147 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
28148
28149 A simple memory map, with one loaded library relocated by a single
28150 offset, looks like this:
28151
28152 @smallexample
28153 <library-list>
28154 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6">
28155 <segment address="0x10000000"/>
28156 </library>
28157 </library-list>
28158 @end smallexample
28159
28160 Another simple memory map, with one loaded library with three
28161 allocated sections (.text, .data, .bss), looks like this:
28162
28163 @smallexample
28164 <library-list>
28165 <library name="sharedlib.o">
28166 <section address="0x10000000"/>
28167 <section address="0x20000000"/>
28168 <section address="0x30000000"/>
28169 </library>
28170 </library-list>
28171 @end smallexample
28172
28173 The format of a library list is described by this DTD:
28174
28175 @smallexample
28176 <!-- library-list: Root element with versioning -->
28177 <!ELEMENT library-list (library)*>
28178 <!ATTLIST library-list version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
28179 <!ELEMENT library (segment*, section*)>
28180 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
28181 <!ELEMENT segment EMPTY>
28182 <!ATTLIST segment address CDATA #REQUIRED>
28183 <!ELEMENT section EMPTY>
28184 <!ATTLIST section address CDATA #REQUIRED>
28185 @end smallexample
28186
28187 In addition, segments and section descriptors cannot be mixed within a
28188 single library element, and you must supply at least one segment or
28189 section for each library.
28190
28191 @node Memory Map Format
28192 @section Memory Map Format
28193 @cindex memory map format
28194
28195 To be able to write into flash memory, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain a
28196 memory map from the target. This section describes the format of the
28197 memory map.
28198
28199 The memory map is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
28200 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}) packet and is an XML document that
28201 lists memory regions.
28202
28203 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
28204 memory maps. @xref{Expat}.
28205
28206 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
28207
28208 @smallexample
28209 <?xml version="1.0"?>
28210 <!DOCTYPE memory-map
28211 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
28212 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-memory-map.dtd">
28213 <memory-map>
28214 region...
28215 </memory-map>
28216 @end smallexample
28217
28218 Each region can be either:
28219
28220 @itemize
28221
28222 @item
28223 A region of RAM starting at @var{addr} and extending for @var{length}
28224 bytes from there:
28225
28226 @smallexample
28227 <memory type="ram" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
28228 @end smallexample
28229
28230
28231 @item
28232 A region of read-only memory:
28233
28234 @smallexample
28235 <memory type="rom" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
28236 @end smallexample
28237
28238
28239 @item
28240 A region of flash memory, with erasure blocks @var{blocksize}
28241 bytes in length:
28242
28243 @smallexample
28244 <memory type="flash" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}">
28245 <property name="blocksize">@var{blocksize}</property>
28246 </memory>
28247 @end smallexample
28248
28249 @end itemize
28250
28251 Regions must not overlap. @value{GDBN} assumes that areas of memory not covered
28252 by the memory map are RAM, and uses the ordinary @samp{M} and @samp{X}
28253 packets to write to addresses in such ranges.
28254
28255 The formal DTD for memory map format is given below:
28256
28257 @smallexample
28258 <!-- ................................................... -->
28259 <!-- Memory Map XML DTD ................................ -->
28260 <!-- File: memory-map.dtd .............................. -->
28261 <!-- .................................... .............. -->
28262 <!-- memory-map.dtd -->
28263 <!-- memory-map: Root element with versioning -->
28264 <!ELEMENT memory-map (memory | property)>
28265 <!ATTLIST memory-map version CDATA #FIXED "1.0.0">
28266 <!ELEMENT memory (property)>
28267 <!-- memory: Specifies a memory region,
28268 and its type, or device. -->
28269 <!ATTLIST memory type CDATA #REQUIRED
28270 start CDATA #REQUIRED
28271 length CDATA #REQUIRED
28272 device CDATA #IMPLIED>
28273 <!-- property: Generic attribute tag -->
28274 <!ELEMENT property (#PCDATA | property)*>
28275 <!ATTLIST property name CDATA #REQUIRED>
28276 @end smallexample
28277
28278 @include agentexpr.texi
28279
28280 @node Target Descriptions
28281 @appendix Target Descriptions
28282 @cindex target descriptions
28283
28284 @strong{Warning:} target descriptions are still under active development,
28285 and the contents and format may change between @value{GDBN} releases.
28286 The format is expected to stabilize in the future.
28287
28288 One of the challenges of using @value{GDBN} to debug embedded systems
28289 is that there are so many minor variants of each processor
28290 architecture in use. It is common practice for vendors to start with
28291 a standard processor core --- ARM, PowerPC, or MIPS, for example ---
28292 and then make changes to adapt it to a particular market niche. Some
28293 architectures have hundreds of variants, available from dozens of
28294 vendors. This leads to a number of problems:
28295
28296 @itemize @bullet
28297 @item
28298 With so many different customized processors, it is difficult for
28299 the @value{GDBN} maintainers to keep up with the changes.
28300 @item
28301 Since individual variants may have short lifetimes or limited
28302 audiences, it may not be worthwhile to carry information about every
28303 variant in the @value{GDBN} source tree.
28304 @item
28305 When @value{GDBN} does support the architecture of the embedded system
28306 at hand, the task of finding the correct architecture name to give the
28307 @command{set architecture} command can be error-prone.
28308 @end itemize
28309
28310 To address these problems, the @value{GDBN} remote protocol allows a
28311 target system to not only identify itself to @value{GDBN}, but to
28312 actually describe its own features. This lets @value{GDBN} support
28313 processor variants it has never seen before --- to the extent that the
28314 descriptions are accurate, and that @value{GDBN} understands them.
28315
28316 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
28317 target descriptions. @xref{Expat}.
28318
28319 @menu
28320 * Retrieving Descriptions:: How descriptions are fetched from a target.
28321 * Target Description Format:: The contents of a target description.
28322 * Predefined Target Types:: Standard types available for target
28323 descriptions.
28324 * Standard Target Features:: Features @value{GDBN} knows about.
28325 @end menu
28326
28327 @node Retrieving Descriptions
28328 @section Retrieving Descriptions
28329
28330 Target descriptions can be read from the target automatically, or
28331 specified by the user manually. The default behavior is to read the
28332 description from the target. @value{GDBN} retrieves it via the remote
28333 protocol using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{General Query Packets,
28334 qXfer}). The @var{annex} in the @samp{qXfer} packet will be
28335 @samp{target.xml}. The contents of the @samp{target.xml} annex are an
28336 XML document, of the form described in @ref{Target Description
28337 Format}.
28338
28339 Alternatively, you can specify a file to read for the target description.
28340 If a file is set, the target will not be queried. The commands to
28341 specify a file are:
28342
28343 @table @code
28344 @cindex set tdesc filename
28345 @item set tdesc filename @var{path}
28346 Read the target description from @var{path}.
28347
28348 @cindex unset tdesc filename
28349 @item unset tdesc filename
28350 Do not read the XML target description from a file. @value{GDBN}
28351 will use the description supplied by the current target.
28352
28353 @cindex show tdesc filename
28354 @item show tdesc filename
28355 Show the filename to read for a target description, if any.
28356 @end table
28357
28358
28359 @node Target Description Format
28360 @section Target Description Format
28361 @cindex target descriptions, XML format
28362
28363 A target description annex is an @uref{http://www.w3.org/XML/, XML}
28364 document which complies with the Document Type Definition provided in
28365 the @value{GDBN} sources in @file{gdb/features/gdb-target.dtd}. This
28366 means you can use generally available tools like @command{xmllint} to
28367 check that your feature descriptions are well-formed and valid.
28368 However, to help people unfamiliar with XML write descriptions for
28369 their targets, we also describe the grammar here.
28370
28371 Target descriptions can identify the architecture of the remote target
28372 and (for some architectures) provide information about custom register
28373 sets. @value{GDBN} can use this information to autoconfigure for your
28374 target, or to warn you if you connect to an unsupported target.
28375
28376 Here is a simple target description:
28377
28378 @smallexample
28379 <target version="1.0">
28380 <architecture>i386:x86-64</architecture>
28381 </target>
28382 @end smallexample
28383
28384 @noindent
28385 This minimal description only says that the target uses
28386 the x86-64 architecture.
28387
28388 A target description has the following overall form, with [ ] marking
28389 optional elements and @dots{} marking repeatable elements. The elements
28390 are explained further below.
28391
28392 @smallexample
28393 <?xml version="1.0"?>
28394 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "gdb-target.dtd">
28395 <target version="1.0">
28396 @r{[}@var{architecture}@r{]}
28397 @r{[}@var{feature}@dots{}@r{]}
28398 </target>
28399 @end smallexample
28400
28401 @noindent
28402 The description is generally insensitive to whitespace and line
28403 breaks, under the usual common-sense rules. The XML version
28404 declaration and document type declaration can generally be omitted
28405 (@value{GDBN} does not require them), but specifying them may be
28406 useful for XML validation tools. The @samp{version} attribute for
28407 @samp{<target>} may also be omitted, but we recommend
28408 including it; if future versions of @value{GDBN} use an incompatible
28409 revision of @file{gdb-target.dtd}, they will detect and report
28410 the version mismatch.
28411
28412 @subsection Inclusion
28413 @cindex target descriptions, inclusion
28414 @cindex XInclude
28415 @ifnotinfo
28416 @cindex <xi:include>
28417 @end ifnotinfo
28418
28419 It can sometimes be valuable to split a target description up into
28420 several different annexes, either for organizational purposes, or to
28421 share files between different possible target descriptions. You can
28422 divide a description into multiple files by replacing any element of
28423 the target description with an inclusion directive of the form:
28424
28425 @smallexample
28426 <xi:include href="@var{document}"/>
28427 @end smallexample
28428
28429 @noindent
28430 When @value{GDBN} encounters an element of this form, it will retrieve
28431 the named XML @var{document}, and replace the inclusion directive with
28432 the contents of that document. If the current description was read
28433 using @samp{qXfer}, then so will be the included document;
28434 @var{document} will be interpreted as the name of an annex. If the
28435 current description was read from a file, @value{GDBN} will look for
28436 @var{document} as a file in the same directory where it found the
28437 original description.
28438
28439 @subsection Architecture
28440 @cindex <architecture>
28441
28442 An @samp{<architecture>} element has this form:
28443
28444 @smallexample
28445 <architecture>@var{arch}</architecture>
28446 @end smallexample
28447
28448 @var{arch} is an architecture name from the same selection
28449 accepted by @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a
28450 Debugging Target}).
28451
28452 @subsection Features
28453 @cindex <feature>
28454
28455 Each @samp{<feature>} describes some logical portion of the target
28456 system. Features are currently used to describe available CPU
28457 registers and the types of their contents. A @samp{<feature>} element
28458 has this form:
28459
28460 @smallexample
28461 <feature name="@var{name}">
28462 @r{[}@var{type}@dots{}@r{]}
28463 @var{reg}@dots{}
28464 </feature>
28465 @end smallexample
28466
28467 @noindent
28468 Each feature's name should be unique within the description. The name
28469 of a feature does not matter unless @value{GDBN} has some special
28470 knowledge of the contents of that feature; if it does, the feature
28471 should have its standard name. @xref{Standard Target Features}.
28472
28473 @subsection Types
28474
28475 Any register's value is a collection of bits which @value{GDBN} must
28476 interpret. The default interpretation is a two's complement integer,
28477 but other types can be requested by name in the register description.
28478 Some predefined types are provided by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Predefined
28479 Target Types}), and the description can define additional composite types.
28480
28481 Each type element must have an @samp{id} attribute, which gives
28482 a unique (within the containing @samp{<feature>}) name to the type.
28483 Types must be defined before they are used.
28484
28485 @cindex <vector>
28486 Some targets offer vector registers, which can be treated as arrays
28487 of scalar elements. These types are written as @samp{<vector>} elements,
28488 specifying the array element type, @var{type}, and the number of elements,
28489 @var{count}:
28490
28491 @smallexample
28492 <vector id="@var{id}" type="@var{type}" count="@var{count}"/>
28493 @end smallexample
28494
28495 @cindex <union>
28496 If a register's value is usefully viewed in multiple ways, define it
28497 with a union type containing the useful representations. The
28498 @samp{<union>} element contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements,
28499 each of which has a @var{name} and a @var{type}:
28500
28501 @smallexample
28502 <union id="@var{id}">
28503 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
28504 @dots{}
28505 </union>
28506 @end smallexample
28507
28508 @subsection Registers
28509 @cindex <reg>
28510
28511 Each register is represented as an element with this form:
28512
28513 @smallexample
28514 <reg name="@var{name}"
28515 bitsize="@var{size}"
28516 @r{[}regnum="@var{num}"@r{]}
28517 @r{[}save-restore="@var{save-restore}"@r{]}
28518 @r{[}type="@var{type}"@r{]}
28519 @r{[}group="@var{group}"@r{]}/>
28520 @end smallexample
28521
28522 @noindent
28523 The components are as follows:
28524
28525 @table @var
28526
28527 @item name
28528 The register's name; it must be unique within the target description.
28529
28530 @item bitsize
28531 The register's size, in bits.
28532
28533 @item regnum
28534 The register's number. If omitted, a register's number is one greater
28535 than that of the previous register (either in the current feature or in
28536 a preceeding feature); the first register in the target description
28537 defaults to zero. This register number is used to read or write
28538 the register; e.g.@: it is used in the remote @code{p} and @code{P}
28539 packets, and registers appear in the @code{g} and @code{G} packets
28540 in order of increasing register number.
28541
28542 @item save-restore
28543 Whether the register should be preserved across inferior function
28544 calls; this must be either @code{yes} or @code{no}. The default is
28545 @code{yes}, which is appropriate for most registers except for
28546 some system control registers; this is not related to the target's
28547 ABI.
28548
28549 @item type
28550 The type of the register. @var{type} may be a predefined type, a type
28551 defined in the current feature, or one of the special types @code{int}
28552 and @code{float}. @code{int} is an integer type of the correct size
28553 for @var{bitsize}, and @code{float} is a floating point type (in the
28554 architecture's normal floating point format) of the correct size for
28555 @var{bitsize}. The default is @code{int}.
28556
28557 @item group
28558 The register group to which this register belongs. @var{group} must
28559 be either @code{general}, @code{float}, or @code{vector}. If no
28560 @var{group} is specified, @value{GDBN} will not display the register
28561 in @code{info registers}.
28562
28563 @end table
28564
28565 @node Predefined Target Types
28566 @section Predefined Target Types
28567 @cindex target descriptions, predefined types
28568
28569 Type definitions in the self-description can build up composite types
28570 from basic building blocks, but can not define fundamental types. Instead,
28571 standard identifiers are provided by @value{GDBN} for the fundamental
28572 types. The currently supported types are:
28573
28574 @table @code
28575
28576 @item int8
28577 @itemx int16
28578 @itemx int32
28579 @itemx int64
28580 @itemx int128
28581 Signed integer types holding the specified number of bits.
28582
28583 @item uint8
28584 @itemx uint16
28585 @itemx uint32
28586 @itemx uint64
28587 @itemx uint128
28588 Unsigned integer types holding the specified number of bits.
28589
28590 @item code_ptr
28591 @itemx data_ptr
28592 Pointers to unspecified code and data. The program counter and
28593 any dedicated return address register may be marked as code
28594 pointers; printing a code pointer converts it into a symbolic
28595 address. The stack pointer and any dedicated address registers
28596 may be marked as data pointers.
28597
28598 @item ieee_single
28599 Single precision IEEE floating point.
28600
28601 @item ieee_double
28602 Double precision IEEE floating point.
28603
28604 @item arm_fpa_ext
28605 The 12-byte extended precision format used by ARM FPA registers.
28606
28607 @end table
28608
28609 @node Standard Target Features
28610 @section Standard Target Features
28611 @cindex target descriptions, standard features
28612
28613 A target description must contain either no registers or all the
28614 target's registers. If the description contains no registers, then
28615 @value{GDBN} will assume a default register layout, selected based on
28616 the architecture. If the description contains any registers, the
28617 default layout will not be used; the standard registers must be
28618 described in the target description, in such a way that @value{GDBN}
28619 can recognize them.
28620
28621 This is accomplished by giving specific names to feature elements
28622 which contain standard registers. @value{GDBN} will look for features
28623 with those names and verify that they contain the expected registers;
28624 if any known feature is missing required registers, or if any required
28625 feature is missing, @value{GDBN} will reject the target
28626 description. You can add additional registers to any of the
28627 standard features --- @value{GDBN} will display them just as if
28628 they were added to an unrecognized feature.
28629
28630 This section lists the known features and their expected contents.
28631 Sample XML documents for these features are included in the
28632 @value{GDBN} source tree, in the directory @file{gdb/features}.
28633
28634 Names recognized by @value{GDBN} should include the name of the
28635 company or organization which selected the name, and the overall
28636 architecture to which the feature applies; so e.g.@: the feature
28637 containing ARM core registers is named @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}.
28638
28639 The names of registers are not case sensitive for the purpose
28640 of recognizing standard features, but @value{GDBN} will only display
28641 registers using the capitalization used in the description.
28642
28643 @menu
28644 * ARM Features::
28645 * MIPS Features::
28646 * M68K Features::
28647 * PowerPC Features::
28648 @end menu
28649
28650
28651 @node ARM Features
28652 @subsection ARM Features
28653 @cindex target descriptions, ARM features
28654
28655 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core} feature is required for ARM targets.
28656 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp},
28657 @samp{lr}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
28658
28659 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.fpa} feature is optional. If present, it
28660 should contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f7} and @samp{fps}.
28661
28662 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.xscale.iwmmxt} feature is optional. If present,
28663 it should contain at least registers @samp{wR0} through @samp{wR15} and
28664 @samp{wCGR0} through @samp{wCGR3}. The @samp{wCID}, @samp{wCon},
28665 @samp{wCSSF}, and @samp{wCASF} registers are optional.
28666
28667 @node MIPS Features
28668 @subsection MIPS Features
28669 @cindex target descriptions, MIPS features
28670
28671 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cpu} feature is required for MIPS targets.
28672 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31}, @samp{lo},
28673 @samp{hi}, and @samp{pc}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending
28674 on the target.
28675
28676 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cp0} feature is also required. It should
28677 contain at least the @samp{status}, @samp{badvaddr}, and @samp{cause}
28678 registers. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
28679
28680 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.fpu} feature is currently required, though
28681 it may be optional in a future version of @value{GDBN}. It should
28682 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31}, @samp{fcsr}, and
28683 @samp{fir}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
28684
28685 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.linux} feature is optional. It should
28686 contain a single register, @samp{restart}, which is used by the
28687 Linux kernel to control restartable syscalls.
28688
28689 @node M68K Features
28690 @subsection M68K Features
28691 @cindex target descriptions, M68K features
28692
28693 @table @code
28694 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.m68k.core}
28695 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.core}
28696 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.fido.core}
28697 One of those features must be always present.
28698 The feature that is present determines which flavor of m86k is
28699 used. The feature that is present should contain registers
28700 @samp{d0} through @samp{d7}, @samp{a0} through @samp{a5}, @samp{fp},
28701 @samp{sp}, @samp{ps} and @samp{pc}.
28702
28703 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.fp}
28704 This feature is optional. If present, it should contain registers
28705 @samp{fp0} through @samp{fp7}, @samp{fpcontrol}, @samp{fpstatus} and
28706 @samp{fpiaddr}.
28707 @end table
28708
28709 @node PowerPC Features
28710 @subsection PowerPC Features
28711 @cindex target descriptions, PowerPC features
28712
28713 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} feature is required for PowerPC
28714 targets. It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31},
28715 @samp{pc}, @samp{msr}, @samp{cr}, @samp{lr}, @samp{ctr}, and
28716 @samp{xer}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
28717
28718 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.fpu} feature is optional. It should
28719 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31} and @samp{fpscr}.
28720
28721 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.altivec} feature is optional. It should
28722 contain registers @samp{vr0} through @samp{vr31}, @samp{vscr},
28723 and @samp{vrsave}.
28724
28725 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.vsx} feature is optional. It should
28726 contain registers @samp{vs0h} through @samp{vs31h}. @value{GDBN}
28727 will combine these registers with the floating point registers
28728 (@samp{f0} through @samp{f31}) and the altivec registers (@samp{vr0}
28729 through @samp{vr31}) to present the 128-bit wide registers @samp{vs0}
28730 through @samp{vs63}, the set of vector registers for POWER7.
28731
28732 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.spe} feature is optional. It should
28733 contain registers @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}, @samp{acc}, and
28734 @samp{spefscr}. SPE targets should provide 32-bit registers in
28735 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} and provide the upper halves in
28736 @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}. @value{GDBN} will combine
28737 these to present registers @samp{ev0} through @samp{ev31} to the
28738 user.
28739
28740 @include gpl.texi
28741
28742 @raisesections
28743 @include fdl.texi
28744 @lowersections
28745
28746 @node Index
28747 @unnumbered Index
28748
28749 @printindex cp
28750
28751 @tex
28752 % I think something like @colophon should be in texinfo. In the
28753 % meantime:
28754 \long\def\colophon{\hbox to0pt{}\vfill
28755 \centerline{The body of this manual is set in}
28756 \centerline{\fontname\tenrm,}
28757 \centerline{with headings in {\bf\fontname\tenbf}}
28758 \centerline{and examples in {\tt\fontname\tentt}.}
28759 \centerline{{\it\fontname\tenit\/},}
28760 \centerline{{\bf\fontname\tenbf}, and}
28761 \centerline{{\sl\fontname\tensl\/}}
28762 \centerline{are used for emphasis.}\vfill}
28763 \page\colophon
28764 % Blame: doc@cygnus.com, 1991.
28765 @end tex
28766
28767 @bye
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