2010-06-21 Stan Shebs <stan@codesourcery.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, 2009, 2010
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 @syncodeindex tp cp
25
26 @c readline appendices use @vindex, @findex and @ftable,
27 @c annotate.texi and gdbmi use @findex.
28 @syncodeindex vr cp
29 @syncodeindex fn cp
30
31 @c !!set GDB manual's edition---not the same as GDB version!
32 @c This is updated by GNU Press.
33 @set EDITION Ninth
34
35 @c !!set GDB edit command default editor
36 @set EDITOR /bin/ex
37
38 @c THIS MANUAL REQUIRES TEXINFO 4.0 OR LATER.
39
40 @c This is a dir.info fragment to support semi-automated addition of
41 @c manuals to an info tree.
42 @dircategory Software development
43 @direntry
44 * Gdb: (gdb). The GNU debugger.
45 @end direntry
46
47 @copying
48 Copyright @copyright{} 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996,
49 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
50 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
51
52 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
53 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or
54 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
55 Invariant Sections being ``Free Software'' and ``Free Software Needs
56 Free Documentation'', with the Front-Cover Texts being ``A GNU Manual,''
57 and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below.
58
59 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You are free to copy and modify
60 this GNU Manual. Buying copies from GNU Press supports the FSF in
61 developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
62 @end copying
63
64 @ifnottex
65 This file documents the @sc{gnu} debugger @value{GDBN}.
66
67 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, of @cite{Debugging with
68 @value{GDBN}: the @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger} for @value{GDBN}
69 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
70 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
71 @end ifset
72 Version @value{GDBVN}.
73
74 @insertcopying
75 @end ifnottex
76
77 @titlepage
78 @title Debugging with @value{GDBN}
79 @subtitle The @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger
80 @sp 1
81 @subtitle @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN}
82 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
83 @sp 1
84 @subtitle @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
85 @end ifset
86 @author Richard Stallman, Roland Pesch, Stan Shebs, et al.
87 @page
88 @tex
89 {\parskip=0pt
90 \hfill (Send bugs and comments on @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.)\par
91 \hfill {\it Debugging with @value{GDBN}}\par
92 \hfill \TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par
93 }
94 @end tex
95
96 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
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 @insertcopying
103 @page
104 This edition of the GDB manual is dedicated to the memory of Fred
105 Fish. Fred was a long-standing contributor to GDB and to Free
106 software in general. We will miss him.
107 @end titlepage
108 @page
109
110 @ifnottex
111 @node Top, Summary, (dir), (dir)
112
113 @top Debugging with @value{GDBN}
114
115 This file describes @value{GDBN}, the @sc{gnu} symbolic debugger.
116
117 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN}
118 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
119 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
120 @end ifset
121 Version @value{GDBVN}.
122
123 Copyright (C) 1988-2010 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
124
125 This edition of the GDB manual is dedicated to the memory of Fred
126 Fish. Fred was a long-standing contributor to GDB and to Free
127 software in general. We will miss him.
128
129 @menu
130 * Summary:: Summary of @value{GDBN}
131 * Sample Session:: A sample @value{GDBN} session
132
133 * Invocation:: Getting in and out of @value{GDBN}
134 * Commands:: @value{GDBN} commands
135 * Running:: Running programs under @value{GDBN}
136 * Stopping:: Stopping and continuing
137 * Reverse Execution:: Running programs backward
138 * Process Record and Replay:: Recording inferior's execution and replaying it
139 * Stack:: Examining the stack
140 * Source:: Examining source files
141 * Data:: Examining data
142 * Optimized Code:: Debugging optimized code
143 * Macros:: Preprocessor Macros
144 * Tracepoints:: Debugging remote targets non-intrusively
145 * Overlays:: Debugging programs that use overlays
146
147 * Languages:: Using @value{GDBN} with different languages
148
149 * Symbols:: Examining the symbol table
150 * Altering:: Altering execution
151 * GDB Files:: @value{GDBN} files
152 * Targets:: Specifying a debugging target
153 * Remote Debugging:: Debugging remote programs
154 * Configurations:: Configuration-specific information
155 * Controlling GDB:: Controlling @value{GDBN}
156 * Extending GDB:: Extending @value{GDBN}
157 * Interpreters:: Command Interpreters
158 * TUI:: @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
159 * Emacs:: Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
160 * GDB/MI:: @value{GDBN}'s Machine Interface.
161 * Annotations:: @value{GDBN}'s annotation interface.
162 * JIT Interface:: Using the JIT debugging interface.
163
164 * GDB Bugs:: Reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
165
166 * Command Line Editing:: Command Line Editing
167 * Using History Interactively:: Using History Interactively
168 * Formatting Documentation:: How to format and print @value{GDBN} documentation
169 * Installing GDB:: Installing GDB
170 * Maintenance Commands:: Maintenance Commands
171 * Remote Protocol:: GDB Remote Serial Protocol
172 * Agent Expressions:: The GDB Agent Expression Mechanism
173 * Target Descriptions:: How targets can describe themselves to
174 @value{GDBN}
175 * Operating System Information:: Getting additional information from
176 the operating system
177 * Trace File Format:: GDB trace file format
178 * Copying:: GNU General Public License says
179 how you can copy and share GDB
180 * GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation
181 * Index:: Index
182 @end menu
183
184 @end ifnottex
185
186 @contents
187
188 @node Summary
189 @unnumbered Summary of @value{GDBN}
190
191 The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
192 going on ``inside'' another program while it executes---or what another
193 program was doing at the moment it crashed.
194
195 @value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
196 these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
197
198 @itemize @bullet
199 @item
200 Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
201
202 @item
203 Make your program stop on specified conditions.
204
205 @item
206 Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
207
208 @item
209 Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
210 effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
211 @end itemize
212
213 You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C and C@t{++}.
214 For more information, see @ref{Supported Languages,,Supported Languages}.
215 For more information, see @ref{C,,C and C++}.
216
217 Support for D is partial. For information on D, see
218 @ref{D,,D}.
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 Michael Eager and staff of Xilinx, Inc., contributed support for the
525 Xilinx MicroBlaze architecture.
526
527 @node Sample Session
528 @chapter A Sample @value{GDBN} Session
529
530 You can use this manual at your leisure to read all about @value{GDBN}.
531 However, a handful of commands are enough to get started using the
532 debugger. This chapter illustrates those commands.
533
534 @iftex
535 In this sample session, we emphasize user input like this: @b{input},
536 to make it easier to pick out from the surrounding output.
537 @end iftex
538
539 @c FIXME: this example may not be appropriate for some configs, where
540 @c FIXME...primary interest is in remote use.
541
542 One of the preliminary versions of @sc{gnu} @code{m4} (a generic macro
543 processor) exhibits the following bug: sometimes, when we change its
544 quote strings from the default, the commands used to capture one macro
545 definition within another stop working. In the following short @code{m4}
546 session, we define a macro @code{foo} which expands to @code{0000}; we
547 then use the @code{m4} built-in @code{defn} to define @code{bar} as the
548 same thing. However, when we change the open quote string to
549 @code{<QUOTE>} and the close quote string to @code{<UNQUOTE>}, the same
550 procedure fails to define a new synonym @code{baz}:
551
552 @smallexample
553 $ @b{cd gnu/m4}
554 $ @b{./m4}
555 @b{define(foo,0000)}
556
557 @b{foo}
558 0000
559 @b{define(bar,defn(`foo'))}
560
561 @b{bar}
562 0000
563 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
564
565 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
566 @b{baz}
567 @b{Ctrl-d}
568 m4: End of input: 0: fatal error: EOF in string
569 @end smallexample
570
571 @noindent
572 Let us use @value{GDBN} to try to see what is going on.
573
574 @smallexample
575 $ @b{@value{GDBP} m4}
576 @c FIXME: this falsifies the exact text played out, to permit smallbook
577 @c FIXME... format to come out better.
578 @value{GDBN} is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies
579 of it under certain conditions; type "show copying" to see
580 the conditions.
581 There is absolutely no warranty for @value{GDBN}; type "show warranty"
582 for details.
583
584 @value{GDBN} @value{GDBVN}, Copyright 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc...
585 (@value{GDBP})
586 @end smallexample
587
588 @noindent
589 @value{GDBN} reads only enough symbol data to know where to find the
590 rest when needed; as a result, the first prompt comes up very quickly.
591 We now tell @value{GDBN} to use a narrower display width than usual, so
592 that examples fit in this manual.
593
594 @smallexample
595 (@value{GDBP}) @b{set width 70}
596 @end smallexample
597
598 @noindent
599 We need to see how the @code{m4} built-in @code{changequote} works.
600 Having looked at the source, we know the relevant subroutine is
601 @code{m4_changequote}, so we set a breakpoint there with the @value{GDBN}
602 @code{break} command.
603
604 @smallexample
605 (@value{GDBP}) @b{break m4_changequote}
606 Breakpoint 1 at 0x62f4: file builtin.c, line 879.
607 @end smallexample
608
609 @noindent
610 Using the @code{run} command, we start @code{m4} running under @value{GDBN}
611 control; as long as control does not reach the @code{m4_changequote}
612 subroutine, the program runs as usual:
613
614 @smallexample
615 (@value{GDBP}) @b{run}
616 Starting program: /work/Editorial/gdb/gnu/m4/m4
617 @b{define(foo,0000)}
618
619 @b{foo}
620 0000
621 @end smallexample
622
623 @noindent
624 To trigger the breakpoint, we call @code{changequote}. @value{GDBN}
625 suspends execution of @code{m4}, displaying information about the
626 context where it stops.
627
628 @smallexample
629 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
630
631 Breakpoint 1, m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
632 at builtin.c:879
633 879 if (bad_argc(TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[0]),argc,1,3))
634 @end smallexample
635
636 @noindent
637 Now we use the command @code{n} (@code{next}) to advance execution to
638 the next line of the current function.
639
640 @smallexample
641 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
642 882 set_quotes((argc >= 2) ? TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[1])\
643 : nil,
644 @end smallexample
645
646 @noindent
647 @code{set_quotes} looks like a promising subroutine. We can go into it
648 by using the command @code{s} (@code{step}) instead of @code{next}.
649 @code{step} goes to the next line to be executed in @emph{any}
650 subroutine, so it steps into @code{set_quotes}.
651
652 @smallexample
653 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
654 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
655 at input.c:530
656 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
657 @end smallexample
658
659 @noindent
660 The display that shows the subroutine where @code{m4} is now
661 suspended (and its arguments) is called a stack frame display. It
662 shows a summary of the stack. We can use the @code{backtrace}
663 command (which can also be spelled @code{bt}), to see where we are
664 in the stack as a whole: the @code{backtrace} command displays a
665 stack frame for each active subroutine.
666
667 @smallexample
668 (@value{GDBP}) @b{bt}
669 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
670 at input.c:530
671 #1 0x6344 in m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
672 at builtin.c:882
673 #2 0x8174 in expand_macro (sym=0x33320) at macro.c:242
674 #3 0x7a88 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=209696, td=0xf7fffa30)
675 at macro.c:71
676 #4 0x79dc in expand_input () at macro.c:40
677 #5 0x2930 in main (argc=0, argv=0xf7fffb20) at m4.c:195
678 @end smallexample
679
680 @noindent
681 We step through a few more lines to see what happens. The first two
682 times, we can use @samp{s}; the next two times we use @code{n} to avoid
683 falling into the @code{xstrdup} subroutine.
684
685 @smallexample
686 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
687 0x3b5c 532 if (rquote != def_rquote)
688 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
689 0x3b80 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? \
690 def_lquote : xstrdup(lq);
691 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
692 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
693 : xstrdup(rq);
694 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
695 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
696 @end smallexample
697
698 @noindent
699 The last line displayed looks a little odd; we can examine the variables
700 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} to see if they are in fact the new left
701 and right quotes we specified. We use the command @code{p}
702 (@code{print}) to see their values.
703
704 @smallexample
705 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p lquote}
706 $1 = 0x35d40 "<QUOTE>"
707 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p rquote}
708 $2 = 0x35d50 "<UNQUOTE>"
709 @end smallexample
710
711 @noindent
712 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} are indeed the new left and right quotes.
713 To look at some context, we can display ten lines of source
714 surrounding the current line with the @code{l} (@code{list}) command.
715
716 @smallexample
717 (@value{GDBP}) @b{l}
718 533 xfree(rquote);
719 534
720 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? def_lquote\
721 : xstrdup (lq);
722 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
723 : xstrdup (rq);
724 537
725 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
726 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
727 540 @}
728 541
729 542 void
730 @end smallexample
731
732 @noindent
733 Let us step past the two lines that set @code{len_lquote} and
734 @code{len_rquote}, and then examine the values of those variables.
735
736 @smallexample
737 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
738 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
739 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
740 540 @}
741 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote}
742 $3 = 9
743 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote}
744 $4 = 7
745 @end smallexample
746
747 @noindent
748 That certainly looks wrong, assuming @code{len_lquote} and
749 @code{len_rquote} are meant to be the lengths of @code{lquote} and
750 @code{rquote} respectively. We can set them to better values using
751 the @code{p} command, since it can print the value of
752 any expression---and that expression can include subroutine calls and
753 assignments.
754
755 @smallexample
756 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote=strlen(lquote)}
757 $5 = 7
758 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote=strlen(rquote)}
759 $6 = 9
760 @end smallexample
761
762 @noindent
763 Is that enough to fix the problem of using the new quotes with the
764 @code{m4} built-in @code{defn}? We can allow @code{m4} to continue
765 executing with the @code{c} (@code{continue}) command, and then try the
766 example that caused trouble initially:
767
768 @smallexample
769 (@value{GDBP}) @b{c}
770 Continuing.
771
772 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
773
774 baz
775 0000
776 @end smallexample
777
778 @noindent
779 Success! The new quotes now work just as well as the default ones. The
780 problem seems to have been just the two typos defining the wrong
781 lengths. We allow @code{m4} exit by giving it an EOF as input:
782
783 @smallexample
784 @b{Ctrl-d}
785 Program exited normally.
786 @end smallexample
787
788 @noindent
789 The message @samp{Program exited normally.} is from @value{GDBN}; it
790 indicates @code{m4} has finished executing. We can end our @value{GDBN}
791 session with the @value{GDBN} @code{quit} command.
792
793 @smallexample
794 (@value{GDBP}) @b{quit}
795 @end smallexample
796
797 @node Invocation
798 @chapter Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}
799
800 This chapter discusses how to start @value{GDBN}, and how to get out of it.
801 The essentials are:
802 @itemize @bullet
803 @item
804 type @samp{@value{GDBP}} to start @value{GDBN}.
805 @item
806 type @kbd{quit} or @kbd{Ctrl-d} to exit.
807 @end itemize
808
809 @menu
810 * Invoking GDB:: How to start @value{GDBN}
811 * Quitting GDB:: How to quit @value{GDBN}
812 * Shell Commands:: How to use shell commands inside @value{GDBN}
813 * Logging Output:: How to log @value{GDBN}'s output to a file
814 @end menu
815
816 @node Invoking GDB
817 @section Invoking @value{GDBN}
818
819 Invoke @value{GDBN} by running the program @code{@value{GDBP}}. Once started,
820 @value{GDBN} reads commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit.
821
822 You can also run @code{@value{GDBP}} with a variety of arguments and options,
823 to specify more of your debugging environment at the outset.
824
825 The command-line options described here are designed
826 to cover a variety of situations; in some environments, some of these
827 options may effectively be unavailable.
828
829 The most usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument,
830 specifying an executable program:
831
832 @smallexample
833 @value{GDBP} @var{program}
834 @end smallexample
835
836 @noindent
837 You can also start with both an executable program and a core file
838 specified:
839
840 @smallexample
841 @value{GDBP} @var{program} @var{core}
842 @end smallexample
843
844 You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
845 to debug a running process:
846
847 @smallexample
848 @value{GDBP} @var{program} 1234
849 @end smallexample
850
851 @noindent
852 would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
853 named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
854
855 Taking advantage of the second command-line argument requires a fairly
856 complete operating system; when you use @value{GDBN} as a remote
857 debugger attached to a bare board, there may not be any notion of
858 ``process'', and there is often no way to get a core dump. @value{GDBN}
859 will warn you if it is unable to attach or to read core dumps.
860
861 You can optionally have @code{@value{GDBP}} pass any arguments after the
862 executable file to the inferior using @code{--args}. This option stops
863 option processing.
864 @smallexample
865 @value{GDBP} --args gcc -O2 -c foo.c
866 @end smallexample
867 This will cause @code{@value{GDBP}} to debug @code{gcc}, and to set
868 @code{gcc}'s command-line arguments (@pxref{Arguments}) to @samp{-O2 -c foo.c}.
869
870 You can run @code{@value{GDBP}} without printing the front material, which describes
871 @value{GDBN}'s non-warranty, by specifying @code{-silent}:
872
873 @smallexample
874 @value{GDBP} -silent
875 @end smallexample
876
877 @noindent
878 You can further control how @value{GDBN} starts up by using command-line
879 options. @value{GDBN} itself can remind you of the options available.
880
881 @noindent
882 Type
883
884 @smallexample
885 @value{GDBP} -help
886 @end smallexample
887
888 @noindent
889 to display all available options and briefly describe their use
890 (@samp{@value{GDBP} -h} is a shorter equivalent).
891
892 All options and command line arguments you give are processed
893 in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the
894 @samp{-x} option is used.
895
896
897 @menu
898 * File Options:: Choosing files
899 * Mode Options:: Choosing modes
900 * Startup:: What @value{GDBN} does during startup
901 @end menu
902
903 @node File Options
904 @subsection Choosing Files
905
906 When @value{GDBN} starts, it reads any arguments other than options as
907 specifying an executable file and core file (or process ID). This is
908 the same as if the arguments were specified by the @samp{-se} and
909 @samp{-c} (or @samp{-p}) options respectively. (@value{GDBN} reads the
910 first argument that does not have an associated option flag as
911 equivalent to the @samp{-se} option followed by that argument; and the
912 second argument that does not have an associated option flag, if any, as
913 equivalent to the @samp{-c}/@samp{-p} option followed by that argument.)
914 If the second argument begins with a decimal digit, @value{GDBN} will
915 first attempt to attach to it as a process, and if that fails, attempt
916 to open it as a corefile. If you have a corefile whose name begins with
917 a digit, you can prevent @value{GDBN} from treating it as a pid by
918 prefixing it with @file{./}, e.g.@: @file{./12345}.
919
920 If @value{GDBN} has not been configured to included core file support,
921 such as for most embedded targets, then it will complain about a second
922 argument and ignore it.
923
924 Many options have both long and short forms; both are shown in the
925 following list. @value{GDBN} also recognizes the long forms if you truncate
926 them, so long as enough of the option is present to be unambiguous.
927 (If you prefer, you can flag option arguments with @samp{--} rather
928 than @samp{-}, though we illustrate the more usual convention.)
929
930 @c NOTE: the @cindex entries here use double dashes ON PURPOSE. This
931 @c way, both those who look for -foo and --foo in the index, will find
932 @c it.
933
934 @table @code
935 @item -symbols @var{file}
936 @itemx -s @var{file}
937 @cindex @code{--symbols}
938 @cindex @code{-s}
939 Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
940
941 @item -exec @var{file}
942 @itemx -e @var{file}
943 @cindex @code{--exec}
944 @cindex @code{-e}
945 Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when appropriate,
946 and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core dump.
947
948 @item -se @var{file}
949 @cindex @code{--se}
950 Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
951 file.
952
953 @item -core @var{file}
954 @itemx -c @var{file}
955 @cindex @code{--core}
956 @cindex @code{-c}
957 Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
958
959 @item -pid @var{number}
960 @itemx -p @var{number}
961 @cindex @code{--pid}
962 @cindex @code{-p}
963 Connect to process ID @var{number}, as with the @code{attach} command.
964
965 @item -command @var{file}
966 @itemx -x @var{file}
967 @cindex @code{--command}
968 @cindex @code{-x}
969 Execute commands from file @var{file}. The contents of this file is
970 evaluated exactly as the @code{source} command would.
971 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
972
973 @item -eval-command @var{command}
974 @itemx -ex @var{command}
975 @cindex @code{--eval-command}
976 @cindex @code{-ex}
977 Execute a single @value{GDBN} command.
978
979 This option may be used multiple times to call multiple commands. It may
980 also be interleaved with @samp{-command} as required.
981
982 @smallexample
983 @value{GDBP} -ex 'target sim' -ex 'load' \
984 -x setbreakpoints -ex 'run' a.out
985 @end smallexample
986
987 @item -directory @var{directory}
988 @itemx -d @var{directory}
989 @cindex @code{--directory}
990 @cindex @code{-d}
991 Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source and script files.
992
993 @item -r
994 @itemx -readnow
995 @cindex @code{--readnow}
996 @cindex @code{-r}
997 Read each symbol file's entire symbol table immediately, rather than
998 the default, which is to read it incrementally as it is needed.
999 This makes startup slower, but makes future operations faster.
1000
1001 @end table
1002
1003 @node Mode Options
1004 @subsection Choosing Modes
1005
1006 You can run @value{GDBN} in various alternative modes---for example, in
1007 batch mode or quiet mode.
1008
1009 @table @code
1010 @item -nx
1011 @itemx -n
1012 @cindex @code{--nx}
1013 @cindex @code{-n}
1014 Do not execute commands found in any initialization files. Normally,
1015 @value{GDBN} executes the commands in these files after all the command
1016 options and arguments have been processed. @xref{Command Files,,Command
1017 Files}.
1018
1019 @item -quiet
1020 @itemx -silent
1021 @itemx -q
1022 @cindex @code{--quiet}
1023 @cindex @code{--silent}
1024 @cindex @code{-q}
1025 ``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
1026 messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
1027
1028 @item -batch
1029 @cindex @code{--batch}
1030 Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the
1031 command files specified with @samp{-x} (and all commands from
1032 initialization files, if not inhibited with @samp{-n}). Exit with
1033 nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN} commands
1034 in the command files. Batch mode also disables pagination;
1035 @pxref{Screen Size} and acts as if @kbd{set confirm off} were in
1036 effect (@pxref{Messages/Warnings}).
1037
1038 Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for
1039 example to download and run a program on another computer; in order to
1040 make this more useful, the message
1041
1042 @smallexample
1043 Program exited normally.
1044 @end smallexample
1045
1046 @noindent
1047 (which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under
1048 @value{GDBN} control terminates) is not issued when running in batch
1049 mode.
1050
1051 @item -batch-silent
1052 @cindex @code{--batch-silent}
1053 Run in batch mode exactly like @samp{-batch}, but totally silently. All
1054 @value{GDBN} output to @code{stdout} is prevented (@code{stderr} is
1055 unaffected). This is much quieter than @samp{-silent} and would be useless
1056 for an interactive session.
1057
1058 This is particularly useful when using targets that give @samp{Loading section}
1059 messages, for example.
1060
1061 Note that targets that give their output via @value{GDBN}, as opposed to
1062 writing directly to @code{stdout}, will also be made silent.
1063
1064 @item -return-child-result
1065 @cindex @code{--return-child-result}
1066 The return code from @value{GDBN} will be the return code from the child
1067 process (the process being debugged), with the following exceptions:
1068
1069 @itemize @bullet
1070 @item
1071 @value{GDBN} exits abnormally. E.g., due to an incorrect argument or an
1072 internal error. In this case the exit code is the same as it would have been
1073 without @samp{-return-child-result}.
1074 @item
1075 The user quits with an explicit value. E.g., @samp{quit 1}.
1076 @item
1077 The child process never runs, or is not allowed to terminate, in which case
1078 the exit code will be -1.
1079 @end itemize
1080
1081 This option is useful in conjunction with @samp{-batch} or @samp{-batch-silent},
1082 when @value{GDBN} is being used as a remote program loader or simulator
1083 interface.
1084
1085 @item -nowindows
1086 @itemx -nw
1087 @cindex @code{--nowindows}
1088 @cindex @code{-nw}
1089 ``No windows''. If @value{GDBN} comes with a graphical user interface
1090 (GUI) built in, then this option tells @value{GDBN} to only use the command-line
1091 interface. If no GUI is available, this option has no effect.
1092
1093 @item -windows
1094 @itemx -w
1095 @cindex @code{--windows}
1096 @cindex @code{-w}
1097 If @value{GDBN} includes a GUI, then this option requires it to be
1098 used if possible.
1099
1100 @item -cd @var{directory}
1101 @cindex @code{--cd}
1102 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
1103 instead of the current directory.
1104
1105 @item -fullname
1106 @itemx -f
1107 @cindex @code{--fullname}
1108 @cindex @code{-f}
1109 @sc{gnu} Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a
1110 subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line
1111 number in a standard, recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is
1112 displayed (which includes each time your program stops). This
1113 recognizable format looks like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by
1114 the file name, line number and character position separated by colons,
1115 and a newline. The Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two
1116 @samp{\032} characters as a signal to display the source code for the
1117 frame.
1118
1119 @item -epoch
1120 @cindex @code{--epoch}
1121 The Epoch Emacs-@value{GDBN} interface sets this option when it runs
1122 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to modify its print
1123 routines so as to allow Epoch to display values of expressions in a
1124 separate window.
1125
1126 @item -annotate @var{level}
1127 @cindex @code{--annotate}
1128 This option sets the @dfn{annotation level} inside @value{GDBN}. Its
1129 effect is identical to using @samp{set annotate @var{level}}
1130 (@pxref{Annotations}). The annotation @var{level} controls how much
1131 information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt, values of
1132 expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0 is the
1133 normal, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a subprocess of
1134 @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable for programs
1135 that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 has been deprecated.
1136
1137 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
1138 (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
1139
1140 @item --args
1141 @cindex @code{--args}
1142 Change interpretation of command line so that arguments following the
1143 executable file are passed as command line arguments to the inferior.
1144 This option stops option processing.
1145
1146 @item -baud @var{bps}
1147 @itemx -b @var{bps}
1148 @cindex @code{--baud}
1149 @cindex @code{-b}
1150 Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
1151 interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
1152
1153 @item -l @var{timeout}
1154 @cindex @code{-l}
1155 Set the timeout (in seconds) of any communication used by @value{GDBN}
1156 for remote debugging.
1157
1158 @item -tty @var{device}
1159 @itemx -t @var{device}
1160 @cindex @code{--tty}
1161 @cindex @code{-t}
1162 Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
1163 @c FIXME: kingdon thinks there is more to -tty. Investigate.
1164
1165 @c resolve the situation of these eventually
1166 @item -tui
1167 @cindex @code{--tui}
1168 Activate the @dfn{Text User Interface} when starting. The Text User
1169 Interface manages several text windows on the terminal, showing
1170 source, assembly, registers and @value{GDBN} command outputs
1171 (@pxref{TUI, ,@value{GDBN} Text User Interface}). Alternatively, the
1172 Text User Interface can be enabled by invoking the program
1173 @samp{@value{GDBTUI}}. Do not use this option if you run @value{GDBN} from
1174 Emacs (@pxref{Emacs, ,Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}).
1175
1176 @c @item -xdb
1177 @c @cindex @code{--xdb}
1178 @c Run in XDB compatibility mode, allowing the use of certain XDB commands.
1179 @c For information, see the file @file{xdb_trans.html}, which is usually
1180 @c installed in the directory @code{/opt/langtools/wdb/doc} on HP-UX
1181 @c systems.
1182
1183 @item -interpreter @var{interp}
1184 @cindex @code{--interpreter}
1185 Use the interpreter @var{interp} for interface with the controlling
1186 program or device. This option is meant to be set by programs which
1187 communicate with @value{GDBN} using it as a back end.
1188 @xref{Interpreters, , Command Interpreters}.
1189
1190 @samp{--interpreter=mi} (or @samp{--interpreter=mi2}) causes
1191 @value{GDBN} to use the @dfn{@sc{gdb/mi} interface} (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,
1192 The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}) included since @value{GDBN} version 6.0. The
1193 previous @sc{gdb/mi} interface, included in @value{GDBN} version 5.3 and
1194 selected with @samp{--interpreter=mi1}, is deprecated. Earlier
1195 @sc{gdb/mi} interfaces are no longer supported.
1196
1197 @item -write
1198 @cindex @code{--write}
1199 Open the executable and core files for both reading and writing. This
1200 is equivalent to the @samp{set write on} command inside @value{GDBN}
1201 (@pxref{Patching}).
1202
1203 @item -statistics
1204 @cindex @code{--statistics}
1205 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print statistics about time and
1206 memory usage after it completes each command and returns to the prompt.
1207
1208 @item -version
1209 @cindex @code{--version}
1210 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print its version number and
1211 no-warranty blurb, and exit.
1212
1213 @end table
1214
1215 @node Startup
1216 @subsection What @value{GDBN} Does During Startup
1217 @cindex @value{GDBN} startup
1218
1219 Here's the description of what @value{GDBN} does during session startup:
1220
1221 @enumerate
1222 @item
1223 Sets up the command interpreter as specified by the command line
1224 (@pxref{Mode Options, interpreter}).
1225
1226 @item
1227 @cindex init file
1228 Reads the system-wide @dfn{init file} (if @option{--with-system-gdbinit} was
1229 used when building @value{GDBN}; @pxref{System-wide configuration,
1230 ,System-wide configuration and settings}) and executes all the commands in
1231 that file.
1232
1233 @item
1234 Reads the init file (if any) in your home directory@footnote{On
1235 DOS/Windows systems, the home directory is the one pointed to by the
1236 @code{HOME} environment variable.} and executes all the commands in
1237 that file.
1238
1239 @item
1240 Processes command line options and operands.
1241
1242 @item
1243 Reads and executes the commands from init file (if any) in the current
1244 working directory. This is only done if the current directory is
1245 different from your home directory. Thus, you can have more than one
1246 init file, one generic in your home directory, and another, specific
1247 to the program you are debugging, in the directory where you invoke
1248 @value{GDBN}.
1249
1250 @item
1251 Reads command files specified by the @samp{-x} option. @xref{Command
1252 Files}, for more details about @value{GDBN} command files.
1253
1254 @item
1255 Reads the command history recorded in the @dfn{history file}.
1256 @xref{Command History}, for more details about the command history and the
1257 files where @value{GDBN} records it.
1258 @end enumerate
1259
1260 Init files use the same syntax as @dfn{command files} (@pxref{Command
1261 Files}) and are processed by @value{GDBN} in the same way. The init
1262 file in your home directory can set options (such as @samp{set
1263 complaints}) that affect subsequent processing of command line options
1264 and operands. Init files are not executed if you use the @samp{-nx}
1265 option (@pxref{Mode Options, ,Choosing Modes}).
1266
1267 To display the list of init files loaded by gdb at startup, you
1268 can use @kbd{gdb --help}.
1269
1270 @cindex init file name
1271 @cindex @file{.gdbinit}
1272 @cindex @file{gdb.ini}
1273 The @value{GDBN} init files are normally called @file{.gdbinit}.
1274 The DJGPP port of @value{GDBN} uses the name @file{gdb.ini}, due to
1275 the limitations of file names imposed by DOS filesystems. The Windows
1276 ports of @value{GDBN} use the standard name, but if they find a
1277 @file{gdb.ini} file, they warn you about that and suggest to rename
1278 the file to the standard name.
1279
1280
1281 @node Quitting GDB
1282 @section Quitting @value{GDBN}
1283 @cindex exiting @value{GDBN}
1284 @cindex leaving @value{GDBN}
1285
1286 @table @code
1287 @kindex quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1288 @kindex q @r{(@code{quit})}
1289 @item quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1290 @itemx q
1291 To exit @value{GDBN}, use the @code{quit} command (abbreviated
1292 @code{q}), or type an end-of-file character (usually @kbd{Ctrl-d}). If you
1293 do not supply @var{expression}, @value{GDBN} will terminate normally;
1294 otherwise it will terminate using the result of @var{expression} as the
1295 error code.
1296 @end table
1297
1298 @cindex interrupt
1299 An interrupt (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}) does not exit from @value{GDBN}, but rather
1300 terminates the action of any @value{GDBN} command that is in progress and
1301 returns to @value{GDBN} command level. It is safe to type the interrupt
1302 character at any time because @value{GDBN} does not allow it to take effect
1303 until a time when it is safe.
1304
1305 If you have been using @value{GDBN} to control an attached process or
1306 device, you can release it with the @code{detach} command
1307 (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
1308
1309 @node Shell Commands
1310 @section Shell Commands
1311
1312 If you need to execute occasional shell commands during your
1313 debugging session, there is no need to leave or suspend @value{GDBN}; you can
1314 just use the @code{shell} command.
1315
1316 @table @code
1317 @kindex shell
1318 @cindex shell escape
1319 @item shell @var{command string}
1320 Invoke a standard shell to execute @var{command string}.
1321 If it exists, the environment variable @code{SHELL} determines which
1322 shell to run. Otherwise @value{GDBN} uses the default shell
1323 (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix systems, @file{COMMAND.COM} on MS-DOS, etc.).
1324 @end table
1325
1326 The utility @code{make} is often needed in development environments.
1327 You do not have to use the @code{shell} command for this purpose in
1328 @value{GDBN}:
1329
1330 @table @code
1331 @kindex make
1332 @cindex calling make
1333 @item make @var{make-args}
1334 Execute the @code{make} program with the specified
1335 arguments. This is equivalent to @samp{shell make @var{make-args}}.
1336 @end table
1337
1338 @node Logging Output
1339 @section Logging Output
1340 @cindex logging @value{GDBN} output
1341 @cindex save @value{GDBN} output to a file
1342
1343 You may want to save the output of @value{GDBN} commands to a file.
1344 There are several commands to control @value{GDBN}'s logging.
1345
1346 @table @code
1347 @kindex set logging
1348 @item set logging on
1349 Enable logging.
1350 @item set logging off
1351 Disable logging.
1352 @cindex logging file name
1353 @item set logging file @var{file}
1354 Change the name of the current logfile. The default logfile is @file{gdb.txt}.
1355 @item set logging overwrite [on|off]
1356 By default, @value{GDBN} will append to the logfile. Set @code{overwrite} if
1357 you want @code{set logging on} to overwrite the logfile instead.
1358 @item set logging redirect [on|off]
1359 By default, @value{GDBN} output will go to both the terminal and the logfile.
1360 Set @code{redirect} if you want output to go only to the log file.
1361 @kindex show logging
1362 @item show logging
1363 Show the current values of the logging settings.
1364 @end table
1365
1366 @node Commands
1367 @chapter @value{GDBN} Commands
1368
1369 You can abbreviate a @value{GDBN} command to the first few letters of the command
1370 name, if that abbreviation is unambiguous; and you can repeat certain
1371 @value{GDBN} commands by typing just @key{RET}. You can also use the @key{TAB}
1372 key to get @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest of a word in a command (or to
1373 show you the alternatives available, if there is more than one possibility).
1374
1375 @menu
1376 * Command Syntax:: How to give commands to @value{GDBN}
1377 * Completion:: Command completion
1378 * Help:: How to ask @value{GDBN} for help
1379 @end menu
1380
1381 @node Command Syntax
1382 @section Command Syntax
1383
1384 A @value{GDBN} command is a single line of input. There is no limit on
1385 how long it can be. It starts with a command name, which is followed by
1386 arguments whose meaning depends on the command name. For example, the
1387 command @code{step} accepts an argument which is the number of times to
1388 step, as in @samp{step 5}. You can also use the @code{step} command
1389 with no arguments. Some commands do not allow any arguments.
1390
1391 @cindex abbreviation
1392 @value{GDBN} command names may always be truncated if that abbreviation is
1393 unambiguous. Other possible command abbreviations are listed in the
1394 documentation for individual commands. In some cases, even ambiguous
1395 abbreviations are allowed; for example, @code{s} is specially defined as
1396 equivalent to @code{step} even though there are other commands whose
1397 names start with @code{s}. You can test abbreviations by using them as
1398 arguments to the @code{help} command.
1399
1400 @cindex repeating commands
1401 @kindex RET @r{(repeat last command)}
1402 A blank line as input to @value{GDBN} (typing just @key{RET}) means to
1403 repeat the previous command. Certain commands (for example, @code{run})
1404 will not repeat this way; these are commands whose unintentional
1405 repetition might cause trouble and which you are unlikely to want to
1406 repeat. User-defined commands can disable this feature; see
1407 @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
1408
1409 The @code{list} and @code{x} commands, when you repeat them with
1410 @key{RET}, construct new arguments rather than repeating
1411 exactly as typed. This permits easy scanning of source or memory.
1412
1413 @value{GDBN} can also use @key{RET} in another way: to partition lengthy
1414 output, in a way similar to the common utility @code{more}
1415 (@pxref{Screen Size,,Screen Size}). Since it is easy to press one
1416 @key{RET} too many in this situation, @value{GDBN} disables command
1417 repetition after any command that generates this sort of display.
1418
1419 @kindex # @r{(a comment)}
1420 @cindex comment
1421 Any text from a @kbd{#} to the end of the line is a comment; it does
1422 nothing. This is useful mainly in command files (@pxref{Command
1423 Files,,Command Files}).
1424
1425 @cindex repeating command sequences
1426 @kindex Ctrl-o @r{(operate-and-get-next)}
1427 The @kbd{Ctrl-o} binding is useful for repeating a complex sequence of
1428 commands. This command accepts the current line, like @key{RET}, and
1429 then fetches the next line relative to the current line from the history
1430 for editing.
1431
1432 @node Completion
1433 @section Command Completion
1434
1435 @cindex completion
1436 @cindex word completion
1437 @value{GDBN} can fill in the rest of a word in a command for you, if there is
1438 only one possibility; it can also show you what the valid possibilities
1439 are for the next word in a command, at any time. This works for @value{GDBN}
1440 commands, @value{GDBN} subcommands, and the names of symbols in your program.
1441
1442 Press the @key{TAB} key whenever you want @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest
1443 of a word. If there is only one possibility, @value{GDBN} fills in the
1444 word, and waits for you to finish the command (or press @key{RET} to
1445 enter it). For example, if you type
1446
1447 @c FIXME "@key" does not distinguish its argument sufficiently to permit
1448 @c complete accuracy in these examples; space introduced for clarity.
1449 @c If texinfo enhancements make it unnecessary, it would be nice to
1450 @c replace " @key" by "@key" in the following...
1451 @smallexample
1452 (@value{GDBP}) info bre @key{TAB}
1453 @end smallexample
1454
1455 @noindent
1456 @value{GDBN} fills in the rest of the word @samp{breakpoints}, since that is
1457 the only @code{info} subcommand beginning with @samp{bre}:
1458
1459 @smallexample
1460 (@value{GDBP}) info breakpoints
1461 @end smallexample
1462
1463 @noindent
1464 You can either press @key{RET} at this point, to run the @code{info
1465 breakpoints} command, or backspace and enter something else, if
1466 @samp{breakpoints} does not look like the command you expected. (If you
1467 were sure you wanted @code{info breakpoints} in the first place, you
1468 might as well just type @key{RET} immediately after @samp{info bre},
1469 to exploit command abbreviations rather than command completion).
1470
1471 If there is more than one possibility for the next word when you press
1472 @key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} sounds a bell. You can either supply more
1473 characters and try again, or just press @key{TAB} a second time;
1474 @value{GDBN} displays all the possible completions for that word. For
1475 example, you might want to set a breakpoint on a subroutine whose name
1476 begins with @samp{make_}, but when you type @kbd{b make_@key{TAB}} @value{GDBN}
1477 just sounds the bell. Typing @key{TAB} again displays all the
1478 function names in your program that begin with those characters, for
1479 example:
1480
1481 @smallexample
1482 (@value{GDBP}) b make_ @key{TAB}
1483 @exdent @value{GDBN} sounds bell; press @key{TAB} again, to see:
1484 make_a_section_from_file make_environ
1485 make_abs_section make_function_type
1486 make_blockvector make_pointer_type
1487 make_cleanup make_reference_type
1488 make_command make_symbol_completion_list
1489 (@value{GDBP}) b make_
1490 @end smallexample
1491
1492 @noindent
1493 After displaying the available possibilities, @value{GDBN} copies your
1494 partial input (@samp{b make_} in the example) so you can finish the
1495 command.
1496
1497 If you just want to see the list of alternatives in the first place, you
1498 can press @kbd{M-?} rather than pressing @key{TAB} twice. @kbd{M-?}
1499 means @kbd{@key{META} ?}. You can type this either by holding down a
1500 key designated as the @key{META} shift on your keyboard (if there is
1501 one) while typing @kbd{?}, or as @key{ESC} followed by @kbd{?}.
1502
1503 @cindex quotes in commands
1504 @cindex completion of quoted strings
1505 Sometimes the string you need, while logically a ``word'', may contain
1506 parentheses or other characters that @value{GDBN} normally excludes from
1507 its notion of a word. To permit word completion to work in this
1508 situation, you may enclose words in @code{'} (single quote marks) in
1509 @value{GDBN} commands.
1510
1511 The most likely situation where you might need this is in typing the
1512 name of a C@t{++} function. This is because C@t{++} allows function
1513 overloading (multiple definitions of the same function, distinguished
1514 by argument type). For example, when you want to set a breakpoint you
1515 may need to distinguish whether you mean the version of @code{name}
1516 that takes an @code{int} parameter, @code{name(int)}, or the version
1517 that takes a @code{float} parameter, @code{name(float)}. To use the
1518 word-completion facilities in this situation, type a single quote
1519 @code{'} at the beginning of the function name. This alerts
1520 @value{GDBN} that it may need to consider more information than usual
1521 when you press @key{TAB} or @kbd{M-?} to request word completion:
1522
1523 @smallexample
1524 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble( @kbd{M-?}
1525 bubble(double,double) bubble(int,int)
1526 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1527 @end smallexample
1528
1529 In some cases, @value{GDBN} can tell that completing a name requires using
1530 quotes. When this happens, @value{GDBN} inserts the quote for you (while
1531 completing as much as it can) if you do not type the quote in the first
1532 place:
1533
1534 @smallexample
1535 (@value{GDBP}) b bub @key{TAB}
1536 @exdent @value{GDBN} alters your input line to the following, and rings a bell:
1537 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1538 @end smallexample
1539
1540 @noindent
1541 In general, @value{GDBN} can tell that a quote is needed (and inserts it) if
1542 you have not yet started typing the argument list when you ask for
1543 completion on an overloaded symbol.
1544
1545 For more information about overloaded functions, see @ref{C Plus Plus
1546 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}. You can use the command @code{set
1547 overload-resolution off} to disable overload resolution;
1548 see @ref{Debugging C Plus Plus, ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
1549
1550 @cindex completion of structure field names
1551 @cindex structure field name completion
1552 @cindex completion of union field names
1553 @cindex union field name completion
1554 When completing in an expression which looks up a field in a
1555 structure, @value{GDBN} also tries@footnote{The completer can be
1556 confused by certain kinds of invalid expressions. Also, it only
1557 examines the static type of the expression, not the dynamic type.} to
1558 limit completions to the field names available in the type of the
1559 left-hand-side:
1560
1561 @smallexample
1562 (@value{GDBP}) p gdb_stdout.@kbd{M-?}
1563 magic to_delete to_fputs to_put to_rewind
1564 to_data to_flush to_isatty to_read to_write
1565 @end smallexample
1566
1567 @noindent
1568 This is because the @code{gdb_stdout} is a variable of the type
1569 @code{struct ui_file} that is defined in @value{GDBN} sources as
1570 follows:
1571
1572 @smallexample
1573 struct ui_file
1574 @{
1575 int *magic;
1576 ui_file_flush_ftype *to_flush;
1577 ui_file_write_ftype *to_write;
1578 ui_file_fputs_ftype *to_fputs;
1579 ui_file_read_ftype *to_read;
1580 ui_file_delete_ftype *to_delete;
1581 ui_file_isatty_ftype *to_isatty;
1582 ui_file_rewind_ftype *to_rewind;
1583 ui_file_put_ftype *to_put;
1584 void *to_data;
1585 @}
1586 @end smallexample
1587
1588
1589 @node Help
1590 @section Getting Help
1591 @cindex online documentation
1592 @kindex help
1593
1594 You can always ask @value{GDBN} itself for information on its commands,
1595 using the command @code{help}.
1596
1597 @table @code
1598 @kindex h @r{(@code{help})}
1599 @item help
1600 @itemx h
1601 You can use @code{help} (abbreviated @code{h}) with no arguments to
1602 display a short list of named classes of commands:
1603
1604 @smallexample
1605 (@value{GDBP}) help
1606 List of classes of commands:
1607
1608 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1609 breakpoints -- Making program stop at certain points
1610 data -- Examining data
1611 files -- Specifying and examining files
1612 internals -- Maintenance commands
1613 obscure -- Obscure features
1614 running -- Running the program
1615 stack -- Examining the stack
1616 status -- Status inquiries
1617 support -- Support facilities
1618 tracepoints -- Tracing of program execution without
1619 stopping the program
1620 user-defined -- User-defined commands
1621
1622 Type "help" followed by a class name for a list of
1623 commands in that class.
1624 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1625 documentation.
1626 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1627 (@value{GDBP})
1628 @end smallexample
1629 @c the above line break eliminates huge line overfull...
1630
1631 @item help @var{class}
1632 Using one of the general help classes as an argument, you can get a
1633 list of the individual commands in that class. For example, here is the
1634 help display for the class @code{status}:
1635
1636 @smallexample
1637 (@value{GDBP}) help status
1638 Status inquiries.
1639
1640 List of commands:
1641
1642 @c Line break in "show" line falsifies real output, but needed
1643 @c to fit in smallbook page size.
1644 info -- Generic command for showing things
1645 about the program being debugged
1646 show -- Generic command for showing things
1647 about the debugger
1648
1649 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1650 documentation.
1651 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1652 (@value{GDBP})
1653 @end smallexample
1654
1655 @item help @var{command}
1656 With a command name as @code{help} argument, @value{GDBN} displays a
1657 short paragraph on how to use that command.
1658
1659 @kindex apropos
1660 @item apropos @var{args}
1661 The @code{apropos} command searches through all of the @value{GDBN}
1662 commands, and their documentation, for the regular expression specified in
1663 @var{args}. It prints out all matches found. For example:
1664
1665 @smallexample
1666 apropos reload
1667 @end smallexample
1668
1669 @noindent
1670 results in:
1671
1672 @smallexample
1673 @c @group
1674 set symbol-reloading -- Set dynamic symbol table reloading
1675 multiple times in one run
1676 show symbol-reloading -- Show dynamic symbol table reloading
1677 multiple times in one run
1678 @c @end group
1679 @end smallexample
1680
1681 @kindex complete
1682 @item complete @var{args}
1683 The @code{complete @var{args}} command lists all the possible completions
1684 for the beginning of a command. Use @var{args} to specify the beginning of the
1685 command you want completed. For example:
1686
1687 @smallexample
1688 complete i
1689 @end smallexample
1690
1691 @noindent results in:
1692
1693 @smallexample
1694 @group
1695 if
1696 ignore
1697 info
1698 inspect
1699 @end group
1700 @end smallexample
1701
1702 @noindent This is intended for use by @sc{gnu} Emacs.
1703 @end table
1704
1705 In addition to @code{help}, you can use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{info}
1706 and @code{show} to inquire about the state of your program, or the state
1707 of @value{GDBN} itself. Each command supports many topics of inquiry; this
1708 manual introduces each of them in the appropriate context. The listings
1709 under @code{info} and under @code{show} in the Index point to
1710 all the sub-commands. @xref{Index}.
1711
1712 @c @group
1713 @table @code
1714 @kindex info
1715 @kindex i @r{(@code{info})}
1716 @item info
1717 This command (abbreviated @code{i}) is for describing the state of your
1718 program. For example, you can show the arguments passed to a function
1719 with @code{info args}, list the registers currently in use with @code{info
1720 registers}, or list the breakpoints you have set with @code{info breakpoints}.
1721 You can get a complete list of the @code{info} sub-commands with
1722 @w{@code{help info}}.
1723
1724 @kindex set
1725 @item set
1726 You can assign the result of an expression to an environment variable with
1727 @code{set}. For example, you can set the @value{GDBN} prompt to a $-sign with
1728 @code{set prompt $}.
1729
1730 @kindex show
1731 @item show
1732 In contrast to @code{info}, @code{show} is for describing the state of
1733 @value{GDBN} itself.
1734 You can change most of the things you can @code{show}, by using the
1735 related command @code{set}; for example, you can control what number
1736 system is used for displays with @code{set radix}, or simply inquire
1737 which is currently in use with @code{show radix}.
1738
1739 @kindex info set
1740 To display all the settable parameters and their current
1741 values, you can use @code{show} with no arguments; you may also use
1742 @code{info set}. Both commands produce the same display.
1743 @c FIXME: "info set" violates the rule that "info" is for state of
1744 @c FIXME...program. Ck w/ GNU: "info set" to be called something else,
1745 @c FIXME...or change desc of rule---eg "state of prog and debugging session"?
1746 @end table
1747 @c @end group
1748
1749 Here are three miscellaneous @code{show} subcommands, all of which are
1750 exceptional in lacking corresponding @code{set} commands:
1751
1752 @table @code
1753 @kindex show version
1754 @cindex @value{GDBN} version number
1755 @item show version
1756 Show what version of @value{GDBN} is running. You should include this
1757 information in @value{GDBN} bug-reports. If multiple versions of
1758 @value{GDBN} are in use at your site, you may need to determine which
1759 version of @value{GDBN} you are running; as @value{GDBN} evolves, new
1760 commands are introduced, and old ones may wither away. Also, many
1761 system vendors ship variant versions of @value{GDBN}, and there are
1762 variant versions of @value{GDBN} in @sc{gnu}/Linux distributions as well.
1763 The version number is the same as the one announced when you start
1764 @value{GDBN}.
1765
1766 @kindex show copying
1767 @kindex info copying
1768 @cindex display @value{GDBN} copyright
1769 @item show copying
1770 @itemx info copying
1771 Display information about permission for copying @value{GDBN}.
1772
1773 @kindex show warranty
1774 @kindex info warranty
1775 @item show warranty
1776 @itemx info warranty
1777 Display the @sc{gnu} ``NO WARRANTY'' statement, or a warranty,
1778 if your version of @value{GDBN} comes with one.
1779
1780 @end table
1781
1782 @node Running
1783 @chapter Running Programs Under @value{GDBN}
1784
1785 When you run a program under @value{GDBN}, you must first generate
1786 debugging information when you compile it.
1787
1788 You may start @value{GDBN} with its arguments, if any, in an environment
1789 of your choice. If you are doing native debugging, you may redirect
1790 your program's input and output, debug an already running process, or
1791 kill a child process.
1792
1793 @menu
1794 * Compilation:: Compiling for debugging
1795 * Starting:: Starting your program
1796 * Arguments:: Your program's arguments
1797 * Environment:: Your program's environment
1798
1799 * Working Directory:: Your program's working directory
1800 * Input/Output:: Your program's input and output
1801 * Attach:: Debugging an already-running process
1802 * Kill Process:: Killing the child process
1803
1804 * Inferiors and Programs:: Debugging multiple inferiors and programs
1805 * Threads:: Debugging programs with multiple threads
1806 * Forks:: Debugging forks
1807 * Checkpoint/Restart:: Setting a @emph{bookmark} to return to later
1808 @end menu
1809
1810 @node Compilation
1811 @section Compiling for Debugging
1812
1813 In order to debug a program effectively, you need to generate
1814 debugging information when you compile it. This debugging information
1815 is stored in the object file; it describes the data type of each
1816 variable or function and the correspondence between source line numbers
1817 and addresses in the executable code.
1818
1819 To request debugging information, specify the @samp{-g} option when you run
1820 the compiler.
1821
1822 Programs that are to be shipped to your customers are compiled with
1823 optimizations, using the @samp{-O} compiler option. However, some
1824 compilers are unable to handle the @samp{-g} and @samp{-O} options
1825 together. Using those compilers, you cannot generate optimized
1826 executables containing debugging information.
1827
1828 @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler, supports @samp{-g} with or
1829 without @samp{-O}, making it possible to debug optimized code. We
1830 recommend that you @emph{always} use @samp{-g} whenever you compile a
1831 program. You may think your program is correct, but there is no sense
1832 in pushing your luck. For more information, see @ref{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 and Programs
2360 @section Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs
2361
2362 @value{GDBN} lets you run and debug multiple programs in a single
2363 session. In addition, @value{GDBN} on some systems may let you run
2364 several programs simultaneously (otherwise you have to exit from one
2365 before starting another). In the most general case, you can have
2366 multiple threads of execution in each of multiple processes, launched
2367 from multiple executables.
2368
2369 @cindex inferior
2370 @value{GDBN} represents the state of each program execution with an
2371 object called an @dfn{inferior}. An inferior typically corresponds to
2372 a process, but is more general and applies also to targets that do not
2373 have processes. Inferiors may be created before a process runs, and
2374 may be retained after a process exits. Inferiors have unique
2375 identifiers that are different from process ids. Usually each
2376 inferior will also have its own distinct address space, although some
2377 embedded targets may have several inferiors running in different parts
2378 of a single address space. Each inferior may in turn have multiple
2379 threads running in it.
2380
2381 To find out what inferiors exist at any moment, use @w{@code{info
2382 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 @value{GDBN} displays for each inferior (in this order):
2390
2391 @enumerate
2392 @item
2393 the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2394
2395 @item
2396 the target system's inferior identifier
2397
2398 @item
2399 the name of the executable the inferior is running.
2400
2401 @end enumerate
2402
2403 @noindent
2404 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} inferior number
2405 indicates the current inferior.
2406
2407 For example,
2408 @end table
2409 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2410
2411 @smallexample
2412 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2413 Num Description Executable
2414 2 process 2307 hello
2415 * 1 process 3401 goodbye
2416 @end smallexample
2417
2418 To switch focus between inferiors, use the @code{inferior} command:
2419
2420 @table @code
2421 @kindex inferior @var{infno}
2422 @item inferior @var{infno}
2423 Make inferior number @var{infno} the current inferior. The argument
2424 @var{infno} is the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}, as shown
2425 in the first field of the @samp{info inferiors} display.
2426 @end table
2427
2428
2429 You can get multiple executables into a debugging session via the
2430 @code{add-inferior} and @w{@code{clone-inferior}} commands. On some
2431 systems @value{GDBN} can add inferiors to the debug session
2432 automatically by following calls to @code{fork} and @code{exec}. To
2433 remove inferiors from the debugging session use the
2434 @w{@code{remove-inferior}} command.
2435
2436 @table @code
2437 @kindex add-inferior
2438 @item add-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ -exec @var{executable} ]
2439 Adds @var{n} inferiors to be run using @var{executable} as the
2440 executable. @var{n} defaults to 1. If no executable is specified,
2441 the inferiors begins empty, with no program. You can still assign or
2442 change the program assigned to the inferior at any time by using the
2443 @code{file} command with the executable name as its argument.
2444
2445 @kindex clone-inferior
2446 @item clone-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ @var{infno} ]
2447 Adds @var{n} inferiors ready to execute the same program as inferior
2448 @var{infno}. @var{n} defaults to 1. @var{infno} defaults to the
2449 number of the current inferior. This is a convenient command when you
2450 want to run another instance of the inferior you are debugging.
2451
2452 @smallexample
2453 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2454 Num Description Executable
2455 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2456 (@value{GDBP}) clone-inferior
2457 Added inferior 2.
2458 1 inferiors added.
2459 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2460 Num Description Executable
2461 2 <null> helloworld
2462 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2463 @end smallexample
2464
2465 You can now simply switch focus to inferior 2 and run it.
2466
2467 @kindex remove-inferior
2468 @item remove-inferior @var{infno}
2469 Removes the inferior @var{infno}. It is not possible to remove an
2470 inferior that is running with this command. For those, use the
2471 @code{kill} or @code{detach} command first.
2472
2473 @end table
2474
2475 To quit debugging one of the running inferiors that is not the current
2476 inferior, you can either detach from it by using the @w{@code{detach
2477 inferior}} command (allowing it to run independently), or kill it
2478 using the @w{@code{kill inferior}} command:
2479
2480 @table @code
2481 @kindex detach inferior @var{infno}
2482 @item detach inferior @var{infno}
2483 Detach from the inferior identified by @value{GDBN} inferior number
2484 @var{infno}, and remove it from the inferior list.
2485
2486 @kindex kill inferior @var{infno}
2487 @item kill inferior @var{infno}
2488 Kill the inferior identified by @value{GDBN} inferior number
2489 @var{infno}, and remove it from the inferior list.
2490 @end table
2491
2492 After the successful completion of a command such as @code{detach},
2493 @code{detach inferior}, @code{kill} or @code{kill inferior}, or after
2494 a normal process exit, the inferior is still valid and listed with
2495 @code{info inferiors}, ready to be restarted.
2496
2497
2498 To be notified when inferiors are started or exit under @value{GDBN}'s
2499 control use @w{@code{set print inferior-events}}:
2500
2501 @table @code
2502 @kindex set print inferior-events
2503 @cindex print messages on inferior start and exit
2504 @item set print inferior-events
2505 @itemx set print inferior-events on
2506 @itemx set print inferior-events off
2507 The @code{set print inferior-events} command allows you to enable or
2508 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new
2509 inferiors have started or that inferiors have exited or have been
2510 detached. By default, these messages will not be printed.
2511
2512 @kindex show print inferior-events
2513 @item show print inferior-events
2514 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that
2515 inferiors have started, exited or have been detached.
2516 @end table
2517
2518 Many commands will work the same with multiple programs as with a
2519 single program: e.g., @code{print myglobal} will simply display the
2520 value of @code{myglobal} in the current inferior.
2521
2522
2523 Occasionaly, when debugging @value{GDBN} itself, it may be useful to
2524 get more info about the relationship of inferiors, programs, address
2525 spaces in a debug session. You can do that with the @w{@code{maint
2526 info program-spaces}} command.
2527
2528 @table @code
2529 @kindex maint info program-spaces
2530 @item maint info program-spaces
2531 Print a list of all program spaces currently being managed by
2532 @value{GDBN}.
2533
2534 @value{GDBN} displays for each program space (in this order):
2535
2536 @enumerate
2537 @item
2538 the program space number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2539
2540 @item
2541 the name of the executable loaded into the program space, with e.g.,
2542 the @code{file} command.
2543
2544 @end enumerate
2545
2546 @noindent
2547 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} program space number
2548 indicates the current program space.
2549
2550 In addition, below each program space line, @value{GDBN} prints extra
2551 information that isn't suitable to display in tabular form. For
2552 example, the list of inferiors bound to the program space.
2553
2554 @smallexample
2555 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2556 Id Executable
2557 2 goodbye
2558 Bound inferiors: ID 1 (process 21561)
2559 * 1 hello
2560 @end smallexample
2561
2562 Here we can see that no inferior is running the program @code{hello},
2563 while @code{process 21561} is running the program @code{goodbye}. On
2564 some targets, it is possible that multiple inferiors are bound to the
2565 same program space. The most common example is that of debugging both
2566 the parent and child processes of a @code{vfork} call. For example,
2567
2568 @smallexample
2569 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2570 Id Executable
2571 * 1 vfork-test
2572 Bound inferiors: ID 2 (process 18050), ID 1 (process 18045)
2573 @end smallexample
2574
2575 Here, both inferior 2 and inferior 1 are running in the same program
2576 space as a result of inferior 1 having executed a @code{vfork} call.
2577 @end table
2578
2579 @node Threads
2580 @section Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads
2581
2582 @cindex threads of execution
2583 @cindex multiple threads
2584 @cindex switching threads
2585 In some operating systems, such as HP-UX and Solaris, a single program
2586 may have more than one @dfn{thread} of execution. The precise semantics
2587 of threads differ from one operating system to another, but in general
2588 the threads of a single program are akin to multiple processes---except
2589 that they share one address space (that is, they can all examine and
2590 modify the same variables). On the other hand, each thread has its own
2591 registers and execution stack, and perhaps private memory.
2592
2593 @value{GDBN} provides these facilities for debugging multi-thread
2594 programs:
2595
2596 @itemize @bullet
2597 @item automatic notification of new threads
2598 @item @samp{thread @var{threadno}}, a command to switch among threads
2599 @item @samp{info threads}, a command to inquire about existing threads
2600 @item @samp{thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{args}},
2601 a command to apply a command to a list of threads
2602 @item thread-specific breakpoints
2603 @item @samp{set print thread-events}, which controls printing of
2604 messages on thread start and exit.
2605 @item @samp{set libthread-db-search-path @var{path}}, which lets
2606 the user specify which @code{libthread_db} to use if the default choice
2607 isn't compatible with the program.
2608 @end itemize
2609
2610 @quotation
2611 @emph{Warning:} These facilities are not yet available on every
2612 @value{GDBN} configuration where the operating system supports threads.
2613 If your @value{GDBN} does not support threads, these commands have no
2614 effect. For example, a system without thread support shows no output
2615 from @samp{info threads}, and always rejects the @code{thread} command,
2616 like this:
2617
2618 @smallexample
2619 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2620 (@value{GDBP}) thread 1
2621 Thread ID 1 not known. Use the "info threads" command to
2622 see the IDs of currently known threads.
2623 @end smallexample
2624 @c FIXME to implementors: how hard would it be to say "sorry, this GDB
2625 @c doesn't support threads"?
2626 @end quotation
2627
2628 @cindex focus of debugging
2629 @cindex current thread
2630 The @value{GDBN} thread debugging facility allows you to observe all
2631 threads while your program runs---but whenever @value{GDBN} takes
2632 control, one thread in particular is always the focus of debugging.
2633 This thread is called the @dfn{current thread}. Debugging commands show
2634 program information from the perspective of the current thread.
2635
2636 @cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message
2637 @cindex thread identifier (system)
2638 @c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2639 @c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2640 @c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2641 Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2642 the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2643 form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2644 whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2645 @sc{gnu}/Linux, you might see
2646
2647 @smallexample
2648 [New Thread 46912507313328 (LWP 25582)]
2649 @end smallexample
2650
2651 @noindent
2652 when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread. In contrast, on an SGI system,
2653 the @var{systag} is simply something like @samp{process 368}, with no
2654 further qualifier.
2655
2656 @c FIXME!! (1) Does the [New...] message appear even for the very first
2657 @c thread of a program, or does it only appear for the
2658 @c second---i.e.@: when it becomes obvious we have a multithread
2659 @c program?
2660 @c (2) *Is* there necessarily a first thread always? Or do some
2661 @c multithread systems permit starting a program with multiple
2662 @c threads ab initio?
2663
2664 @cindex thread number
2665 @cindex thread identifier (GDB)
2666 For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2667 number---always a single integer---with each thread in your program.
2668
2669 @table @code
2670 @kindex info threads
2671 @item info threads
2672 Display a summary of all threads currently in your
2673 program. @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2674
2675 @enumerate
2676 @item
2677 the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2678
2679 @item
2680 the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2681
2682 @item
2683 the current stack frame summary for that thread
2684 @end enumerate
2685
2686 @noindent
2687 An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2688 indicates the current thread.
2689
2690 For example,
2691 @end table
2692 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2693
2694 @smallexample
2695 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2696 3 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2697 2 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2698 * 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
2699 at threadtest.c:68
2700 @end smallexample
2701
2702 On HP-UX systems:
2703
2704 @cindex debugging multithreaded programs (on HP-UX)
2705 @cindex thread identifier (GDB), on HP-UX
2706 For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread
2707 number---a small integer assigned in thread-creation order---with each
2708 thread in your program.
2709
2710 @cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message, on HP-UX
2711 @cindex thread identifier (system), on HP-UX
2712 @c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2713 @c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2714 @c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2715 Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2716 both @value{GDBN}'s thread number and the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2717 form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}. @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2718 whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2719 HP-UX, you see
2720
2721 @smallexample
2722 [New thread 2 (system thread 26594)]
2723 @end smallexample
2724
2725 @noindent
2726 when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread.
2727
2728 @table @code
2729 @kindex info threads (HP-UX)
2730 @item info threads
2731 Display a summary of all threads currently in your
2732 program. @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2733
2734 @enumerate
2735 @item the thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2736
2737 @item the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
2738
2739 @item the current stack frame summary for that thread
2740 @end enumerate
2741
2742 @noindent
2743 An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
2744 indicates the current thread.
2745
2746 For example,
2747 @end table
2748 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2749
2750 @smallexample
2751 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
2752 * 3 system thread 26607 worker (wptr=0x7b09c318 "@@") \@*
2753 at quicksort.c:137
2754 2 system thread 26606 0x7b0030d8 in __ksleep () \@*
2755 from /usr/lib/libc.2
2756 1 system thread 27905 0x7b003498 in _brk () \@*
2757 from /usr/lib/libc.2
2758 @end smallexample
2759
2760 On Solaris, you can display more information about user threads with a
2761 Solaris-specific command:
2762
2763 @table @code
2764 @item maint info sol-threads
2765 @kindex maint info sol-threads
2766 @cindex thread info (Solaris)
2767 Display info on Solaris user threads.
2768 @end table
2769
2770 @table @code
2771 @kindex thread @var{threadno}
2772 @item thread @var{threadno}
2773 Make thread number @var{threadno} the current thread. The command
2774 argument @var{threadno} is the internal @value{GDBN} thread number, as
2775 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display.
2776 @value{GDBN} responds by displaying the system identifier of the thread
2777 you selected, and its current stack frame summary:
2778
2779 @smallexample
2780 @c FIXME!! This example made up; find a @value{GDBN} w/threads and get real one
2781 (@value{GDBP}) thread 2
2782 [Switching to process 35 thread 23]
2783 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
2784 @end smallexample
2785
2786 @noindent
2787 As with the @samp{[New @dots{}]} message, the form of the text after
2788 @samp{Switching to} depends on your system's conventions for identifying
2789 threads.
2790
2791 @vindex $_thread@r{, convenience variable}
2792 The debugger convenience variable @samp{$_thread} contains the number
2793 of the current thread. You may find this useful in writing breakpoint
2794 conditional expressions, command scripts, and so forth. See
2795 @xref{Convenience Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for general
2796 information on convenience variables.
2797
2798 @kindex thread apply
2799 @cindex apply command to several threads
2800 @item thread apply [@var{threadno}] [@var{all}] @var{command}
2801 The @code{thread apply} command allows you to apply the named
2802 @var{command} to one or more threads. Specify the numbers of the
2803 threads that you want affected with the command argument
2804 @var{threadno}. It can be a single thread number, one of the numbers
2805 shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads} display; or it
2806 could be a range of thread numbers, as in @code{2-4}. To apply a
2807 command to all threads, type @kbd{thread apply all @var{command}}.
2808
2809 @kindex set print thread-events
2810 @cindex print messages on thread start and exit
2811 @item set print thread-events
2812 @itemx set print thread-events on
2813 @itemx set print thread-events off
2814 The @code{set print thread-events} command allows you to enable or
2815 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new threads have
2816 started or that threads have exited. By default, these messages will
2817 be printed if detection of these events is supported by the target.
2818 Note that these messages cannot be disabled on all targets.
2819
2820 @kindex show print thread-events
2821 @item show print thread-events
2822 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that threads
2823 have started and exited.
2824 @end table
2825
2826 @xref{Thread Stops,,Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs}, for
2827 more information about how @value{GDBN} behaves when you stop and start
2828 programs with multiple threads.
2829
2830 @xref{Set Watchpoints,,Setting Watchpoints}, for information about
2831 watchpoints in programs with multiple threads.
2832
2833 @table @code
2834 @kindex set libthread-db-search-path
2835 @cindex search path for @code{libthread_db}
2836 @item set libthread-db-search-path @r{[}@var{path}@r{]}
2837 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
2838 directories @value{GDBN} will use to search for @code{libthread_db}.
2839 If you omit @var{path}, @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to
2840 an empty list.
2841
2842 On @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems, @value{GDBN} uses a ``helper''
2843 @code{libthread_db} library to obtain information about threads in the
2844 inferior process. @value{GDBN} will use @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
2845 to find @code{libthread_db}. If that fails, @value{GDBN} will continue
2846 with default system shared library directories, and finally the directory
2847 from which @code{libpthread} was loaded in the inferior process.
2848
2849 For any @code{libthread_db} library @value{GDBN} finds in above directories,
2850 @value{GDBN} attempts to initialize it with the current inferior process.
2851 If this initialization fails (which could happen because of a version
2852 mismatch between @code{libthread_db} and @code{libpthread}), @value{GDBN}
2853 will unload @code{libthread_db}, and continue with the next directory.
2854 If none of @code{libthread_db} libraries initialize successfully,
2855 @value{GDBN} will issue a warning and thread debugging will be disabled.
2856
2857 Setting @code{libthread-db-search-path} is currently implemented
2858 only on some platforms.
2859
2860 @kindex show libthread-db-search-path
2861 @item show libthread-db-search-path
2862 Display current libthread_db search path.
2863 @end table
2864
2865 @node Forks
2866 @section Debugging Forks
2867
2868 @cindex fork, debugging programs which call
2869 @cindex multiple processes
2870 @cindex processes, multiple
2871 On most systems, @value{GDBN} has no special support for debugging
2872 programs which create additional processes using the @code{fork}
2873 function. When a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug the
2874 parent process and the child process will run unimpeded. If you have
2875 set a breakpoint in any code which the child then executes, the child
2876 will get a @code{SIGTRAP} signal which (unless it catches the signal)
2877 will cause it to terminate.
2878
2879 However, if you want to debug the child process there is a workaround
2880 which isn't too painful. Put a call to @code{sleep} in the code which
2881 the child process executes after the fork. It may be useful to sleep
2882 only if a certain environment variable is set, or a certain file exists,
2883 so that the delay need not occur when you don't want to run @value{GDBN}
2884 on the child. While the child is sleeping, use the @code{ps} program to
2885 get its process ID. Then tell @value{GDBN} (a new invocation of
2886 @value{GDBN} if you are also debugging the parent process) to attach to
2887 the child process (@pxref{Attach}). From that point on you can debug
2888 the child process just like any other process which you attached to.
2889
2890 On some systems, @value{GDBN} provides support for debugging programs that
2891 create additional processes using the @code{fork} or @code{vfork} functions.
2892 Currently, the only platforms with this feature are HP-UX (11.x and later
2893 only?) and @sc{gnu}/Linux (kernel version 2.5.60 and later).
2894
2895 By default, when a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug
2896 the parent process and the child process will run unimpeded.
2897
2898 If you want to follow the child process instead of the parent process,
2899 use the command @w{@code{set follow-fork-mode}}.
2900
2901 @table @code
2902 @kindex set follow-fork-mode
2903 @item set follow-fork-mode @var{mode}
2904 Set the debugger response to a program call of @code{fork} or
2905 @code{vfork}. A call to @code{fork} or @code{vfork} creates a new
2906 process. The @var{mode} argument can be:
2907
2908 @table @code
2909 @item parent
2910 The original process is debugged after a fork. The child process runs
2911 unimpeded. This is the default.
2912
2913 @item child
2914 The new process is debugged after a fork. The parent process runs
2915 unimpeded.
2916
2917 @end table
2918
2919 @kindex show follow-fork-mode
2920 @item show follow-fork-mode
2921 Display the current debugger response to a @code{fork} or @code{vfork} call.
2922 @end table
2923
2924 @cindex debugging multiple processes
2925 On Linux, if you want to debug both the parent and child processes, use the
2926 command @w{@code{set detach-on-fork}}.
2927
2928 @table @code
2929 @kindex set detach-on-fork
2930 @item set detach-on-fork @var{mode}
2931 Tells gdb whether to detach one of the processes after a fork, or
2932 retain debugger control over them both.
2933
2934 @table @code
2935 @item on
2936 The child process (or parent process, depending on the value of
2937 @code{follow-fork-mode}) will be detached and allowed to run
2938 independently. This is the default.
2939
2940 @item off
2941 Both processes will be held under the control of @value{GDBN}.
2942 One process (child or parent, depending on the value of
2943 @code{follow-fork-mode}) is debugged as usual, while the other
2944 is held suspended.
2945
2946 @end table
2947
2948 @kindex show detach-on-fork
2949 @item show detach-on-fork
2950 Show whether detach-on-fork mode is on/off.
2951 @end table
2952
2953 If you choose to set @samp{detach-on-fork} mode off, then @value{GDBN}
2954 will retain control of all forked processes (including nested forks).
2955 You can list the forked processes under the control of @value{GDBN} by
2956 using the @w{@code{info inferiors}} command, and switch from one fork
2957 to another by using the @code{inferior} command (@pxref{Inferiors and
2958 Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs}).
2959
2960 To quit debugging one of the forked processes, you can either detach
2961 from it by using the @w{@code{detach inferior}} command (allowing it
2962 to run independently), or kill it using the @w{@code{kill inferior}}
2963 command. @xref{Inferiors and Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors
2964 and Programs}.
2965
2966 If you ask to debug a child process and a @code{vfork} is followed by an
2967 @code{exec}, @value{GDBN} executes the new target up to the first
2968 breakpoint in the new target. If you have a breakpoint set on
2969 @code{main} in your original program, the breakpoint will also be set on
2970 the child process's @code{main}.
2971
2972 On some systems, when a child process is spawned by @code{vfork}, you
2973 cannot debug the child or parent until an @code{exec} call completes.
2974
2975 If you issue a @code{run} command to @value{GDBN} after an @code{exec}
2976 call executes, the new target restarts. To restart the parent
2977 process, use the @code{file} command with the parent executable name
2978 as its argument. By default, after an @code{exec} call executes,
2979 @value{GDBN} discards the symbols of the previous executable image.
2980 You can change this behaviour with the @w{@code{set follow-exec-mode}}
2981 command.
2982
2983 @table @code
2984 @kindex set follow-exec-mode
2985 @item set follow-exec-mode @var{mode}
2986
2987 Set debugger response to a program call of @code{exec}. An
2988 @code{exec} call replaces the program image of a process.
2989
2990 @code{follow-exec-mode} can be:
2991
2992 @table @code
2993 @item new
2994 @value{GDBN} creates a new inferior and rebinds the process to this
2995 new inferior. The program the process was running before the
2996 @code{exec} call can be restarted afterwards by restarting the
2997 original inferior.
2998
2999 For example:
3000
3001 @smallexample
3002 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3003 (gdb) info inferior
3004 Id Description Executable
3005 * 1 <null> prog1
3006 (@value{GDBP}) run
3007 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3008 Program exited normally.
3009 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3010 Id Description Executable
3011 * 2 <null> prog2
3012 1 <null> prog1
3013 @end smallexample
3014
3015 @item same
3016 @value{GDBN} keeps the process bound to the same inferior. The new
3017 executable image replaces the previous executable loaded in the
3018 inferior. Restarting the inferior after the @code{exec} call, with
3019 e.g., the @code{run} command, restarts the executable the process was
3020 running after the @code{exec} call. This is the default mode.
3021
3022 For example:
3023
3024 @smallexample
3025 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3026 Id Description Executable
3027 * 1 <null> prog1
3028 (@value{GDBP}) run
3029 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3030 Program exited normally.
3031 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3032 Id Description Executable
3033 * 1 <null> prog2
3034 @end smallexample
3035
3036 @end table
3037 @end table
3038
3039 You can use the @code{catch} command to make @value{GDBN} stop whenever
3040 a @code{fork}, @code{vfork}, or @code{exec} call is made. @xref{Set
3041 Catchpoints, ,Setting Catchpoints}.
3042
3043 @node Checkpoint/Restart
3044 @section Setting a @emph{Bookmark} to Return to Later
3045
3046 @cindex checkpoint
3047 @cindex restart
3048 @cindex bookmark
3049 @cindex snapshot of a process
3050 @cindex rewind program state
3051
3052 On certain operating systems@footnote{Currently, only
3053 @sc{gnu}/Linux.}, @value{GDBN} is able to save a @dfn{snapshot} of a
3054 program's state, called a @dfn{checkpoint}, and come back to it
3055 later.
3056
3057 Returning to a checkpoint effectively undoes everything that has
3058 happened in the program since the @code{checkpoint} was saved. This
3059 includes changes in memory, registers, and even (within some limits)
3060 system state. Effectively, it is like going back in time to the
3061 moment when the checkpoint was saved.
3062
3063 Thus, if you're stepping thru a program and you think you're
3064 getting close to the point where things go wrong, you can save
3065 a checkpoint. Then, if you accidentally go too far and miss
3066 the critical statement, instead of having to restart your program
3067 from the beginning, you can just go back to the checkpoint and
3068 start again from there.
3069
3070 This can be especially useful if it takes a lot of time or
3071 steps to reach the point where you think the bug occurs.
3072
3073 To use the @code{checkpoint}/@code{restart} method of debugging:
3074
3075 @table @code
3076 @kindex checkpoint
3077 @item checkpoint
3078 Save a snapshot of the debugged program's current execution state.
3079 The @code{checkpoint} command takes no arguments, but each checkpoint
3080 is assigned a small integer id, similar to a breakpoint id.
3081
3082 @kindex info checkpoints
3083 @item info checkpoints
3084 List the checkpoints that have been saved in the current debugging
3085 session. For each checkpoint, the following information will be
3086 listed:
3087
3088 @table @code
3089 @item Checkpoint ID
3090 @item Process ID
3091 @item Code Address
3092 @item Source line, or label
3093 @end table
3094
3095 @kindex restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3096 @item restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3097 Restore the program state that was saved as checkpoint number
3098 @var{checkpoint-id}. All program variables, registers, stack frames
3099 etc.@: will be returned to the values that they had when the checkpoint
3100 was saved. In essence, gdb will ``wind back the clock'' to the point
3101 in time when the checkpoint was saved.
3102
3103 Note that breakpoints, @value{GDBN} variables, command history etc.
3104 are not affected by restoring a checkpoint. In general, a checkpoint
3105 only restores things that reside in the program being debugged, not in
3106 the debugger.
3107
3108 @kindex delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3109 @item delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3110 Delete the previously-saved checkpoint identified by @var{checkpoint-id}.
3111
3112 @end table
3113
3114 Returning to a previously saved checkpoint will restore the user state
3115 of the program being debugged, plus a significant subset of the system
3116 (OS) state, including file pointers. It won't ``un-write'' data from
3117 a file, but it will rewind the file pointer to the previous location,
3118 so that the previously written data can be overwritten. For files
3119 opened in read mode, the pointer will also be restored so that the
3120 previously read data can be read again.
3121
3122 Of course, characters that have been sent to a printer (or other
3123 external device) cannot be ``snatched back'', and characters received
3124 from eg.@: a serial device can be removed from internal program buffers,
3125 but they cannot be ``pushed back'' into the serial pipeline, ready to
3126 be received again. Similarly, the actual contents of files that have
3127 been changed cannot be restored (at this time).
3128
3129 However, within those constraints, you actually can ``rewind'' your
3130 program to a previously saved point in time, and begin debugging it
3131 again --- and you can change the course of events so as to debug a
3132 different execution path this time.
3133
3134 @cindex checkpoints and process id
3135 Finally, there is one bit of internal program state that will be
3136 different when you return to a checkpoint --- the program's process
3137 id. Each checkpoint will have a unique process id (or @var{pid}),
3138 and each will be different from the program's original @var{pid}.
3139 If your program has saved a local copy of its process id, this could
3140 potentially pose a problem.
3141
3142 @subsection A Non-obvious Benefit of Using Checkpoints
3143
3144 On some systems such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, address space randomization
3145 is performed on new processes for security reasons. This makes it
3146 difficult or impossible to set a breakpoint, or watchpoint, on an
3147 absolute address if you have to restart the program, since the
3148 absolute location of a symbol will change from one execution to the
3149 next.
3150
3151 A checkpoint, however, is an @emph{identical} copy of a process.
3152 Therefore if you create a checkpoint at (eg.@:) the start of main,
3153 and simply return to that checkpoint instead of restarting the
3154 process, you can avoid the effects of address randomization and
3155 your symbols will all stay in the same place.
3156
3157 @node Stopping
3158 @chapter Stopping and Continuing
3159
3160 The principal purposes of using a debugger are so that you can stop your
3161 program before it terminates; or so that, if your program runs into
3162 trouble, you can investigate and find out why.
3163
3164 Inside @value{GDBN}, your program may stop for any of several reasons,
3165 such as a signal, a breakpoint, or reaching a new line after a
3166 @value{GDBN} command such as @code{step}. You may then examine and
3167 change variables, set new breakpoints or remove old ones, and then
3168 continue execution. Usually, the messages shown by @value{GDBN} provide
3169 ample explanation of the status of your program---but you can also
3170 explicitly request this information at any time.
3171
3172 @table @code
3173 @kindex info program
3174 @item info program
3175 Display information about the status of your program: whether it is
3176 running or not, what process it is, and why it stopped.
3177 @end table
3178
3179 @menu
3180 * Breakpoints:: Breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints
3181 * Continuing and Stepping:: Resuming execution
3182 * Signals:: Signals
3183 * Thread Stops:: Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
3184 @end menu
3185
3186 @node Breakpoints
3187 @section Breakpoints, Watchpoints, and Catchpoints
3188
3189 @cindex breakpoints
3190 A @dfn{breakpoint} makes your program stop whenever a certain point in
3191 the program is reached. For each breakpoint, you can add conditions to
3192 control in finer detail whether your program stops. You can set
3193 breakpoints with the @code{break} command and its variants (@pxref{Set
3194 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}), to specify the place where your program
3195 should stop by line number, function name or exact address in the
3196 program.
3197
3198 On some systems, you can set breakpoints in shared libraries before
3199 the executable is run. There is a minor limitation on HP-UX systems:
3200 you must wait until the executable is run in order to set breakpoints
3201 in shared library routines that are not called directly by the program
3202 (for example, routines that are arguments in a @code{pthread_create}
3203 call).
3204
3205 @cindex watchpoints
3206 @cindex data breakpoints
3207 @cindex memory tracing
3208 @cindex breakpoint on memory address
3209 @cindex breakpoint on variable modification
3210 A @dfn{watchpoint} is a special breakpoint that stops your program
3211 when the value of an expression changes. The expression may be a value
3212 of a variable, or it could involve values of one or more variables
3213 combined by operators, such as @samp{a + b}. This is sometimes called
3214 @dfn{data breakpoints}. You must use a different command to set
3215 watchpoints (@pxref{Set Watchpoints, ,Setting Watchpoints}), but aside
3216 from that, you can manage a watchpoint like any other breakpoint: you
3217 enable, disable, and delete both breakpoints and watchpoints using the
3218 same commands.
3219
3220 You can arrange to have values from your program displayed automatically
3221 whenever @value{GDBN} stops at a breakpoint. @xref{Auto Display,,
3222 Automatic Display}.
3223
3224 @cindex catchpoints
3225 @cindex breakpoint on events
3226 A @dfn{catchpoint} is another special breakpoint that stops your program
3227 when a certain kind of event occurs, such as the throwing of a C@t{++}
3228 exception or the loading of a library. As with watchpoints, you use a
3229 different command to set a catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints, ,Setting
3230 Catchpoints}), but aside from that, you can manage a catchpoint like any
3231 other breakpoint. (To stop when your program receives a signal, use the
3232 @code{handle} command; see @ref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
3233
3234 @cindex breakpoint numbers
3235 @cindex numbers for breakpoints
3236 @value{GDBN} assigns a number to each breakpoint, watchpoint, or
3237 catchpoint when you create it; these numbers are successive integers
3238 starting with one. In many of the commands for controlling various
3239 features of breakpoints you use the breakpoint number to say which
3240 breakpoint you want to change. Each breakpoint may be @dfn{enabled} or
3241 @dfn{disabled}; if disabled, it has no effect on your program until you
3242 enable it again.
3243
3244 @cindex breakpoint ranges
3245 @cindex ranges of breakpoints
3246 Some @value{GDBN} commands accept a range of breakpoints on which to
3247 operate. A breakpoint range is either a single breakpoint number, like
3248 @samp{5}, or two such numbers, in increasing order, separated by a
3249 hyphen, like @samp{5-7}. When a breakpoint range is given to a command,
3250 all breakpoints in that range are operated on.
3251
3252 @menu
3253 * Set Breaks:: Setting breakpoints
3254 * Set Watchpoints:: Setting watchpoints
3255 * Set Catchpoints:: Setting catchpoints
3256 * Delete Breaks:: Deleting breakpoints
3257 * Disabling:: Disabling breakpoints
3258 * Conditions:: Break conditions
3259 * Break Commands:: Breakpoint command lists
3260 * Save Breakpoints:: How to save breakpoints in a file
3261 * Error in Breakpoints:: ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
3262 * Breakpoint-related Warnings:: ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
3263 @end menu
3264
3265 @node Set Breaks
3266 @subsection Setting Breakpoints
3267
3268 @c FIXME LMB what does GDB do if no code on line of breakpt?
3269 @c consider in particular declaration with/without initialization.
3270 @c
3271 @c FIXME 2 is there stuff on this already? break at fun start, already init?
3272
3273 @kindex break
3274 @kindex b @r{(@code{break})}
3275 @vindex $bpnum@r{, convenience variable}
3276 @cindex latest breakpoint
3277 Breakpoints are set with the @code{break} command (abbreviated
3278 @code{b}). The debugger convenience variable @samp{$bpnum} records the
3279 number of the breakpoint you've set most recently; see @ref{Convenience
3280 Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for a discussion of what you can do with
3281 convenience variables.
3282
3283 @table @code
3284 @item break @var{location}
3285 Set a breakpoint at the given @var{location}, which can specify a
3286 function name, a line number, or an address of an instruction.
3287 (@xref{Specify Location}, for a list of all the possible ways to
3288 specify a @var{location}.) The breakpoint will stop your program just
3289 before it executes any of the code in the specified @var{location}.
3290
3291 When using source languages that permit overloading of symbols, such as
3292 C@t{++}, a function name may refer to more than one possible place to break.
3293 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}, for a discussion of
3294 that situation.
3295
3296 It is also possible to insert a breakpoint that will stop the program
3297 only if a specific thread (@pxref{Thread-Specific Breakpoints})
3298 or a specific task (@pxref{Ada Tasks}) hits that breakpoint.
3299
3300 @item break
3301 When called without any arguments, @code{break} sets a breakpoint at
3302 the next instruction to be executed in the selected stack frame
3303 (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}). In any selected frame but the
3304 innermost, this makes your program stop as soon as control
3305 returns to that frame. This is similar to the effect of a
3306 @code{finish} command in the frame inside the selected frame---except
3307 that @code{finish} does not leave an active breakpoint. If you use
3308 @code{break} without an argument in the innermost frame, @value{GDBN} stops
3309 the next time it reaches the current location; this may be useful
3310 inside loops.
3311
3312 @value{GDBN} normally ignores breakpoints when it resumes execution, until at
3313 least one instruction has been executed. If it did not do this, you
3314 would be unable to proceed past a breakpoint without first disabling the
3315 breakpoint. This rule applies whether or not the breakpoint already
3316 existed when your program stopped.
3317
3318 @item break @dots{} if @var{cond}
3319 Set a breakpoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
3320 @var{cond} each time the breakpoint is reached, and stop only if the
3321 value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
3322 @samp{@dots{}} stands for one of the possible arguments described
3323 above (or no argument) specifying where to break. @xref{Conditions,
3324 ,Break Conditions}, for more information on breakpoint conditions.
3325
3326 @kindex tbreak
3327 @item tbreak @var{args}
3328 Set a breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args} are the
3329 same as for the @code{break} command, and the breakpoint is set in the same
3330 way, but the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the first time your
3331 program stops there. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3332
3333 @kindex hbreak
3334 @cindex hardware breakpoints
3335 @item hbreak @var{args}
3336 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint. @var{args} are the same as for the
3337 @code{break} command and the breakpoint is set in the same way, but the
3338 breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware may not
3339 have this support. The main purpose of this is EPROM/ROM code
3340 debugging, so you can set a breakpoint at an instruction without
3341 changing the instruction. This can be used with the new trap-generation
3342 provided by SPARClite DSU and most x86-based targets. These targets
3343 will generate traps when a program accesses some data or instruction
3344 address that is assigned to the debug registers. However the hardware
3345 breakpoint registers can take a limited number of breakpoints. For
3346 example, on the DSU, only two data breakpoints can be set at a time, and
3347 @value{GDBN} will reject this command if more than two are used. Delete
3348 or disable unused hardware breakpoints before setting new ones
3349 (@pxref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}).
3350 @xref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3351 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3352 breakpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3353 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3354
3355 @kindex thbreak
3356 @item thbreak @var{args}
3357 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint enabled only for one stop. @var{args}
3358 are the same as for the @code{hbreak} command and the breakpoint is set in
3359 the same way. However, like the @code{tbreak} command,
3360 the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the
3361 first time your program stops there. Also, like the @code{hbreak}
3362 command, the breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware
3363 may not have this support. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3364 See also @ref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3365
3366 @kindex rbreak
3367 @cindex regular expression
3368 @cindex breakpoints at functions matching a regexp
3369 @cindex set breakpoints in many functions
3370 @item rbreak @var{regex}
3371 Set breakpoints on all functions matching the regular expression
3372 @var{regex}. This command sets an unconditional breakpoint on all
3373 matches, printing a list of all breakpoints it set. Once these
3374 breakpoints are set, they are treated just like the breakpoints set with
3375 the @code{break} command. You can delete them, disable them, or make
3376 them conditional the same way as any other breakpoint.
3377
3378 The syntax of the regular expression is the standard one used with tools
3379 like @file{grep}. Note that this is different from the syntax used by
3380 shells, so for instance @code{foo*} matches all functions that include
3381 an @code{fo} followed by zero or more @code{o}s. There is an implicit
3382 @code{.*} leading and trailing the regular expression you supply, so to
3383 match only functions that begin with @code{foo}, use @code{^foo}.
3384
3385 @cindex non-member C@t{++} functions, set breakpoint in
3386 When debugging C@t{++} programs, @code{rbreak} is useful for setting
3387 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
3388 classes.
3389
3390 @cindex set breakpoints on all functions
3391 The @code{rbreak} command can be used to set breakpoints in
3392 @strong{all} the functions in a program, like this:
3393
3394 @smallexample
3395 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak .
3396 @end smallexample
3397
3398 @item rbreak @var{file}:@var{regex}
3399 If @code{rbreak} is called with a filename qualification, it limits
3400 the search for functions matching the given regular expression to the
3401 specified @var{file}. This can be used, for example, to set breakpoints on
3402 every function in a given file:
3403
3404 @smallexample
3405 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak file.c:.
3406 @end smallexample
3407
3408 The colon separating the filename qualifier from the regex may
3409 optionally be surrounded by spaces.
3410
3411 @kindex info breakpoints
3412 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info breakpoints}
3413 @item info breakpoints @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3414 @itemx info break @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3415 Print a table of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints set and
3416 not deleted. Optional argument @var{n} means print information only
3417 about the specified breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint). For
3418 each breakpoint, following columns are printed:
3419
3420 @table @emph
3421 @item Breakpoint Numbers
3422 @item Type
3423 Breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint.
3424 @item Disposition
3425 Whether the breakpoint is marked to be disabled or deleted when hit.
3426 @item Enabled or Disabled
3427 Enabled breakpoints are marked with @samp{y}. @samp{n} marks breakpoints
3428 that are not enabled.
3429 @item Address
3430 Where the breakpoint is in your program, as a memory address. For a
3431 pending breakpoint whose address is not yet known, this field will
3432 contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Such breakpoint won't fire until a shared
3433 library that has the symbol or line referred by breakpoint is loaded.
3434 See below for details. A breakpoint with several locations will
3435 have @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in this field---see below for details.
3436 @item What
3437 Where the breakpoint is in the source for your program, as a file and
3438 line number. For a pending breakpoint, the original string passed to
3439 the breakpoint command will be listed as it cannot be resolved until
3440 the appropriate shared library is loaded in the future.
3441 @end table
3442
3443 @noindent
3444 If a breakpoint is conditional, @code{info break} shows the condition on
3445 the line following the affected breakpoint; breakpoint commands, if any,
3446 are listed after that. A pending breakpoint is allowed to have a condition
3447 specified for it. The condition is not parsed for validity until a shared
3448 library is loaded that allows the pending breakpoint to resolve to a
3449 valid location.
3450
3451 @noindent
3452 @code{info break} with a breakpoint
3453 number @var{n} as argument lists only that breakpoint. The
3454 convenience variable @code{$_} and the default examining-address for
3455 the @code{x} command are set to the address of the last breakpoint
3456 listed (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}).
3457
3458 @noindent
3459 @code{info break} displays a count of the number of times the breakpoint
3460 has been hit. This is especially useful in conjunction with the
3461 @code{ignore} command. You can ignore a large number of breakpoint
3462 hits, look at the breakpoint info to see how many times the breakpoint
3463 was hit, and then run again, ignoring one less than that number. This
3464 will get you quickly to the last hit of that breakpoint.
3465 @end table
3466
3467 @value{GDBN} allows you to set any number of breakpoints at the same place in
3468 your program. There is nothing silly or meaningless about this. When
3469 the breakpoints are conditional, this is even useful
3470 (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
3471
3472 @cindex multiple locations, breakpoints
3473 @cindex breakpoints, multiple locations
3474 It is possible that a breakpoint corresponds to several locations
3475 in your program. Examples of this situation are:
3476
3477 @itemize @bullet
3478 @item
3479 For a C@t{++} constructor, the @value{NGCC} compiler generates several
3480 instances of the function body, used in different cases.
3481
3482 @item
3483 For a C@t{++} template function, a given line in the function can
3484 correspond to any number of instantiations.
3485
3486 @item
3487 For an inlined function, a given source line can correspond to
3488 several places where that function is inlined.
3489 @end itemize
3490
3491 In all those cases, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at all
3492 the relevant locations@footnote{
3493 As of this writing, multiple-location breakpoints work only if there's
3494 line number information for all the locations. This means that they
3495 will generally not work in system libraries, unless you have debug
3496 info with line numbers for them.}.
3497
3498 A breakpoint with multiple locations is displayed in the breakpoint
3499 table using several rows---one header row, followed by one row for
3500 each breakpoint location. The header row has @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in the
3501 address column. The rows for individual locations contain the actual
3502 addresses for locations, and show the functions to which those
3503 locations belong. The number column for a location is of the form
3504 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number}.
3505
3506 For example:
3507
3508 @smallexample
3509 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
3510 1 breakpoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
3511 stop only if i==1
3512 breakpoint already hit 1 time
3513 1.1 y 0x080486a2 in void foo<int>() at t.cc:8
3514 1.2 y 0x080486ca in void foo<double>() at t.cc:8
3515 @end smallexample
3516
3517 Each location can be individually enabled or disabled by passing
3518 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number} as argument to the
3519 @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands. Note that you cannot
3520 delete the individual locations from the list, you can only delete the
3521 entire list of locations that belong to their parent breakpoint (with
3522 the @kbd{delete @var{num}} command, where @var{num} is the number of
3523 the parent breakpoint, 1 in the above example). Disabling or enabling
3524 the parent breakpoint (@pxref{Disabling}) affects all of the locations
3525 that belong to that breakpoint.
3526
3527 @cindex pending breakpoints
3528 It's quite common to have a breakpoint inside a shared library.
3529 Shared libraries can be loaded and unloaded explicitly,
3530 and possibly repeatedly, as the program is executed. To support
3531 this use case, @value{GDBN} updates breakpoint locations whenever
3532 any shared library is loaded or unloaded. Typically, you would
3533 set a breakpoint in a shared library at the beginning of your
3534 debugging session, when the library is not loaded, and when the
3535 symbols from the library are not available. When you try to set
3536 breakpoint, @value{GDBN} will ask you if you want to set
3537 a so called @dfn{pending breakpoint}---breakpoint whose address
3538 is not yet resolved.
3539
3540 After the program is run, whenever a new shared library is loaded,
3541 @value{GDBN} reevaluates all the breakpoints. When a newly loaded
3542 shared library contains the symbol or line referred to by some
3543 pending breakpoint, that breakpoint is resolved and becomes an
3544 ordinary breakpoint. When a library is unloaded, all breakpoints
3545 that refer to its symbols or source lines become pending again.
3546
3547 This logic works for breakpoints with multiple locations, too. For
3548 example, if you have a breakpoint in a C@t{++} template function, and
3549 a newly loaded shared library has an instantiation of that template,
3550 a new location is added to the list of locations for the breakpoint.
3551
3552 Except for having unresolved address, pending breakpoints do not
3553 differ from regular breakpoints. You can set conditions or commands,
3554 enable and disable them and perform other breakpoint operations.
3555
3556 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling what
3557 happens when the @samp{break} command cannot resolve breakpoint
3558 address specification to an address:
3559
3560 @kindex set breakpoint pending
3561 @kindex show breakpoint pending
3562 @table @code
3563 @item set breakpoint pending auto
3564 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} cannot find the breakpoint
3565 location, it queries you whether a pending breakpoint should be created.
3566
3567 @item set breakpoint pending on
3568 This indicates that an unrecognized breakpoint location should automatically
3569 result in a pending breakpoint being created.
3570
3571 @item set breakpoint pending off
3572 This indicates that pending breakpoints are not to be created. Any
3573 unrecognized breakpoint location results in an error. This setting does
3574 not affect any pending breakpoints previously created.
3575
3576 @item show breakpoint pending
3577 Show the current behavior setting for creating pending breakpoints.
3578 @end table
3579
3580 The settings above only affect the @code{break} command and its
3581 variants. Once breakpoint is set, it will be automatically updated
3582 as shared libraries are loaded and unloaded.
3583
3584 @cindex automatic hardware breakpoints
3585 For some targets, @value{GDBN} can automatically decide if hardware or
3586 software breakpoints should be used, depending on whether the
3587 breakpoint address is read-only or read-write. This applies to
3588 breakpoints set with the @code{break} command as well as to internal
3589 breakpoints set by commands like @code{next} and @code{finish}. For
3590 breakpoints set with @code{hbreak}, @value{GDBN} will always use hardware
3591 breakpoints.
3592
3593 You can control this automatic behaviour with the following commands::
3594
3595 @kindex set breakpoint auto-hw
3596 @kindex show breakpoint auto-hw
3597 @table @code
3598 @item set breakpoint auto-hw on
3599 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} sets a breakpoint, it
3600 will try to use the target memory map to decide if software or hardware
3601 breakpoint must be used.
3602
3603 @item set breakpoint auto-hw off
3604 This indicates @value{GDBN} should not automatically select breakpoint
3605 type. If the target provides a memory map, @value{GDBN} will warn when
3606 trying to set software breakpoint at a read-only address.
3607 @end table
3608
3609 @value{GDBN} normally implements breakpoints by replacing the program code
3610 at the breakpoint address with a special instruction, which, when
3611 executed, given control to the debugger. By default, the program
3612 code is so modified only when the program is resumed. As soon as
3613 the program stops, @value{GDBN} restores the original instructions. This
3614 behaviour guards against leaving breakpoints inserted in the
3615 target should gdb abrubptly disconnect. However, with slow remote
3616 targets, inserting and removing breakpoint can reduce the performance.
3617 This behavior can be controlled with the following commands::
3618
3619 @kindex set breakpoint always-inserted
3620 @kindex show breakpoint always-inserted
3621 @table @code
3622 @item set breakpoint always-inserted off
3623 All breakpoints, including newly added by the user, are inserted in
3624 the target only when the target is resumed. All breakpoints are
3625 removed from the target when it stops.
3626
3627 @item set breakpoint always-inserted on
3628 Causes all breakpoints to be inserted in the target at all times. If
3629 the user adds a new breakpoint, or changes an existing breakpoint, the
3630 breakpoints in the target are updated immediately. A breakpoint is
3631 removed from the target only when breakpoint itself is removed.
3632
3633 @cindex non-stop mode, and @code{breakpoint always-inserted}
3634 @item set breakpoint always-inserted auto
3635 This is the default mode. If @value{GDBN} is controlling the inferior
3636 in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}), gdb behaves as if
3637 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is on. If @value{GDBN} is
3638 controlling the inferior in all-stop mode, @value{GDBN} behaves as if
3639 @code{breakpoint always-inserted} mode is off.
3640 @end table
3641
3642 @cindex negative breakpoint numbers
3643 @cindex internal @value{GDBN} breakpoints
3644 @value{GDBN} itself sometimes sets breakpoints in your program for
3645 special purposes, such as proper handling of @code{longjmp} (in C
3646 programs). These internal breakpoints are assigned negative numbers,
3647 starting with @code{-1}; @samp{info breakpoints} does not display them.
3648 You can see these breakpoints with the @value{GDBN} maintenance command
3649 @samp{maint info breakpoints} (@pxref{maint info breakpoints}).
3650
3651
3652 @node Set Watchpoints
3653 @subsection Setting Watchpoints
3654
3655 @cindex setting watchpoints
3656 You can use a watchpoint to stop execution whenever the value of an
3657 expression changes, without having to predict a particular place where
3658 this may happen. (This is sometimes called a @dfn{data breakpoint}.)
3659 The expression may be as simple as the value of a single variable, or
3660 as complex as many variables combined by operators. Examples include:
3661
3662 @itemize @bullet
3663 @item
3664 A reference to the value of a single variable.
3665
3666 @item
3667 An address cast to an appropriate data type. For example,
3668 @samp{*(int *)0x12345678} will watch a 4-byte region at the specified
3669 address (assuming an @code{int} occupies 4 bytes).
3670
3671 @item
3672 An arbitrarily complex expression, such as @samp{a*b + c/d}. The
3673 expression can use any operators valid in the program's native
3674 language (@pxref{Languages}).
3675 @end itemize
3676
3677 You can set a watchpoint on an expression even if the expression can
3678 not be evaluated yet. For instance, you can set a watchpoint on
3679 @samp{*global_ptr} before @samp{global_ptr} is initialized.
3680 @value{GDBN} will stop when your program sets @samp{global_ptr} and
3681 the expression produces a valid value. If the expression becomes
3682 valid in some other way than changing a variable (e.g.@: if the memory
3683 pointed to by @samp{*global_ptr} becomes readable as the result of a
3684 @code{malloc} call), @value{GDBN} may not stop until the next time
3685 the expression changes.
3686
3687 @cindex software watchpoints
3688 @cindex hardware watchpoints
3689 Depending on your system, watchpoints may be implemented in software or
3690 hardware. @value{GDBN} does software watchpointing by single-stepping your
3691 program and testing the variable's value each time, which is hundreds of
3692 times slower than normal execution. (But this may still be worth it, to
3693 catch errors where you have no clue what part of your program is the
3694 culprit.)
3695
3696 On some systems, such as HP-UX, PowerPC, @sc{gnu}/Linux and most other
3697 x86-based targets, @value{GDBN} includes support for hardware
3698 watchpoints, which do not slow down the running of your program.
3699
3700 @table @code
3701 @kindex watch
3702 @item watch @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3703 Set a watchpoint for an expression. @value{GDBN} will break when the
3704 expression @var{expr} is written into by the program and its value
3705 changes. The simplest (and the most popular) use of this command is
3706 to watch the value of a single variable:
3707
3708 @smallexample
3709 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo
3710 @end smallexample
3711
3712 If the command includes a @code{@r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}}
3713 clause, @value{GDBN} breaks only when the thread identified by
3714 @var{threadnum} changes the value of @var{expr}. If any other threads
3715 change the value of @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} will not break. Note
3716 that watchpoints restricted to a single thread in this way only work
3717 with Hardware Watchpoints.
3718
3719 @kindex rwatch
3720 @item rwatch @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3721 Set a watchpoint that will break when the value of @var{expr} is read
3722 by the program.
3723
3724 @kindex awatch
3725 @item awatch @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{threadnum}@r{]}
3726 Set a watchpoint that will break when @var{expr} is either read from
3727 or written into by the program.
3728
3729 @kindex info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@r{]}
3730 @item info watchpoints
3731 This command prints a list of watchpoints, using the same format as
3732 @code{info break} (@pxref{Set Breaks}).
3733 @end table
3734
3735 If you watch for a change in a numerically entered address you need to
3736 dereference it, as the address itself is just a constant number which will
3737 never change. @value{GDBN} refuses to create a watchpoint that watches
3738 a never-changing value:
3739
3740 @smallexample
3741 (@value{GDBP}) watch 0x600850
3742 Cannot watch constant value 0x600850.
3743 (@value{GDBP}) watch *(int *) 0x600850
3744 Watchpoint 1: *(int *) 6293584
3745 @end smallexample
3746
3747 @value{GDBN} sets a @dfn{hardware watchpoint} if possible. Hardware
3748 watchpoints execute very quickly, and the debugger reports a change in
3749 value at the exact instruction where the change occurs. If @value{GDBN}
3750 cannot set a hardware watchpoint, it sets a software watchpoint, which
3751 executes more slowly and reports the change in value at the next
3752 @emph{statement}, not the instruction, after the change occurs.
3753
3754 @cindex use only software watchpoints
3755 You can force @value{GDBN} to use only software watchpoints with the
3756 @kbd{set can-use-hw-watchpoints 0} command. With this variable set to
3757 zero, @value{GDBN} will never try to use hardware watchpoints, even if
3758 the underlying system supports them. (Note that hardware-assisted
3759 watchpoints that were set @emph{before} setting
3760 @code{can-use-hw-watchpoints} to zero will still use the hardware
3761 mechanism of watching expression values.)
3762
3763 @table @code
3764 @item set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3765 @kindex set can-use-hw-watchpoints
3766 Set whether or not to use hardware watchpoints.
3767
3768 @item show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3769 @kindex show can-use-hw-watchpoints
3770 Show the current mode of using hardware watchpoints.
3771 @end table
3772
3773 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3774 watchpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3775 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3776
3777 When you issue the @code{watch} command, @value{GDBN} reports
3778
3779 @smallexample
3780 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: @var{expr}
3781 @end smallexample
3782
3783 @noindent
3784 if it was able to set a hardware watchpoint.
3785
3786 Currently, the @code{awatch} and @code{rwatch} commands can only set
3787 hardware watchpoints, because accesses to data that don't change the
3788 value of the watched expression cannot be detected without examining
3789 every instruction as it is being executed, and @value{GDBN} does not do
3790 that currently. If @value{GDBN} finds that it is unable to set a
3791 hardware breakpoint with the @code{awatch} or @code{rwatch} command, it
3792 will print a message like this:
3793
3794 @smallexample
3795 Expression cannot be implemented with read/access watchpoint.
3796 @end smallexample
3797
3798 Sometimes, @value{GDBN} cannot set a hardware watchpoint because the
3799 data type of the watched expression is wider than what a hardware
3800 watchpoint on the target machine can handle. For example, some systems
3801 can only watch regions that are up to 4 bytes wide; on such systems you
3802 cannot set hardware watchpoints for an expression that yields a
3803 double-precision floating-point number (which is typically 8 bytes
3804 wide). As a work-around, it might be possible to break the large region
3805 into a series of smaller ones and watch them with separate watchpoints.
3806
3807 If you set too many hardware watchpoints, @value{GDBN} might be unable
3808 to insert all of them when you resume the execution of your program.
3809 Since the precise number of active watchpoints is unknown until such
3810 time as the program is about to be resumed, @value{GDBN} might not be
3811 able to warn you about this when you set the watchpoints, and the
3812 warning will be printed only when the program is resumed:
3813
3814 @smallexample
3815 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: Could not insert watchpoint
3816 @end smallexample
3817
3818 @noindent
3819 If this happens, delete or disable some of the watchpoints.
3820
3821 Watching complex expressions that reference many variables can also
3822 exhaust the resources available for hardware-assisted watchpoints.
3823 That's because @value{GDBN} needs to watch every variable in the
3824 expression with separately allocated resources.
3825
3826 If you call a function interactively using @code{print} or @code{call},
3827 any watchpoints you have set will be inactive until @value{GDBN} reaches another
3828 kind of breakpoint or the call completes.
3829
3830 @value{GDBN} automatically deletes watchpoints that watch local
3831 (automatic) variables, or expressions that involve such variables, when
3832 they go out of scope, that is, when the execution leaves the block in
3833 which these variables were defined. In particular, when the program
3834 being debugged terminates, @emph{all} local variables go out of scope,
3835 and so only watchpoints that watch global variables remain set. If you
3836 rerun the program, you will need to set all such watchpoints again. One
3837 way of doing that would be to set a code breakpoint at the entry to the
3838 @code{main} function and when it breaks, set all the watchpoints.
3839
3840 @cindex watchpoints and threads
3841 @cindex threads and watchpoints
3842 In multi-threaded programs, watchpoints will detect changes to the
3843 watched expression from every thread.
3844
3845 @quotation
3846 @emph{Warning:} In multi-threaded programs, software watchpoints
3847 have only limited usefulness. If @value{GDBN} creates a software
3848 watchpoint, it can only watch the value of an expression @emph{in a
3849 single thread}. If you are confident that the expression can only
3850 change due to the current thread's activity (and if you are also
3851 confident that no other thread can become current), then you can use
3852 software watchpoints as usual. However, @value{GDBN} may not notice
3853 when a non-current thread's activity changes the expression. (Hardware
3854 watchpoints, in contrast, watch an expression in all threads.)
3855 @end quotation
3856
3857 @xref{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}.
3858
3859 @node Set Catchpoints
3860 @subsection Setting Catchpoints
3861 @cindex catchpoints, setting
3862 @cindex exception handlers
3863 @cindex event handling
3864
3865 You can use @dfn{catchpoints} to cause the debugger to stop for certain
3866 kinds of program events, such as C@t{++} exceptions or the loading of a
3867 shared library. Use the @code{catch} command to set a catchpoint.
3868
3869 @table @code
3870 @kindex catch
3871 @item catch @var{event}
3872 Stop when @var{event} occurs. @var{event} can be any of the following:
3873 @table @code
3874 @item throw
3875 @cindex stop on C@t{++} exceptions
3876 The throwing of a C@t{++} exception.
3877
3878 @item catch
3879 The catching of a C@t{++} exception.
3880
3881 @item exception
3882 @cindex Ada exception catching
3883 @cindex catch Ada exceptions
3884 An Ada exception being raised. If an exception name is specified
3885 at the end of the command (eg @code{catch exception Program_Error}),
3886 the debugger will stop only when this specific exception is raised.
3887 Otherwise, the debugger stops execution when any Ada exception is raised.
3888
3889 When inserting an exception catchpoint on a user-defined exception whose
3890 name is identical to one of the exceptions defined by the language, the
3891 fully qualified name must be used as the exception name. Otherwise,
3892 @value{GDBN} will assume that it should stop on the pre-defined exception
3893 rather than the user-defined one. For instance, assuming an exception
3894 called @code{Constraint_Error} is defined in package @code{Pck}, then
3895 the command to use to catch such exceptions is @kbd{catch exception
3896 Pck.Constraint_Error}.
3897
3898 @item exception unhandled
3899 An exception that was raised but is not handled by the program.
3900
3901 @item assert
3902 A failed Ada assertion.
3903
3904 @item exec
3905 @cindex break on fork/exec
3906 A call to @code{exec}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
3907 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
3908
3909 @item syscall
3910 @itemx syscall @r{[}@var{name} @r{|} @var{number}@r{]} @dots{}
3911 @cindex break on a system call.
3912 A call to or return from a system call, a.k.a.@: @dfn{syscall}. A
3913 syscall is a mechanism for application programs to request a service
3914 from the operating system (OS) or one of the OS system services.
3915 @value{GDBN} can catch some or all of the syscalls issued by the
3916 debuggee, and show the related information for each syscall. If no
3917 argument is specified, calls to and returns from all system calls
3918 will be caught.
3919
3920 @var{name} can be any system call name that is valid for the
3921 underlying OS. Just what syscalls are valid depends on the OS. On
3922 GNU and Unix systems, you can find the full list of valid syscall
3923 names on @file{/usr/include/asm/unistd.h}.
3924
3925 @c For MS-Windows, the syscall names and the corresponding numbers
3926 @c can be found, e.g., on this URL:
3927 @c http://www.metasploit.com/users/opcode/syscalls.html
3928 @c but we don't support Windows syscalls yet.
3929
3930 Normally, @value{GDBN} knows in advance which syscalls are valid for
3931 each OS, so you can use the @value{GDBN} command-line completion
3932 facilities (@pxref{Completion,, command completion}) to list the
3933 available choices.
3934
3935 You may also specify the system call numerically. A syscall's
3936 number is the value passed to the OS's syscall dispatcher to
3937 identify the requested service. When you specify the syscall by its
3938 name, @value{GDBN} uses its database of syscalls to convert the name
3939 into the corresponding numeric code, but using the number directly
3940 may be useful if @value{GDBN}'s database does not have the complete
3941 list of syscalls on your system (e.g., because @value{GDBN} lags
3942 behind the OS upgrades).
3943
3944 The example below illustrates how this command works if you don't provide
3945 arguments to it:
3946
3947 @smallexample
3948 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
3949 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
3950 (@value{GDBP}) r
3951 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
3952
3953 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'close'), \
3954 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3955 (@value{GDBP}) c
3956 Continuing.
3957
3958 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'close'), \
3959 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3960 (@value{GDBP})
3961 @end smallexample
3962
3963 Here is an example of catching a system call by name:
3964
3965 @smallexample
3966 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall chroot
3967 Catchpoint 1 (syscall 'chroot' [61])
3968 (@value{GDBP}) r
3969 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
3970
3971 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'chroot'), \
3972 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3973 (@value{GDBP}) c
3974 Continuing.
3975
3976 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'chroot'), \
3977 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3978 (@value{GDBP})
3979 @end smallexample
3980
3981 An example of specifying a system call numerically. In the case
3982 below, the syscall number has a corresponding entry in the XML
3983 file, so @value{GDBN} finds its name and prints it:
3984
3985 @smallexample
3986 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
3987 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 'exit_group')
3988 (@value{GDBP}) r
3989 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
3990
3991 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'exit_group'), \
3992 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
3993 (@value{GDBP}) c
3994 Continuing.
3995
3996 Program exited normally.
3997 (@value{GDBP})
3998 @end smallexample
3999
4000 However, there can be situations when there is no corresponding name
4001 in XML file for that syscall number. In this case, @value{GDBN} prints
4002 a warning message saying that it was not able to find the syscall name,
4003 but the catchpoint will be set anyway. See the example below:
4004
4005 @smallexample
4006 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 764
4007 warning: The number '764' does not represent a known syscall.
4008 Catchpoint 2 (syscall 764)
4009 (@value{GDBP})
4010 @end smallexample
4011
4012 If you configure @value{GDBN} using the @samp{--without-expat} option,
4013 it will not be able to display syscall names. Also, if your
4014 architecture does not have an XML file describing its system calls,
4015 you will not be able to see the syscall names. It is important to
4016 notice that these two features are used for accessing the syscall
4017 name database. In either case, you will see a warning like this:
4018
4019 @smallexample
4020 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4021 warning: Could not open "syscalls/i386-linux.xml"
4022 warning: Could not load the syscall XML file 'syscalls/i386-linux.xml'.
4023 GDB will not be able to display syscall names.
4024 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4025 (@value{GDBP})
4026 @end smallexample
4027
4028 Of course, the file name will change depending on your architecture and system.
4029
4030 Still using the example above, you can also try to catch a syscall by its
4031 number. In this case, you would see something like:
4032
4033 @smallexample
4034 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4035 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 252)
4036 @end smallexample
4037
4038 Again, in this case @value{GDBN} would not be able to display syscall's names.
4039
4040 @item fork
4041 A call to @code{fork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4042 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4043
4044 @item vfork
4045 A call to @code{vfork}. This is currently only available for HP-UX
4046 and @sc{gnu}/Linux.
4047
4048 @end table
4049
4050 @item tcatch @var{event}
4051 Set a catchpoint that is enabled only for one stop. The catchpoint is
4052 automatically deleted after the first time the event is caught.
4053
4054 @end table
4055
4056 Use the @code{info break} command to list the current catchpoints.
4057
4058 There are currently some limitations to C@t{++} exception handling
4059 (@code{catch throw} and @code{catch catch}) in @value{GDBN}:
4060
4061 @itemize @bullet
4062 @item
4063 If you call a function interactively, @value{GDBN} normally returns
4064 control to you when the function has finished executing. If the call
4065 raises an exception, however, the call may bypass the mechanism that
4066 returns control to you and cause your program either to abort or to
4067 simply continue running until it hits a breakpoint, catches a signal
4068 that @value{GDBN} is listening for, or exits. This is the case even if
4069 you set a catchpoint for the exception; catchpoints on exceptions are
4070 disabled within interactive calls.
4071
4072 @item
4073 You cannot raise an exception interactively.
4074
4075 @item
4076 You cannot install an exception handler interactively.
4077 @end itemize
4078
4079 @cindex raise exceptions
4080 Sometimes @code{catch} is not the best way to debug exception handling:
4081 if you need to know exactly where an exception is raised, it is better to
4082 stop @emph{before} the exception handler is called, since that way you
4083 can see the stack before any unwinding takes place. If you set a
4084 breakpoint in an exception handler instead, it may not be easy to find
4085 out where the exception was raised.
4086
4087 To stop just before an exception handler is called, you need some
4088 knowledge of the implementation. In the case of @sc{gnu} C@t{++}, exceptions are
4089 raised by calling a library function named @code{__raise_exception}
4090 which has the following ANSI C interface:
4091
4092 @smallexample
4093 /* @var{addr} is where the exception identifier is stored.
4094 @var{id} is the exception identifier. */
4095 void __raise_exception (void **addr, void *id);
4096 @end smallexample
4097
4098 @noindent
4099 To make the debugger catch all exceptions before any stack
4100 unwinding takes place, set a breakpoint on @code{__raise_exception}
4101 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Exceptions}).
4102
4103 With a conditional breakpoint (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions})
4104 that depends on the value of @var{id}, you can stop your program when
4105 a specific exception is raised. You can use multiple conditional
4106 breakpoints to stop your program when any of a number of exceptions are
4107 raised.
4108
4109
4110 @node Delete Breaks
4111 @subsection Deleting Breakpoints
4112
4113 @cindex clearing breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4114 @cindex deleting breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4115 It is often necessary to eliminate a breakpoint, watchpoint, or
4116 catchpoint once it has done its job and you no longer want your program
4117 to stop there. This is called @dfn{deleting} the breakpoint. A
4118 breakpoint that has been deleted no longer exists; it is forgotten.
4119
4120 With the @code{clear} command you can delete breakpoints according to
4121 where they are in your program. With the @code{delete} command you can
4122 delete individual breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints by specifying
4123 their breakpoint numbers.
4124
4125 It is not necessary to delete a breakpoint to proceed past it. @value{GDBN}
4126 automatically ignores breakpoints on the first instruction to be executed
4127 when you continue execution without changing the execution address.
4128
4129 @table @code
4130 @kindex clear
4131 @item clear
4132 Delete any breakpoints at the next instruction to be executed in the
4133 selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). When
4134 the innermost frame is selected, this is a good way to delete a
4135 breakpoint where your program just stopped.
4136
4137 @item clear @var{location}
4138 Delete any breakpoints set at the specified @var{location}.
4139 @xref{Specify Location}, for the various forms of @var{location}; the
4140 most useful ones are listed below:
4141
4142 @table @code
4143 @item clear @var{function}
4144 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{function}
4145 Delete any breakpoints set at entry to the named @var{function}.
4146
4147 @item clear @var{linenum}
4148 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
4149 Delete any breakpoints set at or within the code of the specified
4150 @var{linenum} of the specified @var{filename}.
4151 @end table
4152
4153 @cindex delete breakpoints
4154 @kindex delete
4155 @kindex d @r{(@code{delete})}
4156 @item delete @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4157 Delete the breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints of the breakpoint
4158 ranges specified as arguments. If no argument is specified, delete all
4159 breakpoints (@value{GDBN} asks confirmation, unless you have @code{set
4160 confirm off}). You can abbreviate this command as @code{d}.
4161 @end table
4162
4163 @node Disabling
4164 @subsection Disabling Breakpoints
4165
4166 @cindex enable/disable a breakpoint
4167 Rather than deleting a breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint, you might
4168 prefer to @dfn{disable} it. This makes the breakpoint inoperative as if
4169 it had been deleted, but remembers the information on the breakpoint so
4170 that you can @dfn{enable} it again later.
4171
4172 You disable and enable breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints with
4173 the @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands, optionally specifying
4174 one or more breakpoint numbers as arguments. Use @code{info break} to
4175 print a list of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints if you
4176 do not know which numbers to use.
4177
4178 Disabling and enabling a breakpoint that has multiple locations
4179 affects all of its locations.
4180
4181 A breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint can have any of four different
4182 states of enablement:
4183
4184 @itemize @bullet
4185 @item
4186 Enabled. The breakpoint stops your program. A breakpoint set
4187 with the @code{break} command starts out in this state.
4188 @item
4189 Disabled. The breakpoint has no effect on your program.
4190 @item
4191 Enabled once. The breakpoint stops your program, but then becomes
4192 disabled.
4193 @item
4194 Enabled for deletion. The breakpoint stops your program, but
4195 immediately after it does so it is deleted permanently. A breakpoint
4196 set with the @code{tbreak} command starts out in this state.
4197 @end itemize
4198
4199 You can use the following commands to enable or disable breakpoints,
4200 watchpoints, and catchpoints:
4201
4202 @table @code
4203 @kindex disable
4204 @kindex dis @r{(@code{disable})}
4205 @item disable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4206 Disable the specified breakpoints---or all breakpoints, if none are
4207 listed. A disabled breakpoint has no effect but is not forgotten. All
4208 options such as ignore-counts, conditions and commands are remembered in
4209 case the breakpoint is enabled again later. You may abbreviate
4210 @code{disable} as @code{dis}.
4211
4212 @kindex enable
4213 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4214 Enable the specified breakpoints (or all defined breakpoints). They
4215 become effective once again in stopping your program.
4216
4217 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} once @var{range}@dots{}
4218 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} disables any
4219 of these breakpoints immediately after stopping your program.
4220
4221 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} delete @var{range}@dots{}
4222 Enable the specified breakpoints to work once, then die. @value{GDBN}
4223 deletes any of these breakpoints as soon as your program stops there.
4224 Breakpoints set by the @code{tbreak} command start out in this state.
4225 @end table
4226
4227 @c FIXME: I think the following ``Except for [...] @code{tbreak}'' is
4228 @c confusing: tbreak is also initially enabled.
4229 Except for a breakpoint set with @code{tbreak} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
4230 ,Setting Breakpoints}), breakpoints that you set are initially enabled;
4231 subsequently, they become disabled or enabled only when you use one of
4232 the commands above. (The command @code{until} can set and delete a
4233 breakpoint of its own, but it does not change the state of your other
4234 breakpoints; see @ref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and
4235 Stepping}.)
4236
4237 @node Conditions
4238 @subsection Break Conditions
4239 @cindex conditional breakpoints
4240 @cindex breakpoint conditions
4241
4242 @c FIXME what is scope of break condition expr? Context where wanted?
4243 @c in particular for a watchpoint?
4244 The simplest sort of breakpoint breaks every time your program reaches a
4245 specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for a
4246 breakpoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
4247 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A breakpoint with
4248 a condition evaluates the expression each time your program reaches it,
4249 and your program stops only if the condition is @emph{true}.
4250
4251 This is the converse of using assertions for program validation; in that
4252 situation, you want to stop when the assertion is violated---that is,
4253 when the condition is false. In C, if you want to test an assertion expressed
4254 by the condition @var{assert}, you should set the condition
4255 @samp{! @var{assert}} on the appropriate breakpoint.
4256
4257 Conditions are also accepted for watchpoints; you may not need them,
4258 since a watchpoint is inspecting the value of an expression anyhow---but
4259 it might be simpler, say, to just set a watchpoint on a variable name,
4260 and specify a condition that tests whether the new value is an interesting
4261 one.
4262
4263 Break conditions can have side effects, and may even call functions in
4264 your program. This can be useful, for example, to activate functions
4265 that log program progress, or to use your own print functions to
4266 format special data structures. The effects are completely predictable
4267 unless there is another enabled breakpoint at the same address. (In
4268 that case, @value{GDBN} might see the other breakpoint first and stop your
4269 program without checking the condition of this one.) Note that
4270 breakpoint commands are usually more convenient and flexible than break
4271 conditions for the
4272 purpose of performing side effects when a breakpoint is reached
4273 (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}).
4274
4275 Break conditions can be specified when a breakpoint is set, by using
4276 @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{break} command. @xref{Set
4277 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}. They can also be changed at any time
4278 with the @code{condition} command.
4279
4280 You can also use the @code{if} keyword with the @code{watch} command.
4281 The @code{catch} command does not recognize the @code{if} keyword;
4282 @code{condition} is the only way to impose a further condition on a
4283 catchpoint.
4284
4285 @table @code
4286 @kindex condition
4287 @item condition @var{bnum} @var{expression}
4288 Specify @var{expression} as the break condition for breakpoint,
4289 watchpoint, or catchpoint number @var{bnum}. After you set a condition,
4290 breakpoint @var{bnum} stops your program only if the value of
4291 @var{expression} is true (nonzero, in C). When you use
4292 @code{condition}, @value{GDBN} checks @var{expression} immediately for
4293 syntactic correctness, and to determine whether symbols in it have
4294 referents in the context of your breakpoint. If @var{expression} uses
4295 symbols not referenced in the context of the breakpoint, @value{GDBN}
4296 prints an error message:
4297
4298 @smallexample
4299 No symbol "foo" in current context.
4300 @end smallexample
4301
4302 @noindent
4303 @value{GDBN} does
4304 not actually evaluate @var{expression} at the time the @code{condition}
4305 command (or a command that sets a breakpoint with a condition, like
4306 @code{break if @dots{}}) is given, however. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
4307
4308 @item condition @var{bnum}
4309 Remove the condition from breakpoint number @var{bnum}. It becomes
4310 an ordinary unconditional breakpoint.
4311 @end table
4312
4313 @cindex ignore count (of breakpoint)
4314 A special case of a breakpoint condition is to stop only when the
4315 breakpoint has been reached a certain number of times. This is so
4316 useful that there is a special way to do it, using the @dfn{ignore
4317 count} of the breakpoint. Every breakpoint has an ignore count, which
4318 is an integer. Most of the time, the ignore count is zero, and
4319 therefore has no effect. But if your program reaches a breakpoint whose
4320 ignore count is positive, then instead of stopping, it just decrements
4321 the ignore count by one and continues. As a result, if the ignore count
4322 value is @var{n}, the breakpoint does not stop the next @var{n} times
4323 your program reaches it.
4324
4325 @table @code
4326 @kindex ignore
4327 @item ignore @var{bnum} @var{count}
4328 Set the ignore count of breakpoint number @var{bnum} to @var{count}.
4329 The next @var{count} times the breakpoint is reached, your program's
4330 execution does not stop; other than to decrement the ignore count, @value{GDBN}
4331 takes no action.
4332
4333 To make the breakpoint stop the next time it is reached, specify
4334 a count of zero.
4335
4336 When you use @code{continue} to resume execution of your program from a
4337 breakpoint, you can specify an ignore count directly as an argument to
4338 @code{continue}, rather than using @code{ignore}. @xref{Continuing and
4339 Stepping,,Continuing and Stepping}.
4340
4341 If a breakpoint has a positive ignore count and a condition, the
4342 condition is not checked. Once the ignore count reaches zero,
4343 @value{GDBN} resumes checking the condition.
4344
4345 You could achieve the effect of the ignore count with a condition such
4346 as @w{@samp{$foo-- <= 0}} using a debugger convenience variable that
4347 is decremented each time. @xref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
4348 Variables}.
4349 @end table
4350
4351 Ignore counts apply to breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints.
4352
4353
4354 @node Break Commands
4355 @subsection Breakpoint Command Lists
4356
4357 @cindex breakpoint commands
4358 You can give any breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint) a series of
4359 commands to execute when your program stops due to that breakpoint. For
4360 example, you might want to print the values of certain expressions, or
4361 enable other breakpoints.
4362
4363 @table @code
4364 @kindex commands
4365 @kindex end@r{ (breakpoint commands)}
4366 @item commands @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4367 @itemx @dots{} @var{command-list} @dots{}
4368 @itemx end
4369 Specify a list of commands for the given breakpoints. The commands
4370 themselves appear on the following lines. Type a line containing just
4371 @code{end} to terminate the commands.
4372
4373 To remove all commands from a breakpoint, type @code{commands} and
4374 follow it immediately with @code{end}; that is, give no commands.
4375
4376 With no argument, @code{commands} refers to the last breakpoint,
4377 watchpoint, or catchpoint set (not to the breakpoint most recently
4378 encountered). If the most recent breakpoints were set with a single
4379 command, then the @code{commands} will apply to all the breakpoints
4380 set by that command. This applies to breakpoints set by
4381 @code{rbreak}, and also applies when a single @code{break} command
4382 creates multiple breakpoints (@pxref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous
4383 Expressions}).
4384 @end table
4385
4386 Pressing @key{RET} as a means of repeating the last @value{GDBN} command is
4387 disabled within a @var{command-list}.
4388
4389 You can use breakpoint commands to start your program up again. Simply
4390 use the @code{continue} command, or @code{step}, or any other command
4391 that resumes execution.
4392
4393 Any other commands in the command list, after a command that resumes
4394 execution, are ignored. This is because any time you resume execution
4395 (even with a simple @code{next} or @code{step}), you may encounter
4396 another breakpoint---which could have its own command list, leading to
4397 ambiguities about which list to execute.
4398
4399 @kindex silent
4400 If the first command you specify in a command list is @code{silent}, the
4401 usual message about stopping at a breakpoint is not printed. This may
4402 be desirable for breakpoints that are to print a specific message and
4403 then continue. If none of the remaining commands print anything, you
4404 see no sign that the breakpoint was reached. @code{silent} is
4405 meaningful only at the beginning of a breakpoint command list.
4406
4407 The commands @code{echo}, @code{output}, and @code{printf} allow you to
4408 print precisely controlled output, and are often useful in silent
4409 breakpoints. @xref{Output, ,Commands for Controlled Output}.
4410
4411 For example, here is how you could use breakpoint commands to print the
4412 value of @code{x} at entry to @code{foo} whenever @code{x} is positive.
4413
4414 @smallexample
4415 break foo if x>0
4416 commands
4417 silent
4418 printf "x is %d\n",x
4419 cont
4420 end
4421 @end smallexample
4422
4423 One application for breakpoint commands is to compensate for one bug so
4424 you can test for another. Put a breakpoint just after the erroneous line
4425 of code, give it a condition to detect the case in which something
4426 erroneous has been done, and give it commands to assign correct values
4427 to any variables that need them. End with the @code{continue} command
4428 so that your program does not stop, and start with the @code{silent}
4429 command so that no output is produced. Here is an example:
4430
4431 @smallexample
4432 break 403
4433 commands
4434 silent
4435 set x = y + 4
4436 cont
4437 end
4438 @end smallexample
4439
4440 @node Save Breakpoints
4441 @subsection How to save breakpoints to a file
4442
4443 To save breakpoint definitions to a file use the @w{@code{save
4444 breakpoints}} command.
4445
4446 @table @code
4447 @kindex save breakpoints
4448 @cindex save breakpoints to a file for future sessions
4449 @item save breakpoints [@var{filename}]
4450 This command saves all current breakpoint definitions together with
4451 their commands and ignore counts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
4452 suitable for use in a later debugging session. This includes all
4453 types of breakpoints (breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints,
4454 tracepoints). To read the saved breakpoint definitions, use the
4455 @code{source} command (@pxref{Command Files}). Note that watchpoints
4456 with expressions involving local variables may fail to be recreated
4457 because it may not be possible to access the context where the
4458 watchpoint is valid anymore. Because the saved breakpoint definitions
4459 are simply a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands that recreate the
4460 breakpoints, you can edit the file in your favorite editing program,
4461 and remove the breakpoint definitions you're not interested in, or
4462 that can no longer be recreated.
4463 @end table
4464
4465 @c @ifclear BARETARGET
4466 @node Error in Breakpoints
4467 @subsection ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
4468
4469 If you request too many active hardware-assisted breakpoints and
4470 watchpoints, you will see this error message:
4471
4472 @c FIXME: the precise wording of this message may change; the relevant
4473 @c source change is not committed yet (Sep 3, 1999).
4474 @smallexample
4475 Stopped; cannot insert breakpoints.
4476 You may have requested too many hardware breakpoints and watchpoints.
4477 @end smallexample
4478
4479 @noindent
4480 This message is printed when you attempt to resume the program, since
4481 only then @value{GDBN} knows exactly how many hardware breakpoints and
4482 watchpoints it needs to insert.
4483
4484 When this message is printed, you need to disable or remove some of the
4485 hardware-assisted breakpoints and watchpoints, and then continue.
4486
4487 @node Breakpoint-related Warnings
4488 @subsection ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
4489 @cindex breakpoint address adjusted
4490
4491 Some processor architectures place constraints on the addresses at
4492 which breakpoints may be placed. For architectures thus constrained,
4493 @value{GDBN} will attempt to adjust the breakpoint's address to comply
4494 with the constraints dictated by the architecture.
4495
4496 One example of such an architecture is the Fujitsu FR-V. The FR-V is
4497 a VLIW architecture in which a number of RISC-like instructions may be
4498 bundled together for parallel execution. The FR-V architecture
4499 constrains the location of a breakpoint instruction within such a
4500 bundle to the instruction with the lowest address. @value{GDBN}
4501 honors this constraint by adjusting a breakpoint's address to the
4502 first in the bundle.
4503
4504 It is not uncommon for optimized code to have bundles which contain
4505 instructions from different source statements, thus it may happen that
4506 a breakpoint's address will be adjusted from one source statement to
4507 another. Since this adjustment may significantly alter @value{GDBN}'s
4508 breakpoint related behavior from what the user expects, a warning is
4509 printed when the breakpoint is first set and also when the breakpoint
4510 is hit.
4511
4512 A warning like the one below is printed when setting a breakpoint
4513 that's been subject to address adjustment:
4514
4515 @smallexample
4516 warning: Breakpoint address adjusted from 0x00010414 to 0x00010410.
4517 @end smallexample
4518
4519 Such warnings are printed both for user settable and @value{GDBN}'s
4520 internal breakpoints. If you see one of these warnings, you should
4521 verify that a breakpoint set at the adjusted address will have the
4522 desired affect. If not, the breakpoint in question may be removed and
4523 other breakpoints may be set which will have the desired behavior.
4524 E.g., it may be sufficient to place the breakpoint at a later
4525 instruction. A conditional breakpoint may also be useful in some
4526 cases to prevent the breakpoint from triggering too often.
4527
4528 @value{GDBN} will also issue a warning when stopping at one of these
4529 adjusted breakpoints:
4530
4531 @smallexample
4532 warning: Breakpoint 1 address previously adjusted from 0x00010414
4533 to 0x00010410.
4534 @end smallexample
4535
4536 When this warning is encountered, it may be too late to take remedial
4537 action except in cases where the breakpoint is hit earlier or more
4538 frequently than expected.
4539
4540 @node Continuing and Stepping
4541 @section Continuing and Stepping
4542
4543 @cindex stepping
4544 @cindex continuing
4545 @cindex resuming execution
4546 @dfn{Continuing} means resuming program execution until your program
4547 completes normally. In contrast, @dfn{stepping} means executing just
4548 one more ``step'' of your program, where ``step'' may mean either one
4549 line of source code, or one machine instruction (depending on what
4550 particular command you use). Either when continuing or when stepping,
4551 your program may stop even sooner, due to a breakpoint or a signal. (If
4552 it stops due to a signal, you may want to use @code{handle}, or use
4553 @samp{signal 0} to resume execution. @xref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
4554
4555 @table @code
4556 @kindex continue
4557 @kindex c @r{(@code{continue})}
4558 @kindex fg @r{(resume foreground execution)}
4559 @item continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4560 @itemx c @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4561 @itemx fg @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
4562 Resume program execution, at the address where your program last stopped;
4563 any breakpoints set at that address are bypassed. The optional argument
4564 @var{ignore-count} allows you to specify a further number of times to
4565 ignore a breakpoint at this location; its effect is like that of
4566 @code{ignore} (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
4567
4568 The argument @var{ignore-count} is meaningful only when your program
4569 stopped due to a breakpoint. At other times, the argument to
4570 @code{continue} is ignored.
4571
4572 The synonyms @code{c} and @code{fg} (for @dfn{foreground}, as the
4573 debugged program is deemed to be the foreground program) are provided
4574 purely for convenience, and have exactly the same behavior as
4575 @code{continue}.
4576 @end table
4577
4578 To resume execution at a different place, you can use @code{return}
4579 (@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}) to go back to the
4580 calling function; or @code{jump} (@pxref{Jumping, ,Continuing at a
4581 Different Address}) to go to an arbitrary location in your program.
4582
4583 A typical technique for using stepping is to set a breakpoint
4584 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Catchpoints}) at the
4585 beginning of the function or the section of your program where a problem
4586 is believed to lie, run your program until it stops at that breakpoint,
4587 and then step through the suspect area, examining the variables that are
4588 interesting, until you see the problem happen.
4589
4590 @table @code
4591 @kindex step
4592 @kindex s @r{(@code{step})}
4593 @item step
4594 Continue running your program until control reaches a different source
4595 line, then stop it and return control to @value{GDBN}. This command is
4596 abbreviated @code{s}.
4597
4598 @quotation
4599 @c "without debugging information" is imprecise; actually "without line
4600 @c numbers in the debugging information". (gcc -g1 has debugging info but
4601 @c not line numbers). But it seems complex to try to make that
4602 @c distinction here.
4603 @emph{Warning:} If you use the @code{step} command while control is
4604 within a function that was compiled without debugging information,
4605 execution proceeds until control reaches a function that does have
4606 debugging information. Likewise, it will not step into a function which
4607 is compiled without debugging information. To step through functions
4608 without debugging information, use the @code{stepi} command, described
4609 below.
4610 @end quotation
4611
4612 The @code{step} command only stops at the first instruction of a source
4613 line. This prevents the multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4614 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc. @code{step} continues
4615 to stop if a function that has debugging information is called within
4616 the line. In other words, @code{step} @emph{steps inside} any functions
4617 called within the line.
4618
4619 Also, the @code{step} command only enters a function if there is line
4620 number information for the function. Otherwise it acts like the
4621 @code{next} command. This avoids problems when using @code{cc -gl}
4622 on MIPS machines. Previously, @code{step} entered subroutines if there
4623 was any debugging information about the routine.
4624
4625 @item step @var{count}
4626 Continue running as in @code{step}, but do so @var{count} times. If a
4627 breakpoint is reached, or a signal not related to stepping occurs before
4628 @var{count} steps, stepping stops right away.
4629
4630 @kindex next
4631 @kindex n @r{(@code{next})}
4632 @item next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
4633 Continue to the next source line in the current (innermost) stack frame.
4634 This is similar to @code{step}, but function calls that appear within
4635 the line of code are executed without stopping. Execution stops when
4636 control reaches a different line of code at the original stack level
4637 that was executing when you gave the @code{next} command. This command
4638 is abbreviated @code{n}.
4639
4640 An argument @var{count} is a repeat count, as for @code{step}.
4641
4642
4643 @c FIX ME!! Do we delete this, or is there a way it fits in with
4644 @c the following paragraph? --- Vctoria
4645 @c
4646 @c @code{next} within a function that lacks debugging information acts like
4647 @c @code{step}, but any function calls appearing within the code of the
4648 @c function are executed without stopping.
4649
4650 The @code{next} command only stops at the first instruction of a
4651 source line. This prevents multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
4652 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc.
4653
4654 @kindex set step-mode
4655 @item set step-mode
4656 @cindex functions without line info, and stepping
4657 @cindex stepping into functions with no line info
4658 @itemx set step-mode on
4659 The @code{set step-mode on} command causes the @code{step} command to
4660 stop at the first instruction of a function which contains no debug line
4661 information rather than stepping over it.
4662
4663 This is useful in cases where you may be interested in inspecting the
4664 machine instructions of a function which has no symbolic info and do not
4665 want @value{GDBN} to automatically skip over this function.
4666
4667 @item set step-mode off
4668 Causes the @code{step} command to step over any functions which contains no
4669 debug information. This is the default.
4670
4671 @item show step-mode
4672 Show whether @value{GDBN} will stop in or step over functions without
4673 source line debug information.
4674
4675 @kindex finish
4676 @kindex fin @r{(@code{finish})}
4677 @item finish
4678 Continue running until just after function in the selected stack frame
4679 returns. Print the returned value (if any). This command can be
4680 abbreviated as @code{fin}.
4681
4682 Contrast this with the @code{return} command (@pxref{Returning,
4683 ,Returning from a Function}).
4684
4685 @kindex until
4686 @kindex u @r{(@code{until})}
4687 @cindex run until specified location
4688 @item until
4689 @itemx u
4690 Continue running until a source line past the current line, in the
4691 current stack frame, is reached. This command is used to avoid single
4692 stepping through a loop more than once. It is like the @code{next}
4693 command, except that when @code{until} encounters a jump, it
4694 automatically continues execution until the program counter is greater
4695 than the address of the jump.
4696
4697 This means that when you reach the end of a loop after single stepping
4698 though it, @code{until} makes your program continue execution until it
4699 exits the loop. In contrast, a @code{next} command at the end of a loop
4700 simply steps back to the beginning of the loop, which forces you to step
4701 through the next iteration.
4702
4703 @code{until} always stops your program if it attempts to exit the current
4704 stack frame.
4705
4706 @code{until} may produce somewhat counterintuitive results if the order
4707 of machine code does not match the order of the source lines. For
4708 example, in the following excerpt from a debugging session, the @code{f}
4709 (@code{frame}) command shows that execution is stopped at line
4710 @code{206}; yet when we use @code{until}, we get to line @code{195}:
4711
4712 @smallexample
4713 (@value{GDBP}) f
4714 #0 main (argc=4, argv=0xf7fffae8) at m4.c:206
4715 206 expand_input();
4716 (@value{GDBP}) until
4717 195 for ( ; argc > 0; NEXTARG) @{
4718 @end smallexample
4719
4720 This happened because, for execution efficiency, the compiler had
4721 generated code for the loop closure test at the end, rather than the
4722 start, of the loop---even though the test in a C @code{for}-loop is
4723 written before the body of the loop. The @code{until} command appeared
4724 to step back to the beginning of the loop when it advanced to this
4725 expression; however, it has not really gone to an earlier
4726 statement---not in terms of the actual machine code.
4727
4728 @code{until} with no argument works by means of single
4729 instruction stepping, and hence is slower than @code{until} with an
4730 argument.
4731
4732 @item until @var{location}
4733 @itemx u @var{location}
4734 Continue running your program until either the specified location is
4735 reached, or the current stack frame returns. @var{location} is any of
4736 the forms described in @ref{Specify Location}.
4737 This form of the command uses temporary breakpoints, and
4738 hence is quicker than @code{until} without an argument. The specified
4739 location is actually reached only if it is in the current frame. This
4740 implies that @code{until} can be used to skip over recursive function
4741 invocations. For instance in the code below, if the current location is
4742 line @code{96}, issuing @code{until 99} will execute the program up to
4743 line @code{99} in the same invocation of factorial, i.e., after the inner
4744 invocations have returned.
4745
4746 @smallexample
4747 94 int factorial (int value)
4748 95 @{
4749 96 if (value > 1) @{
4750 97 value *= factorial (value - 1);
4751 98 @}
4752 99 return (value);
4753 100 @}
4754 @end smallexample
4755
4756
4757 @kindex advance @var{location}
4758 @itemx advance @var{location}
4759 Continue running the program up to the given @var{location}. An argument is
4760 required, which should be of one of the forms described in
4761 @ref{Specify Location}.
4762 Execution will also stop upon exit from the current stack
4763 frame. This command is similar to @code{until}, but @code{advance} will
4764 not skip over recursive function calls, and the target location doesn't
4765 have to be in the same frame as the current one.
4766
4767
4768 @kindex stepi
4769 @kindex si @r{(@code{stepi})}
4770 @item stepi
4771 @itemx stepi @var{arg}
4772 @itemx si
4773 Execute one machine instruction, then stop and return to the debugger.
4774
4775 It is often useful to do @samp{display/i $pc} when stepping by machine
4776 instructions. This makes @value{GDBN} automatically display the next
4777 instruction to be executed, each time your program stops. @xref{Auto
4778 Display,, Automatic Display}.
4779
4780 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{step}.
4781
4782 @need 750
4783 @kindex nexti
4784 @kindex ni @r{(@code{nexti})}
4785 @item nexti
4786 @itemx nexti @var{arg}
4787 @itemx ni
4788 Execute one machine instruction, but if it is a function call,
4789 proceed until the function returns.
4790
4791 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{next}.
4792 @end table
4793
4794 @node Signals
4795 @section Signals
4796 @cindex signals
4797
4798 A signal is an asynchronous event that can happen in a program. The
4799 operating system defines the possible kinds of signals, and gives each
4800 kind a name and a number. For example, in Unix @code{SIGINT} is the
4801 signal a program gets when you type an interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c});
4802 @code{SIGSEGV} is the signal a program gets from referencing a place in
4803 memory far away from all the areas in use; @code{SIGALRM} occurs when
4804 the alarm clock timer goes off (which happens only if your program has
4805 requested an alarm).
4806
4807 @cindex fatal signals
4808 Some signals, including @code{SIGALRM}, are a normal part of the
4809 functioning of your program. Others, such as @code{SIGSEGV}, indicate
4810 errors; these signals are @dfn{fatal} (they kill your program immediately) if the
4811 program has not specified in advance some other way to handle the signal.
4812 @code{SIGINT} does not indicate an error in your program, but it is normally
4813 fatal so it can carry out the purpose of the interrupt: to kill the program.
4814
4815 @value{GDBN} has the ability to detect any occurrence of a signal in your
4816 program. You can tell @value{GDBN} in advance what to do for each kind of
4817 signal.
4818
4819 @cindex handling signals
4820 Normally, @value{GDBN} is set up to let the non-erroneous signals like
4821 @code{SIGALRM} be silently passed to your program
4822 (so as not to interfere with their role in the program's functioning)
4823 but to stop your program immediately whenever an error signal happens.
4824 You can change these settings with the @code{handle} command.
4825
4826 @table @code
4827 @kindex info signals
4828 @kindex info handle
4829 @item info signals
4830 @itemx info handle
4831 Print a table of all the kinds of signals and how @value{GDBN} has been told to
4832 handle each one. You can use this to see the signal numbers of all
4833 the defined types of signals.
4834
4835 @item info signals @var{sig}
4836 Similar, but print information only about the specified signal number.
4837
4838 @code{info handle} is an alias for @code{info signals}.
4839
4840 @kindex handle
4841 @item handle @var{signal} @r{[}@var{keywords}@dots{}@r{]}
4842 Change the way @value{GDBN} handles signal @var{signal}. @var{signal}
4843 can be the number of a signal or its name (with or without the
4844 @samp{SIG} at the beginning); a list of signal numbers of the form
4845 @samp{@var{low}-@var{high}}; or the word @samp{all}, meaning all the
4846 known signals. Optional arguments @var{keywords}, described below,
4847 say what change to make.
4848 @end table
4849
4850 @c @group
4851 The keywords allowed by the @code{handle} command can be abbreviated.
4852 Their full names are:
4853
4854 @table @code
4855 @item nostop
4856 @value{GDBN} should not stop your program when this signal happens. It may
4857 still print a message telling you that the signal has come in.
4858
4859 @item stop
4860 @value{GDBN} should stop your program when this signal happens. This implies
4861 the @code{print} keyword as well.
4862
4863 @item print
4864 @value{GDBN} should print a message when this signal happens.
4865
4866 @item noprint
4867 @value{GDBN} should not mention the occurrence of the signal at all. This
4868 implies the @code{nostop} keyword as well.
4869
4870 @item pass
4871 @itemx noignore
4872 @value{GDBN} should allow your program to see this signal; your program
4873 can handle the signal, or else it may terminate if the signal is fatal
4874 and not handled. @code{pass} and @code{noignore} are synonyms.
4875
4876 @item nopass
4877 @itemx ignore
4878 @value{GDBN} should not allow your program to see this signal.
4879 @code{nopass} and @code{ignore} are synonyms.
4880 @end table
4881 @c @end group
4882
4883 When a signal stops your program, the signal is not visible to the
4884 program until you
4885 continue. Your program sees the signal then, if @code{pass} is in
4886 effect for the signal in question @emph{at that time}. In other words,
4887 after @value{GDBN} reports a signal, you can use the @code{handle}
4888 command with @code{pass} or @code{nopass} to control whether your
4889 program sees that signal when you continue.
4890
4891 The default is set to @code{nostop}, @code{noprint}, @code{pass} for
4892 non-erroneous signals such as @code{SIGALRM}, @code{SIGWINCH} and
4893 @code{SIGCHLD}, and to @code{stop}, @code{print}, @code{pass} for the
4894 erroneous signals.
4895
4896 You can also use the @code{signal} command to prevent your program from
4897 seeing a signal, or cause it to see a signal it normally would not see,
4898 or to give it any signal at any time. For example, if your program stopped
4899 due to some sort of memory reference error, you might store correct
4900 values into the erroneous variables and continue, hoping to see more
4901 execution; but your program would probably terminate immediately as
4902 a result of the fatal signal once it saw the signal. To prevent this,
4903 you can continue with @samp{signal 0}. @xref{Signaling, ,Giving your
4904 Program a Signal}.
4905
4906 @cindex extra signal information
4907 @anchor{extra signal information}
4908
4909 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can inspect extra signal information
4910 associated with the intercepted signal, before it is actually
4911 delivered to the program being debugged. This information is exported
4912 by the convenience variable @code{$_siginfo}, and consists of data
4913 that is passed by the kernel to the signal handler at the time of the
4914 receipt of a signal. The data type of the information itself is
4915 target dependent. You can see the data type using the @code{ptype
4916 $_siginfo} command. On Unix systems, it typically corresponds to the
4917 standard @code{siginfo_t} type, as defined in the @file{signal.h}
4918 system header.
4919
4920 Here's an example, on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, printing the stray
4921 referenced address that raised a segmentation fault.
4922
4923 @smallexample
4924 @group
4925 (@value{GDBP}) continue
4926 Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
4927 0x0000000000400766 in main ()
4928 69 *(int *)p = 0;
4929 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo
4930 type = struct @{
4931 int si_signo;
4932 int si_errno;
4933 int si_code;
4934 union @{
4935 int _pad[28];
4936 struct @{...@} _kill;
4937 struct @{...@} _timer;
4938 struct @{...@} _rt;
4939 struct @{...@} _sigchld;
4940 struct @{...@} _sigfault;
4941 struct @{...@} _sigpoll;
4942 @} _sifields;
4943 @}
4944 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault
4945 type = struct @{
4946 void *si_addr;
4947 @}
4948 (@value{GDBP}) p $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault.si_addr
4949 $1 = (void *) 0x7ffff7ff7000
4950 @end group
4951 @end smallexample
4952
4953 Depending on target support, @code{$_siginfo} may also be writable.
4954
4955 @node Thread Stops
4956 @section Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs
4957
4958 @cindex stopped threads
4959 @cindex threads, stopped
4960
4961 @cindex continuing threads
4962 @cindex threads, continuing
4963
4964 @value{GDBN} supports debugging programs with multiple threads
4965 (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads}). There
4966 are two modes of controlling execution of your program within the
4967 debugger. In the default mode, referred to as @dfn{all-stop mode},
4968 when any thread in your program stops (for example, at a breakpoint
4969 or while being stepped), all other threads in the program are also stopped by
4970 @value{GDBN}. On some targets, @value{GDBN} also supports
4971 @dfn{non-stop mode}, in which other threads can continue to run freely while
4972 you examine the stopped thread in the debugger.
4973
4974 @menu
4975 * All-Stop Mode:: All threads stop when GDB takes control
4976 * Non-Stop Mode:: Other threads continue to execute
4977 * Background Execution:: Running your program asynchronously
4978 * Thread-Specific Breakpoints:: Controlling breakpoints
4979 * Interrupted System Calls:: GDB may interfere with system calls
4980 * Observer Mode:: GDB does not alter program behavior
4981 @end menu
4982
4983 @node All-Stop Mode
4984 @subsection All-Stop Mode
4985
4986 @cindex all-stop mode
4987
4988 In all-stop mode, whenever your program stops under @value{GDBN} for any reason,
4989 @emph{all} threads of execution stop, not just the current thread. This
4990 allows you to examine the overall state of the program, including
4991 switching between threads, without worrying that things may change
4992 underfoot.
4993
4994 Conversely, whenever you restart the program, @emph{all} threads start
4995 executing. @emph{This is true even when single-stepping} with commands
4996 like @code{step} or @code{next}.
4997
4998 In particular, @value{GDBN} cannot single-step all threads in lockstep.
4999 Since thread scheduling is up to your debugging target's operating
5000 system (not controlled by @value{GDBN}), other threads may
5001 execute more than one statement while the current thread completes a
5002 single step. Moreover, in general other threads stop in the middle of a
5003 statement, rather than at a clean statement boundary, when the program
5004 stops.
5005
5006 You might even find your program stopped in another thread after
5007 continuing or even single-stepping. This happens whenever some other
5008 thread runs into a breakpoint, a signal, or an exception before the
5009 first thread completes whatever you requested.
5010
5011 @cindex automatic thread selection
5012 @cindex switching threads automatically
5013 @cindex threads, automatic switching
5014 Whenever @value{GDBN} stops your program, due to a breakpoint or a
5015 signal, it automatically selects the thread where that breakpoint or
5016 signal happened. @value{GDBN} alerts you to the context switch with a
5017 message such as @samp{[Switching to Thread @var{n}]} to identify the
5018 thread.
5019
5020 On some OSes, you can modify @value{GDBN}'s default behavior by
5021 locking the OS scheduler to allow only a single thread to run.
5022
5023 @table @code
5024 @item set scheduler-locking @var{mode}
5025 @cindex scheduler locking mode
5026 @cindex lock scheduler
5027 Set the scheduler locking mode. If it is @code{off}, then there is no
5028 locking and any thread may run at any time. If @code{on}, then only the
5029 current thread may run when the inferior is resumed. The @code{step}
5030 mode optimizes for single-stepping; it prevents other threads
5031 from preempting the current thread while you are stepping, so that
5032 the focus of debugging does not change unexpectedly.
5033 Other threads only rarely (or never) get a chance to run
5034 when you step. They are more likely to run when you @samp{next} over a
5035 function call, and they are completely free to run when you use commands
5036 like @samp{continue}, @samp{until}, or @samp{finish}. However, unless another
5037 thread hits a breakpoint during its timeslice, @value{GDBN} does not change
5038 the current thread away from the thread that you are debugging.
5039
5040 @item show scheduler-locking
5041 Display the current scheduler locking mode.
5042 @end table
5043
5044 @cindex resume threads of multiple processes simultaneously
5045 By default, when you issue one of the execution commands such as
5046 @code{continue}, @code{next} or @code{step}, @value{GDBN} allows only
5047 threads of the current inferior to run. For example, if @value{GDBN}
5048 is attached to two inferiors, each with two threads, the
5049 @code{continue} command resumes only the two threads of the current
5050 inferior. This is useful, for example, when you debug a program that
5051 forks and you want to hold the parent stopped (so that, for instance,
5052 it doesn't run to exit), while you debug the child. In other
5053 situations, you may not be interested in inspecting the current state
5054 of any of the processes @value{GDBN} is attached to, and you may want
5055 to resume them all until some breakpoint is hit. In the latter case,
5056 you can instruct @value{GDBN} to allow all threads of all the
5057 inferiors to run with the @w{@code{set schedule-multiple}} command.
5058
5059 @table @code
5060 @kindex set schedule-multiple
5061 @item set schedule-multiple
5062 Set the mode for allowing threads of multiple processes to be resumed
5063 when an execution command is issued. When @code{on}, all threads of
5064 all processes are allowed to run. When @code{off}, only the threads
5065 of the current process are resumed. The default is @code{off}. The
5066 @code{scheduler-locking} mode takes precedence when set to @code{on},
5067 or while you are stepping and set to @code{step}.
5068
5069 @item show schedule-multiple
5070 Display the current mode for resuming the execution of threads of
5071 multiple processes.
5072 @end table
5073
5074 @node Non-Stop Mode
5075 @subsection Non-Stop Mode
5076
5077 @cindex non-stop mode
5078
5079 @c This section is really only a place-holder, and needs to be expanded
5080 @c with more details.
5081
5082 For some multi-threaded targets, @value{GDBN} supports an optional
5083 mode of operation in which you can examine stopped program threads in
5084 the debugger while other threads continue to execute freely. This
5085 minimizes intrusion when debugging live systems, such as programs
5086 where some threads have real-time constraints or must continue to
5087 respond to external events. This is referred to as @dfn{non-stop} mode.
5088
5089 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops to report a debugging event,
5090 @emph{only} that thread is stopped; @value{GDBN} does not stop other
5091 threads as well, in contrast to the all-stop mode behavior. Additionally,
5092 execution commands such as @code{continue} and @code{step} apply by default
5093 only to the current thread in non-stop mode, rather than all threads as
5094 in all-stop mode. This allows you to control threads explicitly in
5095 ways that are not possible in all-stop mode --- for example, stepping
5096 one thread while allowing others to run freely, stepping
5097 one thread while holding all others stopped, or stepping several threads
5098 independently and simultaneously.
5099
5100 To enter non-stop mode, use this sequence of commands before you run
5101 or attach to your program:
5102
5103 @smallexample
5104 # Enable the async interface.
5105 set target-async 1
5106
5107 # If using the CLI, pagination breaks non-stop.
5108 set pagination off
5109
5110 # Finally, turn it on!
5111 set non-stop on
5112 @end smallexample
5113
5114 You can use these commands to manipulate the non-stop mode setting:
5115
5116 @table @code
5117 @kindex set non-stop
5118 @item set non-stop on
5119 Enable selection of non-stop mode.
5120 @item set non-stop off
5121 Disable selection of non-stop mode.
5122 @kindex show non-stop
5123 @item show non-stop
5124 Show the current non-stop enablement setting.
5125 @end table
5126
5127 Note these commands only reflect whether non-stop mode is enabled,
5128 not whether the currently-executing program is being run in non-stop mode.
5129 In particular, the @code{set non-stop} preference is only consulted when
5130 @value{GDBN} starts or connects to the target program, and it is generally
5131 not possible to switch modes once debugging has started. Furthermore,
5132 since not all targets support non-stop mode, even when you have enabled
5133 non-stop mode, @value{GDBN} may still fall back to all-stop operation by
5134 default.
5135
5136 In non-stop mode, all execution commands apply only to the current thread
5137 by default. That is, @code{continue} only continues one thread.
5138 To continue all threads, issue @code{continue -a} or @code{c -a}.
5139
5140 You can use @value{GDBN}'s background execution commands
5141 (@pxref{Background Execution}) to run some threads in the background
5142 while you continue to examine or step others from @value{GDBN}.
5143 The MI execution commands (@pxref{GDB/MI Program Execution}) are
5144 always executed asynchronously in non-stop mode.
5145
5146 Suspending execution is done with the @code{interrupt} command when
5147 running in the background, or @kbd{Ctrl-c} during foreground execution.
5148 In all-stop mode, this stops the whole process;
5149 but in non-stop mode the interrupt applies only to the current thread.
5150 To stop the whole program, use @code{interrupt -a}.
5151
5152 Other execution commands do not currently support the @code{-a} option.
5153
5154 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops, @value{GDBN} doesn't automatically make
5155 that thread current, as it does in all-stop mode. This is because the
5156 thread stop notifications are asynchronous with respect to @value{GDBN}'s
5157 command interpreter, and it would be confusing if @value{GDBN} unexpectedly
5158 changed to a different thread just as you entered a command to operate on the
5159 previously current thread.
5160
5161 @node Background Execution
5162 @subsection Background Execution
5163
5164 @cindex foreground execution
5165 @cindex background execution
5166 @cindex asynchronous execution
5167 @cindex execution, foreground, background and asynchronous
5168
5169 @value{GDBN}'s execution commands have two variants: the normal
5170 foreground (synchronous) behavior, and a background
5171 (asynchronous) behavior. In foreground execution, @value{GDBN} waits for
5172 the program to report that some thread has stopped before prompting for
5173 another command. In background execution, @value{GDBN} immediately gives
5174 a command prompt so that you can issue other commands while your program runs.
5175
5176 You need to explicitly enable asynchronous mode before you can use
5177 background execution commands. You can use these commands to
5178 manipulate the asynchronous mode setting:
5179
5180 @table @code
5181 @kindex set target-async
5182 @item set target-async on
5183 Enable asynchronous mode.
5184 @item set target-async off
5185 Disable asynchronous mode.
5186 @kindex show target-async
5187 @item show target-async
5188 Show the current target-async setting.
5189 @end table
5190
5191 If the target doesn't support async mode, @value{GDBN} issues an error
5192 message if you attempt to use the background execution commands.
5193
5194 To specify background execution, add a @code{&} to the command. For example,
5195 the background form of the @code{continue} command is @code{continue&}, or
5196 just @code{c&}. The execution commands that accept background execution
5197 are:
5198
5199 @table @code
5200 @kindex run&
5201 @item run
5202 @xref{Starting, , Starting your Program}.
5203
5204 @item attach
5205 @kindex attach&
5206 @xref{Attach, , Debugging an Already-running Process}.
5207
5208 @item step
5209 @kindex step&
5210 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, step}.
5211
5212 @item stepi
5213 @kindex stepi&
5214 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, stepi}.
5215
5216 @item next
5217 @kindex next&
5218 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, next}.
5219
5220 @item nexti
5221 @kindex nexti&
5222 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, nexti}.
5223
5224 @item continue
5225 @kindex continue&
5226 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, continue}.
5227
5228 @item finish
5229 @kindex finish&
5230 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, finish}.
5231
5232 @item until
5233 @kindex until&
5234 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, until}.
5235
5236 @end table
5237
5238 Background execution is especially useful in conjunction with non-stop
5239 mode for debugging programs with multiple threads; see @ref{Non-Stop Mode}.
5240 However, you can also use these commands in the normal all-stop mode with
5241 the restriction that you cannot issue another execution command until the
5242 previous one finishes. Examples of commands that are valid in all-stop
5243 mode while the program is running include @code{help} and @code{info break}.
5244
5245 You can interrupt your program while it is running in the background by
5246 using the @code{interrupt} command.
5247
5248 @table @code
5249 @kindex interrupt
5250 @item interrupt
5251 @itemx interrupt -a
5252
5253 Suspend execution of the running program. In all-stop mode,
5254 @code{interrupt} stops the whole process, but in non-stop mode, it stops
5255 only the current thread. To stop the whole program in non-stop mode,
5256 use @code{interrupt -a}.
5257 @end table
5258
5259 @node Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5260 @subsection Thread-Specific Breakpoints
5261
5262 When your program has multiple threads (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging
5263 Programs with Multiple Threads}), you can choose whether to set
5264 breakpoints on all threads, or on a particular thread.
5265
5266 @table @code
5267 @cindex breakpoints and threads
5268 @cindex thread breakpoints
5269 @kindex break @dots{} thread @var{threadno}
5270 @item break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno}
5271 @itemx break @var{linespec} thread @var{threadno} if @dots{}
5272 @var{linespec} specifies source lines; there are several ways of
5273 writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always to
5274 specify some source line.
5275
5276 Use the qualifier @samp{thread @var{threadno}} with a breakpoint command
5277 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
5278 particular thread reaches this breakpoint. @var{threadno} is one of the
5279 numeric thread identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
5280 column of the @samp{info threads} display.
5281
5282 If you do not specify @samp{thread @var{threadno}} when you set a
5283 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} threads of your
5284 program.
5285
5286 You can use the @code{thread} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
5287 well; in this case, place @samp{thread @var{threadno}} before or
5288 after the breakpoint condition, like this:
5289
5290 @smallexample
5291 (@value{GDBP}) break frik.c:13 thread 28 if bartab > lim
5292 @end smallexample
5293
5294 @end table
5295
5296 @node Interrupted System Calls
5297 @subsection Interrupted System Calls
5298
5299 @cindex thread breakpoints and system calls
5300 @cindex system calls and thread breakpoints
5301 @cindex premature return from system calls
5302 There is an unfortunate side effect when using @value{GDBN} to debug
5303 multi-threaded programs. If one thread stops for a
5304 breakpoint, or for some other reason, and another thread is blocked in a
5305 system call, then the system call may return prematurely. This is a
5306 consequence of the interaction between multiple threads and the signals
5307 that @value{GDBN} uses to implement breakpoints and other events that
5308 stop execution.
5309
5310 To handle this problem, your program should check the return value of
5311 each system call and react appropriately. This is good programming
5312 style anyways.
5313
5314 For example, do not write code like this:
5315
5316 @smallexample
5317 sleep (10);
5318 @end smallexample
5319
5320 The call to @code{sleep} will return early if a different thread stops
5321 at a breakpoint or for some other reason.
5322
5323 Instead, write this:
5324
5325 @smallexample
5326 int unslept = 10;
5327 while (unslept > 0)
5328 unslept = sleep (unslept);
5329 @end smallexample
5330
5331 A system call is allowed to return early, so the system is still
5332 conforming to its specification. But @value{GDBN} does cause your
5333 multi-threaded program to behave differently than it would without
5334 @value{GDBN}.
5335
5336 Also, @value{GDBN} uses internal breakpoints in the thread library to
5337 monitor certain events such as thread creation and thread destruction.
5338 When such an event happens, a system call in another thread may return
5339 prematurely, even though your program does not appear to stop.
5340
5341 @node Observer Mode
5342 @subsection Observer Mode
5343
5344 If you want to build on non-stop mode and observe program behavior
5345 without any chance of disruption by @value{GDBN}, you can set
5346 variables to disable all of the debugger's attempts to modify state,
5347 whether by writing memory, inserting breakpoints, etc. These operate
5348 at a low level, intercepting operations from all commands.
5349
5350 When all of these are set to @code{off}, then @value{GDBN} is said to
5351 be @dfn{observer mode}. As a convenience, the variable
5352 @code{observer} can be set to disable these, plus enable non-stop
5353 mode.
5354
5355 Note that @value{GDBN} will not prevent you from making nonsensical
5356 combinations of these settings. For instance, if you have enabled
5357 @code{may-insert-breakpoints} but disabled @code{may-write-memory},
5358 then breakpoints that work by writing trap instructions into the code
5359 stream will still not be able to be placed.
5360
5361 @table @code
5362
5363 @kindex observer
5364 @item set observer on
5365 @itemx set observer off
5366 When set to @code{on}, this disables all the permission variables
5367 below (except for @code{insert-fast-tracepoints}), plus enables
5368 non-stop debugging. Setting this to @code{off} switches back to
5369 normal debugging, though remaining in non-stop mode.
5370
5371 @item show observer
5372 Show whether observer mode is on or off.
5373
5374 @kindex may-write-registers
5375 @item set may-write-registers on
5376 @itemx set may-write-registers off
5377 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the values of
5378 registers, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}, or the
5379 @code{jump} command. It defaults to @code{on}.
5380
5381 @item show may-write-registers
5382 Show the current permission to write registers.
5383
5384 @kindex may-write-memory
5385 @item set may-write-memory on
5386 @itemx set may-write-memory off
5387 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the contents
5388 of memory, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}. It
5389 defaults to @code{on}.
5390
5391 @item show may-write-memory
5392 Show the current permission to write memory.
5393
5394 @kindex may-insert-breakpoints
5395 @item set may-insert-breakpoints on
5396 @itemx set may-insert-breakpoints off
5397 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert breakpoints.
5398 This affects all breakpoints, including internal breakpoints defined
5399 by @value{GDBN}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5400
5401 @item show may-insert-breakpoints
5402 Show the current permission to insert breakpoints.
5403
5404 @kindex may-insert-tracepoints
5405 @item set may-insert-tracepoints on
5406 @itemx set may-insert-tracepoints off
5407 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert (regular)
5408 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
5409 non-fast tracepoints, fast tracepoints being under the control of
5410 @code{may-insert-fast-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5411
5412 @item show may-insert-tracepoints
5413 Show the current permission to insert tracepoints.
5414
5415 @kindex may-insert-fast-tracepoints
5416 @item set may-insert-fast-tracepoints on
5417 @itemx set may-insert-fast-tracepoints off
5418 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert fast
5419 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
5420 fast tracepoints, regular (non-fast) tracepoints being under the
5421 control of @code{may-insert-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5422
5423 @item show may-insert-fast-tracepoints
5424 Show the current permission to insert fast tracepoints.
5425
5426 @kindex may-interrupt
5427 @item set may-interrupt on
5428 @itemx set may-interrupt off
5429 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to interrupt or stop
5430 program execution. When this variable is @code{off}, the
5431 @code{interrupt} command will have no effect, nor will
5432 @kbd{Ctrl-c}. It defaults to @code{on}.
5433
5434 @item show may-interrupt
5435 Show the current permission to interrupt or stop the program.
5436
5437 @end table
5438
5439 @node Reverse Execution
5440 @chapter Running programs backward
5441 @cindex reverse execution
5442 @cindex running programs backward
5443
5444 When you are debugging a program, it is not unusual to realize that
5445 you have gone too far, and some event of interest has already happened.
5446 If the target environment supports it, @value{GDBN} can allow you to
5447 ``rewind'' the program by running it backward.
5448
5449 A target environment that supports reverse execution should be able
5450 to ``undo'' the changes in machine state that have taken place as the
5451 program was executing normally. Variables, registers etc.@: should
5452 revert to their previous values. Obviously this requires a great
5453 deal of sophistication on the part of the target environment; not
5454 all target environments can support reverse execution.
5455
5456 When a program is executed in reverse, the instructions that
5457 have most recently been executed are ``un-executed'', in reverse
5458 order. The program counter runs backward, following the previous
5459 thread of execution in reverse. As each instruction is ``un-executed'',
5460 the values of memory and/or registers that were changed by that
5461 instruction are reverted to their previous states. After executing
5462 a piece of source code in reverse, all side effects of that code
5463 should be ``undone'', and all variables should be returned to their
5464 prior values@footnote{
5465 Note that some side effects are easier to undo than others. For instance,
5466 memory and registers are relatively easy, but device I/O is hard. Some
5467 targets may be able undo things like device I/O, and some may not.
5468
5469 The contract between @value{GDBN} and the reverse executing target
5470 requires only that the target do something reasonable when
5471 @value{GDBN} tells it to execute backwards, and then report the
5472 results back to @value{GDBN}. Whatever the target reports back to
5473 @value{GDBN}, @value{GDBN} will report back to the user. @value{GDBN}
5474 assumes that the memory and registers that the target reports are in a
5475 consistant state, but @value{GDBN} accepts whatever it is given.
5476 }.
5477
5478 If you are debugging in a target environment that supports
5479 reverse execution, @value{GDBN} provides the following commands.
5480
5481 @table @code
5482 @kindex reverse-continue
5483 @kindex rc @r{(@code{reverse-continue})}
5484 @item reverse-continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5485 @itemx rc @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5486 Beginning at the point where your program last stopped, start executing
5487 in reverse. Reverse execution will stop for breakpoints and synchronous
5488 exceptions (signals), just like normal execution. Behavior of
5489 asynchronous signals depends on the target environment.
5490
5491 @kindex reverse-step
5492 @kindex rs @r{(@code{step})}
5493 @item reverse-step @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5494 Run the program backward until control reaches the start of a
5495 different source line; then stop it, and return control to @value{GDBN}.
5496
5497 Like the @code{step} command, @code{reverse-step} will only stop
5498 at the beginning of a source line. It ``un-executes'' the previously
5499 executed source line. If the previous source line included calls to
5500 debuggable functions, @code{reverse-step} will step (backward) into
5501 the called function, stopping at the beginning of the @emph{last}
5502 statement in the called function (typically a return statement).
5503
5504 Also, as with the @code{step} command, if non-debuggable functions are
5505 called, @code{reverse-step} will run thru them backward without stopping.
5506
5507 @kindex reverse-stepi
5508 @kindex rsi @r{(@code{reverse-stepi})}
5509 @item reverse-stepi @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5510 Reverse-execute one machine instruction. Note that the instruction
5511 to be reverse-executed is @emph{not} the one pointed to by the program
5512 counter, but the instruction executed prior to that one. For instance,
5513 if the last instruction was a jump, @code{reverse-stepi} will take you
5514 back from the destination of the jump to the jump instruction itself.
5515
5516 @kindex reverse-next
5517 @kindex rn @r{(@code{reverse-next})}
5518 @item reverse-next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5519 Run backward to the beginning of the previous line executed in
5520 the current (innermost) stack frame. If the line contains function
5521 calls, they will be ``un-executed'' without stopping. Starting from
5522 the first line of a function, @code{reverse-next} will take you back
5523 to the caller of that function, @emph{before} the function was called,
5524 just as the normal @code{next} command would take you from the last
5525 line of a function back to its return to its caller
5526 @footnote{Unless the code is too heavily optimized.}.
5527
5528 @kindex reverse-nexti
5529 @kindex rni @r{(@code{reverse-nexti})}
5530 @item reverse-nexti @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5531 Like @code{nexti}, @code{reverse-nexti} executes a single instruction
5532 in reverse, except that called functions are ``un-executed'' atomically.
5533 That is, if the previously executed instruction was a return from
5534 another function, @code{reverse-nexti} will continue to execute
5535 in reverse until the call to that function (from the current stack
5536 frame) is reached.
5537
5538 @kindex reverse-finish
5539 @item reverse-finish
5540 Just as the @code{finish} command takes you to the point where the
5541 current function returns, @code{reverse-finish} takes you to the point
5542 where it was called. Instead of ending up at the end of the current
5543 function invocation, you end up at the beginning.
5544
5545 @kindex set exec-direction
5546 @item set exec-direction
5547 Set the direction of target execution.
5548 @itemx set exec-direction reverse
5549 @cindex execute forward or backward in time
5550 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in reverse, until the
5551 exec-direction mode is changed to ``forward''. Affected commands include
5552 @code{step, stepi, next, nexti, continue, and finish}. The @code{return}
5553 command cannot be used in reverse mode.
5554 @item set exec-direction forward
5555 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in the normal fashion.
5556 This is the default.
5557 @end table
5558
5559
5560 @node Process Record and Replay
5561 @chapter Recording Inferior's Execution and Replaying It
5562 @cindex process record and replay
5563 @cindex recording inferior's execution and replaying it
5564
5565 On some platforms, @value{GDBN} provides a special @dfn{process record
5566 and replay} target that can record a log of the process execution, and
5567 replay it later with both forward and reverse execution commands.
5568
5569 @cindex replay mode
5570 When this target is in use, if the execution log includes the record
5571 for the next instruction, @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{replay
5572 mode}. In the replay mode, the inferior does not really execute code
5573 instructions. Instead, all the events that normally happen during
5574 code execution are taken from the execution log. While code is not
5575 really executed in replay mode, the values of registers (including the
5576 program counter register) and the memory of the inferior are still
5577 changed as they normally would. Their contents are taken from the
5578 execution log.
5579
5580 @cindex record mode
5581 If the record for the next instruction is not in the execution log,
5582 @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{record mode}. In this mode, the
5583 inferior executes normally, and @value{GDBN} records the execution log
5584 for future replay.
5585
5586 The process record and replay target supports reverse execution
5587 (@pxref{Reverse Execution}), even if the platform on which the
5588 inferior runs does not. However, the reverse execution is limited in
5589 this case by the range of the instructions recorded in the execution
5590 log. In other words, reverse execution on platforms that don't
5591 support it directly can only be done in the replay mode.
5592
5593 When debugging in the reverse direction, @value{GDBN} will work in
5594 replay mode as long as the execution log includes the record for the
5595 previous instruction; otherwise, it will work in record mode, if the
5596 platform supports reverse execution, or stop if not.
5597
5598 For architecture environments that support process record and replay,
5599 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands:
5600
5601 @table @code
5602 @kindex target record
5603 @kindex record
5604 @kindex rec
5605 @item target record
5606 This command starts the process record and replay target. The process
5607 record and replay target can only debug a process that is already
5608 running. Therefore, you need first to start the process with the
5609 @kbd{run} or @kbd{start} commands, and then start the recording with
5610 the @kbd{target record} command.
5611
5612 Both @code{record} and @code{rec} are aliases of @code{target record}.
5613
5614 @cindex displaced stepping, and process record and replay
5615 Displaced stepping (@pxref{Maintenance Commands,, displaced stepping})
5616 will be automatically disabled when process record and replay target
5617 is started. That's because the process record and replay target
5618 doesn't support displaced stepping.
5619
5620 @cindex non-stop mode, and process record and replay
5621 @cindex asynchronous execution, and process record and replay
5622 If the inferior is in the non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) or in
5623 the asynchronous execution mode (@pxref{Background Execution}), the
5624 process record and replay target cannot be started because it doesn't
5625 support these two modes.
5626
5627 @kindex record stop
5628 @kindex rec s
5629 @item record stop
5630 Stop the process record and replay target. When process record and
5631 replay target stops, the entire execution log will be deleted and the
5632 inferior will either be terminated, or will remain in its final state.
5633
5634 When you stop the process record and replay target in record mode (at
5635 the end of the execution log), the inferior will be stopped at the
5636 next instruction that would have been recorded. In other words, if
5637 you record for a while and then stop recording, the inferior process
5638 will be left in the same state as if the recording never happened.
5639
5640 On the other hand, if the process record and replay target is stopped
5641 while in replay mode (that is, not at the end of the execution log,
5642 but at some earlier point), the inferior process will become ``live''
5643 at that earlier state, and it will then be possible to continue the
5644 usual ``live'' debugging of the process from that state.
5645
5646 When the inferior process exits, or @value{GDBN} detaches from it,
5647 process record and replay target will automatically stop itself.
5648
5649 @kindex record save
5650 @item record save @var{filename}
5651 Save the execution log to a file @file{@var{filename}}.
5652 Default filename is @file{gdb_record.@var{process_id}}, where
5653 @var{process_id} is the process ID of the inferior.
5654
5655 @kindex record restore
5656 @item record restore @var{filename}
5657 Restore the execution log from a file @file{@var{filename}}.
5658 File must have been created with @code{record save}.
5659
5660 @kindex set record insn-number-max
5661 @item set record insn-number-max @var{limit}
5662 Set the limit of instructions to be recorded. Default value is 200000.
5663
5664 If @var{limit} is a positive number, then @value{GDBN} will start
5665 deleting instructions from the log once the number of the record
5666 instructions becomes greater than @var{limit}. For every new recorded
5667 instruction, @value{GDBN} will delete the earliest recorded
5668 instruction to keep the number of recorded instructions at the limit.
5669 (Since deleting recorded instructions loses information, @value{GDBN}
5670 lets you control what happens when the limit is reached, by means of
5671 the @code{stop-at-limit} option, described below.)
5672
5673 If @var{limit} is zero, @value{GDBN} will never delete recorded
5674 instructions from the execution log. The number of recorded
5675 instructions is unlimited in this case.
5676
5677 @kindex show record insn-number-max
5678 @item show record insn-number-max
5679 Show the limit of instructions to be recorded.
5680
5681 @kindex set record stop-at-limit
5682 @item set record stop-at-limit
5683 Control the behavior when the number of recorded instructions reaches
5684 the limit. If ON (the default), @value{GDBN} will stop when the limit
5685 is reached for the first time and ask you whether you want to stop the
5686 inferior or continue running it and recording the execution log. If
5687 you decide to continue recording, each new recorded instruction will
5688 cause the oldest one to be deleted.
5689
5690 If this option is OFF, @value{GDBN} will automatically delete the
5691 oldest record to make room for each new one, without asking.
5692
5693 @kindex show record stop-at-limit
5694 @item show record stop-at-limit
5695 Show the current setting of @code{stop-at-limit}.
5696
5697 @kindex set record memory-query
5698 @item set record memory-query
5699 Control the behavior when @value{GDBN} is unable to record memory
5700 changes caused by an instruction. If ON, @value{GDBN} will query
5701 whether to stop the inferior in that case.
5702
5703 If this option is OFF (the default), @value{GDBN} will automatically
5704 ignore the effect of such instructions on memory. Later, when
5705 @value{GDBN} replays this execution log, it will mark the log of this
5706 instruction as not accessible, and it will not affect the replay
5707 results.
5708
5709 @kindex show record memory-query
5710 @item show record memory-query
5711 Show the current setting of @code{memory-query}.
5712
5713 @kindex info record
5714 @item info record
5715 Show various statistics about the state of process record and its
5716 in-memory execution log buffer, including:
5717
5718 @itemize @bullet
5719 @item
5720 Whether in record mode or replay mode.
5721 @item
5722 Lowest recorded instruction number (counting from when the current execution log started recording instructions).
5723 @item
5724 Highest recorded instruction number.
5725 @item
5726 Current instruction about to be replayed (if in replay mode).
5727 @item
5728 Number of instructions contained in the execution log.
5729 @item
5730 Maximum number of instructions that may be contained in the execution log.
5731 @end itemize
5732
5733 @kindex record delete
5734 @kindex rec del
5735 @item record delete
5736 When record target runs in replay mode (``in the past''), delete the
5737 subsequent execution log and begin to record a new execution log starting
5738 from the current address. This means you will abandon the previously
5739 recorded ``future'' and begin recording a new ``future''.
5740 @end table
5741
5742
5743 @node Stack
5744 @chapter Examining the Stack
5745
5746 When your program has stopped, the first thing you need to know is where it
5747 stopped and how it got there.
5748
5749 @cindex call stack
5750 Each time your program performs a function call, information about the call
5751 is generated.
5752 That information includes the location of the call in your program,
5753 the arguments of the call,
5754 and the local variables of the function being called.
5755 The information is saved in a block of data called a @dfn{stack frame}.
5756 The stack frames are allocated in a region of memory called the @dfn{call
5757 stack}.
5758
5759 When your program stops, the @value{GDBN} commands for examining the
5760 stack allow you to see all of this information.
5761
5762 @cindex selected frame
5763 One of the stack frames is @dfn{selected} by @value{GDBN} and many
5764 @value{GDBN} commands refer implicitly to the selected frame. In
5765 particular, whenever you ask @value{GDBN} for the value of a variable in
5766 your program, the value is found in the selected frame. There are
5767 special @value{GDBN} commands to select whichever frame you are
5768 interested in. @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
5769
5770 When your program stops, @value{GDBN} automatically selects the
5771 currently executing frame and describes it briefly, similar to the
5772 @code{frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}).
5773
5774 @menu
5775 * Frames:: Stack frames
5776 * Backtrace:: Backtraces
5777 * Selection:: Selecting a frame
5778 * Frame Info:: Information on a frame
5779
5780 @end menu
5781
5782 @node Frames
5783 @section Stack Frames
5784
5785 @cindex frame, definition
5786 @cindex stack frame
5787 The call stack is divided up into contiguous pieces called @dfn{stack
5788 frames}, or @dfn{frames} for short; each frame is the data associated
5789 with one call to one function. The frame contains the arguments given
5790 to the function, the function's local variables, and the address at
5791 which the function is executing.
5792
5793 @cindex initial frame
5794 @cindex outermost frame
5795 @cindex innermost frame
5796 When your program is started, the stack has only one frame, that of the
5797 function @code{main}. This is called the @dfn{initial} frame or the
5798 @dfn{outermost} frame. Each time a function is called, a new frame is
5799 made. Each time a function returns, the frame for that function invocation
5800 is eliminated. If a function is recursive, there can be many frames for
5801 the same function. The frame for the function in which execution is
5802 actually occurring is called the @dfn{innermost} frame. This is the most
5803 recently created of all the stack frames that still exist.
5804
5805 @cindex frame pointer
5806 Inside your program, stack frames are identified by their addresses. A
5807 stack frame consists of many bytes, each of which has its own address; each
5808 kind of computer has a convention for choosing one byte whose
5809 address serves as the address of the frame. Usually this address is kept
5810 in a register called the @dfn{frame pointer register}
5811 (@pxref{Registers, $fp}) while execution is going on in that frame.
5812
5813 @cindex frame number
5814 @value{GDBN} assigns numbers to all existing stack frames, starting with
5815 zero for the innermost frame, one for the frame that called it,
5816 and so on upward. These numbers do not really exist in your program;
5817 they are assigned by @value{GDBN} to give you a way of designating stack
5818 frames in @value{GDBN} commands.
5819
5820 @c The -fomit-frame-pointer below perennially causes hbox overflow
5821 @c underflow problems.
5822 @cindex frameless execution
5823 Some compilers provide a way to compile functions so that they operate
5824 without stack frames. (For example, the @value{NGCC} option
5825 @smallexample
5826 @samp{-fomit-frame-pointer}
5827 @end smallexample
5828 generates functions without a frame.)
5829 This is occasionally done with heavily used library functions to save
5830 the frame setup time. @value{GDBN} has limited facilities for dealing
5831 with these function invocations. If the innermost function invocation
5832 has no stack frame, @value{GDBN} nevertheless regards it as though
5833 it had a separate frame, which is numbered zero as usual, allowing
5834 correct tracing of the function call chain. However, @value{GDBN} has
5835 no provision for frameless functions elsewhere in the stack.
5836
5837 @table @code
5838 @kindex frame@r{, command}
5839 @cindex current stack frame
5840 @item frame @var{args}
5841 The @code{frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame to another,
5842 and to print the stack frame you select. @var{args} may be either the
5843 address of the frame or the stack frame number. Without an argument,
5844 @code{frame} prints the current stack frame.
5845
5846 @kindex select-frame
5847 @cindex selecting frame silently
5848 @item select-frame
5849 The @code{select-frame} command allows you to move from one stack frame
5850 to another without printing the frame. This is the silent version of
5851 @code{frame}.
5852 @end table
5853
5854 @node Backtrace
5855 @section Backtraces
5856
5857 @cindex traceback
5858 @cindex call stack traces
5859 A backtrace is a summary of how your program got where it is. It shows one
5860 line per frame, for many frames, starting with the currently executing
5861 frame (frame zero), followed by its caller (frame one), and on up the
5862 stack.
5863
5864 @table @code
5865 @kindex backtrace
5866 @kindex bt @r{(@code{backtrace})}
5867 @item backtrace
5868 @itemx bt
5869 Print a backtrace of the entire stack: one line per frame for all
5870 frames in the stack.
5871
5872 You can stop the backtrace at any time by typing the system interrupt
5873 character, normally @kbd{Ctrl-c}.
5874
5875 @item backtrace @var{n}
5876 @itemx bt @var{n}
5877 Similar, but print only the innermost @var{n} frames.
5878
5879 @item backtrace -@var{n}
5880 @itemx bt -@var{n}
5881 Similar, but print only the outermost @var{n} frames.
5882
5883 @item backtrace full
5884 @itemx bt full
5885 @itemx bt full @var{n}
5886 @itemx bt full -@var{n}
5887 Print the values of the local variables also. @var{n} specifies the
5888 number of frames to print, as described above.
5889 @end table
5890
5891 @kindex where
5892 @kindex info stack
5893 The names @code{where} and @code{info stack} (abbreviated @code{info s})
5894 are additional aliases for @code{backtrace}.
5895
5896 @cindex multiple threads, backtrace
5897 In a multi-threaded program, @value{GDBN} by default shows the
5898 backtrace only for the current thread. To display the backtrace for
5899 several or all of the threads, use the command @code{thread apply}
5900 (@pxref{Threads, thread apply}). For example, if you type @kbd{thread
5901 apply all backtrace}, @value{GDBN} will display the backtrace for all
5902 the threads; this is handy when you debug a core dump of a
5903 multi-threaded program.
5904
5905 Each line in the backtrace shows the frame number and the function name.
5906 The program counter value is also shown---unless you use @code{set
5907 print address off}. The backtrace also shows the source file name and
5908 line number, as well as the arguments to the function. The program
5909 counter value is omitted if it is at the beginning of the code for that
5910 line number.
5911
5912 Here is an example of a backtrace. It was made with the command
5913 @samp{bt 3}, so it shows the innermost three frames.
5914
5915 @smallexample
5916 @group
5917 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
5918 at builtin.c:993
5919 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=0x2b600, data=...) at macro.c:242
5920 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=177664, td=0xf7fffb08)
5921 at macro.c:71
5922 (More stack frames follow...)
5923 @end group
5924 @end smallexample
5925
5926 @noindent
5927 The display for frame zero does not begin with a program counter
5928 value, indicating that your program has stopped at the beginning of the
5929 code for line @code{993} of @code{builtin.c}.
5930
5931 @noindent
5932 The value of parameter @code{data} in frame 1 has been replaced by
5933 @code{@dots{}}. By default, @value{GDBN} prints the value of a parameter
5934 only if it is a scalar (integer, pointer, enumeration, etc). See command
5935 @kbd{set print frame-arguments} in @ref{Print Settings} for more details
5936 on how to configure the way function parameter values are printed.
5937
5938 @cindex value optimized out, in backtrace
5939 @cindex function call arguments, optimized out
5940 If your program was compiled with optimizations, some compilers will
5941 optimize away arguments passed to functions if those arguments are
5942 never used after the call. Such optimizations generate code that
5943 passes arguments through registers, but doesn't store those arguments
5944 in the stack frame. @value{GDBN} has no way of displaying such
5945 arguments in stack frames other than the innermost one. Here's what
5946 such a backtrace might look like:
5947
5948 @smallexample
5949 @group
5950 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
5951 at builtin.c:993
5952 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=<value optimized out>) at macro.c:242
5953 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=<value optimized out>, td=0xf7fffb08)
5954 at macro.c:71
5955 (More stack frames follow...)
5956 @end group
5957 @end smallexample
5958
5959 @noindent
5960 The values of arguments that were not saved in their stack frames are
5961 shown as @samp{<value optimized out>}.
5962
5963 If you need to display the values of such optimized-out arguments,
5964 either deduce that from other variables whose values depend on the one
5965 you are interested in, or recompile without optimizations.
5966
5967 @cindex backtrace beyond @code{main} function
5968 @cindex program entry point
5969 @cindex startup code, and backtrace
5970 Most programs have a standard user entry point---a place where system
5971 libraries and startup code transition into user code. For C this is
5972 @code{main}@footnote{
5973 Note that embedded programs (the so-called ``free-standing''
5974 environment) are not required to have a @code{main} function as the
5975 entry point. They could even have multiple entry points.}.
5976 When @value{GDBN} finds the entry function in a backtrace
5977 it will terminate the backtrace, to avoid tracing into highly
5978 system-specific (and generally uninteresting) code.
5979
5980 If you need to examine the startup code, or limit the number of levels
5981 in a backtrace, you can change this behavior:
5982
5983 @table @code
5984 @item set backtrace past-main
5985 @itemx set backtrace past-main on
5986 @kindex set backtrace
5987 Backtraces will continue past the user entry point.
5988
5989 @item set backtrace past-main off
5990 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the user entry point. This is the
5991 default.
5992
5993 @item show backtrace past-main
5994 @kindex show backtrace
5995 Display the current user entry point backtrace policy.
5996
5997 @item set backtrace past-entry
5998 @itemx set backtrace past-entry on
5999 Backtraces will continue past the internal entry point of an application.
6000 This entry point is encoded by the linker when the application is built,
6001 and is likely before the user entry point @code{main} (or equivalent) is called.
6002
6003 @item set backtrace past-entry off
6004 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the internal entry point of an
6005 application. This is the default.
6006
6007 @item show backtrace past-entry
6008 Display the current internal entry point backtrace policy.
6009
6010 @item set backtrace limit @var{n}
6011 @itemx set backtrace limit 0
6012 @cindex backtrace limit
6013 Limit the backtrace to @var{n} levels. A value of zero means
6014 unlimited.
6015
6016 @item show backtrace limit
6017 Display the current limit on backtrace levels.
6018 @end table
6019
6020 @node Selection
6021 @section Selecting a Frame
6022
6023 Most commands for examining the stack and other data in your program work on
6024 whichever stack frame is selected at the moment. Here are the commands for
6025 selecting a stack frame; all of them finish by printing a brief description
6026 of the stack frame just selected.
6027
6028 @table @code
6029 @kindex frame@r{, selecting}
6030 @kindex f @r{(@code{frame})}
6031 @item frame @var{n}
6032 @itemx f @var{n}
6033 Select frame number @var{n}. Recall that frame zero is the innermost
6034 (currently executing) frame, frame one is the frame that called the
6035 innermost one, and so on. The highest-numbered frame is the one for
6036 @code{main}.
6037
6038 @item frame @var{addr}
6039 @itemx f @var{addr}
6040 Select the frame at address @var{addr}. This is useful mainly if the
6041 chaining of stack frames has been damaged by a bug, making it
6042 impossible for @value{GDBN} to assign numbers properly to all frames. In
6043 addition, this can be useful when your program has multiple stacks and
6044 switches between them.
6045
6046 On the SPARC architecture, @code{frame} needs two addresses to
6047 select an arbitrary frame: a frame pointer and a stack pointer.
6048
6049 On the MIPS and Alpha architecture, it needs two addresses: a stack
6050 pointer and a program counter.
6051
6052 On the 29k architecture, it needs three addresses: a register stack
6053 pointer, a program counter, and a memory stack pointer.
6054
6055 @kindex up
6056 @item up @var{n}
6057 Move @var{n} frames up the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
6058 advances toward the outermost frame, to higher frame numbers, to frames
6059 that have existed longer. @var{n} defaults to one.
6060
6061 @kindex down
6062 @kindex do @r{(@code{down})}
6063 @item down @var{n}
6064 Move @var{n} frames down the stack. For positive numbers @var{n}, this
6065 advances toward the innermost frame, to lower frame numbers, to frames
6066 that were created more recently. @var{n} defaults to one. You may
6067 abbreviate @code{down} as @code{do}.
6068 @end table
6069
6070 All of these commands end by printing two lines of output describing the
6071 frame. The first line shows the frame number, the function name, the
6072 arguments, and the source file and line number of execution in that
6073 frame. The second line shows the text of that source line.
6074
6075 @need 1000
6076 For example:
6077
6078 @smallexample
6079 @group
6080 (@value{GDBP}) up
6081 #1 0x22f0 in main (argc=1, argv=0xf7fffbf4, env=0xf7fffbfc)
6082 at env.c:10
6083 10 read_input_file (argv[i]);
6084 @end group
6085 @end smallexample
6086
6087 After such a printout, the @code{list} command with no arguments
6088 prints ten lines centered on the point of execution in the frame.
6089 You can also edit the program at the point of execution with your favorite
6090 editing program by typing @code{edit}.
6091 @xref{List, ,Printing Source Lines},
6092 for details.
6093
6094 @table @code
6095 @kindex down-silently
6096 @kindex up-silently
6097 @item up-silently @var{n}
6098 @itemx down-silently @var{n}
6099 These two commands are variants of @code{up} and @code{down},
6100 respectively; they differ in that they do their work silently, without
6101 causing display of the new frame. They are intended primarily for use
6102 in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the output might be unnecessary and
6103 distracting.
6104 @end table
6105
6106 @node Frame Info
6107 @section Information About a Frame
6108
6109 There are several other commands to print information about the selected
6110 stack frame.
6111
6112 @table @code
6113 @item frame
6114 @itemx f
6115 When used without any argument, this command does not change which
6116 frame is selected, but prints a brief description of the currently
6117 selected stack frame. It can be abbreviated @code{f}. With an
6118 argument, this command is used to select a stack frame.
6119 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6120
6121 @kindex info frame
6122 @kindex info f @r{(@code{info frame})}
6123 @item info frame
6124 @itemx info f
6125 This command prints a verbose description of the selected stack frame,
6126 including:
6127
6128 @itemize @bullet
6129 @item
6130 the address of the frame
6131 @item
6132 the address of the next frame down (called by this frame)
6133 @item
6134 the address of the next frame up (caller of this frame)
6135 @item
6136 the language in which the source code corresponding to this frame is written
6137 @item
6138 the address of the frame's arguments
6139 @item
6140 the address of the frame's local variables
6141 @item
6142 the program counter saved in it (the address of execution in the caller frame)
6143 @item
6144 which registers were saved in the frame
6145 @end itemize
6146
6147 @noindent The verbose description is useful when
6148 something has gone wrong that has made the stack format fail to fit
6149 the usual conventions.
6150
6151 @item info frame @var{addr}
6152 @itemx info f @var{addr}
6153 Print a verbose description of the frame at address @var{addr}, without
6154 selecting that frame. The selected frame remains unchanged by this
6155 command. This requires the same kind of address (more than one for some
6156 architectures) that you specify in the @code{frame} command.
6157 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6158
6159 @kindex info args
6160 @item info args
6161 Print the arguments of the selected frame, each on a separate line.
6162
6163 @item info locals
6164 @kindex info locals
6165 Print the local variables of the selected frame, each on a separate
6166 line. These are all variables (declared either static or automatic)
6167 accessible at the point of execution of the selected frame.
6168
6169 @kindex info catch
6170 @cindex catch exceptions, list active handlers
6171 @cindex exception handlers, how to list
6172 @item info catch
6173 Print a list of all the exception handlers that are active in the
6174 current stack frame at the current point of execution. To see other
6175 exception handlers, visit the associated frame (using the @code{up},
6176 @code{down}, or @code{frame} commands); then type @code{info catch}.
6177 @xref{Set Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
6178
6179 @end table
6180
6181
6182 @node Source
6183 @chapter Examining Source Files
6184
6185 @value{GDBN} can print parts of your program's source, since the debugging
6186 information recorded in the program tells @value{GDBN} what source files were
6187 used to build it. When your program stops, @value{GDBN} spontaneously prints
6188 the line where it stopped. Likewise, when you select a stack frame
6189 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}), @value{GDBN} prints the line where
6190 execution in that frame has stopped. You can print other portions of
6191 source files by explicit command.
6192
6193 If you use @value{GDBN} through its @sc{gnu} Emacs interface, you may
6194 prefer to use Emacs facilities to view source; see @ref{Emacs, ,Using
6195 @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}.
6196
6197 @menu
6198 * List:: Printing source lines
6199 * Specify Location:: How to specify code locations
6200 * Edit:: Editing source files
6201 * Search:: Searching source files
6202 * Source Path:: Specifying source directories
6203 * Machine Code:: Source and machine code
6204 @end menu
6205
6206 @node List
6207 @section Printing Source Lines
6208
6209 @kindex list
6210 @kindex l @r{(@code{list})}
6211 To print lines from a source file, use the @code{list} command
6212 (abbreviated @code{l}). By default, ten lines are printed.
6213 There are several ways to specify what part of the file you want to
6214 print; see @ref{Specify Location}, for the full list.
6215
6216 Here are the forms of the @code{list} command most commonly used:
6217
6218 @table @code
6219 @item list @var{linenum}
6220 Print lines centered around line number @var{linenum} in the
6221 current source file.
6222
6223 @item list @var{function}
6224 Print lines centered around the beginning of function
6225 @var{function}.
6226
6227 @item list
6228 Print more lines. If the last lines printed were printed with a
6229 @code{list} command, this prints lines following the last lines
6230 printed; however, if the last line printed was a solitary line printed
6231 as part of displaying a stack frame (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the
6232 Stack}), this prints lines centered around that line.
6233
6234 @item list -
6235 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6236 @end table
6237
6238 @cindex @code{list}, how many lines to display
6239 By default, @value{GDBN} prints ten source lines with any of these forms of
6240 the @code{list} command. You can change this using @code{set listsize}:
6241
6242 @table @code
6243 @kindex set listsize
6244 @item set listsize @var{count}
6245 Make the @code{list} command display @var{count} source lines (unless
6246 the @code{list} argument explicitly specifies some other number).
6247
6248 @kindex show listsize
6249 @item show listsize
6250 Display the number of lines that @code{list} prints.
6251 @end table
6252
6253 Repeating a @code{list} command with @key{RET} discards the argument,
6254 so it is equivalent to typing just @code{list}. This is more useful
6255 than listing the same lines again. An exception is made for an
6256 argument of @samp{-}; that argument is preserved in repetition so that
6257 each repetition moves up in the source file.
6258
6259 In general, the @code{list} command expects you to supply zero, one or two
6260 @dfn{linespecs}. Linespecs specify source lines; there are several ways
6261 of writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always
6262 to specify some source line.
6263
6264 Here is a complete description of the possible arguments for @code{list}:
6265
6266 @table @code
6267 @item list @var{linespec}
6268 Print lines centered around the line specified by @var{linespec}.
6269
6270 @item list @var{first},@var{last}
6271 Print lines from @var{first} to @var{last}. Both arguments are
6272 linespecs. When a @code{list} command has two linespecs, and the
6273 source file of the second linespec is omitted, this refers to
6274 the same source file as the first linespec.
6275
6276 @item list ,@var{last}
6277 Print lines ending with @var{last}.
6278
6279 @item list @var{first},
6280 Print lines starting with @var{first}.
6281
6282 @item list +
6283 Print lines just after the lines last printed.
6284
6285 @item list -
6286 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
6287
6288 @item list
6289 As described in the preceding table.
6290 @end table
6291
6292 @node Specify Location
6293 @section Specifying a Location
6294 @cindex specifying location
6295 @cindex linespec
6296
6297 Several @value{GDBN} commands accept arguments that specify a location
6298 of your program's code. Since @value{GDBN} is a source-level
6299 debugger, a location usually specifies some line in the source code;
6300 for that reason, locations are also known as @dfn{linespecs}.
6301
6302 Here are all the different ways of specifying a code location that
6303 @value{GDBN} understands:
6304
6305 @table @code
6306 @item @var{linenum}
6307 Specifies the line number @var{linenum} of the current source file.
6308
6309 @item -@var{offset}
6310 @itemx +@var{offset}
6311 Specifies the line @var{offset} lines before or after the @dfn{current
6312 line}. For the @code{list} command, the current line is the last one
6313 printed; for the breakpoint commands, this is the line at which
6314 execution stopped in the currently selected @dfn{stack frame}
6315 (@pxref{Frames, ,Frames}, for a description of stack frames.) When
6316 used as the second of the two linespecs in a @code{list} command,
6317 this specifies the line @var{offset} lines up or down from the first
6318 linespec.
6319
6320 @item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
6321 Specifies the line @var{linenum} in the source file @var{filename}.
6322
6323 @item @var{function}
6324 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}.
6325 For example, in C, this is the line with the open brace.
6326
6327 @item @var{filename}:@var{function}
6328 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}
6329 in the file @var{filename}. You only need the file name with a
6330 function name to avoid ambiguity when there are identically named
6331 functions in different source files.
6332
6333 @item *@var{address}
6334 Specifies the program address @var{address}. For line-oriented
6335 commands, such as @code{list} and @code{edit}, this specifies a source
6336 line that contains @var{address}. For @code{break} and other
6337 breakpoint oriented commands, this can be used to set breakpoints in
6338 parts of your program which do not have debugging information or
6339 source files.
6340
6341 Here @var{address} may be any expression valid in the current working
6342 language (@pxref{Languages, working language}) that specifies a code
6343 address. In addition, as a convenience, @value{GDBN} extends the
6344 semantics of expressions used in locations to cover the situations
6345 that frequently happen during debugging. Here are the various forms
6346 of @var{address}:
6347
6348 @table @code
6349 @item @var{expression}
6350 Any expression valid in the current working language.
6351
6352 @item @var{funcaddr}
6353 An address of a function or procedure derived from its name. In C,
6354 C@t{++}, Java, Objective-C, Fortran, minimal, and assembly, this is
6355 simply the function's name @var{function} (and actually a special case
6356 of a valid expression). In Pascal and Modula-2, this is
6357 @code{&@var{function}}. In Ada, this is @code{@var{function}'Address}
6358 (although the Pascal form also works).
6359
6360 This form specifies the address of the function's first instruction,
6361 before the stack frame and arguments have been set up.
6362
6363 @item '@var{filename}'::@var{funcaddr}
6364 Like @var{funcaddr} above, but also specifies the name of the source
6365 file explicitly. This is useful if the name of the function does not
6366 specify the function unambiguously, e.g., if there are several
6367 functions with identical names in different source files.
6368 @end table
6369
6370 @end table
6371
6372
6373 @node Edit
6374 @section Editing Source Files
6375 @cindex editing source files
6376
6377 @kindex edit
6378 @kindex e @r{(@code{edit})}
6379 To edit the lines in a source file, use the @code{edit} command.
6380 The editing program of your choice
6381 is invoked with the current line set to
6382 the active line in the program.
6383 Alternatively, there are several ways to specify what part of the file you
6384 want to print if you want to see other parts of the program:
6385
6386 @table @code
6387 @item edit @var{location}
6388 Edit the source file specified by @code{location}. Editing starts at
6389 that @var{location}, e.g., at the specified source line of the
6390 specified file. @xref{Specify Location}, for all the possible forms
6391 of the @var{location} argument; here are the forms of the @code{edit}
6392 command most commonly used:
6393
6394 @table @code
6395 @item edit @var{number}
6396 Edit the current source file with @var{number} as the active line number.
6397
6398 @item edit @var{function}
6399 Edit the file containing @var{function} at the beginning of its definition.
6400 @end table
6401
6402 @end table
6403
6404 @subsection Choosing your Editor
6405 You can customize @value{GDBN} to use any editor you want
6406 @footnote{
6407 The only restriction is that your editor (say @code{ex}), recognizes the
6408 following command-line syntax:
6409 @smallexample
6410 ex +@var{number} file
6411 @end smallexample
6412 The optional numeric value +@var{number} specifies the number of the line in
6413 the file where to start editing.}.
6414 By default, it is @file{@value{EDITOR}}, but you can change this
6415 by setting the environment variable @code{EDITOR} before using
6416 @value{GDBN}. For example, to configure @value{GDBN} to use the
6417 @code{vi} editor, you could use these commands with the @code{sh} shell:
6418 @smallexample
6419 EDITOR=/usr/bin/vi
6420 export EDITOR
6421 gdb @dots{}
6422 @end smallexample
6423 or in the @code{csh} shell,
6424 @smallexample
6425 setenv EDITOR /usr/bin/vi
6426 gdb @dots{}
6427 @end smallexample
6428
6429 @node Search
6430 @section Searching Source Files
6431 @cindex searching source files
6432
6433 There are two commands for searching through the current source file for a
6434 regular expression.
6435
6436 @table @code
6437 @kindex search
6438 @kindex forward-search
6439 @item forward-search @var{regexp}
6440 @itemx search @var{regexp}
6441 The command @samp{forward-search @var{regexp}} checks each line,
6442 starting with the one following the last line listed, for a match for
6443 @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can use the
6444 synonym @samp{search @var{regexp}} or abbreviate the command name as
6445 @code{fo}.
6446
6447 @kindex reverse-search
6448 @item reverse-search @var{regexp}
6449 The command @samp{reverse-search @var{regexp}} checks each line, starting
6450 with the one before the last line listed and going backward, for a match
6451 for @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can abbreviate
6452 this command as @code{rev}.
6453 @end table
6454
6455 @node Source Path
6456 @section Specifying Source Directories
6457
6458 @cindex source path
6459 @cindex directories for source files
6460 Executable programs sometimes do not record the directories of the source
6461 files from which they were compiled, just the names. Even when they do,
6462 the directories could be moved between the compilation and your debugging
6463 session. @value{GDBN} has a list of directories to search for source files;
6464 this is called the @dfn{source path}. Each time @value{GDBN} wants a source file,
6465 it tries all the directories in the list, in the order they are present
6466 in the list, until it finds a file with the desired name.
6467
6468 For example, suppose an executable references the file
6469 @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}, and our source path is
6470 @file{/mnt/cross}. The file is first looked up literally; if this
6471 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} is tried; if this
6472 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/foo.c} is opened; if this fails, an error
6473 message is printed. @value{GDBN} does not look up the parts of the
6474 source file name, such as @file{/mnt/cross/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}.
6475 Likewise, the subdirectories of the source path are not searched: if
6476 the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the binary refers to
6477 @file{foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would not find it under
6478 @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib}.
6479
6480 Plain file names, relative file names with leading directories, file
6481 names containing dots, etc.@: are all treated as described above; for
6482 instance, if the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the source file
6483 is recorded as @file{../lib/foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would first try
6484 @file{../lib/foo.c}, then @file{/mnt/cross/../lib/foo.c}, and after
6485 that---@file{/mnt/cross/foo.c}.
6486
6487 Note that the executable search path is @emph{not} used to locate the
6488 source files.
6489
6490 Whenever you reset or rearrange the source path, @value{GDBN} clears out
6491 any information it has cached about where source files are found and where
6492 each line is in the file.
6493
6494 @kindex directory
6495 @kindex dir
6496 When you start @value{GDBN}, its source path includes only @samp{cdir}
6497 and @samp{cwd}, in that order.
6498 To add other directories, use the @code{directory} command.
6499
6500 The search path is used to find both program source files and @value{GDBN}
6501 script files (read using the @samp{-command} option and @samp{source} command).
6502
6503 In addition to the source path, @value{GDBN} provides a set of commands
6504 that manage a list of source path substitution rules. A @dfn{substitution
6505 rule} specifies how to rewrite source directories stored in the program's
6506 debug information in case the sources were moved to a different
6507 directory between compilation and debugging. A rule is made of
6508 two strings, the first specifying what needs to be rewritten in
6509 the path, and the second specifying how it should be rewritten.
6510 In @ref{set substitute-path}, we name these two parts @var{from} and
6511 @var{to} respectively. @value{GDBN} does a simple string replacement
6512 of @var{from} with @var{to} at the start of the directory part of the
6513 source file name, and uses that result instead of the original file
6514 name to look up the sources.
6515
6516 Using the previous example, suppose the @file{foo-1.0} tree has been
6517 moved from @file{/usr/src} to @file{/mnt/cross}, then you can tell
6518 @value{GDBN} to replace @file{/usr/src} in all source path names with
6519 @file{/mnt/cross}. The first lookup will then be
6520 @file{/mnt/cross/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} in place of the original location
6521 of @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}. To define a source path
6522 substitution rule, use the @code{set substitute-path} command
6523 (@pxref{set substitute-path}).
6524
6525 To avoid unexpected substitution results, a rule is applied only if the
6526 @var{from} part of the directory name ends at a directory separator.
6527 For instance, a rule substituting @file{/usr/source} into
6528 @file{/mnt/cross} will be applied to @file{/usr/source/foo-1.0} but
6529 not to @file{/usr/sourceware/foo-2.0}. And because the substitution
6530 is applied only at the beginning of the directory name, this rule will
6531 not be applied to @file{/root/usr/source/baz.c} either.
6532
6533 In many cases, you can achieve the same result using the @code{directory}
6534 command. However, @code{set substitute-path} can be more efficient in
6535 the case where the sources are organized in a complex tree with multiple
6536 subdirectories. With the @code{directory} command, you need to add each
6537 subdirectory of your project. If you moved the entire tree while
6538 preserving its internal organization, then @code{set substitute-path}
6539 allows you to direct the debugger to all the sources with one single
6540 command.
6541
6542 @code{set substitute-path} is also more than just a shortcut command.
6543 The source path is only used if the file at the original location no
6544 longer exists. On the other hand, @code{set substitute-path} modifies
6545 the debugger behavior to look at the rewritten location instead. So, if
6546 for any reason a source file that is not relevant to your executable is
6547 located at the original location, a substitution rule is the only
6548 method available to point @value{GDBN} at the new location.
6549
6550 @cindex @samp{--with-relocated-sources}
6551 @cindex default source path substitution
6552 You can configure a default source path substitution rule by
6553 configuring @value{GDBN} with the
6554 @samp{--with-relocated-sources=@var{dir}} option. The @var{dir}
6555 should be the name of a directory under @value{GDBN}'s configured
6556 prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or @samp{--exec-prefix}), and
6557 directory names in debug information under @var{dir} will be adjusted
6558 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
6559 location. This is useful if @value{GDBN}, libraries or executables
6560 with debug information and corresponding source code are being moved
6561 together.
6562
6563 @table @code
6564 @item directory @var{dirname} @dots{}
6565 @item dir @var{dirname} @dots{}
6566 Add directory @var{dirname} to the front of the source path. Several
6567 directory names may be given to this command, separated by @samp{:}
6568 (@samp{;} on MS-DOS and MS-Windows, where @samp{:} usually appears as
6569 part of absolute file names) or
6570 whitespace. You may specify a directory that is already in the source
6571 path; this moves it forward, so @value{GDBN} searches it sooner.
6572
6573 @kindex cdir
6574 @kindex cwd
6575 @vindex $cdir@r{, convenience variable}
6576 @vindex $cwd@r{, convenience variable}
6577 @cindex compilation directory
6578 @cindex current directory
6579 @cindex working directory
6580 @cindex directory, current
6581 @cindex directory, compilation
6582 You can use the string @samp{$cdir} to refer to the compilation
6583 directory (if one is recorded), and @samp{$cwd} to refer to the current
6584 working directory. @samp{$cwd} is not the same as @samp{.}---the former
6585 tracks the current working directory as it changes during your @value{GDBN}
6586 session, while the latter is immediately expanded to the current
6587 directory at the time you add an entry to the source path.
6588
6589 @item directory
6590 Reset the source path to its default value (@samp{$cdir:$cwd} on Unix systems). This requires confirmation.
6591
6592 @c RET-repeat for @code{directory} is explicitly disabled, but since
6593 @c repeating it would be a no-op we do not say that. (thanks to RMS)
6594
6595 @item show directories
6596 @kindex show directories
6597 Print the source path: show which directories it contains.
6598
6599 @anchor{set substitute-path}
6600 @item set substitute-path @var{from} @var{to}
6601 @kindex set substitute-path
6602 Define a source path substitution rule, and add it at the end of the
6603 current list of existing substitution rules. If a rule with the same
6604 @var{from} was already defined, then the old rule is also deleted.
6605
6606 For example, if the file @file{/foo/bar/baz.c} was moved to
6607 @file{/mnt/cross/baz.c}, then the command
6608
6609 @smallexample
6610 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/cross
6611 @end smallexample
6612
6613 @noindent
6614 will tell @value{GDBN} to replace @samp{/usr/src} with
6615 @samp{/mnt/cross}, which will allow @value{GDBN} to find the file
6616 @file{baz.c} even though it was moved.
6617
6618 In the case when more than one substitution rule have been defined,
6619 the rules are evaluated one by one in the order where they have been
6620 defined. The first one matching, if any, is selected to perform
6621 the substitution.
6622
6623 For instance, if we had entered the following commands:
6624
6625 @smallexample
6626 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src/include /mnt/include
6627 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/src
6628 @end smallexample
6629
6630 @noindent
6631 @value{GDBN} would then rewrite @file{/usr/src/include/defs.h} into
6632 @file{/mnt/include/defs.h} by using the first rule. However, it would
6633 use the second rule to rewrite @file{/usr/src/lib/foo.c} into
6634 @file{/mnt/src/lib/foo.c}.
6635
6636
6637 @item unset substitute-path [path]
6638 @kindex unset substitute-path
6639 If a path is specified, search the current list of substitution rules
6640 for a rule that would rewrite that path. Delete that rule if found.
6641 A warning is emitted by the debugger if no rule could be found.
6642
6643 If no path is specified, then all substitution rules are deleted.
6644
6645 @item show substitute-path [path]
6646 @kindex show substitute-path
6647 If a path is specified, then print the source path substitution rule
6648 which would rewrite that path, if any.
6649
6650 If no path is specified, then print all existing source path substitution
6651 rules.
6652
6653 @end table
6654
6655 If your source path is cluttered with directories that are no longer of
6656 interest, @value{GDBN} may sometimes cause confusion by finding the wrong
6657 versions of source. You can correct the situation as follows:
6658
6659 @enumerate
6660 @item
6661 Use @code{directory} with no argument to reset the source path to its default value.
6662
6663 @item
6664 Use @code{directory} with suitable arguments to reinstall the
6665 directories you want in the source path. You can add all the
6666 directories in one command.
6667 @end enumerate
6668
6669 @node Machine Code
6670 @section Source and Machine Code
6671 @cindex source line and its code address
6672
6673 You can use the command @code{info line} to map source lines to program
6674 addresses (and vice versa), and the command @code{disassemble} to display
6675 a range of addresses as machine instructions. You can use the command
6676 @code{set disassemble-next-line} to set whether to disassemble next
6677 source line when execution stops. When run under @sc{gnu} Emacs
6678 mode, the @code{info line} command causes the arrow to point to the
6679 line specified. Also, @code{info line} prints addresses in symbolic form as
6680 well as hex.
6681
6682 @table @code
6683 @kindex info line
6684 @item info line @var{linespec}
6685 Print the starting and ending addresses of the compiled code for
6686 source line @var{linespec}. You can specify source lines in any of
6687 the ways documented in @ref{Specify Location}.
6688 @end table
6689
6690 For example, we can use @code{info line} to discover the location of
6691 the object code for the first line of function
6692 @code{m4_changequote}:
6693
6694 @c FIXME: I think this example should also show the addresses in
6695 @c symbolic form, as they usually would be displayed.
6696 @smallexample
6697 (@value{GDBP}) info line m4_changequote
6698 Line 895 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x634c and ends at 0x6350.
6699 @end smallexample
6700
6701 @noindent
6702 @cindex code address and its source line
6703 We can also inquire (using @code{*@var{addr}} as the form for
6704 @var{linespec}) what source line covers a particular address:
6705 @smallexample
6706 (@value{GDBP}) info line *0x63ff
6707 Line 926 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x63e4 and ends at 0x6404.
6708 @end smallexample
6709
6710 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info line}
6711 @cindex @code{x} command, default address
6712 @kindex x@r{(examine), and} info line
6713 After @code{info line}, the default address for the @code{x} command
6714 is changed to the starting address of the line, so that @samp{x/i} is
6715 sufficient to begin examining the machine code (@pxref{Memory,
6716 ,Examining Memory}). Also, this address is saved as the value of the
6717 convenience variable @code{$_} (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
6718 Variables}).
6719
6720 @table @code
6721 @kindex disassemble
6722 @cindex assembly instructions
6723 @cindex instructions, assembly
6724 @cindex machine instructions
6725 @cindex listing machine instructions
6726 @item disassemble
6727 @itemx disassemble /m
6728 @itemx disassemble /r
6729 This specialized command dumps a range of memory as machine
6730 instructions. It can also print mixed source+disassembly by specifying
6731 the @code{/m} modifier and print the raw instructions in hex as well as
6732 in symbolic form by specifying the @code{/r}.
6733 The default memory range is the function surrounding the
6734 program counter of the selected frame. A single argument to this
6735 command is a program counter value; @value{GDBN} dumps the function
6736 surrounding this value. When two arguments are given, they should
6737 be separated by a comma, possibly surrounded by whitespace. The
6738 arguments specify a range of addresses (first inclusive, second exclusive)
6739 to dump. In that case, the name of the function is also printed (since
6740 there could be several functions in the given range).
6741
6742 The argument(s) can be any expression yielding a numeric value, such as
6743 @samp{0x32c4}, @samp{&main+10} or @samp{$pc - 8}.
6744
6745 If the range of memory being disassembled contains current program counter,
6746 the instruction at that location is shown with a @code{=>} marker.
6747 @end table
6748
6749 The following example shows the disassembly of a range of addresses of
6750 HP PA-RISC 2.0 code:
6751
6752 @smallexample
6753 (@value{GDBP}) disas 0x32c4, 0x32e4
6754 Dump of assembler code from 0x32c4 to 0x32e4:
6755 0x32c4 <main+204>: addil 0,dp
6756 0x32c8 <main+208>: ldw 0x22c(sr0,r1),r26
6757 0x32cc <main+212>: ldil 0x3000,r31
6758 0x32d0 <main+216>: ble 0x3f8(sr4,r31)
6759 0x32d4 <main+220>: ldo 0(r31),rp
6760 0x32d8 <main+224>: addil -0x800,dp
6761 0x32dc <main+228>: ldo 0x588(r1),r26
6762 0x32e0 <main+232>: ldil 0x3000,r31
6763 End of assembler dump.
6764 @end smallexample
6765
6766 Here is an example showing mixed source+assembly for Intel x86, when the
6767 program is stopped just after function prologue:
6768
6769 @smallexample
6770 (@value{GDBP}) disas /m main
6771 Dump of assembler code for function main:
6772 5 @{
6773 0x08048330 <+0>: push %ebp
6774 0x08048331 <+1>: mov %esp,%ebp
6775 0x08048333 <+3>: sub $0x8,%esp
6776 0x08048336 <+6>: and $0xfffffff0,%esp
6777 0x08048339 <+9>: sub $0x10,%esp
6778
6779 6 printf ("Hello.\n");
6780 => 0x0804833c <+12>: movl $0x8048440,(%esp)
6781 0x08048343 <+19>: call 0x8048284 <puts@@plt>
6782
6783 7 return 0;
6784 8 @}
6785 0x08048348 <+24>: mov $0x0,%eax
6786 0x0804834d <+29>: leave
6787 0x0804834e <+30>: ret
6788
6789 End of assembler dump.
6790 @end smallexample
6791
6792 Some architectures have more than one commonly-used set of instruction
6793 mnemonics or other syntax.
6794
6795 For programs that were dynamically linked and use shared libraries,
6796 instructions that call functions or branch to locations in the shared
6797 libraries might show a seemingly bogus location---it's actually a
6798 location of the relocation table. On some architectures, @value{GDBN}
6799 might be able to resolve these to actual function names.
6800
6801 @table @code
6802 @kindex set disassembly-flavor
6803 @cindex Intel disassembly flavor
6804 @cindex AT&T disassembly flavor
6805 @item set disassembly-flavor @var{instruction-set}
6806 Select the instruction set to use when disassembling the
6807 program via the @code{disassemble} or @code{x/i} commands.
6808
6809 Currently this command is only defined for the Intel x86 family. You
6810 can set @var{instruction-set} to either @code{intel} or @code{att}.
6811 The default is @code{att}, the AT&T flavor used by default by Unix
6812 assemblers for x86-based targets.
6813
6814 @kindex show disassembly-flavor
6815 @item show disassembly-flavor
6816 Show the current setting of the disassembly flavor.
6817 @end table
6818
6819 @table @code
6820 @kindex set disassemble-next-line
6821 @kindex show disassemble-next-line
6822 @item set disassemble-next-line
6823 @itemx show disassemble-next-line
6824 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will disassemble the next source
6825 line or instruction when execution stops. If ON, @value{GDBN} will
6826 display disassembly of the next source line when execution of the
6827 program being debugged stops. This is @emph{in addition} to
6828 displaying the source line itself, which @value{GDBN} always does if
6829 possible. If the next source line cannot be displayed for some reason
6830 (e.g., if @value{GDBN} cannot find the source file, or there's no line
6831 info in the debug info), @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of the
6832 next @emph{instruction} instead of showing the next source line. If
6833 AUTO, @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of next instruction only
6834 if the source line cannot be displayed. This setting causes
6835 @value{GDBN} to display some feedback when you step through a function
6836 with no line info or whose source file is unavailable. The default is
6837 OFF, which means never display the disassembly of the next line or
6838 instruction.
6839 @end table
6840
6841
6842 @node Data
6843 @chapter Examining Data
6844
6845 @cindex printing data
6846 @cindex examining data
6847 @kindex print
6848 @kindex inspect
6849 @c "inspect" is not quite a synonym if you are using Epoch, which we do not
6850 @c document because it is nonstandard... Under Epoch it displays in a
6851 @c different window or something like that.
6852 The usual way to examine data in your program is with the @code{print}
6853 command (abbreviated @code{p}), or its synonym @code{inspect}. It
6854 evaluates and prints the value of an expression of the language your
6855 program is written in (@pxref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with
6856 Different Languages}). It may also print the expression using a
6857 Python-based pretty-printer (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
6858
6859 @table @code
6860 @item print @var{expr}
6861 @itemx print /@var{f} @var{expr}
6862 @var{expr} is an expression (in the source language). By default the
6863 value of @var{expr} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
6864 you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
6865 @var{f} is a letter specifying the format; see @ref{Output Formats,,Output
6866 Formats}.
6867
6868 @item print
6869 @itemx print /@var{f}
6870 @cindex reprint the last value
6871 If you omit @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} displays the last value again (from the
6872 @dfn{value history}; @pxref{Value History, ,Value History}). This allows you to
6873 conveniently inspect the same value in an alternative format.
6874 @end table
6875
6876 A more low-level way of examining data is with the @code{x} command.
6877 It examines data in memory at a specified address and prints it in a
6878 specified format. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
6879
6880 If you are interested in information about types, or about how the
6881 fields of a struct or a class are declared, use the @code{ptype @var{exp}}
6882 command rather than @code{print}. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol
6883 Table}.
6884
6885 @menu
6886 * Expressions:: Expressions
6887 * Ambiguous Expressions:: Ambiguous Expressions
6888 * Variables:: Program variables
6889 * Arrays:: Artificial arrays
6890 * Output Formats:: Output formats
6891 * Memory:: Examining memory
6892 * Auto Display:: Automatic display
6893 * Print Settings:: Print settings
6894 * Pretty Printing:: Python pretty printing
6895 * Value History:: Value history
6896 * Convenience Vars:: Convenience variables
6897 * Registers:: Registers
6898 * Floating Point Hardware:: Floating point hardware
6899 * Vector Unit:: Vector Unit
6900 * OS Information:: Auxiliary data provided by operating system
6901 * Memory Region Attributes:: Memory region attributes
6902 * Dump/Restore Files:: Copy between memory and a file
6903 * Core File Generation:: Cause a program dump its core
6904 * Character Sets:: Debugging programs that use a different
6905 character set than GDB does
6906 * Caching Remote Data:: Data caching for remote targets
6907 * Searching Memory:: Searching memory for a sequence of bytes
6908 @end menu
6909
6910 @node Expressions
6911 @section Expressions
6912
6913 @cindex expressions
6914 @code{print} and many other @value{GDBN} commands accept an expression and
6915 compute its value. Any kind of constant, variable or operator defined
6916 by the programming language you are using is valid in an expression in
6917 @value{GDBN}. This includes conditional expressions, function calls,
6918 casts, and string constants. It also includes preprocessor macros, if
6919 you compiled your program to include this information; see
6920 @ref{Compilation}.
6921
6922 @cindex arrays in expressions
6923 @value{GDBN} supports array constants in expressions input by
6924 the user. The syntax is @{@var{element}, @var{element}@dots{}@}. For example,
6925 you can use the command @code{print @{1, 2, 3@}} to create an array
6926 of three integers. If you pass an array to a function or assign it
6927 to a program variable, @value{GDBN} copies the array to memory that
6928 is @code{malloc}ed in the target program.
6929
6930 Because C is so widespread, most of the expressions shown in examples in
6931 this manual are in C. @xref{Languages, , Using @value{GDBN} with Different
6932 Languages}, for information on how to use expressions in other
6933 languages.
6934
6935 In this section, we discuss operators that you can use in @value{GDBN}
6936 expressions regardless of your programming language.
6937
6938 @cindex casts, in expressions
6939 Casts are supported in all languages, not just in C, because it is so
6940 useful to cast a number into a pointer in order to examine a structure
6941 at that address in memory.
6942 @c FIXME: casts supported---Mod2 true?
6943
6944 @value{GDBN} supports these operators, in addition to those common
6945 to programming languages:
6946
6947 @table @code
6948 @item @@
6949 @samp{@@} is a binary operator for treating parts of memory as arrays.
6950 @xref{Arrays, ,Artificial Arrays}, for more information.
6951
6952 @item ::
6953 @samp{::} allows you to specify a variable in terms of the file or
6954 function where it is defined. @xref{Variables, ,Program Variables}.
6955
6956 @cindex @{@var{type}@}
6957 @cindex type casting memory
6958 @cindex memory, viewing as typed object
6959 @cindex casts, to view memory
6960 @item @{@var{type}@} @var{addr}
6961 Refers to an object of type @var{type} stored at address @var{addr} in
6962 memory. @var{addr} may be any expression whose value is an integer or
6963 pointer (but parentheses are required around binary operators, just as in
6964 a cast). This construct is allowed regardless of what kind of data is
6965 normally supposed to reside at @var{addr}.
6966 @end table
6967
6968 @node Ambiguous Expressions
6969 @section Ambiguous Expressions
6970 @cindex ambiguous expressions
6971
6972 Expressions can sometimes contain some ambiguous elements. For instance,
6973 some programming languages (notably Ada, C@t{++} and Objective-C) permit
6974 a single function name to be defined several times, for application in
6975 different contexts. This is called @dfn{overloading}. Another example
6976 involving Ada is generics. A @dfn{generic package} is similar to C@t{++}
6977 templates and is typically instantiated several times, resulting in
6978 the same function name being defined in different contexts.
6979
6980 In some cases and depending on the language, it is possible to adjust
6981 the expression to remove the ambiguity. For instance in C@t{++}, you
6982 can specify the signature of the function you want to break on, as in
6983 @kbd{break @var{function}(@var{types})}. In Ada, using the fully
6984 qualified name of your function often makes the expression unambiguous
6985 as well.
6986
6987 When an ambiguity that needs to be resolved is detected, the debugger
6988 has the capability to display a menu of numbered choices for each
6989 possibility, and then waits for the selection with the prompt @samp{>}.
6990 The first option is always @samp{[0] cancel}, and typing @kbd{0 @key{RET}}
6991 aborts the current command. If the command in which the expression was
6992 used allows more than one choice to be selected, the next option in the
6993 menu is @samp{[1] all}, and typing @kbd{1 @key{RET}} selects all possible
6994 choices.
6995
6996 For example, the following session excerpt shows an attempt to set a
6997 breakpoint at the overloaded symbol @code{String::after}.
6998 We choose three particular definitions of that function name:
6999
7000 @c FIXME! This is likely to change to show arg type lists, at least
7001 @smallexample
7002 @group
7003 (@value{GDBP}) b String::after
7004 [0] cancel
7005 [1] all
7006 [2] file:String.cc; line number:867
7007 [3] file:String.cc; line number:860
7008 [4] file:String.cc; line number:875
7009 [5] file:String.cc; line number:853
7010 [6] file:String.cc; line number:846
7011 [7] file:String.cc; line number:735
7012 > 2 4 6
7013 Breakpoint 1 at 0xb26c: file String.cc, line 867.
7014 Breakpoint 2 at 0xb344: file String.cc, line 875.
7015 Breakpoint 3 at 0xafcc: file String.cc, line 846.
7016 Multiple breakpoints were set.
7017 Use the "delete" command to delete unwanted
7018 breakpoints.
7019 (@value{GDBP})
7020 @end group
7021 @end smallexample
7022
7023 @table @code
7024 @kindex set multiple-symbols
7025 @item set multiple-symbols @var{mode}
7026 @cindex multiple-symbols menu
7027
7028 This option allows you to adjust the debugger behavior when an expression
7029 is ambiguous.
7030
7031 By default, @var{mode} is set to @code{all}. If the command with which
7032 the expression is used allows more than one choice, then @value{GDBN}
7033 automatically selects all possible choices. For instance, inserting
7034 a breakpoint on a function using an ambiguous name results in a breakpoint
7035 inserted on each possible match. However, if a unique choice must be made,
7036 then @value{GDBN} uses the menu to help you disambiguate the expression.
7037 For instance, printing the address of an overloaded function will result
7038 in the use of the menu.
7039
7040 When @var{mode} is set to @code{ask}, the debugger always uses the menu
7041 when an ambiguity is detected.
7042
7043 Finally, when @var{mode} is set to @code{cancel}, the debugger reports
7044 an error due to the ambiguity and the command is aborted.
7045
7046 @kindex show multiple-symbols
7047 @item show multiple-symbols
7048 Show the current value of the @code{multiple-symbols} setting.
7049 @end table
7050
7051 @node Variables
7052 @section Program Variables
7053
7054 The most common kind of expression to use is the name of a variable
7055 in your program.
7056
7057 Variables in expressions are understood in the selected stack frame
7058 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}); they must be either:
7059
7060 @itemize @bullet
7061 @item
7062 global (or file-static)
7063 @end itemize
7064
7065 @noindent or
7066
7067 @itemize @bullet
7068 @item
7069 visible according to the scope rules of the
7070 programming language from the point of execution in that frame
7071 @end itemize
7072
7073 @noindent This means that in the function
7074
7075 @smallexample
7076 foo (a)
7077 int a;
7078 @{
7079 bar (a);
7080 @{
7081 int b = test ();
7082 bar (b);
7083 @}
7084 @}
7085 @end smallexample
7086
7087 @noindent
7088 you can examine and use the variable @code{a} whenever your program is
7089 executing within the function @code{foo}, but you can only use or
7090 examine the variable @code{b} while your program is executing inside
7091 the block where @code{b} is declared.
7092
7093 @cindex variable name conflict
7094 There is an exception: you can refer to a variable or function whose
7095 scope is a single source file even if the current execution point is not
7096 in this file. But it is possible to have more than one such variable or
7097 function with the same name (in different source files). If that
7098 happens, referring to that name has unpredictable effects. If you wish,
7099 you can specify a static variable in a particular function or file,
7100 using the colon-colon (@code{::}) notation:
7101
7102 @cindex colon-colon, context for variables/functions
7103 @ifnotinfo
7104 @c info cannot cope with a :: index entry, but why deprive hard copy readers?
7105 @cindex @code{::}, context for variables/functions
7106 @end ifnotinfo
7107 @smallexample
7108 @var{file}::@var{variable}
7109 @var{function}::@var{variable}
7110 @end smallexample
7111
7112 @noindent
7113 Here @var{file} or @var{function} is the name of the context for the
7114 static @var{variable}. In the case of file names, you can use quotes to
7115 make sure @value{GDBN} parses the file name as a single word---for example,
7116 to print a global value of @code{x} defined in @file{f2.c}:
7117
7118 @smallexample
7119 (@value{GDBP}) p 'f2.c'::x
7120 @end smallexample
7121
7122 @cindex C@t{++} scope resolution
7123 This use of @samp{::} is very rarely in conflict with the very similar
7124 use of the same notation in C@t{++}. @value{GDBN} also supports use of the C@t{++}
7125 scope resolution operator in @value{GDBN} expressions.
7126 @c FIXME: Um, so what happens in one of those rare cases where it's in
7127 @c conflict?? --mew
7128
7129 @cindex wrong values
7130 @cindex variable values, wrong
7131 @cindex function entry/exit, wrong values of variables
7132 @cindex optimized code, wrong values of variables
7133 @quotation
7134 @emph{Warning:} Occasionally, a local variable may appear to have the
7135 wrong value at certain points in a function---just after entry to a new
7136 scope, and just before exit.
7137 @end quotation
7138 You may see this problem when you are stepping by machine instructions.
7139 This is because, on most machines, it takes more than one instruction to
7140 set up a stack frame (including local variable definitions); if you are
7141 stepping by machine instructions, variables may appear to have the wrong
7142 values until the stack frame is completely built. On exit, it usually
7143 also takes more than one machine instruction to destroy a stack frame;
7144 after you begin stepping through that group of instructions, local
7145 variable definitions may be gone.
7146
7147 This may also happen when the compiler does significant optimizations.
7148 To be sure of always seeing accurate values, turn off all optimization
7149 when compiling.
7150
7151 @cindex ``No symbol "foo" in current context''
7152 Another possible effect of compiler optimizations is to optimize
7153 unused variables out of existence, or assign variables to registers (as
7154 opposed to memory addresses). Depending on the support for such cases
7155 offered by the debug info format used by the compiler, @value{GDBN}
7156 might not be able to display values for such local variables. If that
7157 happens, @value{GDBN} will print a message like this:
7158
7159 @smallexample
7160 No symbol "foo" in current context.
7161 @end smallexample
7162
7163 To solve such problems, either recompile without optimizations, or use a
7164 different debug info format, if the compiler supports several such
7165 formats. For example, @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler,
7166 usually supports the @option{-gstabs+} option. @option{-gstabs+}
7167 produces debug info in a format that is superior to formats such as
7168 COFF. You may be able to use DWARF 2 (@option{-gdwarf-2}), which is also
7169 an effective form for debug info. @xref{Debugging Options,,Options
7170 for Debugging Your Program or GCC, gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu}
7171 Compiler Collection (GCC)}.
7172 @xref{C, ,C and C@t{++}}, for more information about debug info formats
7173 that are best suited to C@t{++} programs.
7174
7175 If you ask to print an object whose contents are unknown to
7176 @value{GDBN}, e.g., because its data type is not completely specified
7177 by the debug information, @value{GDBN} will say @samp{<incomplete
7178 type>}. @xref{Symbols, incomplete type}, for more about this.
7179
7180 Strings are identified as arrays of @code{char} values without specified
7181 signedness. Arrays of either @code{signed char} or @code{unsigned char} get
7182 printed as arrays of 1 byte sized integers. @code{-fsigned-char} or
7183 @code{-funsigned-char} @value{NGCC} options have no effect as @value{GDBN}
7184 defines literal string type @code{"char"} as @code{char} without a sign.
7185 For program code
7186
7187 @smallexample
7188 char var0[] = "A";
7189 signed char var1[] = "A";
7190 @end smallexample
7191
7192 You get during debugging
7193 @smallexample
7194 (gdb) print var0
7195 $1 = "A"
7196 (gdb) print var1
7197 $2 = @{65 'A', 0 '\0'@}
7198 @end smallexample
7199
7200 @node Arrays
7201 @section Artificial Arrays
7202
7203 @cindex artificial array
7204 @cindex arrays
7205 @kindex @@@r{, referencing memory as an array}
7206 It is often useful to print out several successive objects of the
7207 same type in memory; a section of an array, or an array of
7208 dynamically determined size for which only a pointer exists in the
7209 program.
7210
7211 You can do this by referring to a contiguous span of memory as an
7212 @dfn{artificial array}, using the binary operator @samp{@@}. The left
7213 operand of @samp{@@} should be the first element of the desired array
7214 and be an individual object. The right operand should be the desired length
7215 of the array. The result is an array value whose elements are all of
7216 the type of the left argument. The first element is actually the left
7217 argument; the second element comes from bytes of memory immediately
7218 following those that hold the first element, and so on. Here is an
7219 example. If a program says
7220
7221 @smallexample
7222 int *array = (int *) malloc (len * sizeof (int));
7223 @end smallexample
7224
7225 @noindent
7226 you can print the contents of @code{array} with
7227
7228 @smallexample
7229 p *array@@len
7230 @end smallexample
7231
7232 The left operand of @samp{@@} must reside in memory. Array values made
7233 with @samp{@@} in this way behave just like other arrays in terms of
7234 subscripting, and are coerced to pointers when used in expressions.
7235 Artificial arrays most often appear in expressions via the value history
7236 (@pxref{Value History, ,Value History}), after printing one out.
7237
7238 Another way to create an artificial array is to use a cast.
7239 This re-interprets a value as if it were an array.
7240 The value need not be in memory:
7241 @smallexample
7242 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[2])0x12345678
7243 $1 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
7244 @end smallexample
7245
7246 As a convenience, if you leave the array length out (as in
7247 @samp{(@var{type}[])@var{value}}) @value{GDBN} calculates the size to fill
7248 the value (as @samp{sizeof(@var{value})/sizeof(@var{type})}:
7249 @smallexample
7250 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[])0x12345678
7251 $2 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
7252 @end smallexample
7253
7254 Sometimes the artificial array mechanism is not quite enough; in
7255 moderately complex data structures, the elements of interest may not
7256 actually be adjacent---for example, if you are interested in the values
7257 of pointers in an array. One useful work-around in this situation is
7258 to use a convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
7259 Variables}) as a counter in an expression that prints the first
7260 interesting value, and then repeat that expression via @key{RET}. For
7261 instance, suppose you have an array @code{dtab} of pointers to
7262 structures, and you are interested in the values of a field @code{fv}
7263 in each structure. Here is an example of what you might type:
7264
7265 @smallexample
7266 set $i = 0
7267 p dtab[$i++]->fv
7268 @key{RET}
7269 @key{RET}
7270 @dots{}
7271 @end smallexample
7272
7273 @node Output Formats
7274 @section Output Formats
7275
7276 @cindex formatted output
7277 @cindex output formats
7278 By default, @value{GDBN} prints a value according to its data type. Sometimes
7279 this is not what you want. For example, you might want to print a number
7280 in hex, or a pointer in decimal. Or you might want to view data in memory
7281 at a certain address as a character string or as an instruction. To do
7282 these things, specify an @dfn{output format} when you print a value.
7283
7284 The simplest use of output formats is to say how to print a value
7285 already computed. This is done by starting the arguments of the
7286 @code{print} command with a slash and a format letter. The format
7287 letters supported are:
7288
7289 @table @code
7290 @item x
7291 Regard the bits of the value as an integer, and print the integer in
7292 hexadecimal.
7293
7294 @item d
7295 Print as integer in signed decimal.
7296
7297 @item u
7298 Print as integer in unsigned decimal.
7299
7300 @item o
7301 Print as integer in octal.
7302
7303 @item t
7304 Print as integer in binary. The letter @samp{t} stands for ``two''.
7305 @footnote{@samp{b} cannot be used because these format letters are also
7306 used with the @code{x} command, where @samp{b} stands for ``byte'';
7307 see @ref{Memory,,Examining Memory}.}
7308
7309 @item a
7310 @cindex unknown address, locating
7311 @cindex locate address
7312 Print as an address, both absolute in hexadecimal and as an offset from
7313 the nearest preceding symbol. You can use this format used to discover
7314 where (in what function) an unknown address is located:
7315
7316 @smallexample
7317 (@value{GDBP}) p/a 0x54320
7318 $3 = 0x54320 <_initialize_vx+396>
7319 @end smallexample
7320
7321 @noindent
7322 The command @code{info symbol 0x54320} yields similar results.
7323 @xref{Symbols, info symbol}.
7324
7325 @item c
7326 Regard as an integer and print it as a character constant. This
7327 prints both the numerical value and its character representation. The
7328 character representation is replaced with the octal escape @samp{\nnn}
7329 for characters outside the 7-bit @sc{ascii} range.
7330
7331 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays @code{char},
7332 @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} data as character
7333 constants. Single-byte members of vectors are displayed as integer
7334 data.
7335
7336 @item f
7337 Regard the bits of the value as a floating point number and print
7338 using typical floating point syntax.
7339
7340 @item s
7341 @cindex printing strings
7342 @cindex printing byte arrays
7343 Regard as a string, if possible. With this format, pointers to single-byte
7344 data are displayed as null-terminated strings and arrays of single-byte data
7345 are displayed as fixed-length strings. Other values are displayed in their
7346 natural types.
7347
7348 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays pointers to and arrays of
7349 @code{char}, @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} as
7350 strings. Single-byte members of a vector are displayed as an integer
7351 array.
7352
7353 @item r
7354 @cindex raw printing
7355 Print using the @samp{raw} formatting. By default, @value{GDBN} will
7356 use a Python-based pretty-printer, if one is available (@pxref{Pretty
7357 Printing}). This typically results in a higher-level display of the
7358 value's contents. The @samp{r} format bypasses any Python
7359 pretty-printer which might exist.
7360 @end table
7361
7362 For example, to print the program counter in hex (@pxref{Registers}), type
7363
7364 @smallexample
7365 p/x $pc
7366 @end smallexample
7367
7368 @noindent
7369 Note that no space is required before the slash; this is because command
7370 names in @value{GDBN} cannot contain a slash.
7371
7372 To reprint the last value in the value history with a different format,
7373 you can use the @code{print} command with just a format and no
7374 expression. For example, @samp{p/x} reprints the last value in hex.
7375
7376 @node Memory
7377 @section Examining Memory
7378
7379 You can use the command @code{x} (for ``examine'') to examine memory in
7380 any of several formats, independently of your program's data types.
7381
7382 @cindex examining memory
7383 @table @code
7384 @kindex x @r{(examine memory)}
7385 @item x/@var{nfu} @var{addr}
7386 @itemx x @var{addr}
7387 @itemx x
7388 Use the @code{x} command to examine memory.
7389 @end table
7390
7391 @var{n}, @var{f}, and @var{u} are all optional parameters that specify how
7392 much memory to display and how to format it; @var{addr} is an
7393 expression giving the address where you want to start displaying memory.
7394 If you use defaults for @var{nfu}, you need not type the slash @samp{/}.
7395 Several commands set convenient defaults for @var{addr}.
7396
7397 @table @r
7398 @item @var{n}, the repeat count
7399 The repeat count is a decimal integer; the default is 1. It specifies
7400 how much memory (counting by units @var{u}) to display.
7401 @c This really is **decimal**; unaffected by 'set radix' as of GDB
7402 @c 4.1.2.
7403
7404 @item @var{f}, the display format
7405 The display format is one of the formats used by @code{print}
7406 (@samp{x}, @samp{d}, @samp{u}, @samp{o}, @samp{t}, @samp{a}, @samp{c},
7407 @samp{f}, @samp{s}), and in addition @samp{i} (for machine instructions).
7408 The default is @samp{x} (hexadecimal) initially. The default changes
7409 each time you use either @code{x} or @code{print}.
7410
7411 @item @var{u}, the unit size
7412 The unit size is any of
7413
7414 @table @code
7415 @item b
7416 Bytes.
7417 @item h
7418 Halfwords (two bytes).
7419 @item w
7420 Words (four bytes). This is the initial default.
7421 @item g
7422 Giant words (eight bytes).
7423 @end table
7424
7425 Each time you specify a unit size with @code{x}, that size becomes the
7426 default unit the next time you use @code{x}. For the @samp{i} format,
7427 the unit size is ignored and is normally not written. For the @samp{s} format,
7428 the unit size defaults to @samp{b}, unless it is explicitly given.
7429 Use @kbd{x /hs} to display 16-bit char strings and @kbd{x /ws} to display
7430 32-bit strings. The next use of @kbd{x /s} will again display 8-bit strings.
7431 Note that the results depend on the programming language of the
7432 current compilation unit. If the language is C, the @samp{s}
7433 modifier will use the UTF-16 encoding while @samp{w} will use
7434 UTF-32. The encoding is set by the programming language and cannot
7435 be altered.
7436
7437 @item @var{addr}, starting display address
7438 @var{addr} is the address where you want @value{GDBN} to begin displaying
7439 memory. The expression need not have a pointer value (though it may);
7440 it is always interpreted as an integer address of a byte of memory.
7441 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information on expressions. The default for
7442 @var{addr} is usually just after the last address examined---but several
7443 other commands also set the default address: @code{info breakpoints} (to
7444 the address of the last breakpoint listed), @code{info line} (to the
7445 starting address of a line), and @code{print} (if you use it to display
7446 a value from memory).
7447 @end table
7448
7449 For example, @samp{x/3uh 0x54320} is a request to display three halfwords
7450 (@code{h}) of memory, formatted as unsigned decimal integers (@samp{u}),
7451 starting at address @code{0x54320}. @samp{x/4xw $sp} prints the four
7452 words (@samp{w}) of memory above the stack pointer (here, @samp{$sp};
7453 @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}) in hexadecimal (@samp{x}).
7454
7455 Since the letters indicating unit sizes are all distinct from the
7456 letters specifying output formats, you do not have to remember whether
7457 unit size or format comes first; either order works. The output
7458 specifications @samp{4xw} and @samp{4wx} mean exactly the same thing.
7459 (However, the count @var{n} must come first; @samp{wx4} does not work.)
7460
7461 Even though the unit size @var{u} is ignored for the formats @samp{s}
7462 and @samp{i}, you might still want to use a count @var{n}; for example,
7463 @samp{3i} specifies that you want to see three machine instructions,
7464 including any operands. For convenience, especially when used with
7465 the @code{display} command, the @samp{i} format also prints branch delay
7466 slot instructions, if any, beyond the count specified, which immediately
7467 follow the last instruction that is within the count. The command
7468 @code{disassemble} gives an alternative way of inspecting machine
7469 instructions; see @ref{Machine Code,,Source and Machine Code}.
7470
7471 All the defaults for the arguments to @code{x} are designed to make it
7472 easy to continue scanning memory with minimal specifications each time
7473 you use @code{x}. For example, after you have inspected three machine
7474 instructions with @samp{x/3i @var{addr}}, you can inspect the next seven
7475 with just @samp{x/7}. If you use @key{RET} to repeat the @code{x} command,
7476 the repeat count @var{n} is used again; the other arguments default as
7477 for successive uses of @code{x}.
7478
7479 When examining machine instructions, the instruction at current program
7480 counter is shown with a @code{=>} marker. For example:
7481
7482 @smallexample
7483 (@value{GDBP}) x/5i $pc-6
7484 0x804837f <main+11>: mov %esp,%ebp
7485 0x8048381 <main+13>: push %ecx
7486 0x8048382 <main+14>: sub $0x4,%esp
7487 => 0x8048385 <main+17>: movl $0x8048460,(%esp)
7488 0x804838c <main+24>: call 0x80482d4 <puts@@plt>
7489 @end smallexample
7490
7491 @cindex @code{$_}, @code{$__}, and value history
7492 The addresses and contents printed by the @code{x} command are not saved
7493 in the value history because there is often too much of them and they
7494 would get in the way. Instead, @value{GDBN} makes these values available for
7495 subsequent use in expressions as values of the convenience variables
7496 @code{$_} and @code{$__}. After an @code{x} command, the last address
7497 examined is available for use in expressions in the convenience variable
7498 @code{$_}. The contents of that address, as examined, are available in
7499 the convenience variable @code{$__}.
7500
7501 If the @code{x} command has a repeat count, the address and contents saved
7502 are from the last memory unit printed; this is not the same as the last
7503 address printed if several units were printed on the last line of output.
7504
7505 @cindex remote memory comparison
7506 @cindex verify remote memory image
7507 When you are debugging a program running on a remote target machine
7508 (@pxref{Remote Debugging}), you may wish to verify the program's image in the
7509 remote machine's memory against the executable file you downloaded to
7510 the target. The @code{compare-sections} command is provided for such
7511 situations.
7512
7513 @table @code
7514 @kindex compare-sections
7515 @item compare-sections @r{[}@var{section-name}@r{]}
7516 Compare the data of a loadable section @var{section-name} in the
7517 executable file of the program being debugged with the same section in
7518 the remote machine's memory, and report any mismatches. With no
7519 arguments, compares all loadable sections. This command's
7520 availability depends on the target's support for the @code{"qCRC"}
7521 remote request.
7522 @end table
7523
7524 @node Auto Display
7525 @section Automatic Display
7526 @cindex automatic display
7527 @cindex display of expressions
7528
7529 If you find that you want to print the value of an expression frequently
7530 (to see how it changes), you might want to add it to the @dfn{automatic
7531 display list} so that @value{GDBN} prints its value each time your program stops.
7532 Each expression added to the list is given a number to identify it;
7533 to remove an expression from the list, you specify that number.
7534 The automatic display looks like this:
7535
7536 @smallexample
7537 2: foo = 38
7538 3: bar[5] = (struct hack *) 0x3804
7539 @end smallexample
7540
7541 @noindent
7542 This display shows item numbers, expressions and their current values. As with
7543 displays you request manually using @code{x} or @code{print}, you can
7544 specify the output format you prefer; in fact, @code{display} decides
7545 whether to use @code{print} or @code{x} depending your format
7546 specification---it uses @code{x} if you specify either the @samp{i}
7547 or @samp{s} format, or a unit size; otherwise it uses @code{print}.
7548
7549 @table @code
7550 @kindex display
7551 @item display @var{expr}
7552 Add the expression @var{expr} to the list of expressions to display
7553 each time your program stops. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
7554
7555 @code{display} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
7556
7557 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{expr}
7558 For @var{fmt} specifying only a display format and not a size or
7559 count, add the expression @var{expr} to the auto-display list but
7560 arrange to display it each time in the specified format @var{fmt}.
7561 @xref{Output Formats,,Output Formats}.
7562
7563 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{addr}
7564 For @var{fmt} @samp{i} or @samp{s}, or including a unit-size or a
7565 number of units, add the expression @var{addr} as a memory address to
7566 be examined each time your program stops. Examining means in effect
7567 doing @samp{x/@var{fmt} @var{addr}}. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
7568 @end table
7569
7570 For example, @samp{display/i $pc} can be helpful, to see the machine
7571 instruction about to be executed each time execution stops (@samp{$pc}
7572 is a common name for the program counter; @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
7573
7574 @table @code
7575 @kindex delete display
7576 @kindex undisplay
7577 @item undisplay @var{dnums}@dots{}
7578 @itemx delete display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7579 Remove item numbers @var{dnums} from the list of expressions to display.
7580
7581 @code{undisplay} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
7582 (Otherwise you would just get the error @samp{No display number @dots{}}.)
7583
7584 @kindex disable display
7585 @item disable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7586 Disable the display of item numbers @var{dnums}. A disabled display
7587 item is not printed automatically, but is not forgotten. It may be
7588 enabled again later.
7589
7590 @kindex enable display
7591 @item enable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
7592 Enable display of item numbers @var{dnums}. It becomes effective once
7593 again in auto display of its expression, until you specify otherwise.
7594
7595 @item display
7596 Display the current values of the expressions on the list, just as is
7597 done when your program stops.
7598
7599 @kindex info display
7600 @item info display
7601 Print the list of expressions previously set up to display
7602 automatically, each one with its item number, but without showing the
7603 values. This includes disabled expressions, which are marked as such.
7604 It also includes expressions which would not be displayed right now
7605 because they refer to automatic variables not currently available.
7606 @end table
7607
7608 @cindex display disabled out of scope
7609 If a display expression refers to local variables, then it does not make
7610 sense outside the lexical context for which it was set up. Such an
7611 expression is disabled when execution enters a context where one of its
7612 variables is not defined. For example, if you give the command
7613 @code{display last_char} while inside a function with an argument
7614 @code{last_char}, @value{GDBN} displays this argument while your program
7615 continues to stop inside that function. When it stops elsewhere---where
7616 there is no variable @code{last_char}---the display is disabled
7617 automatically. The next time your program stops where @code{last_char}
7618 is meaningful, you can enable the display expression once again.
7619
7620 @node Print Settings
7621 @section Print Settings
7622
7623 @cindex format options
7624 @cindex print settings
7625 @value{GDBN} provides the following ways to control how arrays, structures,
7626 and symbols are printed.
7627
7628 @noindent
7629 These settings are useful for debugging programs in any language:
7630
7631 @table @code
7632 @kindex set print
7633 @item set print address
7634 @itemx set print address on
7635 @cindex print/don't print memory addresses
7636 @value{GDBN} prints memory addresses showing the location of stack
7637 traces, structure values, pointer values, breakpoints, and so forth,
7638 even when it also displays the contents of those addresses. The default
7639 is @code{on}. For example, this is what a stack frame display looks like with
7640 @code{set print address on}:
7641
7642 @smallexample
7643 @group
7644 (@value{GDBP}) f
7645 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<<", rq=0x34c88 ">>")
7646 at input.c:530
7647 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
7648 @end group
7649 @end smallexample
7650
7651 @item set print address off
7652 Do not print addresses when displaying their contents. For example,
7653 this is the same stack frame displayed with @code{set print address off}:
7654
7655 @smallexample
7656 @group
7657 (@value{GDBP}) set print addr off
7658 (@value{GDBP}) f
7659 #0 set_quotes (lq="<<", rq=">>") at input.c:530
7660 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
7661 @end group
7662 @end smallexample
7663
7664 You can use @samp{set print address off} to eliminate all machine
7665 dependent displays from the @value{GDBN} interface. For example, with
7666 @code{print address off}, you should get the same text for backtraces on
7667 all machines---whether or not they involve pointer arguments.
7668
7669 @kindex show print
7670 @item show print address
7671 Show whether or not addresses are to be printed.
7672 @end table
7673
7674 When @value{GDBN} prints a symbolic address, it normally prints the
7675 closest earlier symbol plus an offset. If that symbol does not uniquely
7676 identify the address (for example, it is a name whose scope is a single
7677 source file), you may need to clarify. One way to do this is with
7678 @code{info line}, for example @samp{info line *0x4537}. Alternately,
7679 you can set @value{GDBN} to print the source file and line number when
7680 it prints a symbolic address:
7681
7682 @table @code
7683 @item set print symbol-filename on
7684 @cindex source file and line of a symbol
7685 @cindex symbol, source file and line
7686 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the source file name and line number of a
7687 symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
7688
7689 @item set print symbol-filename off
7690 Do not print source file name and line number of a symbol. This is the
7691 default.
7692
7693 @item show print symbol-filename
7694 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} will print the source file name and
7695 line number of a symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
7696 @end table
7697
7698 Another situation where it is helpful to show symbol filenames and line
7699 numbers is when disassembling code; @value{GDBN} shows you the line
7700 number and source file that corresponds to each instruction.
7701
7702 Also, you may wish to see the symbolic form only if the address being
7703 printed is reasonably close to the closest earlier symbol:
7704
7705 @table @code
7706 @item set print max-symbolic-offset @var{max-offset}
7707 @cindex maximum value for offset of closest symbol
7708 Tell @value{GDBN} to only display the symbolic form of an address if the
7709 offset between the closest earlier symbol and the address is less than
7710 @var{max-offset}. The default is 0, which tells @value{GDBN}
7711 to always print the symbolic form of an address if any symbol precedes it.
7712
7713 @item show print max-symbolic-offset
7714 Ask how large the maximum offset is that @value{GDBN} prints in a
7715 symbolic address.
7716 @end table
7717
7718 @cindex wild pointer, interpreting
7719 @cindex pointer, finding referent
7720 If you have a pointer and you are not sure where it points, try
7721 @samp{set print symbol-filename on}. Then you can determine the name
7722 and source file location of the variable where it points, using
7723 @samp{p/a @var{pointer}}. This interprets the address in symbolic form.
7724 For example, here @value{GDBN} shows that a variable @code{ptt} points
7725 at another variable @code{t}, defined in @file{hi2.c}:
7726
7727 @smallexample
7728 (@value{GDBP}) set print symbol-filename on
7729 (@value{GDBP}) p/a ptt
7730 $4 = 0xe008 <t in hi2.c>
7731 @end smallexample
7732
7733 @quotation
7734 @emph{Warning:} For pointers that point to a local variable, @samp{p/a}
7735 does not show the symbol name and filename of the referent, even with
7736 the appropriate @code{set print} options turned on.
7737 @end quotation
7738
7739 Other settings control how different kinds of objects are printed:
7740
7741 @table @code
7742 @item set print array
7743 @itemx set print array on
7744 @cindex pretty print arrays
7745 Pretty print arrays. This format is more convenient to read,
7746 but uses more space. The default is off.
7747
7748 @item set print array off
7749 Return to compressed format for arrays.
7750
7751 @item show print array
7752 Show whether compressed or pretty format is selected for displaying
7753 arrays.
7754
7755 @cindex print array indexes
7756 @item set print array-indexes
7757 @itemx set print array-indexes on
7758 Print the index of each element when displaying arrays. May be more
7759 convenient to locate a given element in the array or quickly find the
7760 index of a given element in that printed array. The default is off.
7761
7762 @item set print array-indexes off
7763 Stop printing element indexes when displaying arrays.
7764
7765 @item show print array-indexes
7766 Show whether the index of each element is printed when displaying
7767 arrays.
7768
7769 @item set print elements @var{number-of-elements}
7770 @cindex number of array elements to print
7771 @cindex limit on number of printed array elements
7772 Set a limit on how many elements of an array @value{GDBN} will print.
7773 If @value{GDBN} is printing a large array, it stops printing after it has
7774 printed the number of elements set by the @code{set print elements} command.
7775 This limit also applies to the display of strings.
7776 When @value{GDBN} starts, this limit is set to 200.
7777 Setting @var{number-of-elements} to zero means that the printing is unlimited.
7778
7779 @item show print elements
7780 Display the number of elements of a large array that @value{GDBN} will print.
7781 If the number is 0, then the printing is unlimited.
7782
7783 @item set print frame-arguments @var{value}
7784 @kindex set print frame-arguments
7785 @cindex printing frame argument values
7786 @cindex print all frame argument values
7787 @cindex print frame argument values for scalars only
7788 @cindex do not print frame argument values
7789 This command allows to control how the values of arguments are printed
7790 when the debugger prints a frame (@pxref{Frames}). The possible
7791 values are:
7792
7793 @table @code
7794 @item all
7795 The values of all arguments are printed.
7796
7797 @item scalars
7798 Print the value of an argument only if it is a scalar. The value of more
7799 complex arguments such as arrays, structures, unions, etc, is replaced
7800 by @code{@dots{}}. This is the default. Here is an example where
7801 only scalar arguments are shown:
7802
7803 @smallexample
7804 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=3, s=@dots{}, ss=0xbf8d508c, u=@dots{}, e=green)
7805 at frame-args.c:23
7806 @end smallexample
7807
7808 @item none
7809 None of the argument values are printed. Instead, the value of each argument
7810 is replaced by @code{@dots{}}. In this case, the example above now becomes:
7811
7812 @smallexample
7813 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=@dots{}, s=@dots{}, ss=@dots{}, u=@dots{}, e=@dots{})
7814 at frame-args.c:23
7815 @end smallexample
7816 @end table
7817
7818 By default, only scalar arguments are printed. This command can be used
7819 to configure the debugger to print the value of all arguments, regardless
7820 of their type. However, it is often advantageous to not print the value
7821 of more complex parameters. For instance, it reduces the amount of
7822 information printed in each frame, making the backtrace more readable.
7823 Also, it improves performance when displaying Ada frames, because
7824 the computation of large arguments can sometimes be CPU-intensive,
7825 especially in large applications. Setting @code{print frame-arguments}
7826 to @code{scalars} (the default) or @code{none} avoids this computation,
7827 thus speeding up the display of each Ada frame.
7828
7829 @item show print frame-arguments
7830 Show how the value of arguments should be displayed when printing a frame.
7831
7832 @item set print repeats
7833 @cindex repeated array elements
7834 Set the threshold for suppressing display of repeated array
7835 elements. When the number of consecutive identical elements of an
7836 array exceeds the threshold, @value{GDBN} prints the string
7837 @code{"<repeats @var{n} times>"}, where @var{n} is the number of
7838 identical repetitions, instead of displaying the identical elements
7839 themselves. Setting the threshold to zero will cause all elements to
7840 be individually printed. The default threshold is 10.
7841
7842 @item show print repeats
7843 Display the current threshold for printing repeated identical
7844 elements.
7845
7846 @item set print null-stop
7847 @cindex @sc{null} elements in arrays
7848 Cause @value{GDBN} to stop printing the characters of an array when the first
7849 @sc{null} is encountered. This is useful when large arrays actually
7850 contain only short strings.
7851 The default is off.
7852
7853 @item show print null-stop
7854 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops printing an array on the first
7855 @sc{null} character.
7856
7857 @item set print pretty on
7858 @cindex print structures in indented form
7859 @cindex indentation in structure display
7860 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in an indented format with one member
7861 per line, like this:
7862
7863 @smallexample
7864 @group
7865 $1 = @{
7866 next = 0x0,
7867 flags = @{
7868 sweet = 1,
7869 sour = 1
7870 @},
7871 meat = 0x54 "Pork"
7872 @}
7873 @end group
7874 @end smallexample
7875
7876 @item set print pretty off
7877 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in a compact format, like this:
7878
7879 @smallexample
7880 @group
7881 $1 = @{next = 0x0, flags = @{sweet = 1, sour = 1@}, \
7882 meat = 0x54 "Pork"@}
7883 @end group
7884 @end smallexample
7885
7886 @noindent
7887 This is the default format.
7888
7889 @item show print pretty
7890 Show which format @value{GDBN} is using to print structures.
7891
7892 @item set print sevenbit-strings on
7893 @cindex eight-bit characters in strings
7894 @cindex octal escapes in strings
7895 Print using only seven-bit characters; if this option is set,
7896 @value{GDBN} displays any eight-bit characters (in strings or
7897 character values) using the notation @code{\}@var{nnn}. This setting is
7898 best if you are working in English (@sc{ascii}) and you use the
7899 high-order bit of characters as a marker or ``meta'' bit.
7900
7901 @item set print sevenbit-strings off
7902 Print full eight-bit characters. This allows the use of more
7903 international character sets, and is the default.
7904
7905 @item show print sevenbit-strings
7906 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} is printing only seven-bit characters.
7907
7908 @item set print union on
7909 @cindex unions in structures, printing
7910 Tell @value{GDBN} to print unions which are contained in structures
7911 and other unions. This is the default setting.
7912
7913 @item set print union off
7914 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print unions which are contained in
7915 structures and other unions. @value{GDBN} will print @code{"@{...@}"}
7916 instead.
7917
7918 @item show print union
7919 Ask @value{GDBN} whether or not it will print unions which are contained in
7920 structures and other unions.
7921
7922 For example, given the declarations
7923
7924 @smallexample
7925 typedef enum @{Tree, Bug@} Species;
7926 typedef enum @{Big_tree, Acorn, Seedling@} Tree_forms;
7927 typedef enum @{Caterpillar, Cocoon, Butterfly@}
7928 Bug_forms;
7929
7930 struct thing @{
7931 Species it;
7932 union @{
7933 Tree_forms tree;
7934 Bug_forms bug;
7935 @} form;
7936 @};
7937
7938 struct thing foo = @{Tree, @{Acorn@}@};
7939 @end smallexample
7940
7941 @noindent
7942 with @code{set print union on} in effect @samp{p foo} would print
7943
7944 @smallexample
7945 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{tree = Acorn, bug = Cocoon@}@}
7946 @end smallexample
7947
7948 @noindent
7949 and with @code{set print union off} in effect it would print
7950
7951 @smallexample
7952 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{...@}@}
7953 @end smallexample
7954
7955 @noindent
7956 @code{set print union} affects programs written in C-like languages
7957 and in Pascal.
7958 @end table
7959
7960 @need 1000
7961 @noindent
7962 These settings are of interest when debugging C@t{++} programs:
7963
7964 @table @code
7965 @cindex demangling C@t{++} names
7966 @item set print demangle
7967 @itemx set print demangle on
7968 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than in the encoded
7969 (``mangled'') form passed to the assembler and linker for type-safe
7970 linkage. The default is on.
7971
7972 @item show print demangle
7973 Show whether C@t{++} names are printed in mangled or demangled form.
7974
7975 @item set print asm-demangle
7976 @itemx set print asm-demangle on
7977 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than their mangled form, even
7978 in assembler code printouts such as instruction disassemblies.
7979 The default is off.
7980
7981 @item show print asm-demangle
7982 Show whether C@t{++} names in assembly listings are printed in mangled
7983 or demangled form.
7984
7985 @cindex C@t{++} symbol decoding style
7986 @cindex symbol decoding style, C@t{++}
7987 @kindex set demangle-style
7988 @item set demangle-style @var{style}
7989 Choose among several encoding schemes used by different compilers to
7990 represent C@t{++} names. The choices for @var{style} are currently:
7991
7992 @table @code
7993 @item auto
7994 Allow @value{GDBN} to choose a decoding style by inspecting your program.
7995
7996 @item gnu
7997 Decode based on the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler (@code{g++}) encoding algorithm.
7998 This is the default.
7999
8000 @item hp
8001 Decode based on the HP ANSI C@t{++} (@code{aCC}) encoding algorithm.
8002
8003 @item lucid
8004 Decode based on the Lucid C@t{++} compiler (@code{lcc}) encoding algorithm.
8005
8006 @item arm
8007 Decode using the algorithm in the @cite{C@t{++} Annotated Reference Manual}.
8008 @strong{Warning:} this setting alone is not sufficient to allow
8009 debugging @code{cfront}-generated executables. @value{GDBN} would
8010 require further enhancement to permit that.
8011
8012 @end table
8013 If you omit @var{style}, you will see a list of possible formats.
8014
8015 @item show demangle-style
8016 Display the encoding style currently in use for decoding C@t{++} symbols.
8017
8018 @item set print object
8019 @itemx set print object on
8020 @cindex derived type of an object, printing
8021 @cindex display derived types
8022 When displaying a pointer to an object, identify the @emph{actual}
8023 (derived) type of the object rather than the @emph{declared} type, using
8024 the virtual function table.
8025
8026 @item set print object off
8027 Display only the declared type of objects, without reference to the
8028 virtual function table. This is the default setting.
8029
8030 @item show print object
8031 Show whether actual, or declared, object types are displayed.
8032
8033 @item set print static-members
8034 @itemx set print static-members on
8035 @cindex static members of C@t{++} objects
8036 Print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object. The default is on.
8037
8038 @item set print static-members off
8039 Do not print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object.
8040
8041 @item show print static-members
8042 Show whether C@t{++} static members are printed or not.
8043
8044 @item set print pascal_static-members
8045 @itemx set print pascal_static-members on
8046 @cindex static members of Pascal objects
8047 @cindex Pascal objects, static members display
8048 Print static members when displaying a Pascal object. The default is on.
8049
8050 @item set print pascal_static-members off
8051 Do not print static members when displaying a Pascal object.
8052
8053 @item show print pascal_static-members
8054 Show whether Pascal static members are printed or not.
8055
8056 @c These don't work with HP ANSI C++ yet.
8057 @item set print vtbl
8058 @itemx set print vtbl on
8059 @cindex pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables
8060 @cindex virtual functions (C@t{++}) display
8061 @cindex VTBL display
8062 Pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables. The default is off.
8063 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
8064 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
8065
8066 @item set print vtbl off
8067 Do not pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables.
8068
8069 @item show print vtbl
8070 Show whether C@t{++} virtual function tables are pretty printed, or not.
8071 @end table
8072
8073 @node Pretty Printing
8074 @section Pretty Printing
8075
8076 @value{GDBN} provides a mechanism to allow pretty-printing of values using
8077 Python code. It greatly simplifies the display of complex objects. This
8078 mechanism works for both MI and the CLI.
8079
8080 For example, here is how a C@t{++} @code{std::string} looks without a
8081 pretty-printer:
8082
8083 @smallexample
8084 (@value{GDBP}) print s
8085 $1 = @{
8086 static npos = 4294967295,
8087 _M_dataplus = @{
8088 <std::allocator<char>> = @{
8089 <__gnu_cxx::new_allocator<char>> = @{
8090 <No data fields>@}, <No data fields>
8091 @},
8092 members of std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>,
8093 std::allocator<char> >::_Alloc_hider:
8094 _M_p = 0x804a014 "abcd"
8095 @}
8096 @}
8097 @end smallexample
8098
8099 With a pretty-printer for @code{std::string} only the contents are printed:
8100
8101 @smallexample
8102 (@value{GDBP}) print s
8103 $2 = "abcd"
8104 @end smallexample
8105
8106 For implementing pretty printers for new types you should read the Python API
8107 details (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}).
8108
8109 @node Value History
8110 @section Value History
8111
8112 @cindex value history
8113 @cindex history of values printed by @value{GDBN}
8114 Values printed by the @code{print} command are saved in the @value{GDBN}
8115 @dfn{value history}. This allows you to refer to them in other expressions.
8116 Values are kept until the symbol table is re-read or discarded
8117 (for example with the @code{file} or @code{symbol-file} commands).
8118 When the symbol table changes, the value history is discarded,
8119 since the values may contain pointers back to the types defined in the
8120 symbol table.
8121
8122 @cindex @code{$}
8123 @cindex @code{$$}
8124 @cindex history number
8125 The values printed are given @dfn{history numbers} by which you can
8126 refer to them. These are successive integers starting with one.
8127 @code{print} shows you the history number assigned to a value by
8128 printing @samp{$@var{num} = } before the value; here @var{num} is the
8129 history number.
8130
8131 To refer to any previous value, use @samp{$} followed by the value's
8132 history number. The way @code{print} labels its output is designed to
8133 remind you of this. Just @code{$} refers to the most recent value in
8134 the history, and @code{$$} refers to the value before that.
8135 @code{$$@var{n}} refers to the @var{n}th value from the end; @code{$$2}
8136 is the value just prior to @code{$$}, @code{$$1} is equivalent to
8137 @code{$$}, and @code{$$0} is equivalent to @code{$}.
8138
8139 For example, suppose you have just printed a pointer to a structure and
8140 want to see the contents of the structure. It suffices to type
8141
8142 @smallexample
8143 p *$
8144 @end smallexample
8145
8146 If you have a chain of structures where the component @code{next} points
8147 to the next one, you can print the contents of the next one with this:
8148
8149 @smallexample
8150 p *$.next
8151 @end smallexample
8152
8153 @noindent
8154 You can print successive links in the chain by repeating this
8155 command---which you can do by just typing @key{RET}.
8156
8157 Note that the history records values, not expressions. If the value of
8158 @code{x} is 4 and you type these commands:
8159
8160 @smallexample
8161 print x
8162 set x=5
8163 @end smallexample
8164
8165 @noindent
8166 then the value recorded in the value history by the @code{print} command
8167 remains 4 even though the value of @code{x} has changed.
8168
8169 @table @code
8170 @kindex show values
8171 @item show values
8172 Print the last ten values in the value history, with their item numbers.
8173 This is like @samp{p@ $$9} repeated ten times, except that @code{show
8174 values} does not change the history.
8175
8176 @item show values @var{n}
8177 Print ten history values centered on history item number @var{n}.
8178
8179 @item show values +
8180 Print ten history values just after the values last printed. If no more
8181 values are available, @code{show values +} produces no display.
8182 @end table
8183
8184 Pressing @key{RET} to repeat @code{show values @var{n}} has exactly the
8185 same effect as @samp{show values +}.
8186
8187 @node Convenience Vars
8188 @section Convenience Variables
8189
8190 @cindex convenience variables
8191 @cindex user-defined variables
8192 @value{GDBN} provides @dfn{convenience variables} that you can use within
8193 @value{GDBN} to hold on to a value and refer to it later. These variables
8194 exist entirely within @value{GDBN}; they are not part of your program, and
8195 setting a convenience variable has no direct effect on further execution
8196 of your program. That is why you can use them freely.
8197
8198 Convenience variables are prefixed with @samp{$}. Any name preceded by
8199 @samp{$} can be used for a convenience variable, unless it is one of
8200 the predefined machine-specific register names (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
8201 (Value history references, in contrast, are @emph{numbers} preceded
8202 by @samp{$}. @xref{Value History, ,Value History}.)
8203
8204 You can save a value in a convenience variable with an assignment
8205 expression, just as you would set a variable in your program.
8206 For example:
8207
8208 @smallexample
8209 set $foo = *object_ptr
8210 @end smallexample
8211
8212 @noindent
8213 would save in @code{$foo} the value contained in the object pointed to by
8214 @code{object_ptr}.
8215
8216 Using a convenience variable for the first time creates it, but its
8217 value is @code{void} until you assign a new value. You can alter the
8218 value with another assignment at any time.
8219
8220 Convenience variables have no fixed types. You can assign a convenience
8221 variable any type of value, including structures and arrays, even if
8222 that variable already has a value of a different type. The convenience
8223 variable, when used as an expression, has the type of its current value.
8224
8225 @table @code
8226 @kindex show convenience
8227 @cindex show all user variables
8228 @item show convenience
8229 Print a list of convenience variables used so far, and their values.
8230 Abbreviated @code{show conv}.
8231
8232 @kindex init-if-undefined
8233 @cindex convenience variables, initializing
8234 @item init-if-undefined $@var{variable} = @var{expression}
8235 Set a convenience variable if it has not already been set. This is useful
8236 for user-defined commands that keep some state. It is similar, in concept,
8237 to using local static variables with initializers in C (except that
8238 convenience variables are global). It can also be used to allow users to
8239 override default values used in a command script.
8240
8241 If the variable is already defined then the expression is not evaluated so
8242 any side-effects do not occur.
8243 @end table
8244
8245 One of the ways to use a convenience variable is as a counter to be
8246 incremented or a pointer to be advanced. For example, to print
8247 a field from successive elements of an array of structures:
8248
8249 @smallexample
8250 set $i = 0
8251 print bar[$i++]->contents
8252 @end smallexample
8253
8254 @noindent
8255 Repeat that command by typing @key{RET}.
8256
8257 Some convenience variables are created automatically by @value{GDBN} and given
8258 values likely to be useful.
8259
8260 @table @code
8261 @vindex $_@r{, convenience variable}
8262 @item $_
8263 The variable @code{$_} is automatically set by the @code{x} command to
8264 the last address examined (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}). Other
8265 commands which provide a default address for @code{x} to examine also
8266 set @code{$_} to that address; these commands include @code{info line}
8267 and @code{info breakpoint}. The type of @code{$_} is @code{void *}
8268 except when set by the @code{x} command, in which case it is a pointer
8269 to the type of @code{$__}.
8270
8271 @vindex $__@r{, convenience variable}
8272 @item $__
8273 The variable @code{$__} is automatically set by the @code{x} command
8274 to the value found in the last address examined. Its type is chosen
8275 to match the format in which the data was printed.
8276
8277 @item $_exitcode
8278 @vindex $_exitcode@r{, convenience variable}
8279 The variable @code{$_exitcode} is automatically set to the exit code when
8280 the program being debugged terminates.
8281
8282 @item $_siginfo
8283 @vindex $_siginfo@r{, convenience variable}
8284 The variable @code{$_siginfo} contains extra signal information
8285 (@pxref{extra signal information}). Note that @code{$_siginfo}
8286 could be empty, if the application has not yet received any signals.
8287 For example, it will be empty before you execute the @code{run} command.
8288
8289 @item $_tlb
8290 @vindex $_tlb@r{, convenience variable}
8291 The variable @code{$_tlb} is automatically set when debugging
8292 applications running on MS-Windows in native mode or connected to
8293 gdbserver that supports the @code{qGetTIBAddr} request.
8294 @xref{General Query Packets}.
8295 This variable contains the address of the thread information block.
8296
8297 @end table
8298
8299 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
8300 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
8301 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
8302
8303 @cindex convenience functions
8304 @value{GDBN} also supplies some @dfn{convenience functions}. These
8305 have a syntax similar to convenience variables. A convenience
8306 function can be used in an expression just like an ordinary function;
8307 however, a convenience function is implemented internally to
8308 @value{GDBN}.
8309
8310 @table @code
8311 @item help function
8312 @kindex help function
8313 @cindex show all convenience functions
8314 Print a list of all convenience functions.
8315 @end table
8316
8317 @node Registers
8318 @section Registers
8319
8320 @cindex registers
8321 You can refer to machine register contents, in expressions, as variables
8322 with names starting with @samp{$}. The names of registers are different
8323 for each machine; use @code{info registers} to see the names used on
8324 your machine.
8325
8326 @table @code
8327 @kindex info registers
8328 @item info registers
8329 Print the names and values of all registers except floating-point
8330 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
8331
8332 @kindex info all-registers
8333 @cindex floating point registers
8334 @item info all-registers
8335 Print the names and values of all registers, including floating-point
8336 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
8337
8338 @item info registers @var{regname} @dots{}
8339 Print the @dfn{relativized} value of each specified register @var{regname}.
8340 As discussed in detail below, register values are normally relative to
8341 the selected stack frame. @var{regname} may be any register name valid on
8342 the machine you are using, with or without the initial @samp{$}.
8343 @end table
8344
8345 @cindex stack pointer register
8346 @cindex program counter register
8347 @cindex process status register
8348 @cindex frame pointer register
8349 @cindex standard registers
8350 @value{GDBN} has four ``standard'' register names that are available (in
8351 expressions) on most machines---whenever they do not conflict with an
8352 architecture's canonical mnemonics for registers. The register names
8353 @code{$pc} and @code{$sp} are used for the program counter register and
8354 the stack pointer. @code{$fp} is used for a register that contains a
8355 pointer to the current stack frame, and @code{$ps} is used for a
8356 register that contains the processor status. For example,
8357 you could print the program counter in hex with
8358
8359 @smallexample
8360 p/x $pc
8361 @end smallexample
8362
8363 @noindent
8364 or print the instruction to be executed next with
8365
8366 @smallexample
8367 x/i $pc
8368 @end smallexample
8369
8370 @noindent
8371 or add four to the stack pointer@footnote{This is a way of removing
8372 one word from the stack, on machines where stacks grow downward in
8373 memory (most machines, nowadays). This assumes that the innermost
8374 stack frame is selected; setting @code{$sp} is not allowed when other
8375 stack frames are selected. To pop entire frames off the stack,
8376 regardless of machine architecture, use @code{return};
8377 see @ref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}.} with
8378
8379 @smallexample
8380 set $sp += 4
8381 @end smallexample
8382
8383 Whenever possible, these four standard register names are available on
8384 your machine even though the machine has different canonical mnemonics,
8385 so long as there is no conflict. The @code{info registers} command
8386 shows the canonical names. For example, on the SPARC, @code{info
8387 registers} displays the processor status register as @code{$psr} but you
8388 can also refer to it as @code{$ps}; and on x86-based machines @code{$ps}
8389 is an alias for the @sc{eflags} register.
8390
8391 @value{GDBN} always considers the contents of an ordinary register as an
8392 integer when the register is examined in this way. Some machines have
8393 special registers which can hold nothing but floating point; these
8394 registers are considered to have floating point values. There is no way
8395 to refer to the contents of an ordinary register as floating point value
8396 (although you can @emph{print} it as a floating point value with
8397 @samp{print/f $@var{regname}}).
8398
8399 Some registers have distinct ``raw'' and ``virtual'' data formats. This
8400 means that the data format in which the register contents are saved by
8401 the operating system is not the same one that your program normally
8402 sees. For example, the registers of the 68881 floating point
8403 coprocessor are always saved in ``extended'' (raw) format, but all C
8404 programs expect to work with ``double'' (virtual) format. In such
8405 cases, @value{GDBN} normally works with the virtual format only (the format
8406 that makes sense for your program), but the @code{info registers} command
8407 prints the data in both formats.
8408
8409 @cindex SSE registers (x86)
8410 @cindex MMX registers (x86)
8411 Some machines have special registers whose contents can be interpreted
8412 in several different ways. For example, modern x86-based machines
8413 have SSE and MMX registers that can hold several values packed
8414 together in several different formats. @value{GDBN} refers to such
8415 registers in @code{struct} notation:
8416
8417 @smallexample
8418 (@value{GDBP}) print $xmm1
8419 $1 = @{
8420 v4_float = @{0, 3.43859137e-038, 1.54142831e-044, 1.821688e-044@},
8421 v2_double = @{9.92129282474342e-303, 2.7585945287983262e-313@},
8422 v16_int8 = "\000\000\000\000\3706;\001\v\000\000\000\r\000\000",
8423 v8_int16 = @{0, 0, 14072, 315, 11, 0, 13, 0@},
8424 v4_int32 = @{0, 20657912, 11, 13@},
8425 v2_int64 = @{88725056443645952, 55834574859@},
8426 uint128 = 0x0000000d0000000b013b36f800000000
8427 @}
8428 @end smallexample
8429
8430 @noindent
8431 To set values of such registers, you need to tell @value{GDBN} which
8432 view of the register you wish to change, as if you were assigning
8433 value to a @code{struct} member:
8434
8435 @smallexample
8436 (@value{GDBP}) set $xmm1.uint128 = 0x000000000000000000000000FFFFFFFF
8437 @end smallexample
8438
8439 Normally, register values are relative to the selected stack frame
8440 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). This means that you get the
8441 value that the register would contain if all stack frames farther in
8442 were exited and their saved registers restored. In order to see the
8443 true contents of hardware registers, you must select the innermost
8444 frame (with @samp{frame 0}).
8445
8446 However, @value{GDBN} must deduce where registers are saved, from the machine
8447 code generated by your compiler. If some registers are not saved, or if
8448 @value{GDBN} is unable to locate the saved registers, the selected stack
8449 frame makes no difference.
8450
8451 @node Floating Point Hardware
8452 @section Floating Point Hardware
8453 @cindex floating point
8454
8455 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give
8456 you more information about the status of the floating point hardware.
8457
8458 @table @code
8459 @kindex info float
8460 @item info float
8461 Display hardware-dependent information about the floating
8462 point unit. The exact contents and layout vary depending on the
8463 floating point chip. Currently, @samp{info float} is supported on
8464 the ARM and x86 machines.
8465 @end table
8466
8467 @node Vector Unit
8468 @section Vector Unit
8469 @cindex vector unit
8470
8471 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give you
8472 more information about the status of the vector unit.
8473
8474 @table @code
8475 @kindex info vector
8476 @item info vector
8477 Display information about the vector unit. The exact contents and
8478 layout vary depending on the hardware.
8479 @end table
8480
8481 @node OS Information
8482 @section Operating System Auxiliary Information
8483 @cindex OS information
8484
8485 @value{GDBN} provides interfaces to useful OS facilities that can help
8486 you debug your program.
8487
8488 @cindex @code{ptrace} system call
8489 @cindex @code{struct user} contents
8490 When @value{GDBN} runs on a @dfn{Posix system} (such as GNU or Unix
8491 machines), it interfaces with the inferior via the @code{ptrace}
8492 system call. The operating system creates a special sata structure,
8493 called @code{struct user}, for this interface. You can use the
8494 command @code{info udot} to display the contents of this data
8495 structure.
8496
8497 @table @code
8498 @item info udot
8499 @kindex info udot
8500 Display the contents of the @code{struct user} maintained by the OS
8501 kernel for the program being debugged. @value{GDBN} displays the
8502 contents of @code{struct user} as a list of hex numbers, similar to
8503 the @code{examine} command.
8504 @end table
8505
8506 @cindex auxiliary vector
8507 @cindex vector, auxiliary
8508 Some operating systems supply an @dfn{auxiliary vector} to programs at
8509 startup. This is akin to the arguments and environment that you
8510 specify for a program, but contains a system-dependent variety of
8511 binary values that tell system libraries important details about the
8512 hardware, operating system, and process. Each value's purpose is
8513 identified by an integer tag; the meanings are well-known but system-specific.
8514 Depending on the configuration and operating system facilities,
8515 @value{GDBN} may be able to show you this information. For remote
8516 targets, this functionality may further depend on the remote stub's
8517 support of the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet, see
8518 @ref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}.
8519
8520 @table @code
8521 @kindex info auxv
8522 @item info auxv
8523 Display the auxiliary vector of the inferior, which can be either a
8524 live process or a core dump file. @value{GDBN} prints each tag value
8525 numerically, and also shows names and text descriptions for recognized
8526 tags. Some values in the vector are numbers, some bit masks, and some
8527 pointers to strings or other data. @value{GDBN} displays each value in the
8528 most appropriate form for a recognized tag, and in hexadecimal for
8529 an unrecognized tag.
8530 @end table
8531
8532 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can access operating-system-specific information
8533 and display it to user, without interpretation. For remote targets,
8534 this functionality depends on the remote stub's support of the
8535 @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet, see @ref{qXfer osdata read}.
8536
8537 @table @code
8538 @kindex info os
8539 @item info os
8540 List the types of OS information available for the target. If the
8541 target does not return a list of possible types, this command will
8542 report an error.
8543
8544 @kindex info os processes
8545 @item info os processes
8546 Display the list of processes on the target. For each process,
8547 @value{GDBN} prints the process identifier, the name of the user, and
8548 the command corresponding to the process.
8549 @end table
8550
8551 @node Memory Region Attributes
8552 @section Memory Region Attributes
8553 @cindex memory region attributes
8554
8555 @dfn{Memory region attributes} allow you to describe special handling
8556 required by regions of your target's memory. @value{GDBN} uses
8557 attributes to determine whether to allow certain types of memory
8558 accesses; whether to use specific width accesses; and whether to cache
8559 target memory. By default the description of memory regions is
8560 fetched from the target (if the current target supports this), but the
8561 user can override the fetched regions.
8562
8563 Defined memory regions can be individually enabled and disabled. When a
8564 memory region is disabled, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when
8565 accessing memory in that region. Similarly, if no memory regions have
8566 been defined, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when accessing
8567 all memory.
8568
8569 When a memory region is defined, it is given a number to identify it;
8570 to enable, disable, or remove a memory region, you specify that number.
8571
8572 @table @code
8573 @kindex mem
8574 @item mem @var{lower} @var{upper} @var{attributes}@dots{}
8575 Define a memory region bounded by @var{lower} and @var{upper} with
8576 attributes @var{attributes}@dots{}, and add it to the list of regions
8577 monitored by @value{GDBN}. Note that @var{upper} == 0 is a special
8578 case: it is treated as the target's maximum memory address.
8579 (0xffff on 16 bit targets, 0xffffffff on 32 bit targets, etc.)
8580
8581 @item mem auto
8582 Discard any user changes to the memory regions and use target-supplied
8583 regions, if available, or no regions if the target does not support.
8584
8585 @kindex delete mem
8586 @item delete mem @var{nums}@dots{}
8587 Remove memory regions @var{nums}@dots{} from the list of regions
8588 monitored by @value{GDBN}.
8589
8590 @kindex disable mem
8591 @item disable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
8592 Disable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
8593 A disabled memory region is not forgotten.
8594 It may be enabled again later.
8595
8596 @kindex enable mem
8597 @item enable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
8598 Enable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
8599
8600 @kindex info mem
8601 @item info mem
8602 Print a table of all defined memory regions, with the following columns
8603 for each region:
8604
8605 @table @emph
8606 @item Memory Region Number
8607 @item Enabled or Disabled.
8608 Enabled memory regions are marked with @samp{y}.
8609 Disabled memory regions are marked with @samp{n}.
8610
8611 @item Lo Address
8612 The address defining the inclusive lower bound of the memory region.
8613
8614 @item Hi Address
8615 The address defining the exclusive upper bound of the memory region.
8616
8617 @item Attributes
8618 The list of attributes set for this memory region.
8619 @end table
8620 @end table
8621
8622
8623 @subsection Attributes
8624
8625 @subsubsection Memory Access Mode
8626 The access mode attributes set whether @value{GDBN} may make read or
8627 write accesses to a memory region.
8628
8629 While these attributes prevent @value{GDBN} from performing invalid
8630 memory accesses, they do nothing to prevent the target system, I/O DMA,
8631 etc.@: from accessing memory.
8632
8633 @table @code
8634 @item ro
8635 Memory is read only.
8636 @item wo
8637 Memory is write only.
8638 @item rw
8639 Memory is read/write. This is the default.
8640 @end table
8641
8642 @subsubsection Memory Access Size
8643 The access size attribute tells @value{GDBN} to use specific sized
8644 accesses in the memory region. Often memory mapped device registers
8645 require specific sized accesses. If no access size attribute is
8646 specified, @value{GDBN} may use accesses of any size.
8647
8648 @table @code
8649 @item 8
8650 Use 8 bit memory accesses.
8651 @item 16
8652 Use 16 bit memory accesses.
8653 @item 32
8654 Use 32 bit memory accesses.
8655 @item 64
8656 Use 64 bit memory accesses.
8657 @end table
8658
8659 @c @subsubsection Hardware/Software Breakpoints
8660 @c The hardware/software breakpoint attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
8661 @c will use hardware or software breakpoints for the internal breakpoints
8662 @c used by the step, next, finish, until, etc. commands.
8663 @c
8664 @c @table @code
8665 @c @item hwbreak
8666 @c Always use hardware breakpoints
8667 @c @item swbreak (default)
8668 @c @end table
8669
8670 @subsubsection Data Cache
8671 The data cache attributes set whether @value{GDBN} will cache target
8672 memory. While this generally improves performance by reducing debug
8673 protocol overhead, it can lead to incorrect results because @value{GDBN}
8674 does not know about volatile variables or memory mapped device
8675 registers.
8676
8677 @table @code
8678 @item cache
8679 Enable @value{GDBN} to cache target memory.
8680 @item nocache
8681 Disable @value{GDBN} from caching target memory. This is the default.
8682 @end table
8683
8684 @subsection Memory Access Checking
8685 @value{GDBN} can be instructed to refuse accesses to memory that is
8686 not explicitly described. This can be useful if accessing such
8687 regions has undesired effects for a specific target, or to provide
8688 better error checking. The following commands control this behaviour.
8689
8690 @table @code
8691 @kindex set mem inaccessible-by-default
8692 @item set mem inaccessible-by-default [on|off]
8693 If @code{on} is specified, make @value{GDBN} treat memory not
8694 explicitly described by the memory ranges as non-existent and refuse accesses
8695 to such memory. The checks are only performed if there's at least one
8696 memory range defined. If @code{off} is specified, make @value{GDBN}
8697 treat the memory not explicitly described by the memory ranges as RAM.
8698 The default value is @code{on}.
8699 @kindex show mem inaccessible-by-default
8700 @item show mem inaccessible-by-default
8701 Show the current handling of accesses to unknown memory.
8702 @end table
8703
8704
8705 @c @subsubsection Memory Write Verification
8706 @c The memory write verification attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
8707 @c will re-reads data after each write to verify the write was successful.
8708 @c
8709 @c @table @code
8710 @c @item verify
8711 @c @item noverify (default)
8712 @c @end table
8713
8714 @node Dump/Restore Files
8715 @section Copy Between Memory and a File
8716 @cindex dump/restore files
8717 @cindex append data to a file
8718 @cindex dump data to a file
8719 @cindex restore data from a file
8720
8721 You can use the commands @code{dump}, @code{append}, and
8722 @code{restore} to copy data between target memory and a file. The
8723 @code{dump} and @code{append} commands write data to a file, and the
8724 @code{restore} command reads data from a file back into the inferior's
8725 memory. Files may be in binary, Motorola S-record, Intel hex, or
8726 Tektronix Hex format; however, @value{GDBN} can only append to binary
8727 files.
8728
8729 @table @code
8730
8731 @kindex dump
8732 @item dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
8733 @itemx dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
8734 Dump the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
8735 or the value of @var{expr}, to @var{filename} in the given format.
8736
8737 The @var{format} parameter may be any one of:
8738 @table @code
8739 @item binary
8740 Raw binary form.
8741 @item ihex
8742 Intel hex format.
8743 @item srec
8744 Motorola S-record format.
8745 @item tekhex
8746 Tektronix Hex format.
8747 @end table
8748
8749 @value{GDBN} uses the same definitions of these formats as the
8750 @sc{gnu} binary utilities, like @samp{objdump} and @samp{objcopy}. If
8751 @var{format} is omitted, @value{GDBN} dumps the data in raw binary
8752 form.
8753
8754 @kindex append
8755 @item append @r{[}binary@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
8756 @itemx append @r{[}binary@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
8757 Append the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
8758 or the value of @var{expr}, to the file @var{filename}, in raw binary form.
8759 (@value{GDBN} can only append data to files in raw binary form.)
8760
8761 @kindex restore
8762 @item restore @var{filename} @r{[}binary@r{]} @var{bias} @var{start} @var{end}
8763 Restore the contents of file @var{filename} into memory. The
8764 @code{restore} command can automatically recognize any known @sc{bfd}
8765 file format, except for raw binary. To restore a raw binary file you
8766 must specify the optional keyword @code{binary} after the filename.
8767
8768 If @var{bias} is non-zero, its value will be added to the addresses
8769 contained in the file. Binary files always start at address zero, so
8770 they will be restored at address @var{bias}. Other bfd files have
8771 a built-in location; they will be restored at offset @var{bias}
8772 from that location.
8773
8774 If @var{start} and/or @var{end} are non-zero, then only data between
8775 file offset @var{start} and file offset @var{end} will be restored.
8776 These offsets are relative to the addresses in the file, before
8777 the @var{bias} argument is applied.
8778
8779 @end table
8780
8781 @node Core File Generation
8782 @section How to Produce a Core File from Your Program
8783 @cindex dump core from inferior
8784
8785 A @dfn{core file} or @dfn{core dump} is a file that records the memory
8786 image of a running process and its process status (register values
8787 etc.). Its primary use is post-mortem debugging of a program that
8788 crashed while it ran outside a debugger. A program that crashes
8789 automatically produces a core file, unless this feature is disabled by
8790 the user. @xref{Files}, for information on invoking @value{GDBN} in
8791 the post-mortem debugging mode.
8792
8793 Occasionally, you may wish to produce a core file of the program you
8794 are debugging in order to preserve a snapshot of its state.
8795 @value{GDBN} has a special command for that.
8796
8797 @table @code
8798 @kindex gcore
8799 @kindex generate-core-file
8800 @item generate-core-file [@var{file}]
8801 @itemx gcore [@var{file}]
8802 Produce a core dump of the inferior process. The optional argument
8803 @var{file} specifies the file name where to put the core dump. If not
8804 specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}}, where
8805 @var{pid} is the inferior process ID.
8806
8807 Note that this command is implemented only for some systems (as of
8808 this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, Unixware, and S390).
8809 @end table
8810
8811 @node Character Sets
8812 @section Character Sets
8813 @cindex character sets
8814 @cindex charset
8815 @cindex translating between character sets
8816 @cindex host character set
8817 @cindex target character set
8818
8819 If the program you are debugging uses a different character set to
8820 represent characters and strings than the one @value{GDBN} uses itself,
8821 @value{GDBN} can automatically translate between the character sets for
8822 you. The character set @value{GDBN} uses we call the @dfn{host
8823 character set}; the one the inferior program uses we call the
8824 @dfn{target character set}.
8825
8826 For example, if you are running @value{GDBN} on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, which
8827 uses the ISO Latin 1 character set, but you are using @value{GDBN}'s
8828 remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Debugging}) to debug a program
8829 running on an IBM mainframe, which uses the @sc{ebcdic} character set,
8830 then the host character set is Latin-1, and the target character set is
8831 @sc{ebcdic}. If you give @value{GDBN} the command @code{set
8832 target-charset EBCDIC-US}, then @value{GDBN} translates between
8833 @sc{ebcdic} and Latin 1 as you print character or string values, or use
8834 character and string literals in expressions.
8835
8836 @value{GDBN} has no way to automatically recognize which character set
8837 the inferior program uses; you must tell it, using the @code{set
8838 target-charset} command, described below.
8839
8840 Here are the commands for controlling @value{GDBN}'s character set
8841 support:
8842
8843 @table @code
8844 @item set target-charset @var{charset}
8845 @kindex set target-charset
8846 Set the current target character set to @var{charset}. To display the
8847 list of supported target character sets, type
8848 @kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
8849
8850 @item set host-charset @var{charset}
8851 @kindex set host-charset
8852 Set the current host character set to @var{charset}.
8853
8854 By default, @value{GDBN} uses a host character set appropriate to the
8855 system it is running on; you can override that default using the
8856 @code{set host-charset} command. On some systems, @value{GDBN} cannot
8857 automatically determine the appropriate host character set. In this
8858 case, @value{GDBN} uses @samp{UTF-8}.
8859
8860 @value{GDBN} can only use certain character sets as its host character
8861 set. If you type @kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
8862 @value{GDBN} will list the host character sets it supports.
8863
8864 @item set charset @var{charset}
8865 @kindex set charset
8866 Set the current host and target character sets to @var{charset}. As
8867 above, if you type @kbd{@w{set charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
8868 @value{GDBN} will list the names of the character sets that can be used
8869 for both host and target.
8870
8871 @item show charset
8872 @kindex show charset
8873 Show the names of the current host and target character sets.
8874
8875 @item show host-charset
8876 @kindex show host-charset
8877 Show the name of the current host character set.
8878
8879 @item show target-charset
8880 @kindex show target-charset
8881 Show the name of the current target character set.
8882
8883 @item set target-wide-charset @var{charset}
8884 @kindex set target-wide-charset
8885 Set the current target's wide character set to @var{charset}. This is
8886 the character set used by the target's @code{wchar_t} type. To
8887 display the list of supported wide character sets, type
8888 @kbd{@w{set target-wide-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
8889
8890 @item show target-wide-charset
8891 @kindex show target-wide-charset
8892 Show the name of the current target's wide character set.
8893 @end table
8894
8895 Here is an example of @value{GDBN}'s character set support in action.
8896 Assume that the following source code has been placed in the file
8897 @file{charset-test.c}:
8898
8899 @smallexample
8900 #include <stdio.h>
8901
8902 char ascii_hello[]
8903 = @{72, 101, 108, 108, 111, 44, 32, 119,
8904 111, 114, 108, 100, 33, 10, 0@};
8905 char ibm1047_hello[]
8906 = @{200, 133, 147, 147, 150, 107, 64, 166,
8907 150, 153, 147, 132, 90, 37, 0@};
8908
8909 main ()
8910 @{
8911 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
8912 @}
8913 @end smallexample
8914
8915 In this program, @code{ascii_hello} and @code{ibm1047_hello} are arrays
8916 containing the string @samp{Hello, world!} followed by a newline,
8917 encoded in the @sc{ascii} and @sc{ibm1047} character sets.
8918
8919 We compile the program, and invoke the debugger on it:
8920
8921 @smallexample
8922 $ gcc -g charset-test.c -o charset-test
8923 $ gdb -nw charset-test
8924 GNU gdb 2001-12-19-cvs
8925 Copyright 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
8926 @dots{}
8927 (@value{GDBP})
8928 @end smallexample
8929
8930 We can use the @code{show charset} command to see what character sets
8931 @value{GDBN} is currently using to interpret and display characters and
8932 strings:
8933
8934 @smallexample
8935 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
8936 The current host and target character set is `ISO-8859-1'.
8937 (@value{GDBP})
8938 @end smallexample
8939
8940 For the sake of printing this manual, let's use @sc{ascii} as our
8941 initial character set:
8942 @smallexample
8943 (@value{GDBP}) set charset ASCII
8944 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
8945 The current host and target character set is `ASCII'.
8946 (@value{GDBP})
8947 @end smallexample
8948
8949 Let's assume that @sc{ascii} is indeed the correct character set for our
8950 host system --- in other words, let's assume that if @value{GDBN} prints
8951 characters using the @sc{ascii} character set, our terminal will display
8952 them properly. Since our current target character set is also
8953 @sc{ascii}, the contents of @code{ascii_hello} print legibly:
8954
8955 @smallexample
8956 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
8957 $1 = 0x401698 "Hello, world!\n"
8958 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
8959 $2 = 72 'H'
8960 (@value{GDBP})
8961 @end smallexample
8962
8963 @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and string
8964 literals you use in expressions:
8965
8966 @smallexample
8967 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
8968 $3 = 43 '+'
8969 (@value{GDBP})
8970 @end smallexample
8971
8972 The @sc{ascii} character set uses the number 43 to encode the @samp{+}
8973 character.
8974
8975 @value{GDBN} relies on the user to tell it which character set the
8976 target program uses. If we print @code{ibm1047_hello} while our target
8977 character set is still @sc{ascii}, we get jibberish:
8978
8979 @smallexample
8980 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
8981 $4 = 0x4016a8 "\310\205\223\223\226k@@\246\226\231\223\204Z%"
8982 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
8983 $5 = 200 '\310'
8984 (@value{GDBP})
8985 @end smallexample
8986
8987 If we invoke the @code{set target-charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB},
8988 @value{GDBN} tells us the character sets it supports:
8989
8990 @smallexample
8991 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
8992 ASCII EBCDIC-US IBM1047 ISO-8859-1
8993 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
8994 @end smallexample
8995
8996 We can select @sc{ibm1047} as our target character set, and examine the
8997 program's strings again. Now the @sc{ascii} string is wrong, but
8998 @value{GDBN} translates the contents of @code{ibm1047_hello} from the
8999 target character set, @sc{ibm1047}, to the host character set,
9000 @sc{ascii}, and they display correctly:
9001
9002 @smallexample
9003 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset IBM1047
9004 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
9005 The current host character set is `ASCII'.
9006 The current target character set is `IBM1047'.
9007 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
9008 $6 = 0x401698 "\110\145%%?\054\040\167?\162%\144\041\012"
9009 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
9010 $7 = 72 '\110'
9011 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
9012 $8 = 0x4016a8 "Hello, world!\n"
9013 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
9014 $9 = 200 'H'
9015 (@value{GDBP})
9016 @end smallexample
9017
9018 As above, @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and
9019 string literals you use in expressions:
9020
9021 @smallexample
9022 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
9023 $10 = 78 '+'
9024 (@value{GDBP})
9025 @end smallexample
9026
9027 The @sc{ibm1047} character set uses the number 78 to encode the @samp{+}
9028 character.
9029
9030 @node Caching Remote Data
9031 @section Caching Data of Remote Targets
9032 @cindex caching data of remote targets
9033
9034 @value{GDBN} caches data exchanged between the debugger and a
9035 remote target (@pxref{Remote Debugging}). Such caching generally improves
9036 performance, because it reduces the overhead of the remote protocol by
9037 bundling memory reads and writes into large chunks. Unfortunately, simply
9038 caching everything would lead to incorrect results, since @value{GDBN}
9039 does not necessarily know anything about volatile values, memory-mapped I/O
9040 addresses, etc. Furthermore, in non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode})
9041 memory can be changed @emph{while} a gdb command is executing.
9042 Therefore, by default, @value{GDBN} only caches data
9043 known to be on the stack@footnote{In non-stop mode, it is moderately
9044 rare for a running thread to modify the stack of a stopped thread
9045 in a way that would interfere with a backtrace, and caching of
9046 stack reads provides a significant speed up of remote backtraces.}.
9047 Other regions of memory can be explicitly marked as
9048 cacheable; see @pxref{Memory Region Attributes}.
9049
9050 @table @code
9051 @kindex set remotecache
9052 @item set remotecache on
9053 @itemx set remotecache off
9054 This option no longer does anything; it exists for compatibility
9055 with old scripts.
9056
9057 @kindex show remotecache
9058 @item show remotecache
9059 Show the current state of the obsolete remotecache flag.
9060
9061 @kindex set stack-cache
9062 @item set stack-cache on
9063 @itemx set stack-cache off
9064 Enable or disable caching of stack accesses. When @code{ON}, use
9065 caching. By default, this option is @code{ON}.
9066
9067 @kindex show stack-cache
9068 @item show stack-cache
9069 Show the current state of data caching for memory accesses.
9070
9071 @kindex info dcache
9072 @item info dcache @r{[}line@r{]}
9073 Print the information about the data cache performance. The
9074 information displayed includes the dcache width and depth, and for
9075 each cache line, its number, address, and how many times it was
9076 referenced. This command is useful for debugging the data cache
9077 operation.
9078
9079 If a line number is specified, the contents of that line will be
9080 printed in hex.
9081 @end table
9082
9083 @node Searching Memory
9084 @section Search Memory
9085 @cindex searching memory
9086
9087 Memory can be searched for a particular sequence of bytes with the
9088 @code{find} command.
9089
9090 @table @code
9091 @kindex find
9092 @item find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, +@var{len}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
9093 @itemx find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, @var{end_addr}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
9094 Search memory for the sequence of bytes specified by @var{val1}, @var{val2},
9095 etc. The search begins at address @var{start_addr} and continues for either
9096 @var{len} bytes or through to @var{end_addr} inclusive.
9097 @end table
9098
9099 @var{s} and @var{n} are optional parameters.
9100 They may be specified in either order, apart or together.
9101
9102 @table @r
9103 @item @var{s}, search query size
9104 The size of each search query value.
9105
9106 @table @code
9107 @item b
9108 bytes
9109 @item h
9110 halfwords (two bytes)
9111 @item w
9112 words (four bytes)
9113 @item g
9114 giant words (eight bytes)
9115 @end table
9116
9117 All values are interpreted in the current language.
9118 This means, for example, that if the current source language is C/C@t{++}
9119 then searching for the string ``hello'' includes the trailing '\0'.
9120
9121 If the value size is not specified, it is taken from the
9122 value's type in the current language.
9123 This is useful when one wants to specify the search
9124 pattern as a mixture of types.
9125 Note that this means, for example, that in the case of C-like languages
9126 a search for an untyped 0x42 will search for @samp{(int) 0x42}
9127 which is typically four bytes.
9128
9129 @item @var{n}, maximum number of finds
9130 The maximum number of matches to print. The default is to print all finds.
9131 @end table
9132
9133 You can use strings as search values. Quote them with double-quotes
9134 (@code{"}).
9135 The string value is copied into the search pattern byte by byte,
9136 regardless of the endianness of the target and the size specification.
9137
9138 The address of each match found is printed as well as a count of the
9139 number of matches found.
9140
9141 The address of the last value found is stored in convenience variable
9142 @samp{$_}.
9143 A count of the number of matches is stored in @samp{$numfound}.
9144
9145 For example, if stopped at the @code{printf} in this function:
9146
9147 @smallexample
9148 void
9149 hello ()
9150 @{
9151 static char hello[] = "hello-hello";
9152 static struct @{ char c; short s; int i; @}
9153 __attribute__ ((packed)) mixed
9154 = @{ 'c', 0x1234, 0x87654321 @};
9155 printf ("%s\n", hello);
9156 @}
9157 @end smallexample
9158
9159 @noindent
9160 you get during debugging:
9161
9162 @smallexample
9163 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), "hello"
9164 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
9165 1 pattern found
9166 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'
9167 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
9168 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
9169 2 patterns found
9170 (gdb) find /b1 &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 0x65, 'l'
9171 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
9172 1 pattern found
9173 (gdb) find &mixed, +sizeof(mixed), (char) 'c', (short) 0x1234, (int) 0x87654321
9174 0x8049560 <mixed.1625>
9175 1 pattern found
9176 (gdb) print $numfound
9177 $1 = 1
9178 (gdb) print $_
9179 $2 = (void *) 0x8049560
9180 @end smallexample
9181
9182 @node Optimized Code
9183 @chapter Debugging Optimized Code
9184 @cindex optimized code, debugging
9185 @cindex debugging optimized code
9186
9187 Almost all compilers support optimization. With optimization
9188 disabled, the compiler generates assembly code that corresponds
9189 directly to your source code, in a simplistic way. As the compiler
9190 applies more powerful optimizations, the generated assembly code
9191 diverges from your original source code. With help from debugging
9192 information generated by the compiler, @value{GDBN} can map from
9193 the running program back to constructs from your original source.
9194
9195 @value{GDBN} is more accurate with optimization disabled. If you
9196 can recompile without optimization, it is easier to follow the
9197 progress of your program during debugging. But, there are many cases
9198 where you may need to debug an optimized version.
9199
9200 When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
9201 optimizer has rearranged your code; the debugger shows you what is
9202 really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
9203 exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
9204 variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
9205 variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
9206
9207 Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
9208 @samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
9209 doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
9210 please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
9211 @xref{Variables}, for more information about debugging optimized code.
9212
9213 @menu
9214 * Inline Functions:: How @value{GDBN} presents inlining
9215 @end menu
9216
9217 @node Inline Functions
9218 @section Inline Functions
9219 @cindex inline functions, debugging
9220
9221 @dfn{Inlining} is an optimization that inserts a copy of the function
9222 body directly at each call site, instead of jumping to a shared
9223 routine. @value{GDBN} displays inlined functions just like
9224 non-inlined functions. They appear in backtraces. You can view their
9225 arguments and local variables, step into them with @code{step}, skip
9226 them with @code{next}, and escape from them with @code{finish}.
9227 You can check whether a function was inlined by using the
9228 @code{info frame} command.
9229
9230 For @value{GDBN} to support inlined functions, the compiler must
9231 record information about inlining in the debug information ---
9232 @value{NGCC} using the @sc{dwarf 2} format does this, and several
9233 other compilers do also. @value{GDBN} only supports inlined functions
9234 when using @sc{dwarf 2}. Versions of @value{NGCC} before 4.1
9235 do not emit two required attributes (@samp{DW_AT_call_file} and
9236 @samp{DW_AT_call_line}); @value{GDBN} does not display inlined
9237 function calls with earlier versions of @value{NGCC}. It instead
9238 displays the arguments and local variables of inlined functions as
9239 local variables in the caller.
9240
9241 The body of an inlined function is directly included at its call site;
9242 unlike a non-inlined function, there are no instructions devoted to
9243 the call. @value{GDBN} still pretends that the call site and the
9244 start of the inlined function are different instructions. Stepping to
9245 the call site shows the call site, and then stepping again shows
9246 the first line of the inlined function, even though no additional
9247 instructions are executed.
9248
9249 This makes source-level debugging much clearer; you can see both the
9250 context of the call and then the effect of the call. Only stepping by
9251 a single instruction using @code{stepi} or @code{nexti} does not do
9252 this; single instruction steps always show the inlined body.
9253
9254 There are some ways that @value{GDBN} does not pretend that inlined
9255 function calls are the same as normal calls:
9256
9257 @itemize @bullet
9258 @item
9259 You cannot set breakpoints on inlined functions. @value{GDBN}
9260 either reports that there is no symbol with that name, or else sets the
9261 breakpoint only on non-inlined copies of the function. This limitation
9262 will be removed in a future version of @value{GDBN}; until then,
9263 set a breakpoint by line number on the first line of the inlined
9264 function instead.
9265
9266 @item
9267 Setting breakpoints at the call site of an inlined function may not
9268 work, because the call site does not contain any code. @value{GDBN}
9269 may incorrectly move the breakpoint to the next line of the enclosing
9270 function, after the call. This limitation will be removed in a future
9271 version of @value{GDBN}; until then, set a breakpoint on an earlier line
9272 or inside the inlined function instead.
9273
9274 @item
9275 @value{GDBN} cannot locate the return value of inlined calls after
9276 using the @code{finish} command. This is a limitation of compiler-generated
9277 debugging information; after @code{finish}, you can step to the next line
9278 and print a variable where your program stored the return value.
9279
9280 @end itemize
9281
9282
9283 @node Macros
9284 @chapter C Preprocessor Macros
9285
9286 Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, provide a way to define and invoke
9287 ``preprocessor macros'' which expand into strings of tokens.
9288 @value{GDBN} can evaluate expressions containing macro invocations, show
9289 the result of macro expansion, and show a macro's definition, including
9290 where it was defined.
9291
9292 You may need to compile your program specially to provide @value{GDBN}
9293 with information about preprocessor macros. Most compilers do not
9294 include macros in their debugging information, even when you compile
9295 with the @option{-g} flag. @xref{Compilation}.
9296
9297 A program may define a macro at one point, remove that definition later,
9298 and then provide a different definition after that. Thus, at different
9299 points in the program, a macro may have different definitions, or have
9300 no definition at all. If there is a current stack frame, @value{GDBN}
9301 uses the macros in scope at that frame's source code line. Otherwise,
9302 @value{GDBN} uses the macros in scope at the current listing location;
9303 see @ref{List}.
9304
9305 Whenever @value{GDBN} evaluates an expression, it always expands any
9306 macro invocations present in the expression. @value{GDBN} also provides
9307 the following commands for working with macros explicitly.
9308
9309 @table @code
9310
9311 @kindex macro expand
9312 @cindex macro expansion, showing the results of preprocessor
9313 @cindex preprocessor macro expansion, showing the results of
9314 @cindex expanding preprocessor macros
9315 @item macro expand @var{expression}
9316 @itemx macro exp @var{expression}
9317 Show the results of expanding all preprocessor macro invocations in
9318 @var{expression}. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does
9319 not parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression;
9320 it can be any string of tokens.
9321
9322 @kindex macro exp1
9323 @item macro expand-once @var{expression}
9324 @itemx macro exp1 @var{expression}
9325 @cindex expand macro once
9326 @i{(This command is not yet implemented.)} Show the results of
9327 expanding those preprocessor macro invocations that appear explicitly in
9328 @var{expression}. Macro invocations appearing in that expansion are
9329 left unchanged. This command allows you to see the effect of a
9330 particular macro more clearly, without being confused by further
9331 expansions. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does not
9332 parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression; it
9333 can be any string of tokens.
9334
9335 @kindex info macro
9336 @cindex macro definition, showing
9337 @cindex definition, showing a macro's
9338 @item info macro @var{macro}
9339 Show the definition of the macro named @var{macro}, and describe the
9340 source location or compiler command-line where that definition was established.
9341
9342 @kindex macro define
9343 @cindex user-defined macros
9344 @cindex defining macros interactively
9345 @cindex macros, user-defined
9346 @item macro define @var{macro} @var{replacement-list}
9347 @itemx macro define @var{macro}(@var{arglist}) @var{replacement-list}
9348 Introduce a definition for a preprocessor macro named @var{macro},
9349 invocations of which are replaced by the tokens given in
9350 @var{replacement-list}. The first form of this command defines an
9351 ``object-like'' macro, which takes no arguments; the second form
9352 defines a ``function-like'' macro, which takes the arguments given in
9353 @var{arglist}.
9354
9355 A definition introduced by this command is in scope in every
9356 expression evaluated in @value{GDBN}, until it is removed with the
9357 @code{macro undef} command, described below. The definition overrides
9358 all definitions for @var{macro} present in the program being debugged,
9359 as well as any previous user-supplied definition.
9360
9361 @kindex macro undef
9362 @item macro undef @var{macro}
9363 Remove any user-supplied definition for the macro named @var{macro}.
9364 This command only affects definitions provided with the @code{macro
9365 define} command, described above; it cannot remove definitions present
9366 in the program being debugged.
9367
9368 @kindex macro list
9369 @item macro list
9370 List all the macros defined using the @code{macro define} command.
9371 @end table
9372
9373 @cindex macros, example of debugging with
9374 Here is a transcript showing the above commands in action. First, we
9375 show our source files:
9376
9377 @smallexample
9378 $ cat sample.c
9379 #include <stdio.h>
9380 #include "sample.h"
9381
9382 #define M 42
9383 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
9384
9385 main ()
9386 @{
9387 #define N 28
9388 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
9389 #undef N
9390 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
9391 #define N 1729
9392 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
9393 @}
9394 $ cat sample.h
9395 #define Q <
9396 $
9397 @end smallexample
9398
9399 Now, we compile the program using the @sc{gnu} C compiler, @value{NGCC}.
9400 We pass the @option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-g3} flags to ensure the
9401 compiler includes information about preprocessor macros in the debugging
9402 information.
9403
9404 @smallexample
9405 $ gcc -gdwarf-2 -g3 sample.c -o sample
9406 $
9407 @end smallexample
9408
9409 Now, we start @value{GDBN} on our sample program:
9410
9411 @smallexample
9412 $ gdb -nw sample
9413 GNU gdb 2002-05-06-cvs
9414 Copyright 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
9415 GDB is free software, @dots{}
9416 (@value{GDBP})
9417 @end smallexample
9418
9419 We can expand macros and examine their definitions, even when the
9420 program is not running. @value{GDBN} uses the current listing position
9421 to decide which macro definitions are in scope:
9422
9423 @smallexample
9424 (@value{GDBP}) list main
9425 3
9426 4 #define M 42
9427 5 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
9428 6
9429 7 main ()
9430 8 @{
9431 9 #define N 28
9432 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
9433 11 #undef N
9434 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
9435 (@value{GDBP}) info macro ADD
9436 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:5
9437 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
9438 (@value{GDBP}) info macro Q
9439 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.h:1
9440 included at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:2
9441 #define Q <
9442 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand ADD(1)
9443 expands to: (42 + 1)
9444 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand-once ADD(1)
9445 expands to: once (M + 1)
9446 (@value{GDBP})
9447 @end smallexample
9448
9449 In the example above, note that @code{macro expand-once} expands only
9450 the macro invocation explicit in the original text --- the invocation of
9451 @code{ADD} --- but does not expand the invocation of the macro @code{M},
9452 which was introduced by @code{ADD}.
9453
9454 Once the program is running, @value{GDBN} uses the macro definitions in
9455 force at the source line of the current stack frame:
9456
9457 @smallexample
9458 (@value{GDBP}) break main
9459 Breakpoint 1 at 0x8048370: file sample.c, line 10.
9460 (@value{GDBP}) run
9461 Starting program: /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample
9462
9463 Breakpoint 1, main () at sample.c:10
9464 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
9465 (@value{GDBP})
9466 @end smallexample
9467
9468 At line 10, the definition of the macro @code{N} at line 9 is in force:
9469
9470 @smallexample
9471 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
9472 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:9
9473 #define N 28
9474 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
9475 expands to: 28 < 42
9476 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
9477 $1 = 1
9478 (@value{GDBP})
9479 @end smallexample
9480
9481 As we step over directives that remove @code{N}'s definition, and then
9482 give it a new definition, @value{GDBN} finds the definition (or lack
9483 thereof) in force at each point:
9484
9485 @smallexample
9486 (@value{GDBP}) next
9487 Hello, world!
9488 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
9489 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
9490 The symbol `N' has no definition as a C/C++ preprocessor macro
9491 at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:12
9492 (@value{GDBP}) next
9493 We're so creative.
9494 14 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
9495 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
9496 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:13
9497 #define N 1729
9498 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
9499 expands to: 1729 < 42
9500 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
9501 $2 = 0
9502 (@value{GDBP})
9503 @end smallexample
9504
9505 In addition to source files, macros can be defined on the compilation command
9506 line using the @option{-D@var{name}=@var{value}} syntax. For macros defined in
9507 such a way, @value{GDBN} displays the location of their definition as line zero
9508 of the source file submitted to the compiler.
9509
9510 @smallexample
9511 (@value{GDBP}) info macro __STDC__
9512 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:0
9513 -D__STDC__=1
9514 (@value{GDBP})
9515 @end smallexample
9516
9517
9518 @node Tracepoints
9519 @chapter Tracepoints
9520 @c This chapter is based on the documentation written by Michael
9521 @c Snyder, David Taylor, Jim Blandy, and Elena Zannoni.
9522
9523 @cindex tracepoints
9524 In some applications, it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt
9525 the program's execution long enough for the developer to learn
9526 anything helpful about its behavior. If the program's correctness
9527 depends on its real-time behavior, delays introduced by a debugger
9528 might cause the program to change its behavior drastically, or perhaps
9529 fail, even when the code itself is correct. It is useful to be able
9530 to observe the program's behavior without interrupting it.
9531
9532 Using @value{GDBN}'s @code{trace} and @code{collect} commands, you can
9533 specify locations in the program, called @dfn{tracepoints}, and
9534 arbitrary expressions to evaluate when those tracepoints are reached.
9535 Later, using the @code{tfind} command, you can examine the values
9536 those expressions had when the program hit the tracepoints. The
9537 expressions may also denote objects in memory---structures or arrays,
9538 for example---whose values @value{GDBN} should record; while visiting
9539 a particular tracepoint, you may inspect those objects as if they were
9540 in memory at that moment. However, because @value{GDBN} records these
9541 values without interacting with you, it can do so quickly and
9542 unobtrusively, hopefully not disturbing the program's behavior.
9543
9544 The tracepoint facility is currently available only for remote
9545 targets. @xref{Targets}. In addition, your remote target must know
9546 how to collect trace data. This functionality is implemented in the
9547 remote stub; however, none of the stubs distributed with @value{GDBN}
9548 support tracepoints as of this writing. The format of the remote
9549 packets used to implement tracepoints are described in @ref{Tracepoint
9550 Packets}.
9551
9552 It is also possible to get trace data from a file, in a manner reminiscent
9553 of corefiles; you specify the filename, and use @code{tfind} to search
9554 through the file. @xref{Trace Files}, for more details.
9555
9556 This chapter describes the tracepoint commands and features.
9557
9558 @menu
9559 * Set Tracepoints::
9560 * Analyze Collected Data::
9561 * Tracepoint Variables::
9562 * Trace Files::
9563 @end menu
9564
9565 @node Set Tracepoints
9566 @section Commands to Set Tracepoints
9567
9568 Before running such a @dfn{trace experiment}, an arbitrary number of
9569 tracepoints can be set. A tracepoint is actually a special type of
9570 breakpoint (@pxref{Set Breaks}), so you can manipulate it using
9571 standard breakpoint commands. For instance, as with breakpoints,
9572 tracepoint numbers are successive integers starting from one, and many
9573 of the commands associated with tracepoints take the tracepoint number
9574 as their argument, to identify which tracepoint to work on.
9575
9576 For each tracepoint, you can specify, in advance, some arbitrary set
9577 of data that you want the target to collect in the trace buffer when
9578 it hits that tracepoint. The collected data can include registers,
9579 local variables, or global data. Later, you can use @value{GDBN}
9580 commands to examine the values these data had at the time the
9581 tracepoint was hit.
9582
9583 Tracepoints do not support every breakpoint feature. Ignore counts on
9584 tracepoints have no effect, and tracepoints cannot run @value{GDBN}
9585 commands when they are hit. Tracepoints may not be thread-specific
9586 either.
9587
9588 @cindex fast tracepoints
9589 Some targets may support @dfn{fast tracepoints}, which are inserted in
9590 a different way (such as with a jump instead of a trap), that is
9591 faster but possibly restricted in where they may be installed.
9592
9593 @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints on some target systems.
9594 @xref{Server,,Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}}.
9595
9596 This section describes commands to set tracepoints and associated
9597 conditions and actions.
9598
9599 @menu
9600 * Create and Delete Tracepoints::
9601 * Enable and Disable Tracepoints::
9602 * Tracepoint Passcounts::
9603 * Tracepoint Conditions::
9604 * Trace State Variables::
9605 * Tracepoint Actions::
9606 * Listing Tracepoints::
9607 * Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments::
9608 * Tracepoint Restrictions::
9609 @end menu
9610
9611 @node Create and Delete Tracepoints
9612 @subsection Create and Delete Tracepoints
9613
9614 @table @code
9615 @cindex set tracepoint
9616 @kindex trace
9617 @item trace @var{location}
9618 The @code{trace} command is very similar to the @code{break} command.
9619 Its argument @var{location} can be a source line, a function name, or
9620 an address in the target program. @xref{Specify Location}. The
9621 @code{trace} command defines a tracepoint, which is a point in the
9622 target program where the debugger will briefly stop, collect some
9623 data, and then allow the program to continue. Setting a tracepoint or
9624 changing its actions doesn't take effect until the next @code{tstart}
9625 command, and once a trace experiment is running, further changes will
9626 not have any effect until the next trace experiment starts.
9627
9628 Here are some examples of using the @code{trace} command:
9629
9630 @smallexample
9631 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo.c:121} // a source file and line number
9632
9633 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace +2} // 2 lines forward
9634
9635 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace my_function} // first source line of function
9636
9637 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *my_function} // EXACT start address of function
9638
9639 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *0x2117c4} // an address
9640 @end smallexample
9641
9642 @noindent
9643 You can abbreviate @code{trace} as @code{tr}.
9644
9645 @item trace @var{location} if @var{cond}
9646 Set a tracepoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
9647 @var{cond} each time the tracepoint is reached, and collect data only
9648 if the value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
9649 @xref{Tracepoint Conditions, ,Tracepoint Conditions}, for more
9650 information on tracepoint conditions.
9651
9652 @item ftrace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
9653 @cindex set fast tracepoint
9654 @kindex ftrace
9655 The @code{ftrace} command sets a fast tracepoint. For targets that
9656 support them, fast tracepoints will use a more efficient but possibly
9657 less general technique to trigger data collection, such as a jump
9658 instruction instead of a trap, or some sort of hardware support. It
9659 may not be possible to create a fast tracepoint at the desired
9660 location, in which case the command will exit with an explanatory
9661 message.
9662
9663 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{ftrace} exactly as for
9664 @code{trace}.
9665
9666 @vindex $tpnum
9667 @cindex last tracepoint number
9668 @cindex recent tracepoint number
9669 @cindex tracepoint number
9670 The convenience variable @code{$tpnum} records the tracepoint number
9671 of the most recently set tracepoint.
9672
9673 @kindex delete tracepoint
9674 @cindex tracepoint deletion
9675 @item delete tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9676 Permanently delete one or more tracepoints. With no argument, the
9677 default is to delete all tracepoints. Note that the regular
9678 @code{delete} command can remove tracepoints also.
9679
9680 Examples:
9681
9682 @smallexample
9683 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace 1 2 3} // remove three tracepoints
9684
9685 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace} // remove all tracepoints
9686 @end smallexample
9687
9688 @noindent
9689 You can abbreviate this command as @code{del tr}.
9690 @end table
9691
9692 @node Enable and Disable Tracepoints
9693 @subsection Enable and Disable Tracepoints
9694
9695 These commands are deprecated; they are equivalent to plain @code{disable} and @code{enable}.
9696
9697 @table @code
9698 @kindex disable tracepoint
9699 @item disable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9700 Disable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints if no argument
9701 @var{num} is given. A disabled tracepoint will have no effect during
9702 the next trace experiment, but it is not forgotten. You can re-enable
9703 a disabled tracepoint using the @code{enable tracepoint} command.
9704
9705 @kindex enable tracepoint
9706 @item enable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9707 Enable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints. The enabled
9708 tracepoints will become effective the next time a trace experiment is
9709 run.
9710 @end table
9711
9712 @node Tracepoint Passcounts
9713 @subsection Tracepoint Passcounts
9714
9715 @table @code
9716 @kindex passcount
9717 @cindex tracepoint pass count
9718 @item passcount @r{[}@var{n} @r{[}@var{num}@r{]]}
9719 Set the @dfn{passcount} of a tracepoint. The passcount is a way to
9720 automatically stop a trace experiment. If a tracepoint's passcount is
9721 @var{n}, then the trace experiment will be automatically stopped on
9722 the @var{n}'th time that tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number
9723 @var{num} is not specified, the @code{passcount} command sets the
9724 passcount of the most recently defined tracepoint. If no passcount is
9725 given, the trace experiment will run until stopped explicitly by the
9726 user.
9727
9728 Examples:
9729
9730 @smallexample
9731 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 5 2} // Stop on the 5th execution of
9732 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// tracepoint 2}
9733
9734 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 12} // Stop on the 12th execution of the
9735 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// most recently defined tracepoint.}
9736 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
9737 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 3}
9738 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace bar}
9739 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 2}
9740 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace baz}
9741 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 1} // Stop tracing when foo has been
9742 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// executed 3 times OR when bar has}
9743 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// been executed 2 times}
9744 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// OR when baz has been executed 1 time.}
9745 @end smallexample
9746 @end table
9747
9748 @node Tracepoint Conditions
9749 @subsection Tracepoint Conditions
9750 @cindex conditional tracepoints
9751 @cindex tracepoint conditions
9752
9753 The simplest sort of tracepoint collects data every time your program
9754 reaches a specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for
9755 a tracepoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
9756 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A
9757 tracepoint with a condition evaluates the expression each time your
9758 program reaches it, and data collection happens only if the condition
9759 is true.
9760
9761 Tracepoint conditions can be specified when a tracepoint is set, by
9762 using @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{trace} command.
9763 @xref{Create and Delete Tracepoints, ,Setting Tracepoints}. They can
9764 also be set or changed at any time with the @code{condition} command,
9765 just as with breakpoints.
9766
9767 Unlike breakpoint conditions, @value{GDBN} does not actually evaluate
9768 the conditional expression itself. Instead, @value{GDBN} encodes the
9769 expression into an agent expression (@pxref{Agent Expressions}
9770 suitable for execution on the target, independently of @value{GDBN}.
9771 Global variables become raw memory locations, locals become stack
9772 accesses, and so forth.
9773
9774 For instance, suppose you have a function that is usually called
9775 frequently, but should not be called after an error has occurred. You
9776 could use the following tracepoint command to collect data about calls
9777 of that function that happen while the error code is propagating
9778 through the program; an unconditional tracepoint could end up
9779 collecting thousands of useless trace frames that you would have to
9780 search through.
9781
9782 @smallexample
9783 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{trace normal_operation if errcode > 0}
9784 @end smallexample
9785
9786 @node Trace State Variables
9787 @subsection Trace State Variables
9788 @cindex trace state variables
9789
9790 A @dfn{trace state variable} is a special type of variable that is
9791 created and managed by target-side code. The syntax is the same as
9792 that for GDB's convenience variables (a string prefixed with ``$''),
9793 but they are stored on the target. They must be created explicitly,
9794 using a @code{tvariable} command. They are always 64-bit signed
9795 integers.
9796
9797 Trace state variables are remembered by @value{GDBN}, and downloaded
9798 to the target along with tracepoint information when the trace
9799 experiment starts. There are no intrinsic limits on the number of
9800 trace state variables, beyond memory limitations of the target.
9801
9802 @cindex convenience variables, and trace state variables
9803 Although trace state variables are managed by the target, you can use
9804 them in print commands and expressions as if they were convenience
9805 variables; @value{GDBN} will get the current value from the target
9806 while the trace experiment is running. Trace state variables share
9807 the same namespace as other ``$'' variables, which means that you
9808 cannot have trace state variables with names like @code{$23} or
9809 @code{$pc}, nor can you have a trace state variable and a convenience
9810 variable with the same name.
9811
9812 @table @code
9813
9814 @item tvariable $@var{name} [ = @var{expression} ]
9815 @kindex tvariable
9816 The @code{tvariable} command creates a new trace state variable named
9817 @code{$@var{name}}, and optionally gives it an initial value of
9818 @var{expression}. @var{expression} is evaluated when this command is
9819 entered; the result will be converted to an integer if possible,
9820 otherwise @value{GDBN} will report an error. A subsequent
9821 @code{tvariable} command specifying the same name does not create a
9822 variable, but instead assigns the supplied initial value to the
9823 existing variable of that name, overwriting any previous initial
9824 value. The default initial value is 0.
9825
9826 @item info tvariables
9827 @kindex info tvariables
9828 List all the trace state variables along with their initial values.
9829 Their current values may also be displayed, if the trace experiment is
9830 currently running.
9831
9832 @item delete tvariable @r{[} $@var{name} @dots{} @r{]}
9833 @kindex delete tvariable
9834 Delete the given trace state variables, or all of them if no arguments
9835 are specified.
9836
9837 @end table
9838
9839 @node Tracepoint Actions
9840 @subsection Tracepoint Action Lists
9841
9842 @table @code
9843 @kindex actions
9844 @cindex tracepoint actions
9845 @item actions @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9846 This command will prompt for a list of actions to be taken when the
9847 tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number @var{num} is not
9848 specified, this command sets the actions for the one that was most
9849 recently defined (so that you can define a tracepoint and then say
9850 @code{actions} without bothering about its number). You specify the
9851 actions themselves on the following lines, one action at a time, and
9852 terminate the actions list with a line containing just @code{end}. So
9853 far, the only defined actions are @code{collect}, @code{teval}, and
9854 @code{while-stepping}.
9855
9856 @code{actions} is actually equivalent to @code{commands} (@pxref{Break
9857 Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}), except that only the defined
9858 actions are allowed; any other @value{GDBN} command is rejected.
9859
9860 @cindex remove actions from a tracepoint
9861 To remove all actions from a tracepoint, type @samp{actions @var{num}}
9862 and follow it immediately with @samp{end}.
9863
9864 @smallexample
9865 (@value{GDBP}) @b{collect @var{data}} // collect some data
9866
9867 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while-stepping 5} // single-step 5 times, collect data
9868
9869 (@value{GDBP}) @b{end} // signals the end of actions.
9870 @end smallexample
9871
9872 In the following example, the action list begins with @code{collect}
9873 commands indicating the things to be collected when the tracepoint is
9874 hit. Then, in order to single-step and collect additional data
9875 following the tracepoint, a @code{while-stepping} command is used,
9876 followed by the list of things to be collected after each step in a
9877 sequence of single steps. The @code{while-stepping} command is
9878 terminated by its own separate @code{end} command. Lastly, the action
9879 list is terminated by an @code{end} command.
9880
9881 @smallexample
9882 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
9883 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
9884 Enter actions for tracepoint 1, one per line:
9885 > collect bar,baz
9886 > collect $regs
9887 > while-stepping 12
9888 > collect $pc, arr[i]
9889 > end
9890 end
9891 @end smallexample
9892
9893 @kindex collect @r{(tracepoints)}
9894 @item collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
9895 Collect values of the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit.
9896 This command accepts a comma-separated list of any valid expressions.
9897 In addition to global, static, or local variables, the following
9898 special arguments are supported:
9899
9900 @table @code
9901 @item $regs
9902 collect all registers
9903
9904 @item $args
9905 collect all function arguments
9906
9907 @item $locals
9908 collect all local variables.
9909 @end table
9910
9911 You can give several consecutive @code{collect} commands, each one
9912 with a single argument, or one @code{collect} command with several
9913 arguments separated by commas; the effect is the same.
9914
9915 The command @code{info scope} (@pxref{Symbols, info scope}) is
9916 particularly useful for figuring out what data to collect.
9917
9918 @kindex teval @r{(tracepoints)}
9919 @item teval @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
9920 Evaluate the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit. This
9921 command accepts a comma-separated list of expressions. The results
9922 are discarded, so this is mainly useful for assigning values to trace
9923 state variables (@pxref{Trace State Variables}) without adding those
9924 values to the trace buffer, as would be the case if the @code{collect}
9925 action were used.
9926
9927 @kindex while-stepping @r{(tracepoints)}
9928 @item while-stepping @var{n}
9929 Perform @var{n} single-step instruction traces after the tracepoint,
9930 collecting new data after each step. The @code{while-stepping}
9931 command is followed by the list of what to collect while stepping
9932 (followed by its own @code{end} command):
9933
9934 @smallexample
9935 > while-stepping 12
9936 > collect $regs, myglobal
9937 > end
9938 >
9939 @end smallexample
9940
9941 @noindent
9942 Note that @code{$pc} is not automatically collected by
9943 @code{while-stepping}; you need to explicitly collect that register if
9944 you need it. You may abbreviate @code{while-stepping} as @code{ws} or
9945 @code{stepping}.
9946
9947 @item set default-collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
9948 @kindex set default-collect
9949 @cindex default collection action
9950 This variable is a list of expressions to collect at each tracepoint
9951 hit. It is effectively an additional @code{collect} action prepended
9952 to every tracepoint action list. The expressions are parsed
9953 individually for each tracepoint, so for instance a variable named
9954 @code{xyz} may be interpreted as a global for one tracepoint, and a
9955 local for another, as appropriate to the tracepoint's location.
9956
9957 @item show default-collect
9958 @kindex show default-collect
9959 Show the list of expressions that are collected by default at each
9960 tracepoint hit.
9961
9962 @end table
9963
9964 @node Listing Tracepoints
9965 @subsection Listing Tracepoints
9966
9967 @table @code
9968 @kindex info tracepoints
9969 @kindex info tp
9970 @cindex information about tracepoints
9971 @item info tracepoints @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
9972 Display information about the tracepoint @var{num}. If you don't
9973 specify a tracepoint number, displays information about all the
9974 tracepoints defined so far. The format is similar to that used for
9975 @code{info breakpoints}; in fact, @code{info tracepoints} is the same
9976 command, simply restricting itself to tracepoints.
9977
9978 A tracepoint's listing may include additional information specific to
9979 tracing:
9980
9981 @itemize @bullet
9982 @item
9983 its passcount as given by the @code{passcount @var{n}} command
9984 @end itemize
9985
9986 @smallexample
9987 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info trace}
9988 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
9989 1 tracepoint keep y 0x0804ab57 in foo() at main.cxx:7
9990 while-stepping 20
9991 collect globfoo, $regs
9992 end
9993 collect globfoo2
9994 end
9995 pass count 1200
9996 (@value{GDBP})
9997 @end smallexample
9998
9999 @noindent
10000 This command can be abbreviated @code{info tp}.
10001 @end table
10002
10003 @node Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
10004 @subsection Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
10005
10006 @table @code
10007 @kindex tstart
10008 @cindex start a new trace experiment
10009 @cindex collected data discarded
10010 @item tstart
10011 This command takes no arguments. It starts the trace experiment, and
10012 begins collecting data. This has the side effect of discarding all
10013 the data collected in the trace buffer during the previous trace
10014 experiment.
10015
10016 @kindex tstop
10017 @cindex stop a running trace experiment
10018 @item tstop
10019 This command takes no arguments. It ends the trace experiment, and
10020 stops collecting data.
10021
10022 @strong{Note}: a trace experiment and data collection may stop
10023 automatically if any tracepoint's passcount is reached
10024 (@pxref{Tracepoint Passcounts}), or if the trace buffer becomes full.
10025
10026 @kindex tstatus
10027 @cindex status of trace data collection
10028 @cindex trace experiment, status of
10029 @item tstatus
10030 This command displays the status of the current trace data
10031 collection.
10032 @end table
10033
10034 Here is an example of the commands we described so far:
10035
10036 @smallexample
10037 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace gdb_c_test}
10038 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
10039 Enter actions for tracepoint #1, one per line.
10040 > collect $regs,$locals,$args
10041 > while-stepping 11
10042 > collect $regs
10043 > end
10044 > end
10045 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
10046 [time passes @dots{}]
10047 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstop}
10048 @end smallexample
10049
10050 @cindex disconnected tracing
10051 You can choose to continue running the trace experiment even if
10052 @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target, voluntarily or
10053 involuntarily. For commands such as @code{detach}, the debugger will
10054 ask what you want to do with the trace. But for unexpected
10055 terminations (@value{GDBN} crash, network outage), it would be
10056 unfortunate to lose hard-won trace data, so the variable
10057 @code{disconnected-tracing} lets you decide whether the trace should
10058 continue running without @value{GDBN}.
10059
10060 @table @code
10061 @item set disconnected-tracing on
10062 @itemx set disconnected-tracing off
10063 @kindex set disconnected-tracing
10064 Choose whether a tracing run should continue to run if @value{GDBN}
10065 has disconnected from the target. Note that @code{detach} or
10066 @code{quit} will ask you directly what to do about a running trace no
10067 matter what this variable's setting, so the variable is mainly useful
10068 for handling unexpected situations, such as loss of the network.
10069
10070 @item show disconnected-tracing
10071 @kindex show disconnected-tracing
10072 Show the current choice for disconnected tracing.
10073
10074 @end table
10075
10076 When you reconnect to the target, the trace experiment may or may not
10077 still be running; it might have filled the trace buffer in the
10078 meantime, or stopped for one of the other reasons. If it is running,
10079 it will continue after reconnection.
10080
10081 Upon reconnection, the target will upload information about the
10082 tracepoints in effect. @value{GDBN} will then compare that
10083 information to the set of tracepoints currently defined, and attempt
10084 to match them up, allowing for the possibility that the numbers may
10085 have changed due to creation and deletion in the meantime. If one of
10086 the target's tracepoints does not match any in @value{GDBN}, the
10087 debugger will create a new tracepoint, so that you have a number with
10088 which to specify that tracepoint. This matching-up process is
10089 necessarily heuristic, and it may result in useless tracepoints being
10090 created; you may simply delete them if they are of no use.
10091
10092 @cindex circular trace buffer
10093 If your target agent supports a @dfn{circular trace buffer}, then you
10094 can run a trace experiment indefinitely without filling the trace
10095 buffer; when space runs out, the agent deletes already-collected trace
10096 frames, oldest first, until there is enough room to continue
10097 collecting. This is especially useful if your tracepoints are being
10098 hit too often, and your trace gets terminated prematurely because the
10099 buffer is full. To ask for a circular trace buffer, simply set
10100 @samp{circular_trace_buffer} to on. You can set this at any time,
10101 including during tracing; if the agent can do it, it will change
10102 buffer handling on the fly, otherwise it will not take effect until
10103 the next run.
10104
10105 @table @code
10106 @item set circular-trace-buffer on
10107 @itemx set circular-trace-buffer off
10108 @kindex set circular-trace-buffer
10109 Choose whether a tracing run should use a linear or circular buffer
10110 for trace data. A linear buffer will not lose any trace data, but may
10111 fill up prematurely, while a circular buffer will discard old trace
10112 data, but it will have always room for the latest tracepoint hits.
10113
10114 @item show circular-trace-buffer
10115 @kindex show circular-trace-buffer
10116 Show the current choice for the trace buffer. Note that this may not
10117 match the agent's current buffer handling, nor is it guaranteed to
10118 match the setting that might have been in effect during a past run,
10119 for instance if you are looking at frames from a trace file.
10120
10121 @end table
10122
10123 @node Tracepoint Restrictions
10124 @subsection Tracepoint Restrictions
10125
10126 @cindex tracepoint restrictions
10127 There are a number of restrictions on the use of tracepoints. As
10128 described above, tracepoint data gathering occurs on the target
10129 without interaction from @value{GDBN}. Thus the full capabilities of
10130 the debugger are not available during data gathering, and then at data
10131 examination time, you will be limited by only having what was
10132 collected. The following items describe some common problems, but it
10133 is not exhaustive, and you may run into additional difficulties not
10134 mentioned here.
10135
10136 @itemize @bullet
10137
10138 @item
10139 Tracepoint expressions are intended to gather objects (lvalues). Thus
10140 the full flexibility of GDB's expression evaluator is not available.
10141 You cannot call functions, cast objects to aggregate types, access
10142 convenience variables or modify values (except by assignment to trace
10143 state variables). Some language features may implicitly call
10144 functions (for instance Objective-C fields with accessors), and therefore
10145 cannot be collected either.
10146
10147 @item
10148 Collection of local variables, either individually or in bulk with
10149 @code{$locals} or @code{$args}, during @code{while-stepping} may
10150 behave erratically. The stepping action may enter a new scope (for
10151 instance by stepping into a function), or the location of the variable
10152 may change (for instance it is loaded into a register). The
10153 tracepoint data recorded uses the location information for the
10154 variables that is correct for the tracepoint location. When the
10155 tracepoint is created, it is not possible, in general, to determine
10156 where the steps of a @code{while-stepping} sequence will advance the
10157 program---particularly if a conditional branch is stepped.
10158
10159 @item
10160 Collection of an incompletely-initialized or partially-destroyed object
10161 may result in something that @value{GDBN} cannot display, or displays
10162 in a misleading way.
10163
10164 @item
10165 When @value{GDBN} displays a pointer to character it automatically
10166 dereferences the pointer to also display characters of the string
10167 being pointed to. However, collecting the pointer during tracing does
10168 not automatically collect the string. You need to explicitly
10169 dereference the pointer and provide size information if you want to
10170 collect not only the pointer, but the memory pointed to. For example,
10171 @code{*ptr@@50} can be used to collect the 50 element array pointed to
10172 by @code{ptr}.
10173
10174 @item
10175 It is not possible to collect a complete stack backtrace at a
10176 tracepoint. Instead, you may collect the registers and a few hundred
10177 bytes from the stack pointer with something like @code{*$esp@@300}
10178 (adjust to use the name of the actual stack pointer register on your
10179 target architecture, and the amount of stack you wish to capture).
10180 Then the @code{backtrace} command will show a partial backtrace when
10181 using a trace frame. The number of stack frames that can be examined
10182 depends on the sizes of the frames in the collected stack. Note that
10183 if you ask for a block so large that it goes past the bottom of the
10184 stack, the target agent may report an error trying to read from an
10185 invalid address.
10186
10187 @item
10188 If you do not collect registers at a tracepoint, @value{GDBN} can
10189 infer that the value of @code{$pc} must be the same as the address of
10190 the tracepoint and use that when you are looking at a trace frame
10191 for that tracepoint. However, this cannot work if the tracepoint has
10192 multiple locations (for instance if it was set in a function that was
10193 inlined), or if it has a @code{while-stepping} loop. In those cases
10194 @value{GDBN} will warn you that it can't infer @code{$pc}, and default
10195 it to zero.
10196
10197 @end itemize
10198
10199 @node Analyze Collected Data
10200 @section Using the Collected Data
10201
10202 After the tracepoint experiment ends, you use @value{GDBN} commands
10203 for examining the trace data. The basic idea is that each tracepoint
10204 collects a trace @dfn{snapshot} every time it is hit and another
10205 snapshot every time it single-steps. All these snapshots are
10206 consecutively numbered from zero and go into a buffer, and you can
10207 examine them later. The way you examine them is to @dfn{focus} on a
10208 specific trace snapshot. When the remote stub is focused on a trace
10209 snapshot, it will respond to all @value{GDBN} requests for memory and
10210 registers by reading from the buffer which belongs to that snapshot,
10211 rather than from @emph{real} memory or registers of the program being
10212 debugged. This means that @strong{all} @value{GDBN} commands
10213 (@code{print}, @code{info registers}, @code{backtrace}, etc.) will
10214 behave as if we were currently debugging the program state as it was
10215 when the tracepoint occurred. Any requests for data that are not in
10216 the buffer will fail.
10217
10218 @menu
10219 * tfind:: How to select a trace snapshot
10220 * tdump:: How to display all data for a snapshot
10221 * save tracepoints:: How to save tracepoints for a future run
10222 @end menu
10223
10224 @node tfind
10225 @subsection @code{tfind @var{n}}
10226
10227 @kindex tfind
10228 @cindex select trace snapshot
10229 @cindex find trace snapshot
10230 The basic command for selecting a trace snapshot from the buffer is
10231 @code{tfind @var{n}}, which finds trace snapshot number @var{n},
10232 counting from zero. If no argument @var{n} is given, the next
10233 snapshot is selected.
10234
10235 Here are the various forms of using the @code{tfind} command.
10236
10237 @table @code
10238 @item tfind start
10239 Find the first snapshot in the buffer. This is a synonym for
10240 @code{tfind 0} (since 0 is the number of the first snapshot).
10241
10242 @item tfind none
10243 Stop debugging trace snapshots, resume @emph{live} debugging.
10244
10245 @item tfind end
10246 Same as @samp{tfind none}.
10247
10248 @item tfind
10249 No argument means find the next trace snapshot.
10250
10251 @item tfind -
10252 Find the previous trace snapshot before the current one. This permits
10253 retracing earlier steps.
10254
10255 @item tfind tracepoint @var{num}
10256 Find the next snapshot associated with tracepoint @var{num}. Search
10257 proceeds forward from the last examined trace snapshot. If no
10258 argument @var{num} is given, it means find the next snapshot collected
10259 for the same tracepoint as the current snapshot.
10260
10261 @item tfind pc @var{addr}
10262 Find the next snapshot associated with the value @var{addr} of the
10263 program counter. Search proceeds forward from the last examined trace
10264 snapshot. If no argument @var{addr} is given, it means find the next
10265 snapshot with the same value of PC as the current snapshot.
10266
10267 @item tfind outside @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
10268 Find the next snapshot whose PC is outside the given range of
10269 addresses (exclusive).
10270
10271 @item tfind range @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
10272 Find the next snapshot whose PC is between @var{addr1} and
10273 @var{addr2} (inclusive).
10274
10275 @item tfind line @r{[}@var{file}:@r{]}@var{n}
10276 Find the next snapshot associated with the source line @var{n}. If
10277 the optional argument @var{file} is given, refer to line @var{n} in
10278 that source file. Search proceeds forward from the last examined
10279 trace snapshot. If no argument @var{n} is given, it means find the
10280 next line other than the one currently being examined; thus saying
10281 @code{tfind line} repeatedly can appear to have the same effect as
10282 stepping from line to line in a @emph{live} debugging session.
10283 @end table
10284
10285 The default arguments for the @code{tfind} commands are specifically
10286 designed to make it easy to scan through the trace buffer. For
10287 instance, @code{tfind} with no argument selects the next trace
10288 snapshot, and @code{tfind -} with no argument selects the previous
10289 trace snapshot. So, by giving one @code{tfind} command, and then
10290 simply hitting @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine all the trace
10291 snapshots in order. Or, by saying @code{tfind -} and then hitting
10292 @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine the snapshots in reverse order.
10293 The @code{tfind line} command with no argument selects the snapshot
10294 for the next source line executed. The @code{tfind pc} command with
10295 no argument selects the next snapshot with the same program counter
10296 (PC) as the current frame. The @code{tfind tracepoint} command with
10297 no argument selects the next trace snapshot collected by the same
10298 tracepoint as the current one.
10299
10300 In addition to letting you scan through the trace buffer manually,
10301 these commands make it easy to construct @value{GDBN} scripts that
10302 scan through the trace buffer and print out whatever collected data
10303 you are interested in. Thus, if we want to examine the PC, FP, and SP
10304 registers from each trace frame in the buffer, we can say this:
10305
10306 @smallexample
10307 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
10308 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
10309 > printf "Frame %d, PC = %08X, SP = %08X, FP = %08X\n", \
10310 $trace_frame, $pc, $sp, $fp
10311 > tfind
10312 > end
10313
10314 Frame 0, PC = 0020DC64, SP = 0030BF3C, FP = 0030BF44
10315 Frame 1, PC = 0020DC6C, SP = 0030BF38, FP = 0030BF44
10316 Frame 2, PC = 0020DC70, SP = 0030BF34, FP = 0030BF44
10317 Frame 3, PC = 0020DC74, SP = 0030BF30, FP = 0030BF44
10318 Frame 4, PC = 0020DC78, SP = 0030BF2C, FP = 0030BF44
10319 Frame 5, PC = 0020DC7C, SP = 0030BF28, FP = 0030BF44
10320 Frame 6, PC = 0020DC80, SP = 0030BF24, FP = 0030BF44
10321 Frame 7, PC = 0020DC84, SP = 0030BF20, FP = 0030BF44
10322 Frame 8, PC = 0020DC88, SP = 0030BF1C, FP = 0030BF44
10323 Frame 9, PC = 0020DC8E, SP = 0030BF18, FP = 0030BF44
10324 Frame 10, PC = 00203F6C, SP = 0030BE3C, FP = 0030BF14
10325 @end smallexample
10326
10327 Or, if we want to examine the variable @code{X} at each source line in
10328 the buffer:
10329
10330 @smallexample
10331 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
10332 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
10333 > printf "Frame %d, X == %d\n", $trace_frame, X
10334 > tfind line
10335 > end
10336
10337 Frame 0, X = 1
10338 Frame 7, X = 2
10339 Frame 13, X = 255
10340 @end smallexample
10341
10342 @node tdump
10343 @subsection @code{tdump}
10344 @kindex tdump
10345 @cindex dump all data collected at tracepoint
10346 @cindex tracepoint data, display
10347
10348 This command takes no arguments. It prints all the data collected at
10349 the current trace snapshot.
10350
10351 @smallexample
10352 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace 444}
10353 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
10354 Enter actions for tracepoint #2, one per line:
10355 > collect $regs, $locals, $args, gdb_long_test
10356 > end
10357
10358 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
10359
10360 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind line 444}
10361 #0 gdb_test (p1=0x11, p2=0x22, p3=0x33, p4=0x44, p5=0x55, p6=0x66)
10362 at gdb_test.c:444
10363 444 printp( "%s: arguments = 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X\n", )
10364
10365 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tdump}
10366 Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 1:
10367 d0 0xc4aa0085 -995491707
10368 d1 0x18 24
10369 d2 0x80 128
10370 d3 0x33 51
10371 d4 0x71aea3d 119204413
10372 d5 0x22 34
10373 d6 0xe0 224
10374 d7 0x380035 3670069
10375 a0 0x19e24a 1696330
10376 a1 0x3000668 50333288
10377 a2 0x100 256
10378 a3 0x322000 3284992
10379 a4 0x3000698 50333336
10380 a5 0x1ad3cc 1758156
10381 fp 0x30bf3c 0x30bf3c
10382 sp 0x30bf34 0x30bf34
10383 ps 0x0 0
10384 pc 0x20b2c8 0x20b2c8
10385 fpcontrol 0x0 0
10386 fpstatus 0x0 0
10387 fpiaddr 0x0 0
10388 p = 0x20e5b4 "gdb-test"
10389 p1 = (void *) 0x11
10390 p2 = (void *) 0x22
10391 p3 = (void *) 0x33
10392 p4 = (void *) 0x44
10393 p5 = (void *) 0x55
10394 p6 = (void *) 0x66
10395 gdb_long_test = 17 '\021'
10396
10397 (@value{GDBP})
10398 @end smallexample
10399
10400 @code{tdump} works by scanning the tracepoint's current collection
10401 actions and printing the value of each expression listed. So
10402 @code{tdump} can fail, if after a run, you change the tracepoint's
10403 actions to mention variables that were not collected during the run.
10404
10405 Also, for tracepoints with @code{while-stepping} loops, @code{tdump}
10406 uses the collected value of @code{$pc} to distinguish between trace
10407 frames that were collected at the tracepoint hit, and frames that were
10408 collected while stepping. This allows it to correctly choose whether
10409 to display the basic list of collections, or the collections from the
10410 body of the while-stepping loop. However, if @code{$pc} was not collected,
10411 then @code{tdump} will always attempt to dump using the basic collection
10412 list, and may fail if a while-stepping frame does not include all the
10413 same data that is collected at the tracepoint hit.
10414 @c This is getting pretty arcane, example would be good.
10415
10416 @node save tracepoints
10417 @subsection @code{save tracepoints @var{filename}}
10418 @kindex save tracepoints
10419 @kindex save-tracepoints
10420 @cindex save tracepoints for future sessions
10421
10422 This command saves all current tracepoint definitions together with
10423 their actions and passcounts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
10424 suitable for use in a later debugging session. To read the saved
10425 tracepoint definitions, use the @code{source} command (@pxref{Command
10426 Files}). The @w{@code{save-tracepoints}} command is a deprecated
10427 alias for @w{@code{save tracepoints}}
10428
10429 @node Tracepoint Variables
10430 @section Convenience Variables for Tracepoints
10431 @cindex tracepoint variables
10432 @cindex convenience variables for tracepoints
10433
10434 @table @code
10435 @vindex $trace_frame
10436 @item (int) $trace_frame
10437 The current trace snapshot (a.k.a.@: @dfn{frame}) number, or -1 if no
10438 snapshot is selected.
10439
10440 @vindex $tracepoint
10441 @item (int) $tracepoint
10442 The tracepoint for the current trace snapshot.
10443
10444 @vindex $trace_line
10445 @item (int) $trace_line
10446 The line number for the current trace snapshot.
10447
10448 @vindex $trace_file
10449 @item (char []) $trace_file
10450 The source file for the current trace snapshot.
10451
10452 @vindex $trace_func
10453 @item (char []) $trace_func
10454 The name of the function containing @code{$tracepoint}.
10455 @end table
10456
10457 Note: @code{$trace_file} is not suitable for use in @code{printf},
10458 use @code{output} instead.
10459
10460 Here's a simple example of using these convenience variables for
10461 stepping through all the trace snapshots and printing some of their
10462 data. Note that these are not the same as trace state variables,
10463 which are managed by the target.
10464
10465 @smallexample
10466 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
10467
10468 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while $trace_frame != -1}
10469 > output $trace_file
10470 > printf ", line %d (tracepoint #%d)\n", $trace_line, $tracepoint
10471 > tfind
10472 > end
10473 @end smallexample
10474
10475 @node Trace Files
10476 @section Using Trace Files
10477 @cindex trace files
10478
10479 In some situations, the target running a trace experiment may no
10480 longer be available; perhaps it crashed, or the hardware was needed
10481 for a different activity. To handle these cases, you can arrange to
10482 dump the trace data into a file, and later use that file as a source
10483 of trace data, via the @code{target tfile} command.
10484
10485 @table @code
10486
10487 @kindex tsave
10488 @item tsave [ -r ] @var{filename}
10489 Save the trace data to @var{filename}. By default, this command
10490 assumes that @var{filename} refers to the host filesystem, so if
10491 necessary @value{GDBN} will copy raw trace data up from the target and
10492 then save it. If the target supports it, you can also supply the
10493 optional argument @code{-r} (``remote'') to direct the target to save
10494 the data directly into @var{filename} in its own filesystem, which may be
10495 more efficient if the trace buffer is very large. (Note, however, that
10496 @code{target tfile} can only read from files accessible to the host.)
10497
10498 @kindex target tfile
10499 @kindex tfile
10500 @item target tfile @var{filename}
10501 Use the file named @var{filename} as a source of trace data. Commands
10502 that examine data work as they do with a live target, but it is not
10503 possible to run any new trace experiments. @code{tstatus} will report
10504 the state of the trace run at the moment the data was saved, as well
10505 as the current trace frame you are examining. @var{filename} must be
10506 on a filesystem accessible to the host.
10507
10508 @end table
10509
10510 @node Overlays
10511 @chapter Debugging Programs That Use Overlays
10512 @cindex overlays
10513
10514 If your program is too large to fit completely in your target system's
10515 memory, you can sometimes use @dfn{overlays} to work around this
10516 problem. @value{GDBN} provides some support for debugging programs that
10517 use overlays.
10518
10519 @menu
10520 * How Overlays Work:: A general explanation of overlays.
10521 * Overlay Commands:: Managing overlays in @value{GDBN}.
10522 * Automatic Overlay Debugging:: @value{GDBN} can find out which overlays are
10523 mapped by asking the inferior.
10524 * Overlay Sample Program:: A sample program using overlays.
10525 @end menu
10526
10527 @node How Overlays Work
10528 @section How Overlays Work
10529 @cindex mapped overlays
10530 @cindex unmapped overlays
10531 @cindex load address, overlay's
10532 @cindex mapped address
10533 @cindex overlay area
10534
10535 Suppose you have a computer whose instruction address space is only 64
10536 kilobytes long, but which has much more memory which can be accessed by
10537 other means: special instructions, segment registers, or memory
10538 management hardware, for example. Suppose further that you want to
10539 adapt a program which is larger than 64 kilobytes to run on this system.
10540
10541 One solution is to identify modules of your program which are relatively
10542 independent, and need not call each other directly; call these modules
10543 @dfn{overlays}. Separate the overlays from the main program, and place
10544 their machine code in the larger memory. Place your main program in
10545 instruction memory, but leave at least enough space there to hold the
10546 largest overlay as well.
10547
10548 Now, to call a function located in an overlay, you must first copy that
10549 overlay's machine code from the large memory into the space set aside
10550 for it in the instruction memory, and then jump to its entry point
10551 there.
10552
10553 @c NB: In the below the mapped area's size is greater or equal to the
10554 @c size of all overlays. This is intentional to remind the developer
10555 @c that overlays don't necessarily need to be the same size.
10556
10557 @smallexample
10558 @group
10559 Data Instruction Larger
10560 Address Space Address Space Address Space
10561 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+
10562 | | | | | |
10563 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+<-- overlay 1
10564 | program | | main | .----| overlay 1 | load address
10565 | variables | | program | | +-----------+
10566 | and heap | | | | | |
10567 +-----------+ | | | +-----------+<-- overlay 2
10568 | | +-----------+ | | | load address
10569 +-----------+ | | | .-| overlay 2 |
10570 | | | | | |
10571 mapped --->+-----------+ | | +-----------+
10572 address | | | | | |
10573 | overlay | <-' | | |
10574 | area | <---' +-----------+<-- overlay 3
10575 | | <---. | | load address
10576 +-----------+ `--| overlay 3 |
10577 | | | |
10578 +-----------+ | |
10579 +-----------+
10580 | |
10581 +-----------+
10582
10583 @anchor{A code overlay}A code overlay
10584 @end group
10585 @end smallexample
10586
10587 The diagram (@pxref{A code overlay}) shows a system with separate data
10588 and instruction address spaces. To map an overlay, the program copies
10589 its code from the larger address space to the instruction address space.
10590 Since the overlays shown here all use the same mapped address, only one
10591 may be mapped at a time. For a system with a single address space for
10592 data and instructions, the diagram would be similar, except that the
10593 program variables and heap would share an address space with the main
10594 program and the overlay area.
10595
10596 An overlay loaded into instruction memory and ready for use is called a
10597 @dfn{mapped} overlay; its @dfn{mapped address} is its address in the
10598 instruction memory. An overlay not present (or only partially present)
10599 in instruction memory is called @dfn{unmapped}; its @dfn{load address}
10600 is its address in the larger memory. The mapped address is also called
10601 the @dfn{virtual memory address}, or @dfn{VMA}; the load address is also
10602 called the @dfn{load memory address}, or @dfn{LMA}.
10603
10604 Unfortunately, overlays are not a completely transparent way to adapt a
10605 program to limited instruction memory. They introduce a new set of
10606 global constraints you must keep in mind as you design your program:
10607
10608 @itemize @bullet
10609
10610 @item
10611 Before calling or returning to a function in an overlay, your program
10612 must make sure that overlay is actually mapped. Otherwise, the call or
10613 return will transfer control to the right address, but in the wrong
10614 overlay, and your program will probably crash.
10615
10616 @item
10617 If the process of mapping an overlay is expensive on your system, you
10618 will need to choose your overlays carefully to minimize their effect on
10619 your program's performance.
10620
10621 @item
10622 The executable file you load onto your system must contain each
10623 overlay's instructions, appearing at the overlay's load address, not its
10624 mapped address. However, each overlay's instructions must be relocated
10625 and its symbols defined as if the overlay were at its mapped address.
10626 You can use GNU linker scripts to specify different load and relocation
10627 addresses for pieces of your program; see @ref{Overlay Description,,,
10628 ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}.
10629
10630 @item
10631 The procedure for loading executable files onto your system must be able
10632 to load their contents into the larger address space as well as the
10633 instruction and data spaces.
10634
10635 @end itemize
10636
10637 The overlay system described above is rather simple, and could be
10638 improved in many ways:
10639
10640 @itemize @bullet
10641
10642 @item
10643 If your system has suitable bank switch registers or memory management
10644 hardware, you could use those facilities to make an overlay's load area
10645 contents simply appear at their mapped address in instruction space.
10646 This would probably be faster than copying the overlay to its mapped
10647 area in the usual way.
10648
10649 @item
10650 If your overlays are small enough, you could set aside more than one
10651 overlay area, and have more than one overlay mapped at a time.
10652
10653 @item
10654 You can use overlays to manage data, as well as instructions. In
10655 general, data overlays are even less transparent to your design than
10656 code overlays: whereas code overlays only require care when you call or
10657 return to functions, data overlays require care every time you access
10658 the data. Also, if you change the contents of a data overlay, you
10659 must copy its contents back out to its load address before you can copy a
10660 different data overlay into the same mapped area.
10661
10662 @end itemize
10663
10664
10665 @node Overlay Commands
10666 @section Overlay Commands
10667
10668 To use @value{GDBN}'s overlay support, each overlay in your program must
10669 correspond to a separate section of the executable file. The section's
10670 virtual memory address and load memory address must be the overlay's
10671 mapped and load addresses. Identifying overlays with sections allows
10672 @value{GDBN} to determine the appropriate address of a function or
10673 variable, depending on whether the overlay is mapped or not.
10674
10675 @value{GDBN}'s overlay commands all start with the word @code{overlay};
10676 you can abbreviate this as @code{ov} or @code{ovly}. The commands are:
10677
10678 @table @code
10679 @item overlay off
10680 @kindex overlay
10681 Disable @value{GDBN}'s overlay support. When overlay support is
10682 disabled, @value{GDBN} assumes that all functions and variables are
10683 always present at their mapped addresses. By default, @value{GDBN}'s
10684 overlay support is disabled.
10685
10686 @item overlay manual
10687 @cindex manual overlay debugging
10688 Enable @dfn{manual} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
10689 relies on you to tell it which overlays are mapped, and which are not,
10690 using the @code{overlay map-overlay} and @code{overlay unmap-overlay}
10691 commands described below.
10692
10693 @item overlay map-overlay @var{overlay}
10694 @itemx overlay map @var{overlay}
10695 @cindex map an overlay
10696 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is now mapped; @var{overlay} must
10697 be the name of the object file section containing the overlay. When an
10698 overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the overlay's
10699 functions and variables at their mapped addresses. @value{GDBN} assumes
10700 that any other overlays whose mapped ranges overlap that of
10701 @var{overlay} are now unmapped.
10702
10703 @item overlay unmap-overlay @var{overlay}
10704 @itemx overlay unmap @var{overlay}
10705 @cindex unmap an overlay
10706 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is no longer mapped; @var{overlay}
10707 must be the name of the object file section containing the overlay.
10708 When an overlay is unmapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the
10709 overlay's functions and variables at their load addresses.
10710
10711 @item overlay auto
10712 Enable @dfn{automatic} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
10713 consults a data structure the overlay manager maintains in the inferior
10714 to see which overlays are mapped. For details, see @ref{Automatic
10715 Overlay Debugging}.
10716
10717 @item overlay load-target
10718 @itemx overlay load
10719 @cindex reloading the overlay table
10720 Re-read the overlay table from the inferior. Normally, @value{GDBN}
10721 re-reads the table @value{GDBN} automatically each time the inferior
10722 stops, so this command should only be necessary if you have changed the
10723 overlay mapping yourself using @value{GDBN}. This command is only
10724 useful when using automatic overlay debugging.
10725
10726 @item overlay list-overlays
10727 @itemx overlay list
10728 @cindex listing mapped overlays
10729 Display a list of the overlays currently mapped, along with their mapped
10730 addresses, load addresses, and sizes.
10731
10732 @end table
10733
10734 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a code address, it includes the name
10735 of the function the address falls in:
10736
10737 @smallexample
10738 (@value{GDBP}) print main
10739 $3 = @{int ()@} 0x11a0 <main>
10740 @end smallexample
10741 @noindent
10742 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} recognizes code in
10743 unmapped overlays, and prints the names of unmapped functions with
10744 asterisks around them. For example, if @code{foo} is a function in an
10745 unmapped overlay, @value{GDBN} prints it this way:
10746
10747 @smallexample
10748 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
10749 No sections are mapped.
10750 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
10751 $5 = @{int (int)@} 0x100000 <*foo*>
10752 @end smallexample
10753 @noindent
10754 When @code{foo}'s overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} prints the function's
10755 name normally:
10756
10757 @smallexample
10758 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
10759 Section .ov.foo.text, loaded at 0x100000 - 0x100034,
10760 mapped at 0x1016 - 0x104a
10761 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
10762 $6 = @{int (int)@} 0x1016 <foo>
10763 @end smallexample
10764
10765 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} can find the correct
10766 address for functions and variables in an overlay, whether or not the
10767 overlay is mapped. This allows most @value{GDBN} commands, like
10768 @code{break} and @code{disassemble}, to work normally, even on unmapped
10769 code. However, @value{GDBN}'s breakpoint support has some limitations:
10770
10771 @itemize @bullet
10772 @item
10773 @cindex breakpoints in overlays
10774 @cindex overlays, setting breakpoints in
10775 You can set breakpoints in functions in unmapped overlays, as long as
10776 @value{GDBN} can write to the overlay at its load address.
10777 @item
10778 @value{GDBN} can not set hardware or simulator-based breakpoints in
10779 unmapped overlays. However, if you set a breakpoint at the end of your
10780 overlay manager (and tell @value{GDBN} which overlays are now mapped, if
10781 you are using manual overlay management), @value{GDBN} will re-set its
10782 breakpoints properly.
10783 @end itemize
10784
10785
10786 @node Automatic Overlay Debugging
10787 @section Automatic Overlay Debugging
10788 @cindex automatic overlay debugging
10789
10790 @value{GDBN} can automatically track which overlays are mapped and which
10791 are not, given some simple co-operation from the overlay manager in the
10792 inferior. If you enable automatic overlay debugging with the
10793 @code{overlay auto} command (@pxref{Overlay Commands}), @value{GDBN}
10794 looks in the inferior's memory for certain variables describing the
10795 current state of the overlays.
10796
10797 Here are the variables your overlay manager must define to support
10798 @value{GDBN}'s automatic overlay debugging:
10799
10800 @table @asis
10801
10802 @item @code{_ovly_table}:
10803 This variable must be an array of the following structures:
10804
10805 @smallexample
10806 struct
10807 @{
10808 /* The overlay's mapped address. */
10809 unsigned long vma;
10810
10811 /* The size of the overlay, in bytes. */
10812 unsigned long size;
10813
10814 /* The overlay's load address. */
10815 unsigned long lma;
10816
10817 /* Non-zero if the overlay is currently mapped;
10818 zero otherwise. */
10819 unsigned long mapped;
10820 @}
10821 @end smallexample
10822
10823 @item @code{_novlys}:
10824 This variable must be a four-byte signed integer, holding the total
10825 number of elements in @code{_ovly_table}.
10826
10827 @end table
10828
10829 To decide whether a particular overlay is mapped or not, @value{GDBN}
10830 looks for an entry in @w{@code{_ovly_table}} whose @code{vma} and
10831 @code{lma} members equal the VMA and LMA of the overlay's section in the
10832 executable file. When @value{GDBN} finds a matching entry, it consults
10833 the entry's @code{mapped} member to determine whether the overlay is
10834 currently mapped.
10835
10836 In addition, your overlay manager may define a function called
10837 @code{_ovly_debug_event}. If this function is defined, @value{GDBN}
10838 will silently set a breakpoint there. If the overlay manager then
10839 calls this function whenever it has changed the overlay table, this
10840 will enable @value{GDBN} to accurately keep track of which overlays
10841 are in program memory, and update any breakpoints that may be set
10842 in overlays. This will allow breakpoints to work even if the
10843 overlays are kept in ROM or other non-writable memory while they
10844 are not being executed.
10845
10846 @node Overlay Sample Program
10847 @section Overlay Sample Program
10848 @cindex overlay example program
10849
10850 When linking a program which uses overlays, you must place the overlays
10851 at their load addresses, while relocating them to run at their mapped
10852 addresses. To do this, you must write a linker script (@pxref{Overlay
10853 Description,,, ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}). Unfortunately,
10854 since linker scripts are specific to a particular host system, target
10855 architecture, and target memory layout, this manual cannot provide
10856 portable sample code demonstrating @value{GDBN}'s overlay support.
10857
10858 However, the @value{GDBN} source distribution does contain an overlaid
10859 program, with linker scripts for a few systems, as part of its test
10860 suite. The program consists of the following files from
10861 @file{gdb/testsuite/gdb.base}:
10862
10863 @table @file
10864 @item overlays.c
10865 The main program file.
10866 @item ovlymgr.c
10867 A simple overlay manager, used by @file{overlays.c}.
10868 @item foo.c
10869 @itemx bar.c
10870 @itemx baz.c
10871 @itemx grbx.c
10872 Overlay modules, loaded and used by @file{overlays.c}.
10873 @item d10v.ld
10874 @itemx m32r.ld
10875 Linker scripts for linking the test program on the @code{d10v-elf}
10876 and @code{m32r-elf} targets.
10877 @end table
10878
10879 You can build the test program using the @code{d10v-elf} GCC
10880 cross-compiler like this:
10881
10882 @smallexample
10883 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c overlays.c
10884 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c ovlymgr.c
10885 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c foo.c
10886 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c bar.c
10887 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c baz.c
10888 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c grbx.c
10889 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g overlays.o ovlymgr.o foo.o bar.o \
10890 baz.o grbx.o -Wl,-Td10v.ld -o overlays
10891 @end smallexample
10892
10893 The build process is identical for any other architecture, except that
10894 you must substitute the appropriate compiler and linker script for the
10895 target system for @code{d10v-elf-gcc} and @code{d10v.ld}.
10896
10897
10898 @node Languages
10899 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages
10900 @cindex languages
10901
10902 Although programming languages generally have common aspects, they are
10903 rarely expressed in the same manner. For instance, in ANSI C,
10904 dereferencing a pointer @code{p} is accomplished by @code{*p}, but in
10905 Modula-2, it is accomplished by @code{p^}. Values can also be
10906 represented (and displayed) differently. Hex numbers in C appear as
10907 @samp{0x1ae}, while in Modula-2 they appear as @samp{1AEH}.
10908
10909 @cindex working language
10910 Language-specific information is built into @value{GDBN} for some languages,
10911 allowing you to express operations like the above in your program's
10912 native language, and allowing @value{GDBN} to output values in a manner
10913 consistent with the syntax of your program's native language. The
10914 language you use to build expressions is called the @dfn{working
10915 language}.
10916
10917 @menu
10918 * Setting:: Switching between source languages
10919 * Show:: Displaying the language
10920 * Checks:: Type and range checks
10921 * Supported Languages:: Supported languages
10922 * Unsupported Languages:: Unsupported languages
10923 @end menu
10924
10925 @node Setting
10926 @section Switching Between Source Languages
10927
10928 There are two ways to control the working language---either have @value{GDBN}
10929 set it automatically, or select it manually yourself. You can use the
10930 @code{set language} command for either purpose. On startup, @value{GDBN}
10931 defaults to setting the language automatically. The working language is
10932 used to determine how expressions you type are interpreted, how values
10933 are printed, etc.
10934
10935 In addition to the working language, every source file that
10936 @value{GDBN} knows about has its own working language. For some object
10937 file formats, the compiler might indicate which language a particular
10938 source file is in. However, most of the time @value{GDBN} infers the
10939 language from the name of the file. The language of a source file
10940 controls whether C@t{++} names are demangled---this way @code{backtrace} can
10941 show each frame appropriately for its own language. There is no way to
10942 set the language of a source file from within @value{GDBN}, but you can
10943 set the language associated with a filename extension. @xref{Show, ,
10944 Displaying the Language}.
10945
10946 This is most commonly a problem when you use a program, such
10947 as @code{cfront} or @code{f2c}, that generates C but is written in
10948 another language. In that case, make the
10949 program use @code{#line} directives in its C output; that way
10950 @value{GDBN} will know the correct language of the source code of the original
10951 program, and will display that source code, not the generated C code.
10952
10953 @menu
10954 * Filenames:: Filename extensions and languages.
10955 * Manually:: Setting the working language manually
10956 * Automatically:: Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
10957 @end menu
10958
10959 @node Filenames
10960 @subsection List of Filename Extensions and Languages
10961
10962 If a source file name ends in one of the following extensions, then
10963 @value{GDBN} infers that its language is the one indicated.
10964
10965 @table @file
10966 @item .ada
10967 @itemx .ads
10968 @itemx .adb
10969 @itemx .a
10970 Ada source file.
10971
10972 @item .c
10973 C source file
10974
10975 @item .C
10976 @itemx .cc
10977 @itemx .cp
10978 @itemx .cpp
10979 @itemx .cxx
10980 @itemx .c++
10981 C@t{++} source file
10982
10983 @item .d
10984 D source file
10985
10986 @item .m
10987 Objective-C source file
10988
10989 @item .f
10990 @itemx .F
10991 Fortran source file
10992
10993 @item .mod
10994 Modula-2 source file
10995
10996 @item .s
10997 @itemx .S
10998 Assembler source file. This actually behaves almost like C, but
10999 @value{GDBN} does not skip over function prologues when stepping.
11000 @end table
11001
11002 In addition, you may set the language associated with a filename
11003 extension. @xref{Show, , Displaying the Language}.
11004
11005 @node Manually
11006 @subsection Setting the Working Language
11007
11008 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically,
11009 expressions are interpreted the same way in your debugging session and
11010 your program.
11011
11012 @kindex set language
11013 If you wish, you may set the language manually. To do this, issue the
11014 command @samp{set language @var{lang}}, where @var{lang} is the name of
11015 a language, such as
11016 @code{c} or @code{modula-2}.
11017 For a list of the supported languages, type @samp{set language}.
11018
11019 Setting the language manually prevents @value{GDBN} from updating the working
11020 language automatically. This can lead to confusion if you try
11021 to debug a program when the working language is not the same as the
11022 source language, when an expression is acceptable to both
11023 languages---but means different things. For instance, if the current
11024 source file were written in C, and @value{GDBN} was parsing Modula-2, a
11025 command such as:
11026
11027 @smallexample
11028 print a = b + c
11029 @end smallexample
11030
11031 @noindent
11032 might not have the effect you intended. In C, this means to add
11033 @code{b} and @code{c} and place the result in @code{a}. The result
11034 printed would be the value of @code{a}. In Modula-2, this means to compare
11035 @code{a} to the result of @code{b+c}, yielding a @code{BOOLEAN} value.
11036
11037 @node Automatically
11038 @subsection Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language
11039
11040 To have @value{GDBN} set the working language automatically, use
11041 @samp{set language local} or @samp{set language auto}. @value{GDBN}
11042 then infers the working language. That is, when your program stops in a
11043 frame (usually by encountering a breakpoint), @value{GDBN} sets the
11044 working language to the language recorded for the function in that
11045 frame. If the language for a frame is unknown (that is, if the function
11046 or block corresponding to the frame was defined in a source file that
11047 does not have a recognized extension), the current working language is
11048 not changed, and @value{GDBN} issues a warning.
11049
11050 This may not seem necessary for most programs, which are written
11051 entirely in one source language. However, program modules and libraries
11052 written in one source language can be used by a main program written in
11053 a different source language. Using @samp{set language auto} in this
11054 case frees you from having to set the working language manually.
11055
11056 @node Show
11057 @section Displaying the Language
11058
11059 The following commands help you find out which language is the
11060 working language, and also what language source files were written in.
11061
11062 @table @code
11063 @item show language
11064 @kindex show language
11065 Display the current working language. This is the
11066 language you can use with commands such as @code{print} to
11067 build and compute expressions that may involve variables in your program.
11068
11069 @item info frame
11070 @kindex info frame@r{, show the source language}
11071 Display the source language for this frame. This language becomes the
11072 working language if you use an identifier from this frame.
11073 @xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}, to identify the other
11074 information listed here.
11075
11076 @item info source
11077 @kindex info source@r{, show the source language}
11078 Display the source language of this source file.
11079 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, to identify the other
11080 information listed here.
11081 @end table
11082
11083 In unusual circumstances, you may have source files with extensions
11084 not in the standard list. You can then set the extension associated
11085 with a language explicitly:
11086
11087 @table @code
11088 @item set extension-language @var{ext} @var{language}
11089 @kindex set extension-language
11090 Tell @value{GDBN} that source files with extension @var{ext} are to be
11091 assumed as written in the source language @var{language}.
11092
11093 @item info extensions
11094 @kindex info extensions
11095 List all the filename extensions and the associated languages.
11096 @end table
11097
11098 @node Checks
11099 @section Type and Range Checking
11100
11101 @quotation
11102 @emph{Warning:} In this release, the @value{GDBN} commands for type and range
11103 checking are included, but they do not yet have any effect. This
11104 section documents the intended facilities.
11105 @end quotation
11106 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range code added
11107
11108 Some languages are designed to guard you against making seemingly common
11109 errors through a series of compile- and run-time checks. These include
11110 checking the type of arguments to functions and operators, and making
11111 sure mathematical overflows are caught at run time. Checks such as
11112 these help to ensure a program's correctness once it has been compiled
11113 by eliminating type mismatches, and providing active checks for range
11114 errors when your program is running.
11115
11116 @value{GDBN} can check for conditions like the above if you wish.
11117 Although @value{GDBN} does not check the statements in your program,
11118 it can check expressions entered directly into @value{GDBN} for
11119 evaluation via the @code{print} command, for example. As with the
11120 working language, @value{GDBN} can also decide whether or not to check
11121 automatically based on your program's source language.
11122 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default
11123 settings of supported languages.
11124
11125 @menu
11126 * Type Checking:: An overview of type checking
11127 * Range Checking:: An overview of range checking
11128 @end menu
11129
11130 @cindex type checking
11131 @cindex checks, type
11132 @node Type Checking
11133 @subsection An Overview of Type Checking
11134
11135 Some languages, such as Modula-2, are strongly typed, meaning that the
11136 arguments to operators and functions have to be of the correct type,
11137 otherwise an error occurs. These checks prevent type mismatch
11138 errors from ever causing any run-time problems. For example,
11139
11140 @smallexample
11141 1 + 2 @result{} 3
11142 @exdent but
11143 @error{} 1 + 2.3
11144 @end smallexample
11145
11146 The second example fails because the @code{CARDINAL} 1 is not
11147 type-compatible with the @code{REAL} 2.3.
11148
11149 For the expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell the
11150 @value{GDBN} type checker to skip checking;
11151 to treat any mismatches as errors and abandon the expression;
11152 or to only issue warnings when type mismatches occur,
11153 but evaluate the expression anyway. When you choose the last of
11154 these, @value{GDBN} evaluates expressions like the second example above, but
11155 also issues a warning.
11156
11157 Even if you turn type checking off, there may be other reasons
11158 related to type that prevent @value{GDBN} from evaluating an expression.
11159 For instance, @value{GDBN} does not know how to add an @code{int} and
11160 a @code{struct foo}. These particular type errors have nothing to do
11161 with the language in use, and usually arise from expressions, such as
11162 the one described above, which make little sense to evaluate anyway.
11163
11164 Each language defines to what degree it is strict about type. For
11165 instance, both Modula-2 and C require the arguments to arithmetical
11166 operators to be numbers. In C, enumerated types and pointers can be
11167 represented as numbers, so that they are valid arguments to mathematical
11168 operators. @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for further
11169 details on specific languages.
11170
11171 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the type checker:
11172
11173 @kindex set check type
11174 @kindex show check type
11175 @table @code
11176 @item set check type auto
11177 Set type checking on or off based on the current working language.
11178 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
11179 each language.
11180
11181 @item set check type on
11182 @itemx set check type off
11183 Set type checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
11184 current working language. Issue a warning if the setting does not
11185 match the language default. If any type mismatches occur in
11186 evaluating an expression while type checking is on, @value{GDBN} prints a
11187 message and aborts evaluation of the expression.
11188
11189 @item set check type warn
11190 Cause the type checker to issue warnings, but to always attempt to
11191 evaluate the expression. Evaluating the expression may still
11192 be impossible for other reasons. For example, @value{GDBN} cannot add
11193 numbers and structures.
11194
11195 @item show type
11196 Show the current setting of the type checker, and whether or not @value{GDBN}
11197 is setting it automatically.
11198 @end table
11199
11200 @cindex range checking
11201 @cindex checks, range
11202 @node Range Checking
11203 @subsection An Overview of Range Checking
11204
11205 In some languages (such as Modula-2), it is an error to exceed the
11206 bounds of a type; this is enforced with run-time checks. Such range
11207 checking is meant to ensure program correctness by making sure
11208 computations do not overflow, or indices on an array element access do
11209 not exceed the bounds of the array.
11210
11211 For expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
11212 @value{GDBN} to treat range errors in one of three ways: ignore them,
11213 always treat them as errors and abandon the expression, or issue
11214 warnings but evaluate the expression anyway.
11215
11216 A range error can result from numerical overflow, from exceeding an
11217 array index bound, or when you type a constant that is not a member
11218 of any type. Some languages, however, do not treat overflows as an
11219 error. In many implementations of C, mathematical overflow causes the
11220 result to ``wrap around'' to lower values---for example, if @var{m} is
11221 the largest integer value, and @var{s} is the smallest, then
11222
11223 @smallexample
11224 @var{m} + 1 @result{} @var{s}
11225 @end smallexample
11226
11227 This, too, is specific to individual languages, and in some cases
11228 specific to individual compilers or machines. @xref{Supported Languages, ,
11229 Supported Languages}, for further details on specific languages.
11230
11231 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the range checker:
11232
11233 @kindex set check range
11234 @kindex show check range
11235 @table @code
11236 @item set check range auto
11237 Set range checking on or off based on the current working language.
11238 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
11239 each language.
11240
11241 @item set check range on
11242 @itemx set check range off
11243 Set range checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
11244 current working language. A warning is issued if the setting does not
11245 match the language default. If a range error occurs and range checking is on,
11246 then a message is printed and evaluation of the expression is aborted.
11247
11248 @item set check range warn
11249 Output messages when the @value{GDBN} range checker detects a range error,
11250 but attempt to evaluate the expression anyway. Evaluating the
11251 expression may still be impossible for other reasons, such as accessing
11252 memory that the process does not own (a typical example from many Unix
11253 systems).
11254
11255 @item show range
11256 Show the current setting of the range checker, and whether or not it is
11257 being set automatically by @value{GDBN}.
11258 @end table
11259
11260 @node Supported Languages
11261 @section Supported Languages
11262
11263 @value{GDBN} supports C, C@t{++}, D, Objective-C, Fortran, Java, Pascal,
11264 assembly, Modula-2, and Ada.
11265 @c This is false ...
11266 Some @value{GDBN} features may be used in expressions regardless of the
11267 language you use: the @value{GDBN} @code{@@} and @code{::} operators,
11268 and the @samp{@{type@}addr} construct (@pxref{Expressions,
11269 ,Expressions}) can be used with the constructs of any supported
11270 language.
11271
11272 The following sections detail to what degree each source language is
11273 supported by @value{GDBN}. These sections are not meant to be language
11274 tutorials or references, but serve only as a reference guide to what the
11275 @value{GDBN} expression parser accepts, and what input and output
11276 formats should look like for different languages. There are many good
11277 books written on each of these languages; please look to these for a
11278 language reference or tutorial.
11279
11280 @menu
11281 * C:: C and C@t{++}
11282 * D:: D
11283 * Objective-C:: Objective-C
11284 * Fortran:: Fortran
11285 * Pascal:: Pascal
11286 * Modula-2:: Modula-2
11287 * Ada:: Ada
11288 @end menu
11289
11290 @node C
11291 @subsection C and C@t{++}
11292
11293 @cindex C and C@t{++}
11294 @cindex expressions in C or C@t{++}
11295
11296 Since C and C@t{++} are so closely related, many features of @value{GDBN} apply
11297 to both languages. Whenever this is the case, we discuss those languages
11298 together.
11299
11300 @cindex C@t{++}
11301 @cindex @code{g++}, @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler
11302 @cindex @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
11303 The C@t{++} debugging facilities are jointly implemented by the C@t{++}
11304 compiler and @value{GDBN}. Therefore, to debug your C@t{++} code
11305 effectively, you must compile your C@t{++} programs with a supported
11306 C@t{++} compiler, such as @sc{gnu} @code{g++}, or the HP ANSI C@t{++}
11307 compiler (@code{aCC}).
11308
11309 For best results when using @sc{gnu} C@t{++}, use the DWARF 2 debugging
11310 format; if it doesn't work on your system, try the stabs+ debugging
11311 format. You can select those formats explicitly with the @code{g++}
11312 command-line options @option{-gdwarf-2} and @option{-gstabs+}.
11313 @xref{Debugging Options,,Options for Debugging Your Program or GCC,
11314 gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu} Compiler Collection (GCC)}.
11315
11316 @menu
11317 * C Operators:: C and C@t{++} operators
11318 * C Constants:: C and C@t{++} constants
11319 * C Plus Plus Expressions:: C@t{++} expressions
11320 * C Defaults:: Default settings for C and C@t{++}
11321 * C Checks:: C and C@t{++} type and range checks
11322 * Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
11323 * Debugging C Plus Plus:: @value{GDBN} features for C@t{++}
11324 * Decimal Floating Point:: Numbers in Decimal Floating Point format
11325 @end menu
11326
11327 @node C Operators
11328 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Operators
11329
11330 @cindex C and C@t{++} operators
11331
11332 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
11333 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
11334 often defined on groups of types.
11335
11336 For the purposes of C and C@t{++}, the following definitions hold:
11337
11338 @itemize @bullet
11339
11340 @item
11341 @emph{Integral types} include @code{int} with any of its storage-class
11342 specifiers; @code{char}; @code{enum}; and, for C@t{++}, @code{bool}.
11343
11344 @item
11345 @emph{Floating-point types} include @code{float}, @code{double}, and
11346 @code{long double} (if supported by the target platform).
11347
11348 @item
11349 @emph{Pointer types} include all types defined as @code{(@var{type} *)}.
11350
11351 @item
11352 @emph{Scalar types} include all of the above.
11353
11354 @end itemize
11355
11356 @noindent
11357 The following operators are supported. They are listed here
11358 in order of increasing precedence:
11359
11360 @table @code
11361 @item ,
11362 The comma or sequencing operator. Expressions in a comma-separated list
11363 are evaluated from left to right, with the result of the entire
11364 expression being the last expression evaluated.
11365
11366 @item =
11367 Assignment. The value of an assignment expression is the value
11368 assigned. Defined on scalar types.
11369
11370 @item @var{op}=
11371 Used in an expression of the form @w{@code{@var{a} @var{op}= @var{b}}},
11372 and translated to @w{@code{@var{a} = @var{a op b}}}.
11373 @w{@code{@var{op}=}} and @code{=} have the same precedence.
11374 @var{op} is any one of the operators @code{|}, @code{^}, @code{&},
11375 @code{<<}, @code{>>}, @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{%}.
11376
11377 @item ?:
11378 The ternary operator. @code{@var{a} ? @var{b} : @var{c}} can be thought
11379 of as: if @var{a} then @var{b} else @var{c}. @var{a} should be of an
11380 integral type.
11381
11382 @item ||
11383 Logical @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
11384
11385 @item &&
11386 Logical @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
11387
11388 @item |
11389 Bitwise @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
11390
11391 @item ^
11392 Bitwise exclusive-@sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
11393
11394 @item &
11395 Bitwise @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
11396
11397 @item ==@r{, }!=
11398 Equality and inequality. Defined on scalar types. The value of these
11399 expressions is 0 for false and non-zero for true.
11400
11401 @item <@r{, }>@r{, }<=@r{, }>=
11402 Less than, greater than, less than or equal, greater than or equal.
11403 Defined on scalar types. The value of these expressions is 0 for false
11404 and non-zero for true.
11405
11406 @item <<@r{, }>>
11407 left shift, and right shift. Defined on integral types.
11408
11409 @item @@
11410 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
11411
11412 @item +@r{, }-
11413 Addition and subtraction. Defined on integral types, floating-point types and
11414 pointer types.
11415
11416 @item *@r{, }/@r{, }%
11417 Multiplication, division, and modulus. Multiplication and division are
11418 defined on integral and floating-point types. Modulus is defined on
11419 integral types.
11420
11421 @item ++@r{, }--
11422 Increment and decrement. When appearing before a variable, the
11423 operation is performed before the variable is used in an expression;
11424 when appearing after it, the variable's value is used before the
11425 operation takes place.
11426
11427 @item *
11428 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types. Same precedence as
11429 @code{++}.
11430
11431 @item &
11432 Address operator. Defined on variables. Same precedence as @code{++}.
11433
11434 For debugging C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} implements a use of @samp{&} beyond what is
11435 allowed in the C@t{++} language itself: you can use @samp{&(&@var{ref})}
11436 to examine the address
11437 where a C@t{++} reference variable (declared with @samp{&@var{ref}}) is
11438 stored.
11439
11440 @item -
11441 Negative. Defined on integral and floating-point types. Same
11442 precedence as @code{++}.
11443
11444 @item !
11445 Logical negation. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
11446 @code{++}.
11447
11448 @item ~
11449 Bitwise complement operator. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
11450 @code{++}.
11451
11452
11453 @item .@r{, }->
11454 Structure member, and pointer-to-structure member. For convenience,
11455 @value{GDBN} regards the two as equivalent, choosing whether to dereference a
11456 pointer based on the stored type information.
11457 Defined on @code{struct} and @code{union} data.
11458
11459 @item .*@r{, }->*
11460 Dereferences of pointers to members.
11461
11462 @item []
11463 Array indexing. @code{@var{a}[@var{i}]} is defined as
11464 @code{*(@var{a}+@var{i})}. Same precedence as @code{->}.
11465
11466 @item ()
11467 Function parameter list. Same precedence as @code{->}.
11468
11469 @item ::
11470 C@t{++} scope resolution operator. Defined on @code{struct}, @code{union},
11471 and @code{class} types.
11472
11473 @item ::
11474 Doubled colons also represent the @value{GDBN} scope operator
11475 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). Same precedence as @code{::},
11476 above.
11477 @end table
11478
11479 If an operator is redefined in the user code, @value{GDBN} usually
11480 attempts to invoke the redefined version instead of using the operator's
11481 predefined meaning.
11482
11483 @node C Constants
11484 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Constants
11485
11486 @cindex C and C@t{++} constants
11487
11488 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C and C@t{++} in the
11489 following ways:
11490
11491 @itemize @bullet
11492 @item
11493 Integer constants are a sequence of digits. Octal constants are
11494 specified by a leading @samp{0} (i.e.@: zero), and hexadecimal constants
11495 by a leading @samp{0x} or @samp{0X}. Constants may also end with a letter
11496 @samp{l}, specifying that the constant should be treated as a
11497 @code{long} value.
11498
11499 @item
11500 Floating point constants are a sequence of digits, followed by a decimal
11501 point, followed by a sequence of digits, and optionally followed by an
11502 exponent. An exponent is of the form:
11503 @samp{@w{e@r{[[}+@r{]|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}}, where @var{nnn} is another
11504 sequence of digits. The @samp{+} is optional for positive exponents.
11505 A floating-point constant may also end with a letter @samp{f} or
11506 @samp{F}, specifying that the constant should be treated as being of
11507 the @code{float} (as opposed to the default @code{double}) type; or with
11508 a letter @samp{l} or @samp{L}, which specifies a @code{long double}
11509 constant.
11510
11511 @item
11512 Enumerated constants consist of enumerated identifiers, or their
11513 integral equivalents.
11514
11515 @item
11516 Character constants are a single character surrounded by single quotes
11517 (@code{'}), or a number---the ordinal value of the corresponding character
11518 (usually its @sc{ascii} value). Within quotes, the single character may
11519 be represented by a letter or by @dfn{escape sequences}, which are of
11520 the form @samp{\@var{nnn}}, where @var{nnn} is the octal representation
11521 of the character's ordinal value; or of the form @samp{\@var{x}}, where
11522 @samp{@var{x}} is a predefined special character---for example,
11523 @samp{\n} for newline.
11524
11525 @item
11526 String constants are a sequence of character constants surrounded by
11527 double quotes (@code{"}). Any valid character constant (as described
11528 above) may appear. Double quotes within the string must be preceded by
11529 a backslash, so for instance @samp{"a\"b'c"} is a string of five
11530 characters.
11531
11532 @item
11533 Pointer constants are an integral value. You can also write pointers
11534 to constants using the C operator @samp{&}.
11535
11536 @item
11537 Array constants are comma-separated lists surrounded by braces @samp{@{}
11538 and @samp{@}}; for example, @samp{@{1,2,3@}} is a three-element array of
11539 integers, @samp{@{@{1,2@}, @{3,4@}, @{5,6@}@}} is a three-by-two array,
11540 and @samp{@{&"hi", &"there", &"fred"@}} is a three-element array of pointers.
11541 @end itemize
11542
11543 @node C Plus Plus Expressions
11544 @subsubsection C@t{++} Expressions
11545
11546 @cindex expressions in C@t{++}
11547 @value{GDBN} expression handling can interpret most C@t{++} expressions.
11548
11549 @cindex debugging C@t{++} programs
11550 @cindex C@t{++} compilers
11551 @cindex debug formats and C@t{++}
11552 @cindex @value{NGCC} and C@t{++}
11553 @quotation
11554 @emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} can only debug C@t{++} code if you use the
11555 proper compiler and the proper debug format. Currently, @value{GDBN}
11556 works best when debugging C@t{++} code that is compiled with
11557 @value{NGCC} 2.95.3 or with @value{NGCC} 3.1 or newer, using the options
11558 @option{-gdwarf-2} or @option{-gstabs+}. DWARF 2 is preferred over
11559 stabs+. Most configurations of @value{NGCC} emit either DWARF 2 or
11560 stabs+ as their default debug format, so you usually don't need to
11561 specify a debug format explicitly. Other compilers and/or debug formats
11562 are likely to work badly or not at all when using @value{GDBN} to debug
11563 C@t{++} code.
11564 @end quotation
11565
11566 @enumerate
11567
11568 @cindex member functions
11569 @item
11570 Member function calls are allowed; you can use expressions like
11571
11572 @smallexample
11573 count = aml->GetOriginal(x, y)
11574 @end smallexample
11575
11576 @vindex this@r{, inside C@t{++} member functions}
11577 @cindex namespace in C@t{++}
11578 @item
11579 While a member function is active (in the selected stack frame), your
11580 expressions have the same namespace available as the member function;
11581 that is, @value{GDBN} allows implicit references to the class instance
11582 pointer @code{this} following the same rules as C@t{++}.
11583
11584 @cindex call overloaded functions
11585 @cindex overloaded functions, calling
11586 @cindex type conversions in C@t{++}
11587 @item
11588 You can call overloaded functions; @value{GDBN} resolves the function
11589 call to the right definition, with some restrictions. @value{GDBN} does not
11590 perform overload resolution involving user-defined type conversions,
11591 calls to constructors, or instantiations of templates that do not exist
11592 in the program. It also cannot handle ellipsis argument lists or
11593 default arguments.
11594
11595 It does perform integral conversions and promotions, floating-point
11596 promotions, arithmetic conversions, pointer conversions, conversions of
11597 class objects to base classes, and standard conversions such as those of
11598 functions or arrays to pointers; it requires an exact match on the
11599 number of function arguments.
11600
11601 Overload resolution is always performed, unless you have specified
11602 @code{set overload-resolution off}. @xref{Debugging C Plus Plus,
11603 ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
11604
11605 You must specify @code{set overload-resolution off} in order to use an
11606 explicit function signature to call an overloaded function, as in
11607 @smallexample
11608 p 'foo(char,int)'('x', 13)
11609 @end smallexample
11610
11611 The @value{GDBN} command-completion facility can simplify this;
11612 see @ref{Completion, ,Command Completion}.
11613
11614 @cindex reference declarations
11615 @item
11616 @value{GDBN} understands variables declared as C@t{++} references; you can use
11617 them in expressions just as you do in C@t{++} source---they are automatically
11618 dereferenced.
11619
11620 In the parameter list shown when @value{GDBN} displays a frame, the values of
11621 reference variables are not displayed (unlike other variables); this
11622 avoids clutter, since references are often used for large structures.
11623 The @emph{address} of a reference variable is always shown, unless
11624 you have specified @samp{set print address off}.
11625
11626 @item
11627 @value{GDBN} supports the C@t{++} name resolution operator @code{::}---your
11628 expressions can use it just as expressions in your program do. Since
11629 one scope may be defined in another, you can use @code{::} repeatedly if
11630 necessary, for example in an expression like
11631 @samp{@var{scope1}::@var{scope2}::@var{name}}. @value{GDBN} also allows
11632 resolving name scope by reference to source files, in both C and C@t{++}
11633 debugging (@pxref{Variables, ,Program Variables}).
11634 @end enumerate
11635
11636 In addition, when used with HP's C@t{++} compiler, @value{GDBN} supports
11637 calling virtual functions correctly, printing out virtual bases of
11638 objects, calling functions in a base subobject, casting objects, and
11639 invoking user-defined operators.
11640
11641 @node C Defaults
11642 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Defaults
11643
11644 @cindex C and C@t{++} defaults
11645
11646 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set type and range checking automatically, they
11647 both default to @code{off} whenever the working language changes to
11648 C or C@t{++}. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
11649 selects the working language.
11650
11651 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, it
11652 recognizes source files whose names end with @file{.c}, @file{.C}, or
11653 @file{.cc}, etc, and when @value{GDBN} enters code compiled from one of
11654 these files, it sets the working language to C or C@t{++}.
11655 @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language},
11656 for further details.
11657
11658 @c Type checking is (a) primarily motivated by Modula-2, and (b)
11659 @c unimplemented. If (b) changes, it might make sense to let this node
11660 @c appear even if Mod-2 does not, but meanwhile ignore it. roland 16jul93.
11661
11662 @node C Checks
11663 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Type and Range Checks
11664
11665 @cindex C and C@t{++} checks
11666
11667 By default, when @value{GDBN} parses C or C@t{++} expressions, type checking
11668 is not used. However, if you turn type checking on, @value{GDBN}
11669 considers two variables type equivalent if:
11670
11671 @itemize @bullet
11672 @item
11673 The two variables are structured and have the same structure, union, or
11674 enumerated tag.
11675
11676 @item
11677 The two variables have the same type name, or types that have been
11678 declared equivalent through @code{typedef}.
11679
11680 @ignore
11681 @c leaving this out because neither J Gilmore nor R Pesch understand it.
11682 @c FIXME--beers?
11683 @item
11684 The two @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} variables are
11685 declared in the same declaration. (Note: this may not be true for all C
11686 compilers.)
11687 @end ignore
11688 @end itemize
11689
11690 Range checking, if turned on, is done on mathematical operations. Array
11691 indices are not checked, since they are often used to index a pointer
11692 that is not itself an array.
11693
11694 @node Debugging C
11695 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and C
11696
11697 The @code{set print union} and @code{show print union} commands apply to
11698 the @code{union} type. When set to @samp{on}, any @code{union} that is
11699 inside a @code{struct} or @code{class} is also printed. Otherwise, it
11700 appears as @samp{@{...@}}.
11701
11702 The @code{@@} operator aids in the debugging of dynamic arrays, formed
11703 with pointers and a memory allocation function. @xref{Expressions,
11704 ,Expressions}.
11705
11706 @node Debugging C Plus Plus
11707 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}
11708
11709 @cindex commands for C@t{++}
11710
11711 Some @value{GDBN} commands are particularly useful with C@t{++}, and some are
11712 designed specifically for use with C@t{++}. Here is a summary:
11713
11714 @table @code
11715 @cindex break in overloaded functions
11716 @item @r{breakpoint menus}
11717 When you want a breakpoint in a function whose name is overloaded,
11718 @value{GDBN} has the capability to display a menu of possible breakpoint
11719 locations to help you specify which function definition you want.
11720 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}.
11721
11722 @cindex overloading in C@t{++}
11723 @item rbreak @var{regex}
11724 Setting breakpoints using regular expressions is helpful for setting
11725 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
11726 classes.
11727 @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
11728
11729 @cindex C@t{++} exception handling
11730 @item catch throw
11731 @itemx catch catch
11732 Debug C@t{++} exception handling using these commands. @xref{Set
11733 Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
11734
11735 @cindex inheritance
11736 @item ptype @var{typename}
11737 Print inheritance relationships as well as other information for type
11738 @var{typename}.
11739 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
11740
11741 @cindex C@t{++} symbol display
11742 @item set print demangle
11743 @itemx show print demangle
11744 @itemx set print asm-demangle
11745 @itemx show print asm-demangle
11746 Control whether C@t{++} symbols display in their source form, both when
11747 displaying code as C@t{++} source and when displaying disassemblies.
11748 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
11749
11750 @item set print object
11751 @itemx show print object
11752 Choose whether to print derived (actual) or declared types of objects.
11753 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
11754
11755 @item set print vtbl
11756 @itemx show print vtbl
11757 Control the format for printing virtual function tables.
11758 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
11759 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
11760 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
11761
11762 @kindex set overload-resolution
11763 @cindex overloaded functions, overload resolution
11764 @item set overload-resolution on
11765 Enable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. The default
11766 is on. For overloaded functions, @value{GDBN} evaluates the arguments
11767 and searches for a function whose signature matches the argument types,
11768 using the standard C@t{++} conversion rules (see @ref{C Plus Plus
11769 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}, for details).
11770 If it cannot find a match, it emits a message.
11771
11772 @item set overload-resolution off
11773 Disable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. For
11774 overloaded functions that are not class member functions, @value{GDBN}
11775 chooses the first function of the specified name that it finds in the
11776 symbol table, whether or not its arguments are of the correct type. For
11777 overloaded functions that are class member functions, @value{GDBN}
11778 searches for a function whose signature @emph{exactly} matches the
11779 argument types.
11780
11781 @kindex show overload-resolution
11782 @item show overload-resolution
11783 Show the current setting of overload resolution.
11784
11785 @item @r{Overloaded symbol names}
11786 You can specify a particular definition of an overloaded symbol, using
11787 the same notation that is used to declare such symbols in C@t{++}: type
11788 @code{@var{symbol}(@var{types})} rather than just @var{symbol}. You can
11789 also use the @value{GDBN} command-line word completion facilities to list the
11790 available choices, or to finish the type list for you.
11791 @xref{Completion,, Command Completion}, for details on how to do this.
11792 @end table
11793
11794 @node Decimal Floating Point
11795 @subsubsection Decimal Floating Point format
11796 @cindex decimal floating point format
11797
11798 @value{GDBN} can examine, set and perform computations with numbers in
11799 decimal floating point format, which in the C language correspond to the
11800 @code{_Decimal32}, @code{_Decimal64} and @code{_Decimal128} types as
11801 specified by the extension to support decimal floating-point arithmetic.
11802
11803 There are two encodings in use, depending on the architecture: BID (Binary
11804 Integer Decimal) for x86 and x86-64, and DPD (Densely Packed Decimal) for
11805 PowerPC. @value{GDBN} will use the appropriate encoding for the configured
11806 target.
11807
11808 Because of a limitation in @file{libdecnumber}, the library used by @value{GDBN}
11809 to manipulate decimal floating point numbers, it is not possible to convert
11810 (using a cast, for example) integers wider than 32-bit to decimal float.
11811
11812 In addition, in order to imitate @value{GDBN}'s behaviour with binary floating
11813 point computations, error checking in decimal float operations ignores
11814 underflow, overflow and divide by zero exceptions.
11815
11816 In the PowerPC architecture, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers
11817 to inspect @code{_Decimal128} values stored in floating point registers.
11818 See @ref{PowerPC,,PowerPC} for more details.
11819
11820 @node D
11821 @subsection D
11822
11823 @cindex D
11824 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in D and compiled with
11825 GDC, LDC or DMD compilers. Currently @value{GDBN} supports only one D
11826 specific feature --- dynamic arrays.
11827
11828 @node Objective-C
11829 @subsection Objective-C
11830
11831 @cindex Objective-C
11832 This section provides information about some commands and command
11833 options that are useful for debugging Objective-C code. See also
11834 @ref{Symbols, info classes}, and @ref{Symbols, info selectors}, for a
11835 few more commands specific to Objective-C support.
11836
11837 @menu
11838 * Method Names in Commands::
11839 * The Print Command with Objective-C::
11840 @end menu
11841
11842 @node Method Names in Commands
11843 @subsubsection Method Names in Commands
11844
11845 The following commands have been extended to accept Objective-C method
11846 names as line specifications:
11847
11848 @kindex clear@r{, and Objective-C}
11849 @kindex break@r{, and Objective-C}
11850 @kindex info line@r{, and Objective-C}
11851 @kindex jump@r{, and Objective-C}
11852 @kindex list@r{, and Objective-C}
11853 @itemize
11854 @item @code{clear}
11855 @item @code{break}
11856 @item @code{info line}
11857 @item @code{jump}
11858 @item @code{list}
11859 @end itemize
11860
11861 A fully qualified Objective-C method name is specified as
11862
11863 @smallexample
11864 -[@var{Class} @var{methodName}]
11865 @end smallexample
11866
11867 where the minus sign is used to indicate an instance method and a
11868 plus sign (not shown) is used to indicate a class method. The class
11869 name @var{Class} and method name @var{methodName} are enclosed in
11870 brackets, similar to the way messages are specified in Objective-C
11871 source code. For example, to set a breakpoint at the @code{create}
11872 instance method of class @code{Fruit} in the program currently being
11873 debugged, enter:
11874
11875 @smallexample
11876 break -[Fruit create]
11877 @end smallexample
11878
11879 To list ten program lines around the @code{initialize} class method,
11880 enter:
11881
11882 @smallexample
11883 list +[NSText initialize]
11884 @end smallexample
11885
11886 In the current version of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus sign is
11887 required. In future versions of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus
11888 sign will be optional, but you can use it to narrow the search. It
11889 is also possible to specify just a method name:
11890
11891 @smallexample
11892 break create
11893 @end smallexample
11894
11895 You must specify the complete method name, including any colons. If
11896 your program's source files contain more than one @code{create} method,
11897 you'll be presented with a numbered list of classes that implement that
11898 method. Indicate your choice by number, or type @samp{0} to exit if
11899 none apply.
11900
11901 As another example, to clear a breakpoint established at the
11902 @code{makeKeyAndOrderFront:} method of the @code{NSWindow} class, enter:
11903
11904 @smallexample
11905 clear -[NSWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront:]
11906 @end smallexample
11907
11908 @node The Print Command with Objective-C
11909 @subsubsection The Print Command With Objective-C
11910 @cindex Objective-C, print objects
11911 @kindex print-object
11912 @kindex po @r{(@code{print-object})}
11913
11914 The print command has also been extended to accept methods. For example:
11915
11916 @smallexample
11917 print -[@var{object} hash]
11918 @end smallexample
11919
11920 @cindex print an Objective-C object description
11921 @cindex @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, and printing Objective-C objects
11922 @noindent
11923 will tell @value{GDBN} to send the @code{hash} message to @var{object}
11924 and print the result. Also, an additional command has been added,
11925 @code{print-object} or @code{po} for short, which is meant to print
11926 the description of an object. However, this command may only work
11927 with certain Objective-C libraries that have a particular hook
11928 function, @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, defined.
11929
11930 @node Fortran
11931 @subsection Fortran
11932 @cindex Fortran-specific support in @value{GDBN}
11933
11934 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, but it
11935 currently supports only the features of Fortran 77 language.
11936
11937 @cindex trailing underscore, in Fortran symbols
11938 Some Fortran compilers (@sc{gnu} Fortran 77 and Fortran 95 compilers
11939 among them) append an underscore to the names of variables and
11940 functions. When you debug programs compiled by those compilers, you
11941 will need to refer to variables and functions with a trailing
11942 underscore.
11943
11944 @menu
11945 * Fortran Operators:: Fortran operators and expressions
11946 * Fortran Defaults:: Default settings for Fortran
11947 * Special Fortran Commands:: Special @value{GDBN} commands for Fortran
11948 @end menu
11949
11950 @node Fortran Operators
11951 @subsubsection Fortran Operators and Expressions
11952
11953 @cindex Fortran operators and expressions
11954
11955 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
11956 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on characters or other non-
11957 arithmetic types. Operators are often defined on groups of types.
11958
11959 @table @code
11960 @item **
11961 The exponentiation operator. It raises the first operand to the power
11962 of the second one.
11963
11964 @item :
11965 The range operator. Normally used in the form of array(low:high) to
11966 represent a section of array.
11967
11968 @item %
11969 The access component operator. Normally used to access elements in derived
11970 types. Also suitable for unions. As unions aren't part of regular Fortran,
11971 this can only happen when accessing a register that uses a gdbarch-defined
11972 union type.
11973 @end table
11974
11975 @node Fortran Defaults
11976 @subsubsection Fortran Defaults
11977
11978 @cindex Fortran Defaults
11979
11980 Fortran symbols are usually case-insensitive, so @value{GDBN} by
11981 default uses case-insensitive matches for Fortran symbols. You can
11982 change that with the @samp{set case-insensitive} command, see
11983 @ref{Symbols}, for the details.
11984
11985 @node Special Fortran Commands
11986 @subsubsection Special Fortran Commands
11987
11988 @cindex Special Fortran commands
11989
11990 @value{GDBN} has some commands to support Fortran-specific features,
11991 such as displaying common blocks.
11992
11993 @table @code
11994 @cindex @code{COMMON} blocks, Fortran
11995 @kindex info common
11996 @item info common @r{[}@var{common-name}@r{]}
11997 This command prints the values contained in the Fortran @code{COMMON}
11998 block whose name is @var{common-name}. With no argument, the names of
11999 all @code{COMMON} blocks visible at the current program location are
12000 printed.
12001 @end table
12002
12003 @node Pascal
12004 @subsection Pascal
12005
12006 @cindex Pascal support in @value{GDBN}, limitations
12007 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
12008 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
12009 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
12010 syntax.
12011
12012 The Pascal-specific command @code{set print pascal_static-members}
12013 controls whether static members of Pascal objects are displayed.
12014 @xref{Print Settings, pascal_static-members}.
12015
12016 @node Modula-2
12017 @subsection Modula-2
12018
12019 @cindex Modula-2, @value{GDBN} support
12020
12021 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} to support Modula-2 only support
12022 output from the @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler (which is currently being
12023 developed). Other Modula-2 compilers are not currently supported, and
12024 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
12025 to give an error as @value{GDBN} reads in the executable's symbol
12026 table.
12027
12028 @cindex expressions in Modula-2
12029 @menu
12030 * M2 Operators:: Built-in operators
12031 * Built-In Func/Proc:: Built-in functions and procedures
12032 * M2 Constants:: Modula-2 constants
12033 * M2 Types:: Modula-2 types
12034 * M2 Defaults:: Default settings for Modula-2
12035 * Deviations:: Deviations from standard Modula-2
12036 * M2 Checks:: Modula-2 type and range checks
12037 * M2 Scope:: The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
12038 * GDB/M2:: @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
12039 @end menu
12040
12041 @node M2 Operators
12042 @subsubsection Operators
12043 @cindex Modula-2 operators
12044
12045 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
12046 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
12047 often defined on groups of types. For the purposes of Modula-2, the
12048 following definitions hold:
12049
12050 @itemize @bullet
12051
12052 @item
12053 @emph{Integral types} consist of @code{INTEGER}, @code{CARDINAL}, and
12054 their subranges.
12055
12056 @item
12057 @emph{Character types} consist of @code{CHAR} and its subranges.
12058
12059 @item
12060 @emph{Floating-point types} consist of @code{REAL}.
12061
12062 @item
12063 @emph{Pointer types} consist of anything declared as @code{POINTER TO
12064 @var{type}}.
12065
12066 @item
12067 @emph{Scalar types} consist of all of the above.
12068
12069 @item
12070 @emph{Set types} consist of @code{SET} and @code{BITSET} types.
12071
12072 @item
12073 @emph{Boolean types} consist of @code{BOOLEAN}.
12074 @end itemize
12075
12076 @noindent
12077 The following operators are supported, and appear in order of
12078 increasing precedence:
12079
12080 @table @code
12081 @item ,
12082 Function argument or array index separator.
12083
12084 @item :=
12085 Assignment. The value of @var{var} @code{:=} @var{value} is
12086 @var{value}.
12087
12088 @item <@r{, }>
12089 Less than, greater than on integral, floating-point, or enumerated
12090 types.
12091
12092 @item <=@r{, }>=
12093 Less than or equal to, greater than or equal to
12094 on integral, floating-point and enumerated types, or set inclusion on
12095 set types. Same precedence as @code{<}.
12096
12097 @item =@r{, }<>@r{, }#
12098 Equality and two ways of expressing inequality, valid on scalar types.
12099 Same precedence as @code{<}. In @value{GDBN} scripts, only @code{<>} is
12100 available for inequality, since @code{#} conflicts with the script
12101 comment character.
12102
12103 @item IN
12104 Set membership. Defined on set types and the types of their members.
12105 Same precedence as @code{<}.
12106
12107 @item OR
12108 Boolean disjunction. Defined on boolean types.
12109
12110 @item AND@r{, }&
12111 Boolean conjunction. Defined on boolean types.
12112
12113 @item @@
12114 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
12115
12116 @item +@r{, }-
12117 Addition and subtraction on integral and floating-point types, or union
12118 and difference on set types.
12119
12120 @item *
12121 Multiplication on integral and floating-point types, or set intersection
12122 on set types.
12123
12124 @item /
12125 Division on floating-point types, or symmetric set difference on set
12126 types. Same precedence as @code{*}.
12127
12128 @item DIV@r{, }MOD
12129 Integer division and remainder. Defined on integral types. Same
12130 precedence as @code{*}.
12131
12132 @item -
12133 Negative. Defined on @code{INTEGER} and @code{REAL} data.
12134
12135 @item ^
12136 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types.
12137
12138 @item NOT
12139 Boolean negation. Defined on boolean types. Same precedence as
12140 @code{^}.
12141
12142 @item .
12143 @code{RECORD} field selector. Defined on @code{RECORD} data. Same
12144 precedence as @code{^}.
12145
12146 @item []
12147 Array indexing. Defined on @code{ARRAY} data. Same precedence as @code{^}.
12148
12149 @item ()
12150 Procedure argument list. Defined on @code{PROCEDURE} objects. Same precedence
12151 as @code{^}.
12152
12153 @item ::@r{, }.
12154 @value{GDBN} and Modula-2 scope operators.
12155 @end table
12156
12157 @quotation
12158 @emph{Warning:} Set expressions and their operations are not yet supported, so @value{GDBN}
12159 treats the use of the operator @code{IN}, or the use of operators
12160 @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{=}, , @code{<>}, @code{#},
12161 @code{<=}, and @code{>=} on sets as an error.
12162 @end quotation
12163
12164
12165 @node Built-In Func/Proc
12166 @subsubsection Built-in Functions and Procedures
12167 @cindex Modula-2 built-ins
12168
12169 Modula-2 also makes available several built-in procedures and functions.
12170 In describing these, the following metavariables are used:
12171
12172 @table @var
12173
12174 @item a
12175 represents an @code{ARRAY} variable.
12176
12177 @item c
12178 represents a @code{CHAR} constant or variable.
12179
12180 @item i
12181 represents a variable or constant of integral type.
12182
12183 @item m
12184 represents an identifier that belongs to a set. Generally used in the
12185 same function with the metavariable @var{s}. The type of @var{s} should
12186 be @code{SET OF @var{mtype}} (where @var{mtype} is the type of @var{m}).
12187
12188 @item n
12189 represents a variable or constant of integral or floating-point type.
12190
12191 @item r
12192 represents a variable or constant of floating-point type.
12193
12194 @item t
12195 represents a type.
12196
12197 @item v
12198 represents a variable.
12199
12200 @item x
12201 represents a variable or constant of one of many types. See the
12202 explanation of the function for details.
12203 @end table
12204
12205 All Modula-2 built-in procedures also return a result, described below.
12206
12207 @table @code
12208 @item ABS(@var{n})
12209 Returns the absolute value of @var{n}.
12210
12211 @item CAP(@var{c})
12212 If @var{c} is a lower case letter, it returns its upper case
12213 equivalent, otherwise it returns its argument.
12214
12215 @item CHR(@var{i})
12216 Returns the character whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
12217
12218 @item DEC(@var{v})
12219 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
12220
12221 @item DEC(@var{v},@var{i})
12222 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
12223 new value.
12224
12225 @item EXCL(@var{m},@var{s})
12226 Removes the element @var{m} from the set @var{s}. Returns the new
12227 set.
12228
12229 @item FLOAT(@var{i})
12230 Returns the floating point equivalent of the integer @var{i}.
12231
12232 @item HIGH(@var{a})
12233 Returns the index of the last member of @var{a}.
12234
12235 @item INC(@var{v})
12236 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
12237
12238 @item INC(@var{v},@var{i})
12239 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
12240 new value.
12241
12242 @item INCL(@var{m},@var{s})
12243 Adds the element @var{m} to the set @var{s} if it is not already
12244 there. Returns the new set.
12245
12246 @item MAX(@var{t})
12247 Returns the maximum value of the type @var{t}.
12248
12249 @item MIN(@var{t})
12250 Returns the minimum value of the type @var{t}.
12251
12252 @item ODD(@var{i})
12253 Returns boolean TRUE if @var{i} is an odd number.
12254
12255 @item ORD(@var{x})
12256 Returns the ordinal value of its argument. For example, the ordinal
12257 value of a character is its @sc{ascii} value (on machines supporting the
12258 @sc{ascii} character set). @var{x} must be of an ordered type, which include
12259 integral, character and enumerated types.
12260
12261 @item SIZE(@var{x})
12262 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
12263
12264 @item TRUNC(@var{r})
12265 Returns the integral part of @var{r}.
12266
12267 @item TSIZE(@var{x})
12268 Returns the size of its argument. @var{x} can be a variable or a type.
12269
12270 @item VAL(@var{t},@var{i})
12271 Returns the member of the type @var{t} whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
12272 @end table
12273
12274 @quotation
12275 @emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so
12276 @value{GDBN} treats the use of procedures @code{INCL} and @code{EXCL} as
12277 an error.
12278 @end quotation
12279
12280 @cindex Modula-2 constants
12281 @node M2 Constants
12282 @subsubsection Constants
12283
12284 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of Modula-2 in the following
12285 ways:
12286
12287 @itemize @bullet
12288
12289 @item
12290 Integer constants are simply a sequence of digits. When used in an
12291 expression, a constant is interpreted to be type-compatible with the
12292 rest of the expression. Hexadecimal integers are specified by a
12293 trailing @samp{H}, and octal integers by a trailing @samp{B}.
12294
12295 @item
12296 Floating point constants appear as a sequence of digits, followed by a
12297 decimal point and another sequence of digits. An optional exponent can
12298 then be specified, in the form @samp{E@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}, where
12299 @samp{@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}} is the desired exponent. All of the
12300 digits of the floating point constant must be valid decimal (base 10)
12301 digits.
12302
12303 @item
12304 Character constants consist of a single character enclosed by a pair of
12305 like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}). They may
12306 also be expressed by their ordinal value (their @sc{ascii} value, usually)
12307 followed by a @samp{C}.
12308
12309 @item
12310 String constants consist of a sequence of characters enclosed by a
12311 pair of like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}).
12312 Escape sequences in the style of C are also allowed. @xref{C
12313 Constants, ,C and C@t{++} Constants}, for a brief explanation of escape
12314 sequences.
12315
12316 @item
12317 Enumerated constants consist of an enumerated identifier.
12318
12319 @item
12320 Boolean constants consist of the identifiers @code{TRUE} and
12321 @code{FALSE}.
12322
12323 @item
12324 Pointer constants consist of integral values only.
12325
12326 @item
12327 Set constants are not yet supported.
12328 @end itemize
12329
12330 @node M2 Types
12331 @subsubsection Modula-2 Types
12332 @cindex Modula-2 types
12333
12334 Currently @value{GDBN} can print the following data types in Modula-2
12335 syntax: array types, record types, set types, pointer types, procedure
12336 types, enumerated types, subrange types and base types. You can also
12337 print the contents of variables declared using these type.
12338 This section gives a number of simple source code examples together with
12339 sample @value{GDBN} sessions.
12340
12341 The first example contains the following section of code:
12342
12343 @smallexample
12344 VAR
12345 s: SET OF CHAR ;
12346 r: [20..40] ;
12347 @end smallexample
12348
12349 @noindent
12350 and you can request @value{GDBN} to interrogate the type and value of
12351 @code{r} and @code{s}.
12352
12353 @smallexample
12354 (@value{GDBP}) print s
12355 @{'A'..'C', 'Z'@}
12356 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12357 SET OF CHAR
12358 (@value{GDBP}) print r
12359 21
12360 (@value{GDBP}) ptype r
12361 [20..40]
12362 @end smallexample
12363
12364 @noindent
12365 Likewise if your source code declares @code{s} as:
12366
12367 @smallexample
12368 VAR
12369 s: SET ['A'..'Z'] ;
12370 @end smallexample
12371
12372 @noindent
12373 then you may query the type of @code{s} by:
12374
12375 @smallexample
12376 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12377 type = SET ['A'..'Z']
12378 @end smallexample
12379
12380 @noindent
12381 Note that at present you cannot interactively manipulate set
12382 expressions using the debugger.
12383
12384 The following example shows how you might declare an array in Modula-2
12385 and how you can interact with @value{GDBN} to print its type and contents:
12386
12387 @smallexample
12388 VAR
12389 s: ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR ;
12390 @end smallexample
12391
12392 @smallexample
12393 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12394 ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR
12395 @end smallexample
12396
12397 Note that the array handling is not yet complete and although the type
12398 is printed correctly, expression handling still assumes that all
12399 arrays have a lower bound of zero and not @code{-10} as in the example
12400 above.
12401
12402 Here are some more type related Modula-2 examples:
12403
12404 @smallexample
12405 TYPE
12406 colour = (blue, red, yellow, green) ;
12407 t = [blue..yellow] ;
12408 VAR
12409 s: t ;
12410 BEGIN
12411 s := blue ;
12412 @end smallexample
12413
12414 @noindent
12415 The @value{GDBN} interaction shows how you can query the data type
12416 and value of a variable.
12417
12418 @smallexample
12419 (@value{GDBP}) print s
12420 $1 = blue
12421 (@value{GDBP}) ptype t
12422 type = [blue..yellow]
12423 @end smallexample
12424
12425 @noindent
12426 In this example a Modula-2 array is declared and its contents
12427 displayed. Observe that the contents are written in the same way as
12428 their @code{C} counterparts.
12429
12430 @smallexample
12431 VAR
12432 s: ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
12433 BEGIN
12434 s[1] := 1 ;
12435 @end smallexample
12436
12437 @smallexample
12438 (@value{GDBP}) print s
12439 $1 = @{1, 0, 0, 0, 0@}
12440 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12441 type = ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
12442 @end smallexample
12443
12444 The Modula-2 language interface to @value{GDBN} also understands
12445 pointer types as shown in this example:
12446
12447 @smallexample
12448 VAR
12449 s: POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
12450 BEGIN
12451 NEW(s) ;
12452 s^[1] := 1 ;
12453 @end smallexample
12454
12455 @noindent
12456 and you can request that @value{GDBN} describes the type of @code{s}.
12457
12458 @smallexample
12459 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12460 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
12461 @end smallexample
12462
12463 @value{GDBN} handles compound types as we can see in this example.
12464 Here we combine array types, record types, pointer types and subrange
12465 types:
12466
12467 @smallexample
12468 TYPE
12469 foo = RECORD
12470 f1: CARDINAL ;
12471 f2: CHAR ;
12472 f3: myarray ;
12473 END ;
12474
12475 myarray = ARRAY myrange OF CARDINAL ;
12476 myrange = [-2..2] ;
12477 VAR
12478 s: POINTER TO ARRAY myrange OF foo ;
12479 @end smallexample
12480
12481 @noindent
12482 and you can ask @value{GDBN} to describe the type of @code{s} as shown
12483 below.
12484
12485 @smallexample
12486 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
12487 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [-2..2] OF foo = RECORD
12488 f1 : CARDINAL;
12489 f2 : CHAR;
12490 f3 : ARRAY [-2..2] OF CARDINAL;
12491 END
12492 @end smallexample
12493
12494 @node M2 Defaults
12495 @subsubsection Modula-2 Defaults
12496 @cindex Modula-2 defaults
12497
12498 If type and range checking are set automatically by @value{GDBN}, they
12499 both default to @code{on} whenever the working language changes to
12500 Modula-2. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
12501 selected the working language.
12502
12503 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, then entering
12504 code compiled from a file whose name ends with @file{.mod} sets the
12505 working language to Modula-2. @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN}
12506 Infer the Source Language}, for further details.
12507
12508 @node Deviations
12509 @subsubsection Deviations from Standard Modula-2
12510 @cindex Modula-2, deviations from
12511
12512 A few changes have been made to make Modula-2 programs easier to debug.
12513 This is done primarily via loosening its type strictness:
12514
12515 @itemize @bullet
12516 @item
12517 Unlike in standard Modula-2, pointer constants can be formed by
12518 integers. This allows you to modify pointer variables during
12519 debugging. (In standard Modula-2, the actual address contained in a
12520 pointer variable is hidden from you; it can only be modified
12521 through direct assignment to another pointer variable or expression that
12522 returned a pointer.)
12523
12524 @item
12525 C escape sequences can be used in strings and characters to represent
12526 non-printable characters. @value{GDBN} prints out strings with these
12527 escape sequences embedded. Single non-printable characters are
12528 printed using the @samp{CHR(@var{nnn})} format.
12529
12530 @item
12531 The assignment operator (@code{:=}) returns the value of its right-hand
12532 argument.
12533
12534 @item
12535 All built-in procedures both modify @emph{and} return their argument.
12536 @end itemize
12537
12538 @node M2 Checks
12539 @subsubsection Modula-2 Type and Range Checks
12540 @cindex Modula-2 checks
12541
12542 @quotation
12543 @emph{Warning:} in this release, @value{GDBN} does not yet perform type or
12544 range checking.
12545 @end quotation
12546 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range checks added
12547
12548 @value{GDBN} considers two Modula-2 variables type equivalent if:
12549
12550 @itemize @bullet
12551 @item
12552 They are of types that have been declared equivalent via a @code{TYPE
12553 @var{t1} = @var{t2}} statement
12554
12555 @item
12556 They have been declared on the same line. (Note: This is true of the
12557 @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler, but it may not be true of other compilers.)
12558 @end itemize
12559
12560 As long as type checking is enabled, any attempt to combine variables
12561 whose types are not equivalent is an error.
12562
12563 Range checking is done on all mathematical operations, assignment, array
12564 index bounds, and all built-in functions and procedures.
12565
12566 @node M2 Scope
12567 @subsubsection The Scope Operators @code{::} and @code{.}
12568 @cindex scope
12569 @cindex @code{.}, Modula-2 scope operator
12570 @cindex colon, doubled as scope operator
12571 @ifinfo
12572 @vindex colon-colon@r{, in Modula-2}
12573 @c Info cannot handle :: but TeX can.
12574 @end ifinfo
12575 @ifnotinfo
12576 @vindex ::@r{, in Modula-2}
12577 @end ifnotinfo
12578
12579 There are a few subtle differences between the Modula-2 scope operator
12580 (@code{.}) and the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@code{::}). The two have
12581 similar syntax:
12582
12583 @smallexample
12584
12585 @var{module} . @var{id}
12586 @var{scope} :: @var{id}
12587 @end smallexample
12588
12589 @noindent
12590 where @var{scope} is the name of a module or a procedure,
12591 @var{module} the name of a module, and @var{id} is any declared
12592 identifier within your program, except another module.
12593
12594 Using the @code{::} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the scope
12595 specified by @var{scope} for the identifier @var{id}. If it is not
12596 found in the specified scope, then @value{GDBN} searches all scopes
12597 enclosing the one specified by @var{scope}.
12598
12599 Using the @code{.} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the current scope for
12600 the identifier specified by @var{id} that was imported from the
12601 definition module specified by @var{module}. With this operator, it is
12602 an error if the identifier @var{id} was not imported from definition
12603 module @var{module}, or if @var{id} is not an identifier in
12604 @var{module}.
12605
12606 @node GDB/M2
12607 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
12608
12609 Some @value{GDBN} commands have little use when debugging Modula-2 programs.
12610 Five subcommands of @code{set print} and @code{show print} apply
12611 specifically to C and C@t{++}: @samp{vtbl}, @samp{demangle},
12612 @samp{asm-demangle}, @samp{object}, and @samp{union}. The first four
12613 apply to C@t{++}, and the last to the C @code{union} type, which has no direct
12614 analogue in Modula-2.
12615
12616 The @code{@@} operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), while available
12617 with any language, is not useful with Modula-2. Its
12618 intent is to aid the debugging of @dfn{dynamic arrays}, which cannot be
12619 created in Modula-2 as they can in C or C@t{++}. However, because an
12620 address can be specified by an integral constant, the construct
12621 @samp{@{@var{type}@}@var{adrexp}} is still useful.
12622
12623 @cindex @code{#} in Modula-2
12624 In @value{GDBN} scripts, the Modula-2 inequality operator @code{#} is
12625 interpreted as the beginning of a comment. Use @code{<>} instead.
12626
12627 @node Ada
12628 @subsection Ada
12629 @cindex Ada
12630
12631 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} for Ada only support
12632 output from the @sc{gnu} Ada (GNAT) compiler.
12633 Other Ada compilers are not currently supported, and
12634 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
12635 to be difficult.
12636
12637
12638 @cindex expressions in Ada
12639 @menu
12640 * Ada Mode Intro:: General remarks on the Ada syntax
12641 and semantics supported by Ada mode
12642 in @value{GDBN}.
12643 * Omissions from Ada:: Restrictions on the Ada expression syntax.
12644 * Additions to Ada:: Extensions of the Ada expression syntax.
12645 * Stopping Before Main Program:: Debugging the program during elaboration.
12646 * Ada Tasks:: Listing and setting breakpoints in tasks.
12647 * Ada Tasks and Core Files:: Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
12648 * Ada Glitches:: Known peculiarities of Ada mode.
12649 @end menu
12650
12651 @node Ada Mode Intro
12652 @subsubsection Introduction
12653 @cindex Ada mode, general
12654
12655 The Ada mode of @value{GDBN} supports a fairly large subset of Ada expression
12656 syntax, with some extensions.
12657 The philosophy behind the design of this subset is
12658
12659 @itemize @bullet
12660 @item
12661 That @value{GDBN} should provide basic literals and access to operations for
12662 arithmetic, dereferencing, field selection, indexing, and subprogram calls,
12663 leaving more sophisticated computations to subprograms written into the
12664 program (which therefore may be called from @value{GDBN}).
12665
12666 @item
12667 That type safety and strict adherence to Ada language restrictions
12668 are not particularly important to the @value{GDBN} user.
12669
12670 @item
12671 That brevity is important to the @value{GDBN} user.
12672 @end itemize
12673
12674 Thus, for brevity, the debugger acts as if all names declared in
12675 user-written packages are directly visible, even if they are not visible
12676 according to Ada rules, thus making it unnecessary to fully qualify most
12677 names with their packages, regardless of context. Where this causes
12678 ambiguity, @value{GDBN} asks the user's intent.
12679
12680 The debugger will start in Ada mode if it detects an Ada main program.
12681 As for other languages, it will enter Ada mode when stopped in a program that
12682 was translated from an Ada source file.
12683
12684 While in Ada mode, you may use `@t{--}' for comments. This is useful
12685 mostly for documenting command files. The standard @value{GDBN} comment
12686 (@samp{#}) still works at the beginning of a line in Ada mode, but not in the
12687 middle (to allow based literals).
12688
12689 The debugger supports limited overloading. Given a subprogram call in which
12690 the function symbol has multiple definitions, it will use the number of
12691 actual parameters and some information about their types to attempt to narrow
12692 the set of definitions. It also makes very limited use of context, preferring
12693 procedures to functions in the context of the @code{call} command, and
12694 functions to procedures elsewhere.
12695
12696 @node Omissions from Ada
12697 @subsubsection Omissions from Ada
12698 @cindex Ada, omissions from
12699
12700 Here are the notable omissions from the subset:
12701
12702 @itemize @bullet
12703 @item
12704 Only a subset of the attributes are supported:
12705
12706 @itemize @minus
12707 @item
12708 @t{'First}, @t{'Last}, and @t{'Length}
12709 on array objects (not on types and subtypes).
12710
12711 @item
12712 @t{'Min} and @t{'Max}.
12713
12714 @item
12715 @t{'Pos} and @t{'Val}.
12716
12717 @item
12718 @t{'Tag}.
12719
12720 @item
12721 @t{'Range} on array objects (not subtypes), but only as the right
12722 operand of the membership (@code{in}) operator.
12723
12724 @item
12725 @t{'Access}, @t{'Unchecked_Access}, and
12726 @t{'Unrestricted_Access} (a GNAT extension).
12727
12728 @item
12729 @t{'Address}.
12730 @end itemize
12731
12732 @item
12733 The names in
12734 @code{Characters.Latin_1} are not available and
12735 concatenation is not implemented. Thus, escape characters in strings are
12736 not currently available.
12737
12738 @item
12739 Equality tests (@samp{=} and @samp{/=}) on arrays test for bitwise
12740 equality of representations. They will generally work correctly
12741 for strings and arrays whose elements have integer or enumeration types.
12742 They may not work correctly for arrays whose element
12743 types have user-defined equality, for arrays of real values
12744 (in particular, IEEE-conformant floating point, because of negative
12745 zeroes and NaNs), and for arrays whose elements contain unused bits with
12746 indeterminate values.
12747
12748 @item
12749 The other component-by-component array operations (@code{and}, @code{or},
12750 @code{xor}, @code{not}, and relational tests other than equality)
12751 are not implemented.
12752
12753 @item
12754 @cindex array aggregates (Ada)
12755 @cindex record aggregates (Ada)
12756 @cindex aggregates (Ada)
12757 There is limited support for array and record aggregates. They are
12758 permitted only on the right sides of assignments, as in these examples:
12759
12760 @smallexample
12761 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
12762 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, others => 0)
12763 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (0|4 => 1, 1..3 => 2, 5 => 6)
12764 (@value{GDBP}) set A_2D_Array := ((1, 2, 3), (4, 5, 6), (7, 8, 9))
12765 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (1, "Peter", True);
12766 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (Name => "Peter", Id => 1, Alive => True)
12767 @end smallexample
12768
12769 Changing a
12770 discriminant's value by assigning an aggregate has an
12771 undefined effect if that discriminant is used within the record.
12772 However, you can first modify discriminants by directly assigning to
12773 them (which normally would not be allowed in Ada), and then performing an
12774 aggregate assignment. For example, given a variable @code{A_Rec}
12775 declared to have a type such as:
12776
12777 @smallexample
12778 type Rec (Len : Small_Integer := 0) is record
12779 Id : Integer;
12780 Vals : IntArray (1 .. Len);
12781 end record;
12782 @end smallexample
12783
12784 you can assign a value with a different size of @code{Vals} with two
12785 assignments:
12786
12787 @smallexample
12788 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec.Len := 4
12789 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec := (Id => 42, Vals => (1, 2, 3, 4))
12790 @end smallexample
12791
12792 As this example also illustrates, @value{GDBN} is very loose about the usual
12793 rules concerning aggregates. You may leave out some of the
12794 components of an array or record aggregate (such as the @code{Len}
12795 component in the assignment to @code{A_Rec} above); they will retain their
12796 original values upon assignment. You may freely use dynamic values as
12797 indices in component associations. You may even use overlapping or
12798 redundant component associations, although which component values are
12799 assigned in such cases is not defined.
12800
12801 @item
12802 Calls to dispatching subprograms are not implemented.
12803
12804 @item
12805 The overloading algorithm is much more limited (i.e., less selective)
12806 than that of real Ada. It makes only limited use of the context in
12807 which a subexpression appears to resolve its meaning, and it is much
12808 looser in its rules for allowing type matches. As a result, some
12809 function calls will be ambiguous, and the user will be asked to choose
12810 the proper resolution.
12811
12812 @item
12813 The @code{new} operator is not implemented.
12814
12815 @item
12816 Entry calls are not implemented.
12817
12818 @item
12819 Aside from printing, arithmetic operations on the native VAX floating-point
12820 formats are not supported.
12821
12822 @item
12823 It is not possible to slice a packed array.
12824
12825 @item
12826 The names @code{True} and @code{False}, when not part of a qualified name,
12827 are interpreted as if implicitly prefixed by @code{Standard}, regardless of
12828 context.
12829 Should your program
12830 redefine these names in a package or procedure (at best a dubious practice),
12831 you will have to use fully qualified names to access their new definitions.
12832 @end itemize
12833
12834 @node Additions to Ada
12835 @subsubsection Additions to Ada
12836 @cindex Ada, deviations from
12837
12838 As it does for other languages, @value{GDBN} makes certain generic
12839 extensions to Ada (@pxref{Expressions}):
12840
12841 @itemize @bullet
12842 @item
12843 If the expression @var{E} is a variable residing in memory (typically
12844 a local variable or array element) and @var{N} is a positive integer,
12845 then @code{@var{E}@@@var{N}} displays the values of @var{E} and the
12846 @var{N}-1 adjacent variables following it in memory as an array. In
12847 Ada, this operator is generally not necessary, since its prime use is
12848 in displaying parts of an array, and slicing will usually do this in
12849 Ada. However, there are occasional uses when debugging programs in
12850 which certain debugging information has been optimized away.
12851
12852 @item
12853 @code{@var{B}::@var{var}} means ``the variable named @var{var} that
12854 appears in function or file @var{B}.'' When @var{B} is a file name,
12855 you must typically surround it in single quotes.
12856
12857 @item
12858 The expression @code{@{@var{type}@} @var{addr}} means ``the variable of type
12859 @var{type} that appears at address @var{addr}.''
12860
12861 @item
12862 A name starting with @samp{$} is a convenience variable
12863 (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) or a machine register (@pxref{Registers}).
12864 @end itemize
12865
12866 In addition, @value{GDBN} provides a few other shortcuts and outright
12867 additions specific to Ada:
12868
12869 @itemize @bullet
12870 @item
12871 The assignment statement is allowed as an expression, returning
12872 its right-hand operand as its value. Thus, you may enter
12873
12874 @smallexample
12875 (@value{GDBP}) set x := y + 3
12876 (@value{GDBP}) print A(tmp := y + 1)
12877 @end smallexample
12878
12879 @item
12880 The semicolon is allowed as an ``operator,'' returning as its value
12881 the value of its right-hand operand.
12882 This allows, for example,
12883 complex conditional breaks:
12884
12885 @smallexample
12886 (@value{GDBP}) break f
12887 (@value{GDBP}) condition 1 (report(i); k += 1; A(k) > 100)
12888 @end smallexample
12889
12890 @item
12891 Rather than use catenation and symbolic character names to introduce special
12892 characters into strings, one may instead use a special bracket notation,
12893 which is also used to print strings. A sequence of characters of the form
12894 @samp{["@var{XX}"]} within a string or character literal denotes the
12895 (single) character whose numeric encoding is @var{XX} in hexadecimal. The
12896 sequence of characters @samp{["""]} also denotes a single quotation mark
12897 in strings. For example,
12898 @smallexample
12899 "One line.["0a"]Next line.["0a"]"
12900 @end smallexample
12901 @noindent
12902 contains an ASCII newline character (@code{Ada.Characters.Latin_1.LF})
12903 after each period.
12904
12905 @item
12906 The subtype used as a prefix for the attributes @t{'Pos}, @t{'Min}, and
12907 @t{'Max} is optional (and is ignored in any case). For example, it is valid
12908 to write
12909
12910 @smallexample
12911 (@value{GDBP}) print 'max(x, y)
12912 @end smallexample
12913
12914 @item
12915 When printing arrays, @value{GDBN} uses positional notation when the
12916 array has a lower bound of 1, and uses a modified named notation otherwise.
12917 For example, a one-dimensional array of three integers with a lower bound
12918 of 3 might print as
12919
12920 @smallexample
12921 (3 => 10, 17, 1)
12922 @end smallexample
12923
12924 @noindent
12925 That is, in contrast to valid Ada, only the first component has a @code{=>}
12926 clause.
12927
12928 @item
12929 You may abbreviate attributes in expressions with any unique,
12930 multi-character subsequence of
12931 their names (an exact match gets preference).
12932 For example, you may use @t{a'len}, @t{a'gth}, or @t{a'lh}
12933 in place of @t{a'length}.
12934
12935 @item
12936 @cindex quoting Ada internal identifiers
12937 Since Ada is case-insensitive, the debugger normally maps identifiers you type
12938 to lower case. The GNAT compiler uses upper-case characters for
12939 some of its internal identifiers, which are normally of no interest to users.
12940 For the rare occasions when you actually have to look at them,
12941 enclose them in angle brackets to avoid the lower-case mapping.
12942 For example,
12943 @smallexample
12944 (@value{GDBP}) print <JMPBUF_SAVE>[0]
12945 @end smallexample
12946
12947 @item
12948 Printing an object of class-wide type or dereferencing an
12949 access-to-class-wide value will display all the components of the object's
12950 specific type (as indicated by its run-time tag). Likewise, component
12951 selection on such a value will operate on the specific type of the
12952 object.
12953
12954 @end itemize
12955
12956 @node Stopping Before Main Program
12957 @subsubsection Stopping at the Very Beginning
12958
12959 @cindex breakpointing Ada elaboration code
12960 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration, and
12961 before reaching the main procedure.
12962 As defined in the Ada Reference
12963 Manual, the elaboration code is invoked from a procedure called
12964 @code{adainit}. To run your program up to the beginning of
12965 elaboration, simply use the following two commands:
12966 @code{tbreak adainit} and @code{run}.
12967
12968 @node Ada Tasks
12969 @subsubsection Extensions for Ada Tasks
12970 @cindex Ada, tasking
12971
12972 Support for Ada tasks is analogous to that for threads (@pxref{Threads}).
12973 @value{GDBN} provides the following task-related commands:
12974
12975 @table @code
12976 @kindex info tasks
12977 @item info tasks
12978 This command shows a list of current Ada tasks, as in the following example:
12979
12980
12981 @smallexample
12982 @iftex
12983 @leftskip=0.5cm
12984 @end iftex
12985 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
12986 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
12987 1 8088000 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
12988 2 80a4000 1 15 Accept Statement b
12989 3 809a800 1 15 Child Activation Wait a
12990 * 4 80ae800 3 15 Runnable c
12991
12992 @end smallexample
12993
12994 @noindent
12995 In this listing, the asterisk before the last task indicates it to be the
12996 task currently being inspected.
12997
12998 @table @asis
12999 @item ID
13000 Represents @value{GDBN}'s internal task number.
13001
13002 @item TID
13003 The Ada task ID.
13004
13005 @item P-ID
13006 The parent's task ID (@value{GDBN}'s internal task number).
13007
13008 @item Pri
13009 The base priority of the task.
13010
13011 @item State
13012 Current state of the task.
13013
13014 @table @code
13015 @item Unactivated
13016 The task has been created but has not been activated. It cannot be
13017 executing.
13018
13019 @item Runnable
13020 The task is not blocked for any reason known to Ada. (It may be waiting
13021 for a mutex, though.) It is conceptually "executing" in normal mode.
13022
13023 @item Terminated
13024 The task is terminated, in the sense of ARM 9.3 (5). Any dependents
13025 that were waiting on terminate alternatives have been awakened and have
13026 terminated themselves.
13027
13028 @item Child Activation Wait
13029 The task is waiting for created tasks to complete activation.
13030
13031 @item Accept Statement
13032 The task is waiting on an accept or selective wait statement.
13033
13034 @item Waiting on entry call
13035 The task is waiting on an entry call.
13036
13037 @item Async Select Wait
13038 The task is waiting to start the abortable part of an asynchronous
13039 select statement.
13040
13041 @item Delay Sleep
13042 The task is waiting on a select statement with only a delay
13043 alternative open.
13044
13045 @item Child Termination Wait
13046 The task is sleeping having completed a master within itself, and is
13047 waiting for the tasks dependent on that master to become terminated or
13048 waiting on a terminate Phase.
13049
13050 @item Wait Child in Term Alt
13051 The task is sleeping waiting for tasks on terminate alternatives to
13052 finish terminating.
13053
13054 @item Accepting RV with @var{taskno}
13055 The task is accepting a rendez-vous with the task @var{taskno}.
13056 @end table
13057
13058 @item Name
13059 Name of the task in the program.
13060
13061 @end table
13062
13063 @kindex info task @var{taskno}
13064 @item info task @var{taskno}
13065 This command shows detailled informations on the specified task, as in
13066 the following example:
13067 @smallexample
13068 @iftex
13069 @leftskip=0.5cm
13070 @end iftex
13071 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13072 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13073 1 8077880 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13074 * 2 807c468 1 15 Runnable task_1
13075 (@value{GDBP}) info task 2
13076 Ada Task: 0x807c468
13077 Name: task_1
13078 Thread: 0x807f378
13079 Parent: 1 (main_task)
13080 Base Priority: 15
13081 State: Runnable
13082 @end smallexample
13083
13084 @item task
13085 @kindex task@r{ (Ada)}
13086 @cindex current Ada task ID
13087 This command prints the ID of the current task.
13088
13089 @smallexample
13090 @iftex
13091 @leftskip=0.5cm
13092 @end iftex
13093 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13094 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13095 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13096 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
13097 (@value{GDBP}) task
13098 [Current task is 2]
13099 @end smallexample
13100
13101 @item task @var{taskno}
13102 @cindex Ada task switching
13103 This command is like the @code{thread @var{threadno}}
13104 command (@pxref{Threads}). It switches the context of debugging
13105 from the current task to the given task.
13106
13107 @smallexample
13108 @iftex
13109 @leftskip=0.5cm
13110 @end iftex
13111 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13112 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13113 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13114 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
13115 (@value{GDBP}) task 1
13116 [Switching to task 1]
13117 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
13118 (@value{GDBP}) bt
13119 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
13120 #1 0x8056714 in system.os_interface.pthread_cond_wait ()
13121 #2 0x805cb63 in system.task_primitives.operations.sleep ()
13122 #3 0x806153e in system.tasking.stages.activate_tasks ()
13123 #4 0x804aacc in un () at un.adb:5
13124 @end smallexample
13125
13126 @item break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno}
13127 @itemx break @var{linespec} task @var{taskno} if @dots{}
13128 @cindex breakpoints and tasks, in Ada
13129 @cindex task breakpoints, in Ada
13130 @kindex break @dots{} task @var{taskno}@r{ (Ada)}
13131 These commands are like the @code{break @dots{} thread @dots{}}
13132 command (@pxref{Thread Stops}).
13133 @var{linespec} specifies source lines, as described
13134 in @ref{Specify Location}.
13135
13136 Use the qualifier @samp{task @var{taskno}} with a breakpoint command
13137 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
13138 particular Ada task reaches this breakpoint. @var{taskno} is one of the
13139 numeric task identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
13140 column of the @samp{info tasks} display.
13141
13142 If you do not specify @samp{task @var{taskno}} when you set a
13143 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} tasks of your
13144 program.
13145
13146 You can use the @code{task} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
13147 well; in this case, place @samp{task @var{taskno}} before the
13148 breakpoint condition (before the @code{if}).
13149
13150 For example,
13151
13152 @smallexample
13153 @iftex
13154 @leftskip=0.5cm
13155 @end iftex
13156 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13157 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13158 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13159 2 140045060 1 15 Accept/Select Wait t2
13160 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
13161 * 4 140056040 1 15 Runnable t3
13162 (@value{GDBP}) b 15 task 2
13163 Breakpoint 5 at 0x120044cb0: file test_task_debug.adb, line 15.
13164 (@value{GDBP}) cont
13165 Continuing.
13166 task # 1 running
13167 task # 2 running
13168
13169 Breakpoint 5, test_task_debug () at test_task_debug.adb:15
13170 15 flush;
13171 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
13172 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
13173 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
13174 * 2 140045060 1 15 Runnable t2
13175 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
13176 4 140056040 1 15 Delay Sleep t3
13177 @end smallexample
13178 @end table
13179
13180 @node Ada Tasks and Core Files
13181 @subsubsection Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
13182 @cindex Ada tasking and core file debugging
13183
13184 When inspecting a core file, as opposed to debugging a live program,
13185 tasking support may be limited or even unavailable, depending on
13186 the platform being used.
13187 For instance, on x86-linux, the list of tasks is available, but task
13188 switching is not supported. On Tru64, however, task switching will work
13189 as usual.
13190
13191 On certain platforms, including Tru64, the debugger needs to perform some
13192 memory writes in order to provide Ada tasking support. When inspecting
13193 a core file, this means that the core file must be opened with read-write
13194 privileges, using the command @samp{"set write on"} (@pxref{Patching}).
13195 Under these circumstances, you should make a backup copy of the core
13196 file before inspecting it with @value{GDBN}.
13197
13198 @node Ada Glitches
13199 @subsubsection Known Peculiarities of Ada Mode
13200 @cindex Ada, problems
13201
13202 Besides the omissions listed previously (@pxref{Omissions from Ada}),
13203 we know of several problems with and limitations of Ada mode in
13204 @value{GDBN},
13205 some of which will be fixed with planned future releases of the debugger
13206 and the GNU Ada compiler.
13207
13208 @itemize @bullet
13209 @item
13210 Currently, the debugger
13211 has insufficient information to determine whether certain pointers represent
13212 pointers to objects or the objects themselves.
13213 Thus, the user may have to tack an extra @code{.all} after an expression
13214 to get it printed properly.
13215
13216 @item
13217 Static constants that the compiler chooses not to materialize as objects in
13218 storage are invisible to the debugger.
13219
13220 @item
13221 Named parameter associations in function argument lists are ignored (the
13222 argument lists are treated as positional).
13223
13224 @item
13225 Many useful library packages are currently invisible to the debugger.
13226
13227 @item
13228 Fixed-point arithmetic, conversions, input, and output is carried out using
13229 floating-point arithmetic, and may give results that only approximate those on
13230 the host machine.
13231
13232 @item
13233 The GNAT compiler never generates the prefix @code{Standard} for any of
13234 the standard symbols defined by the Ada language. @value{GDBN} knows about
13235 this: it will strip the prefix from names when you use it, and will never
13236 look for a name you have so qualified among local symbols, nor match against
13237 symbols in other packages or subprograms. If you have
13238 defined entities anywhere in your program other than parameters and
13239 local variables whose simple names match names in @code{Standard},
13240 GNAT's lack of qualification here can cause confusion. When this happens,
13241 you can usually resolve the confusion
13242 by qualifying the problematic names with package
13243 @code{Standard} explicitly.
13244 @end itemize
13245
13246 Older versions of the compiler sometimes generate erroneous debugging
13247 information, resulting in the debugger incorrectly printing the value
13248 of affected entities. In some cases, the debugger is able to work
13249 around an issue automatically. In other cases, the debugger is able
13250 to work around the issue, but the work-around has to be specifically
13251 enabled.
13252
13253 @kindex set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
13254 @kindex show ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
13255 @table @code
13256
13257 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS on
13258 Configure GDB to strictly follow the GNAT encoding when computing the
13259 value of Ada entities, particularly when @code{PAD} and @code{PAD___XVS}
13260 types are involved (see @code{ada/exp_dbug.ads} in the GCC sources for
13261 a complete description of the encoding used by the GNAT compiler).
13262 This is the default.
13263
13264 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS off
13265 This is related to the encoding using by the GNAT compiler. If @value{GDBN}
13266 sometimes prints the wrong value for certain entities, changing @code{ada
13267 trust-PAD-over-XVS} to @code{off} activates a work-around which may fix
13268 the issue. It is always safe to set @code{ada trust-PAD-over-XVS} to
13269 @code{off}, but this incurs a slight performance penalty, so it is
13270 recommended to leave this setting to @code{on} unless necessary.
13271
13272 @end table
13273
13274 @node Unsupported Languages
13275 @section Unsupported Languages
13276
13277 @cindex unsupported languages
13278 @cindex minimal language
13279 In addition to the other fully-supported programming languages,
13280 @value{GDBN} also provides a pseudo-language, called @code{minimal}.
13281 It does not represent a real programming language, but provides a set
13282 of capabilities close to what the C or assembly languages provide.
13283 This should allow most simple operations to be performed while debugging
13284 an application that uses a language currently not supported by @value{GDBN}.
13285
13286 If the language is set to @code{auto}, @value{GDBN} will automatically
13287 select this language if the current frame corresponds to an unsupported
13288 language.
13289
13290 @node Symbols
13291 @chapter Examining the Symbol Table
13292
13293 The commands described in this chapter allow you to inquire about the
13294 symbols (names of variables, functions and types) defined in your
13295 program. This information is inherent in the text of your program and
13296 does not change as your program executes. @value{GDBN} finds it in your
13297 program's symbol table, in the file indicated when you started @value{GDBN}
13298 (@pxref{File Options, ,Choosing Files}), or by one of the
13299 file-management commands (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
13300
13301 @cindex symbol names
13302 @cindex names of symbols
13303 @cindex quoting names
13304 Occasionally, you may need to refer to symbols that contain unusual
13305 characters, which @value{GDBN} ordinarily treats as word delimiters. The
13306 most frequent case is in referring to static variables in other
13307 source files (@pxref{Variables,,Program Variables}). File names
13308 are recorded in object files as debugging symbols, but @value{GDBN} would
13309 ordinarily parse a typical file name, like @file{foo.c}, as the three words
13310 @samp{foo} @samp{.} @samp{c}. To allow @value{GDBN} to recognize
13311 @samp{foo.c} as a single symbol, enclose it in single quotes; for example,
13312
13313 @smallexample
13314 p 'foo.c'::x
13315 @end smallexample
13316
13317 @noindent
13318 looks up the value of @code{x} in the scope of the file @file{foo.c}.
13319
13320 @table @code
13321 @cindex case-insensitive symbol names
13322 @cindex case sensitivity in symbol names
13323 @kindex set case-sensitive
13324 @item set case-sensitive on
13325 @itemx set case-sensitive off
13326 @itemx set case-sensitive auto
13327 Normally, when @value{GDBN} looks up symbols, it matches their names
13328 with case sensitivity determined by the current source language.
13329 Occasionally, you may wish to control that. The command @code{set
13330 case-sensitive} lets you do that by specifying @code{on} for
13331 case-sensitive matches or @code{off} for case-insensitive ones. If
13332 you specify @code{auto}, case sensitivity is reset to the default
13333 suitable for the source language. The default is case-sensitive
13334 matches for all languages except for Fortran, for which the default is
13335 case-insensitive matches.
13336
13337 @kindex show case-sensitive
13338 @item show case-sensitive
13339 This command shows the current setting of case sensitivity for symbols
13340 lookups.
13341
13342 @kindex info address
13343 @cindex address of a symbol
13344 @item info address @var{symbol}
13345 Describe where the data for @var{symbol} is stored. For a register
13346 variable, this says which register it is kept in. For a non-register
13347 local variable, this prints the stack-frame offset at which the variable
13348 is always stored.
13349
13350 Note the contrast with @samp{print &@var{symbol}}, which does not work
13351 at all for a register variable, and for a stack local variable prints
13352 the exact address of the current instantiation of the variable.
13353
13354 @kindex info symbol
13355 @cindex symbol from address
13356 @cindex closest symbol and offset for an address
13357 @item info symbol @var{addr}
13358 Print the name of a symbol which is stored at the address @var{addr}.
13359 If no symbol is stored exactly at @var{addr}, @value{GDBN} prints the
13360 nearest symbol and an offset from it:
13361
13362 @smallexample
13363 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x54320
13364 _initialize_vx + 396 in section .text
13365 @end smallexample
13366
13367 @noindent
13368 This is the opposite of the @code{info address} command. You can use
13369 it to find out the name of a variable or a function given its address.
13370
13371 For dynamically linked executables, the name of executable or shared
13372 library containing the symbol is also printed:
13373
13374 @smallexample
13375 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x400225
13376 _start + 5 in section .text of /tmp/a.out
13377 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x2aaaac2811cf
13378 __read_nocancel + 6 in section .text of /usr/lib64/libc.so.6
13379 @end smallexample
13380
13381 @kindex whatis
13382 @item whatis [@var{arg}]
13383 Print the data type of @var{arg}, which can be either an expression or
13384 a data type. With no argument, print the data type of @code{$}, the
13385 last value in the value history. If @var{arg} is an expression, it is
13386 not actually evaluated, and any side-effecting operations (such as
13387 assignments or function calls) inside it do not take place. If
13388 @var{arg} is a type name, it may be the name of a type or typedef, or
13389 for C code it may have the form @samp{class @var{class-name}},
13390 @samp{struct @var{struct-tag}}, @samp{union @var{union-tag}} or
13391 @samp{enum @var{enum-tag}}.
13392 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
13393
13394 @kindex ptype
13395 @item ptype [@var{arg}]
13396 @code{ptype} accepts the same arguments as @code{whatis}, but prints a
13397 detailed description of the type, instead of just the name of the type.
13398 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
13399
13400 For example, for this variable declaration:
13401
13402 @smallexample
13403 struct complex @{double real; double imag;@} v;
13404 @end smallexample
13405
13406 @noindent
13407 the two commands give this output:
13408
13409 @smallexample
13410 @group
13411 (@value{GDBP}) whatis v
13412 type = struct complex
13413 (@value{GDBP}) ptype v
13414 type = struct complex @{
13415 double real;
13416 double imag;
13417 @}
13418 @end group
13419 @end smallexample
13420
13421 @noindent
13422 As with @code{whatis}, using @code{ptype} without an argument refers to
13423 the type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
13424
13425 @cindex incomplete type
13426 Sometimes, programs use opaque data types or incomplete specifications
13427 of complex data structure. If the debug information included in the
13428 program does not allow @value{GDBN} to display a full declaration of
13429 the data type, it will say @samp{<incomplete type>}. For example,
13430 given these declarations:
13431
13432 @smallexample
13433 struct foo;
13434 struct foo *fooptr;
13435 @end smallexample
13436
13437 @noindent
13438 but no definition for @code{struct foo} itself, @value{GDBN} will say:
13439
13440 @smallexample
13441 (@value{GDBP}) ptype foo
13442 $1 = <incomplete type>
13443 @end smallexample
13444
13445 @noindent
13446 ``Incomplete type'' is C terminology for data types that are not
13447 completely specified.
13448
13449 @kindex info types
13450 @item info types @var{regexp}
13451 @itemx info types
13452 Print a brief description of all types whose names match the regular
13453 expression @var{regexp} (or all types in your program, if you supply
13454 no argument). Each complete typename is matched as though it were a
13455 complete line; thus, @samp{i type value} gives information on all
13456 types in your program whose names include the string @code{value}, but
13457 @samp{i type ^value$} gives information only on types whose complete
13458 name is @code{value}.
13459
13460 This command differs from @code{ptype} in two ways: first, like
13461 @code{whatis}, it does not print a detailed description; second, it
13462 lists all source files where a type is defined.
13463
13464 @kindex info scope
13465 @cindex local variables
13466 @item info scope @var{location}
13467 List all the variables local to a particular scope. This command
13468 accepts a @var{location} argument---a function name, a source line, or
13469 an address preceded by a @samp{*}, and prints all the variables local
13470 to the scope defined by that location. (@xref{Specify Location}, for
13471 details about supported forms of @var{location}.) For example:
13472
13473 @smallexample
13474 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info scope command_line_handler}
13475 Scope for command_line_handler:
13476 Symbol rl is an argument at stack/frame offset 8, length 4.
13477 Symbol linebuffer is in static storage at address 0x150a18, length 4.
13478 Symbol linelength is in static storage at address 0x150a1c, length 4.
13479 Symbol p is a local variable in register $esi, length 4.
13480 Symbol p1 is a local variable in register $ebx, length 4.
13481 Symbol nline is a local variable in register $edx, length 4.
13482 Symbol repeat is a local variable at frame offset -8, length 4.
13483 @end smallexample
13484
13485 @noindent
13486 This command is especially useful for determining what data to collect
13487 during a @dfn{trace experiment}, see @ref{Tracepoint Actions,
13488 collect}.
13489
13490 @kindex info source
13491 @item info source
13492 Show information about the current source file---that is, the source file for
13493 the function containing the current point of execution:
13494 @itemize @bullet
13495 @item
13496 the name of the source file, and the directory containing it,
13497 @item
13498 the directory it was compiled in,
13499 @item
13500 its length, in lines,
13501 @item
13502 which programming language it is written in,
13503 @item
13504 whether the executable includes debugging information for that file, and
13505 if so, what format the information is in (e.g., STABS, Dwarf 2, etc.), and
13506 @item
13507 whether the debugging information includes information about
13508 preprocessor macros.
13509 @end itemize
13510
13511
13512 @kindex info sources
13513 @item info sources
13514 Print the names of all source files in your program for which there is
13515 debugging information, organized into two lists: files whose symbols
13516 have already been read, and files whose symbols will be read when needed.
13517
13518 @kindex info functions
13519 @item info functions
13520 Print the names and data types of all defined functions.
13521
13522 @item info functions @var{regexp}
13523 Print the names and data types of all defined functions
13524 whose names contain a match for regular expression @var{regexp}.
13525 Thus, @samp{info fun step} finds all functions whose names
13526 include @code{step}; @samp{info fun ^step} finds those whose names
13527 start with @code{step}. If a function name contains characters
13528 that conflict with the regular expression language (e.g.@:
13529 @samp{operator*()}), they may be quoted with a backslash.
13530
13531 @kindex info variables
13532 @item info variables
13533 Print the names and data types of all variables that are defined
13534 outside of functions (i.e.@: excluding local variables).
13535
13536 @item info variables @var{regexp}
13537 Print the names and data types of all variables (except for local
13538 variables) whose names contain a match for regular expression
13539 @var{regexp}.
13540
13541 @kindex info classes
13542 @cindex Objective-C, classes and selectors
13543 @item info classes
13544 @itemx info classes @var{regexp}
13545 Display all Objective-C classes in your program, or
13546 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
13547 expression.
13548
13549 @kindex info selectors
13550 @item info selectors
13551 @itemx info selectors @var{regexp}
13552 Display all Objective-C selectors in your program, or
13553 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
13554 expression.
13555
13556 @ignore
13557 This was never implemented.
13558 @kindex info methods
13559 @item info methods
13560 @itemx info methods @var{regexp}
13561 The @code{info methods} command permits the user to examine all defined
13562 methods within C@t{++} program, or (with the @var{regexp} argument) a
13563 specific set of methods found in the various C@t{++} classes. Many
13564 C@t{++} classes provide a large number of methods. Thus, the output
13565 from the @code{ptype} command can be overwhelming and hard to use. The
13566 @code{info-methods} command filters the methods, printing only those
13567 which match the regular-expression @var{regexp}.
13568 @end ignore
13569
13570 @cindex reloading symbols
13571 Some systems allow individual object files that make up your program to
13572 be replaced without stopping and restarting your program. For example,
13573 in VxWorks you can simply recompile a defective object file and keep on
13574 running. If you are running on one of these systems, you can allow
13575 @value{GDBN} to reload the symbols for automatically relinked modules:
13576
13577 @table @code
13578 @kindex set symbol-reloading
13579 @item set symbol-reloading on
13580 Replace symbol definitions for the corresponding source file when an
13581 object file with a particular name is seen again.
13582
13583 @item set symbol-reloading off
13584 Do not replace symbol definitions when encountering object files of the
13585 same name more than once. This is the default state; if you are not
13586 running on a system that permits automatic relinking of modules, you
13587 should leave @code{symbol-reloading} off, since otherwise @value{GDBN}
13588 may discard symbols when linking large programs, that may contain
13589 several modules (from different directories or libraries) with the same
13590 name.
13591
13592 @kindex show symbol-reloading
13593 @item show symbol-reloading
13594 Show the current @code{on} or @code{off} setting.
13595 @end table
13596
13597 @cindex opaque data types
13598 @kindex set opaque-type-resolution
13599 @item set opaque-type-resolution on
13600 Tell @value{GDBN} to resolve opaque types. An opaque type is a type
13601 declared as a pointer to a @code{struct}, @code{class}, or
13602 @code{union}---for example, @code{struct MyType *}---that is used in one
13603 source file although the full declaration of @code{struct MyType} is in
13604 another source file. The default is on.
13605
13606 A change in the setting of this subcommand will not take effect until
13607 the next time symbols for a file are loaded.
13608
13609 @item set opaque-type-resolution off
13610 Tell @value{GDBN} not to resolve opaque types. In this case, the type
13611 is printed as follows:
13612 @smallexample
13613 @{<no data fields>@}
13614 @end smallexample
13615
13616 @kindex show opaque-type-resolution
13617 @item show opaque-type-resolution
13618 Show whether opaque types are resolved or not.
13619
13620 @kindex maint print symbols
13621 @cindex symbol dump
13622 @kindex maint print psymbols
13623 @cindex partial symbol dump
13624 @item maint print symbols @var{filename}
13625 @itemx maint print psymbols @var{filename}
13626 @itemx maint print msymbols @var{filename}
13627 Write a dump of debugging symbol data into the file @var{filename}.
13628 These commands are used to debug the @value{GDBN} symbol-reading code. Only
13629 symbols with debugging data are included. If you use @samp{maint print
13630 symbols}, @value{GDBN} includes all the symbols for which it has already
13631 collected full details: that is, @var{filename} reflects symbols for
13632 only those files whose symbols @value{GDBN} has read. You can use the
13633 command @code{info sources} to find out which files these are. If you
13634 use @samp{maint print psymbols} instead, the dump shows information about
13635 symbols that @value{GDBN} only knows partially---that is, symbols defined in
13636 files that @value{GDBN} has skimmed, but not yet read completely. Finally,
13637 @samp{maint print msymbols} dumps just the minimal symbol information
13638 required for each object file from which @value{GDBN} has read some symbols.
13639 @xref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}, for a discussion of how
13640 @value{GDBN} reads symbols (in the description of @code{symbol-file}).
13641
13642 @kindex maint info symtabs
13643 @kindex maint info psymtabs
13644 @cindex listing @value{GDBN}'s internal symbol tables
13645 @cindex symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
13646 @cindex full symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
13647 @cindex partial symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
13648 @item maint info symtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
13649 @itemx maint info psymtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
13650
13651 List the @code{struct symtab} or @code{struct partial_symtab}
13652 structures whose names match @var{regexp}. If @var{regexp} is not
13653 given, list them all. The output includes expressions which you can
13654 copy into a @value{GDBN} debugging this one to examine a particular
13655 structure in more detail. For example:
13656
13657 @smallexample
13658 (@value{GDBP}) maint info psymtabs dwarf2read
13659 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
13660 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
13661 @{ psymtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
13662 ((struct partial_symtab *) 0x8474b10)
13663 readin no
13664 fullname (null)
13665 text addresses 0x814d3c8 -- 0x8158074
13666 globals (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x8507a08 @@ 9)
13667 statics (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x40e95b78 @@ 2882)
13668 dependencies (none)
13669 @}
13670 @}
13671 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
13672 (@value{GDBP})
13673 @end smallexample
13674 @noindent
13675 We see that there is one partial symbol table whose filename contains
13676 the string @samp{dwarf2read}, belonging to the @samp{gdb} executable;
13677 and we see that @value{GDBN} has not read in any symtabs yet at all.
13678 If we set a breakpoint on a function, that will cause @value{GDBN} to
13679 read the symtab for the compilation unit containing that function:
13680
13681 @smallexample
13682 (@value{GDBP}) break dwarf2_psymtab_to_symtab
13683 Breakpoint 1 at 0x814e5da: file /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c,
13684 line 1574.
13685 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
13686 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
13687 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
13688 @{ symtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
13689 ((struct symtab *) 0x86c1f38)
13690 dirname (null)
13691 fullname (null)
13692 blockvector ((struct blockvector *) 0x86c1bd0) (primary)
13693 linetable ((struct linetable *) 0x8370fa0)
13694 debugformat DWARF 2
13695 @}
13696 @}
13697 (@value{GDBP})
13698 @end smallexample
13699 @end table
13700
13701
13702 @node Altering
13703 @chapter Altering Execution
13704
13705 Once you think you have found an error in your program, you might want to
13706 find out for certain whether correcting the apparent error would lead to
13707 correct results in the rest of the run. You can find the answer by
13708 experiment, using the @value{GDBN} features for altering execution of the
13709 program.
13710
13711 For example, you can store new values into variables or memory
13712 locations, give your program a signal, restart it at a different
13713 address, or even return prematurely from a function.
13714
13715 @menu
13716 * Assignment:: Assignment to variables
13717 * Jumping:: Continuing at a different address
13718 * Signaling:: Giving your program a signal
13719 * Returning:: Returning from a function
13720 * Calling:: Calling your program's functions
13721 * Patching:: Patching your program
13722 @end menu
13723
13724 @node Assignment
13725 @section Assignment to Variables
13726
13727 @cindex assignment
13728 @cindex setting variables
13729 To alter the value of a variable, evaluate an assignment expression.
13730 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}. For example,
13731
13732 @smallexample
13733 print x=4
13734 @end smallexample
13735
13736 @noindent
13737 stores the value 4 into the variable @code{x}, and then prints the
13738 value of the assignment expression (which is 4).
13739 @xref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages}, for more
13740 information on operators in supported languages.
13741
13742 @kindex set variable
13743 @cindex variables, setting
13744 If you are not interested in seeing the value of the assignment, use the
13745 @code{set} command instead of the @code{print} command. @code{set} is
13746 really the same as @code{print} except that the expression's value is
13747 not printed and is not put in the value history (@pxref{Value History,
13748 ,Value History}). The expression is evaluated only for its effects.
13749
13750 If the beginning of the argument string of the @code{set} command
13751 appears identical to a @code{set} subcommand, use the @code{set
13752 variable} command instead of just @code{set}. This command is identical
13753 to @code{set} except for its lack of subcommands. For example, if your
13754 program has a variable @code{width}, you get an error if you try to set
13755 a new value with just @samp{set width=13}, because @value{GDBN} has the
13756 command @code{set width}:
13757
13758 @smallexample
13759 (@value{GDBP}) whatis width
13760 type = double
13761 (@value{GDBP}) p width
13762 $4 = 13
13763 (@value{GDBP}) set width=47
13764 Invalid syntax in expression.
13765 @end smallexample
13766
13767 @noindent
13768 The invalid expression, of course, is @samp{=47}. In
13769 order to actually set the program's variable @code{width}, use
13770
13771 @smallexample
13772 (@value{GDBP}) set var width=47
13773 @end smallexample
13774
13775 Because the @code{set} command has many subcommands that can conflict
13776 with the names of program variables, it is a good idea to use the
13777 @code{set variable} command instead of just @code{set}. For example, if
13778 your program has a variable @code{g}, you run into problems if you try
13779 to set a new value with just @samp{set g=4}, because @value{GDBN} has
13780 the command @code{set gnutarget}, abbreviated @code{set g}:
13781
13782 @smallexample
13783 @group
13784 (@value{GDBP}) whatis g
13785 type = double
13786 (@value{GDBP}) p g
13787 $1 = 1
13788 (@value{GDBP}) set g=4
13789 (@value{GDBP}) p g
13790 $2 = 1
13791 (@value{GDBP}) r
13792 The program being debugged has been started already.
13793 Start it from the beginning? (y or n) y
13794 Starting program: /home/smith/cc_progs/a.out
13795 "/home/smith/cc_progs/a.out": can't open to read symbols:
13796 Invalid bfd target.
13797 (@value{GDBP}) show g
13798 The current BFD target is "=4".
13799 @end group
13800 @end smallexample
13801
13802 @noindent
13803 The program variable @code{g} did not change, and you silently set the
13804 @code{gnutarget} to an invalid value. In order to set the variable
13805 @code{g}, use
13806
13807 @smallexample
13808 (@value{GDBP}) set var g=4
13809 @end smallexample
13810
13811 @value{GDBN} allows more implicit conversions in assignments than C; you can
13812 freely store an integer value into a pointer variable or vice versa,
13813 and you can convert any structure to any other structure that is the
13814 same length or shorter.
13815 @comment FIXME: how do structs align/pad in these conversions?
13816 @comment /doc@cygnus.com 18dec1990
13817
13818 To store values into arbitrary places in memory, use the @samp{@{@dots{}@}}
13819 construct to generate a value of specified type at a specified address
13820 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). For example, @code{@{int@}0x83040} refers
13821 to memory location @code{0x83040} as an integer (which implies a certain size
13822 and representation in memory), and
13823
13824 @smallexample
13825 set @{int@}0x83040 = 4
13826 @end smallexample
13827
13828 @noindent
13829 stores the value 4 into that memory location.
13830
13831 @node Jumping
13832 @section Continuing at a Different Address
13833
13834 Ordinarily, when you continue your program, you do so at the place where
13835 it stopped, with the @code{continue} command. You can instead continue at
13836 an address of your own choosing, with the following commands:
13837
13838 @table @code
13839 @kindex jump
13840 @item jump @var{linespec}
13841 @itemx jump @var{location}
13842 Resume execution at line @var{linespec} or at address given by
13843 @var{location}. Execution stops again immediately if there is a
13844 breakpoint there. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
13845 different forms of @var{linespec} and @var{location}. It is common
13846 practice to use the @code{tbreak} command in conjunction with
13847 @code{jump}. @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
13848
13849 The @code{jump} command does not change the current stack frame, or
13850 the stack pointer, or the contents of any memory location or any
13851 register other than the program counter. If line @var{linespec} is in
13852 a different function from the one currently executing, the results may
13853 be bizarre if the two functions expect different patterns of arguments or
13854 of local variables. For this reason, the @code{jump} command requests
13855 confirmation if the specified line is not in the function currently
13856 executing. However, even bizarre results are predictable if you are
13857 well acquainted with the machine-language code of your program.
13858 @end table
13859
13860 @c Doesn't work on HP-UX; have to set $pcoqh and $pcoqt.
13861 On many systems, you can get much the same effect as the @code{jump}
13862 command by storing a new value into the register @code{$pc}. The
13863 difference is that this does not start your program running; it only
13864 changes the address of where it @emph{will} run when you continue. For
13865 example,
13866
13867 @smallexample
13868 set $pc = 0x485
13869 @end smallexample
13870
13871 @noindent
13872 makes the next @code{continue} command or stepping command execute at
13873 address @code{0x485}, rather than at the address where your program stopped.
13874 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}.
13875
13876 The most common occasion to use the @code{jump} command is to back
13877 up---perhaps with more breakpoints set---over a portion of a program
13878 that has already executed, in order to examine its execution in more
13879 detail.
13880
13881 @c @group
13882 @node Signaling
13883 @section Giving your Program a Signal
13884 @cindex deliver a signal to a program
13885
13886 @table @code
13887 @kindex signal
13888 @item signal @var{signal}
13889 Resume execution where your program stopped, but immediately give it the
13890 signal @var{signal}. @var{signal} can be the name or the number of a
13891 signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and @code{signal
13892 SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
13893
13894 Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, continue execution without
13895 giving a signal. This is useful when your program stopped on account of
13896 a signal and would ordinary see the signal when resumed with the
13897 @code{continue} command; @samp{signal 0} causes it to resume without a
13898 signal.
13899
13900 @code{signal} does not repeat when you press @key{RET} a second time
13901 after executing the command.
13902 @end table
13903 @c @end group
13904
13905 Invoking the @code{signal} command is not the same as invoking the
13906 @code{kill} utility from the shell. Sending a signal with @code{kill}
13907 causes @value{GDBN} to decide what to do with the signal depending on
13908 the signal handling tables (@pxref{Signals}). The @code{signal} command
13909 passes the signal directly to your program.
13910
13911
13912 @node Returning
13913 @section Returning from a Function
13914
13915 @table @code
13916 @cindex returning from a function
13917 @kindex return
13918 @item return
13919 @itemx return @var{expression}
13920 You can cancel execution of a function call with the @code{return}
13921 command. If you give an
13922 @var{expression} argument, its value is used as the function's return
13923 value.
13924 @end table
13925
13926 When you use @code{return}, @value{GDBN} discards the selected stack frame
13927 (and all frames within it). You can think of this as making the
13928 discarded frame return prematurely. If you wish to specify a value to
13929 be returned, give that value as the argument to @code{return}.
13930
13931 This pops the selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a
13932 Frame}), and any other frames inside of it, leaving its caller as the
13933 innermost remaining frame. That frame becomes selected. The
13934 specified value is stored in the registers used for returning values
13935 of functions.
13936
13937 The @code{return} command does not resume execution; it leaves the
13938 program stopped in the state that would exist if the function had just
13939 returned. In contrast, the @code{finish} command (@pxref{Continuing
13940 and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}) resumes execution until the
13941 selected stack frame returns naturally.
13942
13943 @value{GDBN} needs to know how the @var{expression} argument should be set for
13944 the inferior. The concrete registers assignment depends on the OS ABI and the
13945 type being returned by the selected stack frame. For example it is common for
13946 OS ABI to return floating point values in FPU registers while integer values in
13947 CPU registers. Still some ABIs return even floating point values in CPU
13948 registers. Larger integer widths (such as @code{long long int}) also have
13949 specific placement rules. @value{GDBN} already knows the OS ABI from its
13950 current target so it needs to find out also the type being returned to make the
13951 assignment into the right register(s).
13952
13953 Normally, the selected stack frame has debug info. @value{GDBN} will always
13954 use the debug info instead of the implicit type of @var{expression} when the
13955 debug info is available. For example, if you type @kbd{return -1}, and the
13956 function in the current stack frame is declared to return a @code{long long
13957 int}, @value{GDBN} transparently converts the implicit @code{int} value of -1
13958 into a @code{long long int}:
13959
13960 @smallexample
13961 Breakpoint 1, func () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:29
13962 29 return 31;
13963 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
13964 Make func return now? (y or n) y
13965 #0 0x004004f6 in main () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:43
13966 43 printf ("result=%lld\n", func ());
13967 (@value{GDBP})
13968 @end smallexample
13969
13970 However, if the selected stack frame does not have a debug info, e.g., if the
13971 function was compiled without debug info, @value{GDBN} has to find out the type
13972 to return from user. Specifying a different type by mistake may set the value
13973 in different inferior registers than the caller code expects. For example,
13974 typing @kbd{return -1} with its implicit type @code{int} would set only a part
13975 of a @code{long long int} result for a debug info less function (on 32-bit
13976 architectures). Therefore the user is required to specify the return type by
13977 an appropriate cast explicitly:
13978
13979 @smallexample
13980 Breakpoint 2, 0x0040050b in func ()
13981 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
13982 Return value type not available for selected stack frame.
13983 Please use an explicit cast of the value to return.
13984 (@value{GDBP}) return (long long int) -1
13985 Make selected stack frame return now? (y or n) y
13986 #0 0x00400526 in main ()
13987 (@value{GDBP})
13988 @end smallexample
13989
13990 @node Calling
13991 @section Calling Program Functions
13992
13993 @table @code
13994 @cindex calling functions
13995 @cindex inferior functions, calling
13996 @item print @var{expr}
13997 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} and display the resulting value.
13998 @var{expr} may include calls to functions in the program being
13999 debugged.
14000
14001 @kindex call
14002 @item call @var{expr}
14003 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} without displaying @code{void}
14004 returned values.
14005
14006 You can use this variant of the @code{print} command if you want to
14007 execute a function from your program that does not return anything
14008 (a.k.a.@: @dfn{a void function}), but without cluttering the output
14009 with @code{void} returned values that @value{GDBN} will otherwise
14010 print. If the result is not void, it is printed and saved in the
14011 value history.
14012 @end table
14013
14014 It is possible for the function you call via the @code{print} or
14015 @code{call} command to generate a signal (e.g., if there's a bug in
14016 the function, or if you passed it incorrect arguments). What happens
14017 in that case is controlled by the @code{set unwindonsignal} command.
14018
14019 Similarly, with a C@t{++} program it is possible for the function you
14020 call via the @code{print} or @code{call} command to generate an
14021 exception that is not handled due to the constraints of the dummy
14022 frame. In this case, any exception that is raised in the frame, but has
14023 an out-of-frame exception handler will not be found. GDB builds a
14024 dummy-frame for the inferior function call, and the unwinder cannot
14025 seek for exception handlers outside of this dummy-frame. What happens
14026 in that case is controlled by the
14027 @code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception} command.
14028
14029 @table @code
14030 @item set unwindonsignal
14031 @kindex set unwindonsignal
14032 @cindex unwind stack in called functions
14033 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding
14034 Set unwinding of the stack if a signal is received while in a function
14035 that @value{GDBN} called in the program being debugged. If set to on,
14036 @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack it created for the call and restores
14037 the context to what it was before the call. If set to off (the
14038 default), @value{GDBN} stops in the frame where the signal was
14039 received.
14040
14041 @item show unwindonsignal
14042 @kindex show unwindonsignal
14043 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
14044 @value{GDBN}.
14045
14046 @item set unwind-on-terminating-exception
14047 @kindex set unwind-on-terminating-exception
14048 @cindex unwind stack in called functions with unhandled exceptions
14049 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding on unhandled exception.
14050 Set unwinding of the stack if a C@t{++} exception is raised, but left
14051 unhandled while in a function that @value{GDBN} called in the program being
14052 debugged. If set to on (the default), @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack
14053 it created for the call and restores the context to what it was before
14054 the call. If set to off, @value{GDBN} the exception is delivered to
14055 the default C@t{++} exception handler and the inferior terminated.
14056
14057 @item show unwind-on-terminating-exception
14058 @kindex show unwind-on-terminating-exception
14059 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
14060 @value{GDBN}.
14061
14062 @end table
14063
14064 @cindex weak alias functions
14065 Sometimes, a function you wish to call is actually a @dfn{weak alias}
14066 for another function. In such case, @value{GDBN} might not pick up
14067 the type information, including the types of the function arguments,
14068 which causes @value{GDBN} to call the inferior function incorrectly.
14069 As a result, the called function will function erroneously and may
14070 even crash. A solution to that is to use the name of the aliased
14071 function instead.
14072
14073 @node Patching
14074 @section Patching Programs
14075
14076 @cindex patching binaries
14077 @cindex writing into executables
14078 @cindex writing into corefiles
14079
14080 By default, @value{GDBN} opens the file containing your program's
14081 executable code (or the corefile) read-only. This prevents accidental
14082 alterations to machine code; but it also prevents you from intentionally
14083 patching your program's binary.
14084
14085 If you'd like to be able to patch the binary, you can specify that
14086 explicitly with the @code{set write} command. For example, you might
14087 want to turn on internal debugging flags, or even to make emergency
14088 repairs.
14089
14090 @table @code
14091 @kindex set write
14092 @item set write on
14093 @itemx set write off
14094 If you specify @samp{set write on}, @value{GDBN} opens executable and
14095 core files for both reading and writing; if you specify @kbd{set write
14096 off} (the default), @value{GDBN} opens them read-only.
14097
14098 If you have already loaded a file, you must load it again (using the
14099 @code{exec-file} or @code{core-file} command) after changing @code{set
14100 write}, for your new setting to take effect.
14101
14102 @item show write
14103 @kindex show write
14104 Display whether executable files and core files are opened for writing
14105 as well as reading.
14106 @end table
14107
14108 @node GDB Files
14109 @chapter @value{GDBN} Files
14110
14111 @value{GDBN} needs to know the file name of the program to be debugged,
14112 both in order to read its symbol table and in order to start your
14113 program. To debug a core dump of a previous run, you must also tell
14114 @value{GDBN} the name of the core dump file.
14115
14116 @menu
14117 * Files:: Commands to specify files
14118 * Separate Debug Files:: Debugging information in separate files
14119 * Symbol Errors:: Errors reading symbol files
14120 * Data Files:: GDB data files
14121 @end menu
14122
14123 @node Files
14124 @section Commands to Specify Files
14125
14126 @cindex symbol table
14127 @cindex core dump file
14128
14129 You may want to specify executable and core dump file names. The usual
14130 way to do this is at start-up time, using the arguments to
14131 @value{GDBN}'s start-up commands (@pxref{Invocation, , Getting In and
14132 Out of @value{GDBN}}).
14133
14134 Occasionally it is necessary to change to a different file during a
14135 @value{GDBN} session. Or you may run @value{GDBN} and forget to
14136 specify a file you want to use. Or you are debugging a remote target
14137 via @code{gdbserver} (@pxref{Server, file, Using the @code{gdbserver}
14138 Program}). In these situations the @value{GDBN} commands to specify
14139 new files are useful.
14140
14141 @table @code
14142 @cindex executable file
14143 @kindex file
14144 @item file @var{filename}
14145 Use @var{filename} as the program to be debugged. It is read for its
14146 symbols and for the contents of pure memory. It is also the program
14147 executed when you use the @code{run} command. If you do not specify a
14148 directory and the file is not found in the @value{GDBN} working directory,
14149 @value{GDBN} uses the environment variable @code{PATH} as a list of
14150 directories to search, just as the shell does when looking for a program
14151 to run. You can change the value of this variable, for both @value{GDBN}
14152 and your program, using the @code{path} command.
14153
14154 @cindex unlinked object files
14155 @cindex patching object files
14156 You can load unlinked object @file{.o} files into @value{GDBN} using
14157 the @code{file} command. You will not be able to ``run'' an object
14158 file, but you can disassemble functions and inspect variables. Also,
14159 if the underlying BFD functionality supports it, you could use
14160 @kbd{gdb -write} to patch object files using this technique. Note
14161 that @value{GDBN} can neither interpret nor modify relocations in this
14162 case, so branches and some initialized variables will appear to go to
14163 the wrong place. But this feature is still handy from time to time.
14164
14165 @item file
14166 @code{file} with no argument makes @value{GDBN} discard any information it
14167 has on both executable file and the symbol table.
14168
14169 @kindex exec-file
14170 @item exec-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
14171 Specify that the program to be run (but not the symbol table) is found
14172 in @var{filename}. @value{GDBN} searches the environment variable @code{PATH}
14173 if necessary to locate your program. Omitting @var{filename} means to
14174 discard information on the executable file.
14175
14176 @kindex symbol-file
14177 @item symbol-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
14178 Read symbol table information from file @var{filename}. @code{PATH} is
14179 searched when necessary. Use the @code{file} command to get both symbol
14180 table and program to run from the same file.
14181
14182 @code{symbol-file} with no argument clears out @value{GDBN} information on your
14183 program's symbol table.
14184
14185 The @code{symbol-file} command causes @value{GDBN} to forget the contents of
14186 some breakpoints and auto-display expressions. This is because they may
14187 contain pointers to the internal data recording symbols and data types,
14188 which are part of the old symbol table data being discarded inside
14189 @value{GDBN}.
14190
14191 @code{symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
14192 executing it once.
14193
14194 When @value{GDBN} is configured for a particular environment, it
14195 understands debugging information in whatever format is the standard
14196 generated for that environment; you may use either a @sc{gnu} compiler, or
14197 other compilers that adhere to the local conventions.
14198 Best results are usually obtained from @sc{gnu} compilers; for example,
14199 using @code{@value{NGCC}} you can generate debugging information for
14200 optimized code.
14201
14202 For most kinds of object files, with the exception of old SVR3 systems
14203 using COFF, the @code{symbol-file} command does not normally read the
14204 symbol table in full right away. Instead, it scans the symbol table
14205 quickly to find which source files and which symbols are present. The
14206 details are read later, one source file at a time, as they are needed.
14207
14208 The purpose of this two-stage reading strategy is to make @value{GDBN}
14209 start up faster. For the most part, it is invisible except for
14210 occasional pauses while the symbol table details for a particular source
14211 file are being read. (The @code{set verbose} command can turn these
14212 pauses into messages if desired. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional
14213 Warnings and Messages}.)
14214
14215 We have not implemented the two-stage strategy for COFF yet. When the
14216 symbol table is stored in COFF format, @code{symbol-file} reads the
14217 symbol table data in full right away. Note that ``stabs-in-COFF''
14218 still does the two-stage strategy, since the debug info is actually
14219 in stabs format.
14220
14221 @kindex readnow
14222 @cindex reading symbols immediately
14223 @cindex symbols, reading immediately
14224 @item symbol-file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
14225 @itemx file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
14226 You can override the @value{GDBN} two-stage strategy for reading symbol
14227 tables by using the @samp{-readnow} option with any of the commands that
14228 load symbol table information, if you want to be sure @value{GDBN} has the
14229 entire symbol table available.
14230
14231 @c FIXME: for now no mention of directories, since this seems to be in
14232 @c flux. 13mar1992 status is that in theory GDB would look either in
14233 @c current dir or in same dir as myprog; but issues like competing
14234 @c GDB's, or clutter in system dirs, mean that in practice right now
14235 @c only current dir is used. FFish says maybe a special GDB hierarchy
14236 @c (eg rooted in val of env var GDBSYMS) could exist for mappable symbol
14237 @c files.
14238
14239 @kindex core-file
14240 @item core-file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
14241 @itemx core
14242 Specify the whereabouts of a core dump file to be used as the ``contents
14243 of memory''. Traditionally, core files contain only some parts of the
14244 address space of the process that generated them; @value{GDBN} can access the
14245 executable file itself for other parts.
14246
14247 @code{core-file} with no argument specifies that no core file is
14248 to be used.
14249
14250 Note that the core file is ignored when your program is actually running
14251 under @value{GDBN}. So, if you have been running your program and you
14252 wish to debug a core file instead, you must kill the subprocess in which
14253 the program is running. To do this, use the @code{kill} command
14254 (@pxref{Kill Process, ,Killing the Child Process}).
14255
14256 @kindex add-symbol-file
14257 @cindex dynamic linking
14258 @item add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address}
14259 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
14260 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @r{-s}@var{section} @var{address} @dots{}
14261 The @code{add-symbol-file} command reads additional symbol table
14262 information from the file @var{filename}. You would use this command
14263 when @var{filename} has been dynamically loaded (by some other means)
14264 into the program that is running. @var{address} should be the memory
14265 address at which the file has been loaded; @value{GDBN} cannot figure
14266 this out for itself. You can additionally specify an arbitrary number
14267 of @samp{@r{-s}@var{section} @var{address}} pairs, to give an explicit
14268 section name and base address for that section. You can specify any
14269 @var{address} as an expression.
14270
14271 The symbol table of the file @var{filename} is added to the symbol table
14272 originally read with the @code{symbol-file} command. You can use the
14273 @code{add-symbol-file} command any number of times; the new symbol data
14274 thus read keeps adding to the old. To discard all old symbol data
14275 instead, use the @code{symbol-file} command without any arguments.
14276
14277 @cindex relocatable object files, reading symbols from
14278 @cindex object files, relocatable, reading symbols from
14279 @cindex reading symbols from relocatable object files
14280 @cindex symbols, reading from relocatable object files
14281 @cindex @file{.o} files, reading symbols from
14282 Although @var{filename} is typically a shared library file, an
14283 executable file, or some other object file which has been fully
14284 relocated for loading into a process, you can also load symbolic
14285 information from relocatable @file{.o} files, as long as:
14286
14287 @itemize @bullet
14288 @item
14289 the file's symbolic information refers only to linker symbols defined in
14290 that file, not to symbols defined by other object files,
14291 @item
14292 every section the file's symbolic information refers to has actually
14293 been loaded into the inferior, as it appears in the file, and
14294 @item
14295 you can determine the address at which every section was loaded, and
14296 provide these to the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
14297 @end itemize
14298
14299 @noindent
14300 Some embedded operating systems, like Sun Chorus and VxWorks, can load
14301 relocatable files into an already running program; such systems
14302 typically make the requirements above easy to meet. However, it's
14303 important to recognize that many native systems use complex link
14304 procedures (@code{.linkonce} section factoring and C@t{++} constructor table
14305 assembly, for example) that make the requirements difficult to meet. In
14306 general, one cannot assume that using @code{add-symbol-file} to read a
14307 relocatable object file's symbolic information will have the same effect
14308 as linking the relocatable object file into the program in the normal
14309 way.
14310
14311 @code{add-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
14312
14313 @kindex add-symbol-file-from-memory
14314 @cindex @code{syscall DSO}
14315 @cindex load symbols from memory
14316 @item add-symbol-file-from-memory @var{address}
14317 Load symbols from the given @var{address} in a dynamically loaded
14318 object file whose image is mapped directly into the inferior's memory.
14319 For example, the Linux kernel maps a @code{syscall DSO} into each
14320 process's address space; this DSO provides kernel-specific code for
14321 some system calls. The argument can be any expression whose
14322 evaluation yields the address of the file's shared object file header.
14323 For this command to work, you must have used @code{symbol-file} or
14324 @code{exec-file} commands in advance.
14325
14326 @kindex add-shared-symbol-files
14327 @kindex assf
14328 @item add-shared-symbol-files @var{library-file}
14329 @itemx assf @var{library-file}
14330 The @code{add-shared-symbol-files} command can currently be used only
14331 in the Cygwin build of @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows OS, where it is an
14332 alias for the @code{dll-symbols} command (@pxref{Cygwin Native}).
14333 @value{GDBN} automatically looks for shared libraries, however if
14334 @value{GDBN} does not find yours, you can invoke
14335 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}. It takes one argument: the shared
14336 library's file name. @code{assf} is a shorthand alias for
14337 @code{add-shared-symbol-files}.
14338
14339 @kindex section
14340 @item section @var{section} @var{addr}
14341 The @code{section} command changes the base address of the named
14342 @var{section} of the exec file to @var{addr}. This can be used if the
14343 exec file does not contain section addresses, (such as in the
14344 @code{a.out} format), or when the addresses specified in the file
14345 itself are wrong. Each section must be changed separately. The
14346 @code{info files} command, described below, lists all the sections and
14347 their addresses.
14348
14349 @kindex info files
14350 @kindex info target
14351 @item info files
14352 @itemx info target
14353 @code{info files} and @code{info target} are synonymous; both print the
14354 current target (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}),
14355 including the names of the executable and core dump files currently in
14356 use by @value{GDBN}, and the files from which symbols were loaded. The
14357 command @code{help target} lists all possible targets rather than
14358 current ones.
14359
14360 @kindex maint info sections
14361 @item maint info sections
14362 Another command that can give you extra information about program sections
14363 is @code{maint info sections}. In addition to the section information
14364 displayed by @code{info files}, this command displays the flags and file
14365 offset of each section in the executable and core dump files. In addition,
14366 @code{maint info sections} provides the following command options (which
14367 may be arbitrarily combined):
14368
14369 @table @code
14370 @item ALLOBJ
14371 Display sections for all loaded object files, including shared libraries.
14372 @item @var{sections}
14373 Display info only for named @var{sections}.
14374 @item @var{section-flags}
14375 Display info only for sections for which @var{section-flags} are true.
14376 The section flags that @value{GDBN} currently knows about are:
14377 @table @code
14378 @item ALLOC
14379 Section will have space allocated in the process when loaded.
14380 Set for all sections except those containing debug information.
14381 @item LOAD
14382 Section will be loaded from the file into the child process memory.
14383 Set for pre-initialized code and data, clear for @code{.bss} sections.
14384 @item RELOC
14385 Section needs to be relocated before loading.
14386 @item READONLY
14387 Section cannot be modified by the child process.
14388 @item CODE
14389 Section contains executable code only.
14390 @item DATA
14391 Section contains data only (no executable code).
14392 @item ROM
14393 Section will reside in ROM.
14394 @item CONSTRUCTOR
14395 Section contains data for constructor/destructor lists.
14396 @item HAS_CONTENTS
14397 Section is not empty.
14398 @item NEVER_LOAD
14399 An instruction to the linker to not output the section.
14400 @item COFF_SHARED_LIBRARY
14401 A notification to the linker that the section contains
14402 COFF shared library information.
14403 @item IS_COMMON
14404 Section contains common symbols.
14405 @end table
14406 @end table
14407 @kindex set trust-readonly-sections
14408 @cindex read-only sections
14409 @item set trust-readonly-sections on
14410 Tell @value{GDBN} that readonly sections in your object file
14411 really are read-only (i.e.@: that their contents will not change).
14412 In that case, @value{GDBN} can fetch values from these sections
14413 out of the object file, rather than from the target program.
14414 For some targets (notably embedded ones), this can be a significant
14415 enhancement to debugging performance.
14416
14417 The default is off.
14418
14419 @item set trust-readonly-sections off
14420 Tell @value{GDBN} not to trust readonly sections. This means that
14421 the contents of the section might change while the program is running,
14422 and must therefore be fetched from the target when needed.
14423
14424 @item show trust-readonly-sections
14425 Show the current setting of trusting readonly sections.
14426 @end table
14427
14428 All file-specifying commands allow both absolute and relative file names
14429 as arguments. @value{GDBN} always converts the file name to an absolute file
14430 name and remembers it that way.
14431
14432 @cindex shared libraries
14433 @anchor{Shared Libraries}
14434 @value{GDBN} supports @sc{gnu}/Linux, MS-Windows, HP-UX, SunOS, SVr4, Irix,
14435 and IBM RS/6000 AIX shared libraries.
14436
14437 On MS-Windows @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support
14438 shared libraries. @xref{Expat}.
14439
14440 @value{GDBN} automatically loads symbol definitions from shared libraries
14441 when you use the @code{run} command, or when you examine a core file.
14442 (Before you issue the @code{run} command, @value{GDBN} does not understand
14443 references to a function in a shared library, however---unless you are
14444 debugging a core file).
14445
14446 On HP-UX, if the program loads a library explicitly, @value{GDBN}
14447 automatically loads the symbols at the time of the @code{shl_load} call.
14448
14449 @c FIXME: some @value{GDBN} release may permit some refs to undef
14450 @c FIXME...symbols---eg in a break cmd---assuming they are from a shared
14451 @c FIXME...lib; check this from time to time when updating manual
14452
14453 There are times, however, when you may wish to not automatically load
14454 symbol definitions from shared libraries, such as when they are
14455 particularly large or there are many of them.
14456
14457 To control the automatic loading of shared library symbols, use the
14458 commands:
14459
14460 @table @code
14461 @kindex set auto-solib-add
14462 @item set auto-solib-add @var{mode}
14463 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, symbols from all shared object libraries
14464 will be loaded automatically when the inferior begins execution, you
14465 attach to an independently started inferior, or when the dynamic linker
14466 informs @value{GDBN} that a new library has been loaded. If @var{mode}
14467 is @code{off}, symbols must be loaded manually, using the
14468 @code{sharedlibrary} command. The default value is @code{on}.
14469
14470 @cindex memory used for symbol tables
14471 If your program uses lots of shared libraries with debug info that
14472 takes large amounts of memory, you can decrease the @value{GDBN}
14473 memory footprint by preventing it from automatically loading the
14474 symbols from shared libraries. To that end, type @kbd{set
14475 auto-solib-add off} before running the inferior, then load each
14476 library whose debug symbols you do need with @kbd{sharedlibrary
14477 @var{regexp}}, where @var{regexp} is a regular expression that matches
14478 the libraries whose symbols you want to be loaded.
14479
14480 @kindex show auto-solib-add
14481 @item show auto-solib-add
14482 Display the current autoloading mode.
14483 @end table
14484
14485 @cindex load shared library
14486 To explicitly load shared library symbols, use the @code{sharedlibrary}
14487 command:
14488
14489 @table @code
14490 @kindex info sharedlibrary
14491 @kindex info share
14492 @item info share @var{regex}
14493 @itemx info sharedlibrary @var{regex}
14494 Print the names of the shared libraries which are currently loaded
14495 that match @var{regex}. If @var{regex} is omitted then print
14496 all shared libraries that are loaded.
14497
14498 @kindex sharedlibrary
14499 @kindex share
14500 @item sharedlibrary @var{regex}
14501 @itemx share @var{regex}
14502 Load shared object library symbols for files matching a
14503 Unix regular expression.
14504 As with files loaded automatically, it only loads shared libraries
14505 required by your program for a core file or after typing @code{run}. If
14506 @var{regex} is omitted all shared libraries required by your program are
14507 loaded.
14508
14509 @item nosharedlibrary
14510 @kindex nosharedlibrary
14511 @cindex unload symbols from shared libraries
14512 Unload all shared object library symbols. This discards all symbols
14513 that have been loaded from all shared libraries. Symbols from shared
14514 libraries that were loaded by explicit user requests are not
14515 discarded.
14516 @end table
14517
14518 Sometimes you may wish that @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control
14519 when any of shared library events happen. Use the @code{set
14520 stop-on-solib-events} command for this:
14521
14522 @table @code
14523 @item set stop-on-solib-events
14524 @kindex set stop-on-solib-events
14525 This command controls whether @value{GDBN} should give you control
14526 when the dynamic linker notifies it about some shared library event.
14527 The most common event of interest is loading or unloading of a new
14528 shared library.
14529
14530 @item show stop-on-solib-events
14531 @kindex show stop-on-solib-events
14532 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control when shared
14533 library events happen.
14534 @end table
14535
14536 Shared libraries are also supported in many cross or remote debugging
14537 configurations. @value{GDBN} needs to have access to the target's libraries;
14538 this can be accomplished either by providing copies of the libraries
14539 on the host system, or by asking @value{GDBN} to automatically retrieve the
14540 libraries from the target. If copies of the target libraries are
14541 provided, they need to be the same as the target libraries, although the
14542 copies on the target can be stripped as long as the copies on the host are
14543 not.
14544
14545 @cindex where to look for shared libraries
14546 For remote debugging, you need to tell @value{GDBN} where the target
14547 libraries are, so that it can load the correct copies---otherwise, it
14548 may try to load the host's libraries. @value{GDBN} has two variables
14549 to specify the search directories for target libraries.
14550
14551 @table @code
14552 @cindex prefix for shared library file names
14553 @cindex system root, alternate
14554 @kindex set solib-absolute-prefix
14555 @kindex set sysroot
14556 @item set sysroot @var{path}
14557 Use @var{path} as the system root for the program being debugged. Any
14558 absolute shared library paths will be prefixed with @var{path}; many
14559 runtime loaders store the absolute paths to the shared library in the
14560 target program's memory. If you use @code{set sysroot} to find shared
14561 libraries, they need to be laid out in the same way that they are on
14562 the target, with e.g.@: a @file{/lib} and @file{/usr/lib} hierarchy
14563 under @var{path}.
14564
14565 If @var{path} starts with the sequence @file{remote:}, @value{GDBN} will
14566 retrieve the target libraries from the remote system. This is only
14567 supported when using a remote target that supports the @code{remote get}
14568 command (@pxref{File Transfer,,Sending files to a remote system}).
14569 The part of @var{path} following the initial @file{remote:}
14570 (if present) is used as system root prefix on the remote file system.
14571 @footnote{If you want to specify a local system root using a directory
14572 that happens to be named @file{remote:}, you need to use some equivalent
14573 variant of the name like @file{./remote:}.}
14574
14575 For targets with an MS-DOS based filesystem, such as MS-Windows and
14576 SymbianOS, @value{GDBN} tries prefixing a few variants of the target
14577 absolute file name with @var{path}. But first, on Unix hosts,
14578 @value{GDBN} converts all backslash directory separators into forward
14579 slashes, because the backslash is not a directory separator on Unix:
14580
14581 @smallexample
14582 c:\foo\bar.dll @result{} c:/foo/bar.dll
14583 @end smallexample
14584
14585 Then, @value{GDBN} attempts prefixing the target file name with
14586 @var{path}, and looks for the resulting file name in the host file
14587 system:
14588
14589 @smallexample
14590 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c:/foo/bar.dll
14591 @end smallexample
14592
14593 If that does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries removing
14594 the @samp{:} character from the drive spec, both for convenience, and,
14595 for the case of the host file system not supporting file names with
14596 colons:
14597
14598 @smallexample
14599 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c/foo/bar.dll
14600 @end smallexample
14601
14602 This makes it possible to have a system root that mirrors a target
14603 with more than one drive. E.g., you may want to setup your local
14604 copies of the target system shared libraries like so (note @samp{c} vs
14605 @samp{z}):
14606
14607 @smallexample
14608 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/foo.dll}
14609 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/bar.dll}
14610 @file{/path/to/sysroot/z/sys/bin/bar.dll}
14611 @end smallexample
14612
14613 @noindent
14614 and point the system root at @file{/path/to/sysroot}, so that
14615 @value{GDBN} can find the correct copies of both
14616 @file{c:\sys\bin\foo.dll}, and @file{z:\sys\bin\bar.dll}.
14617
14618 If that still does not find the shared library, @value{GDBN} tries
14619 removing the whole drive spec from the target file name:
14620
14621 @smallexample
14622 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/foo/bar.dll
14623 @end smallexample
14624
14625 This last lookup makes it possible to not care about the drive name,
14626 if you don't want or need to.
14627
14628 The @code{set solib-absolute-prefix} command is an alias for @code{set
14629 sysroot}.
14630
14631 @cindex default system root
14632 @cindex @samp{--with-sysroot}
14633 You can set the default system root by using the configure-time
14634 @samp{--with-sysroot} option. If the system root is inside
14635 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
14636 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default system root will be updated
14637 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
14638 location.
14639
14640 @kindex show sysroot
14641 @item show sysroot
14642 Display the current shared library prefix.
14643
14644 @kindex set solib-search-path
14645 @item set solib-search-path @var{path}
14646 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
14647 directories to search for shared libraries. @samp{solib-search-path}
14648 is used after @samp{sysroot} fails to locate the library, or if the
14649 path to the library is relative instead of absolute. If you want to
14650 use @samp{solib-search-path} instead of @samp{sysroot}, be sure to set
14651 @samp{sysroot} to a nonexistent directory to prevent @value{GDBN} from
14652 finding your host's libraries. @samp{sysroot} is preferred; setting
14653 it to a nonexistent directory may interfere with automatic loading
14654 of shared library symbols.
14655
14656 @kindex show solib-search-path
14657 @item show solib-search-path
14658 Display the current shared library search path.
14659
14660 @cindex DOS file-name semantics of file names.
14661 @kindex set target-file-system-kind (unix|dos-based|auto)
14662 @kindex show target-file-system-kind
14663 @item set target-file-system-kind @var{kind}
14664 Set assumed file system kind for target reported file names.
14665
14666 Shared library file names as reported by the target system may not
14667 make sense as is on the system @value{GDBN} is running on. For
14668 example, when remote debugging a target that has MS-DOS based file
14669 system semantics, from a Unix host, the target may be reporting to
14670 @value{GDBN} a list of loaded shared libraries with file names such as
14671 @file{c:\Windows\kernel32.dll}. On Unix hosts, there's no concept of
14672 drive letters, so the @samp{c:\} prefix is not normally understood as
14673 indicating an absolute file name, and neither is the backslash
14674 normally considered a directory separator character. In that case,
14675 the native file system would interpret this whole absolute file name
14676 as a relative file name with no directory components. This would make
14677 it impossible to point @value{GDBN} at a copy of the remote target's
14678 shared libraries on the host using @code{set sysroot}, and impractical
14679 with @code{set solib-search-path}. Setting
14680 @code{target-file-system-kind} to @code{dos-based} tells @value{GDBN}
14681 to interpret such file names similarly to how the target would, and to
14682 map them to file names valid on @value{GDBN}'s native file system
14683 semantics. The value of @var{kind} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition
14684 to one of the supported file system kinds. In that case, @value{GDBN}
14685 tries to determine the appropriate file system variant based on the
14686 current target's operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the
14687 Current ABI}). The supported file system settings are:
14688
14689 @table @code
14690 @item unix
14691 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is of Unix
14692 kind. Only file names starting the forward slash (@samp{/}) character
14693 are considered absolute, and the directory separator character is also
14694 the forward slash.
14695
14696 @item dos-based
14697 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is DOS based.
14698 File names starting with either a forward slash, or a drive letter
14699 followed by a colon (e.g., @samp{c:}), are considered absolute, and
14700 both the slash (@samp{/}) and the backslash (@samp{\\}) characters are
14701 considered directory separators.
14702
14703 @item auto
14704 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the file system kind associated with the
14705 target operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
14706 This is the default.
14707 @end table
14708 @end table
14709
14710
14711 @node Separate Debug Files
14712 @section Debugging Information in Separate Files
14713 @cindex separate debugging information files
14714 @cindex debugging information in separate files
14715 @cindex @file{.debug} subdirectories
14716 @cindex debugging information directory, global
14717 @cindex global debugging information directory
14718 @cindex build ID, and separate debugging files
14719 @cindex @file{.build-id} directory
14720
14721 @value{GDBN} allows you to put a program's debugging information in a
14722 file separate from the executable itself, in a way that allows
14723 @value{GDBN} to find and load the debugging information automatically.
14724 Since debugging information can be very large---sometimes larger
14725 than the executable code itself---some systems distribute debugging
14726 information for their executables in separate files, which users can
14727 install only when they need to debug a problem.
14728
14729 @value{GDBN} supports two ways of specifying the separate debug info
14730 file:
14731
14732 @itemize @bullet
14733 @item
14734 The executable contains a @dfn{debug link} that specifies the name of
14735 the separate debug info file. The separate debug file's name is
14736 usually @file{@var{executable}.debug}, where @var{executable} is the
14737 name of the corresponding executable file without leading directories
14738 (e.g., @file{ls.debug} for @file{/usr/bin/ls}). In addition, the
14739 debug link specifies a 32-bit @dfn{Cyclic Redundancy Check} (CRC)
14740 checksum for the debug file, which @value{GDBN} uses to validate that
14741 the executable and the debug file came from the same build.
14742
14743 @item
14744 The executable contains a @dfn{build ID}, a unique bit string that is
14745 also present in the corresponding debug info file. (This is supported
14746 only on some operating systems, notably those which use the ELF format
14747 for binary files and the @sc{gnu} Binutils.) For more details about
14748 this feature, see the description of the @option{--build-id}
14749 command-line option in @ref{Options, , Command Line Options, ld.info,
14750 The GNU Linker}. The debug info file's name is not specified
14751 explicitly by the build ID, but can be computed from the build ID, see
14752 below.
14753 @end itemize
14754
14755 Depending on the way the debug info file is specified, @value{GDBN}
14756 uses two different methods of looking for the debug file:
14757
14758 @itemize @bullet
14759 @item
14760 For the ``debug link'' method, @value{GDBN} looks up the named file in
14761 the directory of the executable file, then in a subdirectory of that
14762 directory named @file{.debug}, and finally under the global debug
14763 directory, in a subdirectory whose name is identical to the leading
14764 directories of the executable's absolute file name.
14765
14766 @item
14767 For the ``build ID'' method, @value{GDBN} looks in the
14768 @file{.build-id} subdirectory of the global debug directory for a file
14769 named @file{@var{nn}/@var{nnnnnnnn}.debug}, where @var{nn} are the
14770 first 2 hex characters of the build ID bit string, and @var{nnnnnnnn}
14771 are the rest of the bit string. (Real build ID strings are 32 or more
14772 hex characters, not 10.)
14773 @end itemize
14774
14775 So, for example, suppose you ask @value{GDBN} to debug
14776 @file{/usr/bin/ls}, which has a debug link that specifies the
14777 file @file{ls.debug}, and a build ID whose value in hex is
14778 @code{abcdef1234}. If the global debug directory is
14779 @file{/usr/lib/debug}, then @value{GDBN} will look for the following
14780 debug information files, in the indicated order:
14781
14782 @itemize @minus
14783 @item
14784 @file{/usr/lib/debug/.build-id/ab/cdef1234.debug}
14785 @item
14786 @file{/usr/bin/ls.debug}
14787 @item
14788 @file{/usr/bin/.debug/ls.debug}
14789 @item
14790 @file{/usr/lib/debug/usr/bin/ls.debug}.
14791 @end itemize
14792
14793 You can set the global debugging info directory's name, and view the
14794 name @value{GDBN} is currently using.
14795
14796 @table @code
14797
14798 @kindex set debug-file-directory
14799 @item set debug-file-directory @var{directories}
14800 Set the directories which @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
14801 information files to @var{directory}. Multiple directory components can be set
14802 concatenating them by a directory separator.
14803
14804 @kindex show debug-file-directory
14805 @item show debug-file-directory
14806 Show the directories @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
14807 information files.
14808
14809 @end table
14810
14811 @cindex @code{.gnu_debuglink} sections
14812 @cindex debug link sections
14813 A debug link is a special section of the executable file named
14814 @code{.gnu_debuglink}. The section must contain:
14815
14816 @itemize
14817 @item
14818 A filename, with any leading directory components removed, followed by
14819 a zero byte,
14820 @item
14821 zero to three bytes of padding, as needed to reach the next four-byte
14822 boundary within the section, and
14823 @item
14824 a four-byte CRC checksum, stored in the same endianness used for the
14825 executable file itself. The checksum is computed on the debugging
14826 information file's full contents by the function given below, passing
14827 zero as the @var{crc} argument.
14828 @end itemize
14829
14830 Any executable file format can carry a debug link, as long as it can
14831 contain a section named @code{.gnu_debuglink} with the contents
14832 described above.
14833
14834 @cindex @code{.note.gnu.build-id} sections
14835 @cindex build ID sections
14836 The build ID is a special section in the executable file (and in other
14837 ELF binary files that @value{GDBN} may consider). This section is
14838 often named @code{.note.gnu.build-id}, but that name is not mandatory.
14839 It contains unique identification for the built files---the ID remains
14840 the same across multiple builds of the same build tree. The default
14841 algorithm SHA1 produces 160 bits (40 hexadecimal characters) of the
14842 content for the build ID string. The same section with an identical
14843 value is present in the original built binary with symbols, in its
14844 stripped variant, and in the separate debugging information file.
14845
14846 The debugging information file itself should be an ordinary
14847 executable, containing a full set of linker symbols, sections, and
14848 debugging information. The sections of the debugging information file
14849 should have the same names, addresses, and sizes as the original file,
14850 but they need not contain any data---much like a @code{.bss} section
14851 in an ordinary executable.
14852
14853 The @sc{gnu} binary utilities (Binutils) package includes the
14854 @samp{objcopy} utility that can produce
14855 the separated executable / debugging information file pairs using the
14856 following commands:
14857
14858 @smallexample
14859 @kbd{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.debug}
14860 @kbd{strip -g foo}
14861 @end smallexample
14862
14863 @noindent
14864 These commands remove the debugging
14865 information from the executable file @file{foo} and place it in the file
14866 @file{foo.debug}. You can use the first, second or both methods to link the
14867 two files:
14868
14869 @itemize @bullet
14870 @item
14871 The debug link method needs the following additional command to also leave
14872 behind a debug link in @file{foo}:
14873
14874 @smallexample
14875 @kbd{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.debug foo}
14876 @end smallexample
14877
14878 Ulrich Drepper's @file{elfutils} package, starting with version 0.53, contains
14879 a version of the @code{strip} command such that the command @kbd{strip foo -f
14880 foo.debug} has the same functionality as the two @code{objcopy} commands and
14881 the @code{ln -s} command above, together.
14882
14883 @item
14884 Build ID gets embedded into the main executable using @code{ld --build-id} or
14885 the @value{NGCC} counterpart @code{gcc -Wl,--build-id}. Build ID support plus
14886 compatibility fixes for debug files separation are present in @sc{gnu} binary
14887 utilities (Binutils) package since version 2.18.
14888 @end itemize
14889
14890 @noindent
14891
14892 @cindex CRC algorithm definition
14893 The CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink} is the CRC-32 defined in
14894 IEEE 802.3 using the polynomial:
14895
14896 @c TexInfo requires naked braces for multi-digit exponents for Tex
14897 @c output, but this causes HTML output to barf. HTML has to be set using
14898 @c raw commands. So we end up having to specify this equation in 2
14899 @c different ways!
14900 @ifhtml
14901 @display
14902 @html
14903 <em>x</em><sup>32</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>26</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>23</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>22</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>16</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>12</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>11</sup>
14904 + <em>x</em><sup>10</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>8</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>7</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>5</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>4</sup> + <em>x</em><sup>2</sup> + <em>x</em> + 1
14905 @end html
14906 @end display
14907 @end ifhtml
14908 @ifnothtml
14909 @display
14910 @math{x^{32} + x^{26} + x^{23} + x^{22} + x^{16} + x^{12} + x^{11}}
14911 @math{+ x^{10} + x^8 + x^7 + x^5 + x^4 + x^2 + x + 1}
14912 @end display
14913 @end ifnothtml
14914
14915 The function is computed byte at a time, taking the least
14916 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern
14917 @code{0xffffffff} is used, to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC and
14918 the final result is inverted to ensure trailing zeros also affect the
14919 CRC.
14920
14921 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC polynomial as used in handling the
14922 @dfn{Remote Serial Protocol} @code{qCRC} packet (@pxref{Remote Protocol,
14923 , @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol}). However in the
14924 case of the Remote Serial Protocol, the CRC is computed @emph{most}
14925 significant bit first, and the result is not inverted, so trailing
14926 zeros have no effect on the CRC value.
14927
14928 To complete the description, we show below the code of the function
14929 which produces the CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink}. Inverting the
14930 initially supplied @code{crc} argument means that an initial call to
14931 this function passing in zero will start computing the CRC using
14932 @code{0xffffffff}.
14933
14934 @kindex gnu_debuglink_crc32
14935 @smallexample
14936 unsigned long
14937 gnu_debuglink_crc32 (unsigned long crc,
14938 unsigned char *buf, size_t len)
14939 @{
14940 static const unsigned long crc32_table[256] =
14941 @{
14942 0x00000000, 0x77073096, 0xee0e612c, 0x990951ba, 0x076dc419,
14943 0x706af48f, 0xe963a535, 0x9e6495a3, 0x0edb8832, 0x79dcb8a4,
14944 0xe0d5e91e, 0x97d2d988, 0x09b64c2b, 0x7eb17cbd, 0xe7b82d07,
14945 0x90bf1d91, 0x1db71064, 0x6ab020f2, 0xf3b97148, 0x84be41de,
14946 0x1adad47d, 0x6ddde4eb, 0xf4d4b551, 0x83d385c7, 0x136c9856,
14947 0x646ba8c0, 0xfd62f97a, 0x8a65c9ec, 0x14015c4f, 0x63066cd9,
14948 0xfa0f3d63, 0x8d080df5, 0x3b6e20c8, 0x4c69105e, 0xd56041e4,
14949 0xa2677172, 0x3c03e4d1, 0x4b04d447, 0xd20d85fd, 0xa50ab56b,
14950 0x35b5a8fa, 0x42b2986c, 0xdbbbc9d6, 0xacbcf940, 0x32d86ce3,
14951 0x45df5c75, 0xdcd60dcf, 0xabd13d59, 0x26d930ac, 0x51de003a,
14952 0xc8d75180, 0xbfd06116, 0x21b4f4b5, 0x56b3c423, 0xcfba9599,
14953 0xb8bda50f, 0x2802b89e, 0x5f058808, 0xc60cd9b2, 0xb10be924,
14954 0x2f6f7c87, 0x58684c11, 0xc1611dab, 0xb6662d3d, 0x76dc4190,
14955 0x01db7106, 0x98d220bc, 0xefd5102a, 0x71b18589, 0x06b6b51f,
14956 0x9fbfe4a5, 0xe8b8d433, 0x7807c9a2, 0x0f00f934, 0x9609a88e,
14957 0xe10e9818, 0x7f6a0dbb, 0x086d3d2d, 0x91646c97, 0xe6635c01,
14958 0x6b6b51f4, 0x1c6c6162, 0x856530d8, 0xf262004e, 0x6c0695ed,
14959 0x1b01a57b, 0x8208f4c1, 0xf50fc457, 0x65b0d9c6, 0x12b7e950,
14960 0x8bbeb8ea, 0xfcb9887c, 0x62dd1ddf, 0x15da2d49, 0x8cd37cf3,
14961 0xfbd44c65, 0x4db26158, 0x3ab551ce, 0xa3bc0074, 0xd4bb30e2,
14962 0x4adfa541, 0x3dd895d7, 0xa4d1c46d, 0xd3d6f4fb, 0x4369e96a,
14963 0x346ed9fc, 0xad678846, 0xda60b8d0, 0x44042d73, 0x33031de5,
14964 0xaa0a4c5f, 0xdd0d7cc9, 0x5005713c, 0x270241aa, 0xbe0b1010,
14965 0xc90c2086, 0x5768b525, 0x206f85b3, 0xb966d409, 0xce61e49f,
14966 0x5edef90e, 0x29d9c998, 0xb0d09822, 0xc7d7a8b4, 0x59b33d17,
14967 0x2eb40d81, 0xb7bd5c3b, 0xc0ba6cad, 0xedb88320, 0x9abfb3b6,
14968 0x03b6e20c, 0x74b1d29a, 0xead54739, 0x9dd277af, 0x04db2615,
14969 0x73dc1683, 0xe3630b12, 0x94643b84, 0x0d6d6a3e, 0x7a6a5aa8,
14970 0xe40ecf0b, 0x9309ff9d, 0x0a00ae27, 0x7d079eb1, 0xf00f9344,
14971 0x8708a3d2, 0x1e01f268, 0x6906c2fe, 0xf762575d, 0x806567cb,
14972 0x196c3671, 0x6e6b06e7, 0xfed41b76, 0x89d32be0, 0x10da7a5a,
14973 0x67dd4acc, 0xf9b9df6f, 0x8ebeeff9, 0x17b7be43, 0x60b08ed5,
14974 0xd6d6a3e8, 0xa1d1937e, 0x38d8c2c4, 0x4fdff252, 0xd1bb67f1,
14975 0xa6bc5767, 0x3fb506dd, 0x48b2364b, 0xd80d2bda, 0xaf0a1b4c,
14976 0x36034af6, 0x41047a60, 0xdf60efc3, 0xa867df55, 0x316e8eef,
14977 0x4669be79, 0xcb61b38c, 0xbc66831a, 0x256fd2a0, 0x5268e236,
14978 0xcc0c7795, 0xbb0b4703, 0x220216b9, 0x5505262f, 0xc5ba3bbe,
14979 0xb2bd0b28, 0x2bb45a92, 0x5cb36a04, 0xc2d7ffa7, 0xb5d0cf31,
14980 0x2cd99e8b, 0x5bdeae1d, 0x9b64c2b0, 0xec63f226, 0x756aa39c,
14981 0x026d930a, 0x9c0906a9, 0xeb0e363f, 0x72076785, 0x05005713,
14982 0x95bf4a82, 0xe2b87a14, 0x7bb12bae, 0x0cb61b38, 0x92d28e9b,
14983 0xe5d5be0d, 0x7cdcefb7, 0x0bdbdf21, 0x86d3d2d4, 0xf1d4e242,
14984 0x68ddb3f8, 0x1fda836e, 0x81be16cd, 0xf6b9265b, 0x6fb077e1,
14985 0x18b74777, 0x88085ae6, 0xff0f6a70, 0x66063bca, 0x11010b5c,
14986 0x8f659eff, 0xf862ae69, 0x616bffd3, 0x166ccf45, 0xa00ae278,
14987 0xd70dd2ee, 0x4e048354, 0x3903b3c2, 0xa7672661, 0xd06016f7,
14988 0x4969474d, 0x3e6e77db, 0xaed16a4a, 0xd9d65adc, 0x40df0b66,
14989 0x37d83bf0, 0xa9bcae53, 0xdebb9ec5, 0x47b2cf7f, 0x30b5ffe9,
14990 0xbdbdf21c, 0xcabac28a, 0x53b39330, 0x24b4a3a6, 0xbad03605,
14991 0xcdd70693, 0x54de5729, 0x23d967bf, 0xb3667a2e, 0xc4614ab8,
14992 0x5d681b02, 0x2a6f2b94, 0xb40bbe37, 0xc30c8ea1, 0x5a05df1b,
14993 0x2d02ef8d
14994 @};
14995 unsigned char *end;
14996
14997 crc = ~crc & 0xffffffff;
14998 for (end = buf + len; buf < end; ++buf)
14999 crc = crc32_table[(crc ^ *buf) & 0xff] ^ (crc >> 8);
15000 return ~crc & 0xffffffff;
15001 @}
15002 @end smallexample
15003
15004 @noindent
15005 This computation does not apply to the ``build ID'' method.
15006
15007
15008 @node Symbol Errors
15009 @section Errors Reading Symbol Files
15010
15011 While reading a symbol file, @value{GDBN} occasionally encounters problems,
15012 such as symbol types it does not recognize, or known bugs in compiler
15013 output. By default, @value{GDBN} does not notify you of such problems, since
15014 they are relatively common and primarily of interest to people
15015 debugging compilers. If you are interested in seeing information
15016 about ill-constructed symbol tables, you can either ask @value{GDBN} to print
15017 only one message about each such type of problem, no matter how many
15018 times the problem occurs; or you can ask @value{GDBN} to print more messages,
15019 to see how many times the problems occur, with the @code{set
15020 complaints} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
15021 Messages}).
15022
15023 The messages currently printed, and their meanings, include:
15024
15025 @table @code
15026 @item inner block not inside outer block in @var{symbol}
15027
15028 The symbol information shows where symbol scopes begin and end
15029 (such as at the start of a function or a block of statements). This
15030 error indicates that an inner scope block is not fully contained
15031 in its outer scope blocks.
15032
15033 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the inner block as if it had
15034 the same scope as the outer block. In the error message, @var{symbol}
15035 may be shown as ``@code{(don't know)}'' if the outer block is not a
15036 function.
15037
15038 @item block at @var{address} out of order
15039
15040 The symbol information for symbol scope blocks should occur in
15041 order of increasing addresses. This error indicates that it does not
15042 do so.
15043
15044 @value{GDBN} does not circumvent this problem, and has trouble
15045 locating symbols in the source file whose symbols it is reading. (You
15046 can often determine what source file is affected by specifying
15047 @code{set verbose on}. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
15048 Messages}.)
15049
15050 @item bad block start address patched
15051
15052 The symbol information for a symbol scope block has a start address
15053 smaller than the address of the preceding source line. This is known
15054 to occur in the SunOS 4.1.1 (and earlier) C compiler.
15055
15056 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the symbol scope block as
15057 starting on the previous source line.
15058
15059 @item bad string table offset in symbol @var{n}
15060
15061 @cindex foo
15062 Symbol number @var{n} contains a pointer into the string table which is
15063 larger than the size of the string table.
15064
15065 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by considering the symbol to have the
15066 name @code{foo}, which may cause other problems if many symbols end up
15067 with this name.
15068
15069 @item unknown symbol type @code{0x@var{nn}}
15070
15071 The symbol information contains new data types that @value{GDBN} does
15072 not yet know how to read. @code{0x@var{nn}} is the symbol type of the
15073 uncomprehended information, in hexadecimal.
15074
15075 @value{GDBN} circumvents the error by ignoring this symbol information.
15076 This usually allows you to debug your program, though certain symbols
15077 are not accessible. If you encounter such a problem and feel like
15078 debugging it, you can debug @code{@value{GDBP}} with itself, breakpoint
15079 on @code{complain}, then go up to the function @code{read_dbx_symtab}
15080 and examine @code{*bufp} to see the symbol.
15081
15082 @item stub type has NULL name
15083
15084 @value{GDBN} could not find the full definition for a struct or class.
15085
15086 @item const/volatile indicator missing (ok if using g++ v1.x), got@dots{}
15087 The symbol information for a C@t{++} member function is missing some
15088 information that recent versions of the compiler should have output for
15089 it.
15090
15091 @item info mismatch between compiler and debugger
15092
15093 @value{GDBN} could not parse a type specification output by the compiler.
15094
15095 @end table
15096
15097 @node Data Files
15098 @section GDB Data Files
15099
15100 @cindex prefix for data files
15101 @value{GDBN} will sometimes read an auxiliary data file. These files
15102 are kept in a directory known as the @dfn{data directory}.
15103
15104 You can set the data directory's name, and view the name @value{GDBN}
15105 is currently using.
15106
15107 @table @code
15108 @kindex set data-directory
15109 @item set data-directory @var{directory}
15110 Set the directory which @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files
15111 to @var{directory}.
15112
15113 @kindex show data-directory
15114 @item show data-directory
15115 Show the directory @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files.
15116 @end table
15117
15118 @cindex default data directory
15119 @cindex @samp{--with-gdb-datadir}
15120 You can set the default data directory by using the configure-time
15121 @samp{--with-gdb-datadir} option. If the data directory is inside
15122 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
15123 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default data directory will be updated
15124 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
15125 location.
15126
15127 @node Targets
15128 @chapter Specifying a Debugging Target
15129
15130 @cindex debugging target
15131 A @dfn{target} is the execution environment occupied by your program.
15132
15133 Often, @value{GDBN} runs in the same host environment as your program;
15134 in that case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when
15135 you use the @code{file} or @code{core} commands. When you need more
15136 flexibility---for example, running @value{GDBN} on a physically separate
15137 host, or controlling a standalone system over a serial port or a
15138 realtime system over a TCP/IP connection---you can use the @code{target}
15139 command to specify one of the target types configured for @value{GDBN}
15140 (@pxref{Target Commands, ,Commands for Managing Targets}).
15141
15142 @cindex target architecture
15143 It is possible to build @value{GDBN} for several different @dfn{target
15144 architectures}. When @value{GDBN} is built like that, you can choose
15145 one of the available architectures with the @kbd{set architecture}
15146 command.
15147
15148 @table @code
15149 @kindex set architecture
15150 @kindex show architecture
15151 @item set architecture @var{arch}
15152 This command sets the current target architecture to @var{arch}. The
15153 value of @var{arch} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition to one of the
15154 supported architectures.
15155
15156 @item show architecture
15157 Show the current target architecture.
15158
15159 @item set processor
15160 @itemx processor
15161 @kindex set processor
15162 @kindex show processor
15163 These are alias commands for, respectively, @code{set architecture}
15164 and @code{show architecture}.
15165 @end table
15166
15167 @menu
15168 * Active Targets:: Active targets
15169 * Target Commands:: Commands for managing targets
15170 * Byte Order:: Choosing target byte order
15171 @end menu
15172
15173 @node Active Targets
15174 @section Active Targets
15175
15176 @cindex stacking targets
15177 @cindex active targets
15178 @cindex multiple targets
15179
15180 There are three classes of targets: processes, core files, and
15181 executable files. @value{GDBN} can work concurrently on up to three
15182 active targets, one in each class. This allows you to (for example)
15183 start a process and inspect its activity without abandoning your work on
15184 a core file.
15185
15186 For example, if you execute @samp{gdb a.out}, then the executable file
15187 @code{a.out} is the only active target. If you designate a core file as
15188 well---presumably from a prior run that crashed and coredumped---then
15189 @value{GDBN} has two active targets and uses them in tandem, looking
15190 first in the corefile target, then in the executable file, to satisfy
15191 requests for memory addresses. (Typically, these two classes of target
15192 are complementary, since core files contain only a program's
15193 read-write memory---variables and so on---plus machine status, while
15194 executable files contain only the program text and initialized data.)
15195
15196 When you type @code{run}, your executable file becomes an active process
15197 target as well. When a process target is active, all @value{GDBN}
15198 commands requesting memory addresses refer to that target; addresses in
15199 an active core file or executable file target are obscured while the
15200 process target is active.
15201
15202 Use the @code{core-file} and @code{exec-file} commands to select a new
15203 core file or executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify
15204 Files}). To specify as a target a process that is already running, use
15205 the @code{attach} command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running
15206 Process}).
15207
15208 @node Target Commands
15209 @section Commands for Managing Targets
15210
15211 @table @code
15212 @item target @var{type} @var{parameters}
15213 Connects the @value{GDBN} host environment to a target machine or
15214 process. A target is typically a protocol for talking to debugging
15215 facilities. You use the argument @var{type} to specify the type or
15216 protocol of the target machine.
15217
15218 Further @var{parameters} are interpreted by the target protocol, but
15219 typically include things like device names or host names to connect
15220 with, process numbers, and baud rates.
15221
15222 The @code{target} command does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again
15223 after executing the command.
15224
15225 @kindex help target
15226 @item help target
15227 Displays the names of all targets available. To display targets
15228 currently selected, use either @code{info target} or @code{info files}
15229 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
15230
15231 @item help target @var{name}
15232 Describe a particular target, including any parameters necessary to
15233 select it.
15234
15235 @kindex set gnutarget
15236 @item set gnutarget @var{args}
15237 @value{GDBN} uses its own library BFD to read your files. @value{GDBN}
15238 knows whether it is reading an @dfn{executable},
15239 a @dfn{core}, or a @dfn{.o} file; however, you can specify the file format
15240 with the @code{set gnutarget} command. Unlike most @code{target} commands,
15241 with @code{gnutarget} the @code{target} refers to a program, not a machine.
15242
15243 @quotation
15244 @emph{Warning:} To specify a file format with @code{set gnutarget},
15245 you must know the actual BFD name.
15246 @end quotation
15247
15248 @noindent
15249 @xref{Files, , Commands to Specify Files}.
15250
15251 @kindex show gnutarget
15252 @item show gnutarget
15253 Use the @code{show gnutarget} command to display what file format
15254 @code{gnutarget} is set to read. If you have not set @code{gnutarget},
15255 @value{GDBN} will determine the file format for each file automatically,
15256 and @code{show gnutarget} displays @samp{The current BDF target is "auto"}.
15257 @end table
15258
15259 @cindex common targets
15260 Here are some common targets (available, or not, depending on the GDB
15261 configuration):
15262
15263 @table @code
15264 @kindex target
15265 @item target exec @var{program}
15266 @cindex executable file target
15267 An executable file. @samp{target exec @var{program}} is the same as
15268 @samp{exec-file @var{program}}.
15269
15270 @item target core @var{filename}
15271 @cindex core dump file target
15272 A core dump file. @samp{target core @var{filename}} is the same as
15273 @samp{core-file @var{filename}}.
15274
15275 @item target remote @var{medium}
15276 @cindex remote target
15277 A remote system connected to @value{GDBN} via a serial line or network
15278 connection. This command tells @value{GDBN} to use its own remote
15279 protocol over @var{medium} for debugging. @xref{Remote Debugging}.
15280
15281 For example, if you have a board connected to @file{/dev/ttya} on the
15282 machine running @value{GDBN}, you could say:
15283
15284 @smallexample
15285 target remote /dev/ttya
15286 @end smallexample
15287
15288 @code{target remote} supports the @code{load} command. This is only
15289 useful if you have some other way of getting the stub to the target
15290 system, and you can put it somewhere in memory where it won't get
15291 clobbered by the download.
15292
15293 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
15294 @cindex built-in simulator target
15295 Builtin CPU simulator. @value{GDBN} includes simulators for most architectures.
15296 In general,
15297 @smallexample
15298 target sim
15299 load
15300 run
15301 @end smallexample
15302 @noindent
15303 works; however, you cannot assume that a specific memory map, device
15304 drivers, or even basic I/O is available, although some simulators do
15305 provide these. For info about any processor-specific simulator details,
15306 see the appropriate section in @ref{Embedded Processors, ,Embedded
15307 Processors}.
15308
15309 @end table
15310
15311 Some configurations may include these targets as well:
15312
15313 @table @code
15314
15315 @item target nrom @var{dev}
15316 @cindex NetROM ROM emulator target
15317 NetROM ROM emulator. This target only supports downloading.
15318
15319 @end table
15320
15321 Different targets are available on different configurations of @value{GDBN};
15322 your configuration may have more or fewer targets.
15323
15324 Many remote targets require you to download the executable's code once
15325 you've successfully established a connection. You may wish to control
15326 various aspects of this process.
15327
15328 @table @code
15329
15330 @item set hash
15331 @kindex set hash@r{, for remote monitors}
15332 @cindex hash mark while downloading
15333 This command controls whether a hash mark @samp{#} is displayed while
15334 downloading a file to the remote monitor. If on, a hash mark is
15335 displayed after each S-record is successfully downloaded to the
15336 monitor.
15337
15338 @item show hash
15339 @kindex show hash@r{, for remote monitors}
15340 Show the current status of displaying the hash mark.
15341
15342 @item set debug monitor
15343 @kindex set debug monitor
15344 @cindex display remote monitor communications
15345 Enable or disable display of communications messages between
15346 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
15347
15348 @item show debug monitor
15349 @kindex show debug monitor
15350 Show the current status of displaying communications between
15351 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
15352 @end table
15353
15354 @table @code
15355
15356 @kindex load @var{filename}
15357 @item load @var{filename}
15358 @anchor{load}
15359 Depending on what remote debugging facilities are configured into
15360 @value{GDBN}, the @code{load} command may be available. Where it exists, it
15361 is meant to make @var{filename} (an executable) available for debugging
15362 on the remote system---by downloading, or dynamic linking, for example.
15363 @code{load} also records the @var{filename} symbol table in @value{GDBN}, like
15364 the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
15365
15366 If your @value{GDBN} does not have a @code{load} command, attempting to
15367 execute it gets the error message ``@code{You can't do that when your
15368 target is @dots{}}''
15369
15370 The file is loaded at whatever address is specified in the executable.
15371 For some object file formats, you can specify the load address when you
15372 link the program; for other formats, like a.out, the object file format
15373 specifies a fixed address.
15374 @c FIXME! This would be a good place for an xref to the GNU linker doc.
15375
15376 Depending on the remote side capabilities, @value{GDBN} may be able to
15377 load programs into flash memory.
15378
15379 @code{load} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
15380 @end table
15381
15382 @node Byte Order
15383 @section Choosing Target Byte Order
15384
15385 @cindex choosing target byte order
15386 @cindex target byte order
15387
15388 Some types of processors, such as the MIPS, PowerPC, and Renesas SH,
15389 offer the ability to run either big-endian or little-endian byte
15390 orders. Usually the executable or symbol will include a bit to
15391 designate the endian-ness, and you will not need to worry about
15392 which to use. However, you may still find it useful to adjust
15393 @value{GDBN}'s idea of processor endian-ness manually.
15394
15395 @table @code
15396 @kindex set endian
15397 @item set endian big
15398 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is big-endian.
15399
15400 @item set endian little
15401 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is little-endian.
15402
15403 @item set endian auto
15404 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the byte order associated with the
15405 executable.
15406
15407 @item show endian
15408 Display @value{GDBN}'s current idea of the target byte order.
15409
15410 @end table
15411
15412 Note that these commands merely adjust interpretation of symbolic
15413 data on the host, and that they have absolutely no effect on the
15414 target system.
15415
15416
15417 @node Remote Debugging
15418 @chapter Debugging Remote Programs
15419 @cindex remote debugging
15420
15421 If you are trying to debug a program running on a machine that cannot run
15422 @value{GDBN} in the usual way, it is often useful to use remote debugging.
15423 For example, you might use remote debugging on an operating system kernel,
15424 or on a small system which does not have a general purpose operating system
15425 powerful enough to run a full-featured debugger.
15426
15427 Some configurations of @value{GDBN} have special serial or TCP/IP interfaces
15428 to make this work with particular debugging targets. In addition,
15429 @value{GDBN} comes with a generic serial protocol (specific to @value{GDBN},
15430 but not specific to any particular target system) which you can use if you
15431 write the remote stubs---the code that runs on the remote system to
15432 communicate with @value{GDBN}.
15433
15434 Other remote targets may be available in your
15435 configuration of @value{GDBN}; use @code{help target} to list them.
15436
15437 @menu
15438 * Connecting:: Connecting to a remote target
15439 * File Transfer:: Sending files to a remote system
15440 * Server:: Using the gdbserver program
15441 * Remote Configuration:: Remote configuration
15442 * Remote Stub:: Implementing a remote stub
15443 @end menu
15444
15445 @node Connecting
15446 @section Connecting to a Remote Target
15447
15448 On the @value{GDBN} host machine, you will need an unstripped copy of
15449 your program, since @value{GDBN} needs symbol and debugging information.
15450 Start up @value{GDBN} as usual, using the name of the local copy of your
15451 program as the first argument.
15452
15453 @cindex @code{target remote}
15454 @value{GDBN} can communicate with the target over a serial line, or
15455 over an @acronym{IP} network using @acronym{TCP} or @acronym{UDP}. In
15456 each case, @value{GDBN} uses the same protocol for debugging your
15457 program; only the medium carrying the debugging packets varies. The
15458 @code{target remote} command establishes a connection to the target.
15459 Its arguments indicate which medium to use:
15460
15461 @table @code
15462
15463 @item target remote @var{serial-device}
15464 @cindex serial line, @code{target remote}
15465 Use @var{serial-device} to communicate with the target. For example,
15466 to use a serial line connected to the device named @file{/dev/ttyb}:
15467
15468 @smallexample
15469 target remote /dev/ttyb
15470 @end smallexample
15471
15472 If you're using a serial line, you may want to give @value{GDBN} the
15473 @w{@samp{--baud}} option, or use the @code{set remotebaud} command
15474 (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remotebaud}) before the
15475 @code{target} command.
15476
15477 @item target remote @code{@var{host}:@var{port}}
15478 @itemx target remote @code{tcp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
15479 @cindex @acronym{TCP} port, @code{target remote}
15480 Debug using a @acronym{TCP} connection to @var{port} on @var{host}.
15481 The @var{host} may be either a host name or a numeric @acronym{IP}
15482 address; @var{port} must be a decimal number. The @var{host} could be
15483 the target machine itself, if it is directly connected to the net, or
15484 it might be a terminal server which in turn has a serial line to the
15485 target.
15486
15487 For example, to connect to port 2828 on a terminal server named
15488 @code{manyfarms}:
15489
15490 @smallexample
15491 target remote manyfarms:2828
15492 @end smallexample
15493
15494 If your remote target is actually running on the same machine as your
15495 debugger session (e.g.@: a simulator for your target running on the
15496 same host), you can omit the hostname. For example, to connect to
15497 port 1234 on your local machine:
15498
15499 @smallexample
15500 target remote :1234
15501 @end smallexample
15502 @noindent
15503
15504 Note that the colon is still required here.
15505
15506 @item target remote @code{udp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
15507 @cindex @acronym{UDP} port, @code{target remote}
15508 Debug using @acronym{UDP} packets to @var{port} on @var{host}. For example, to
15509 connect to @acronym{UDP} port 2828 on a terminal server named @code{manyfarms}:
15510
15511 @smallexample
15512 target remote udp:manyfarms:2828
15513 @end smallexample
15514
15515 When using a @acronym{UDP} connection for remote debugging, you should
15516 keep in mind that the `U' stands for ``Unreliable''. @acronym{UDP}
15517 can silently drop packets on busy or unreliable networks, which will
15518 cause havoc with your debugging session.
15519
15520 @item target remote | @var{command}
15521 @cindex pipe, @code{target remote} to
15522 Run @var{command} in the background and communicate with it using a
15523 pipe. The @var{command} is a shell command, to be parsed and expanded
15524 by the system's command shell, @code{/bin/sh}; it should expect remote
15525 protocol packets on its standard input, and send replies on its
15526 standard output. You could use this to run a stand-alone simulator
15527 that speaks the remote debugging protocol, to make net connections
15528 using programs like @code{ssh}, or for other similar tricks.
15529
15530 If @var{command} closes its standard output (perhaps by exiting),
15531 @value{GDBN} will try to send it a @code{SIGTERM} signal. (If the
15532 program has already exited, this will have no effect.)
15533
15534 @end table
15535
15536 Once the connection has been established, you can use all the usual
15537 commands to examine and change data. The remote program is already
15538 running; you can use @kbd{step} and @kbd{continue}, and you do not
15539 need to use @kbd{run}.
15540
15541 @cindex interrupting remote programs
15542 @cindex remote programs, interrupting
15543 Whenever @value{GDBN} is waiting for the remote program, if you type the
15544 interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}), @value{GDBN} attempts to stop the
15545 program. This may or may not succeed, depending in part on the hardware
15546 and the serial drivers the remote system uses. If you type the
15547 interrupt character once again, @value{GDBN} displays this prompt:
15548
15549 @smallexample
15550 Interrupted while waiting for the program.
15551 Give up (and stop debugging it)? (y or n)
15552 @end smallexample
15553
15554 If you type @kbd{y}, @value{GDBN} abandons the remote debugging session.
15555 (If you decide you want to try again later, you can use @samp{target
15556 remote} again to connect once more.) If you type @kbd{n}, @value{GDBN}
15557 goes back to waiting.
15558
15559 @table @code
15560 @kindex detach (remote)
15561 @item detach
15562 When you have finished debugging the remote program, you can use the
15563 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control.
15564 Detaching from the target normally resumes its execution, but the results
15565 will depend on your particular remote stub. After the @code{detach}
15566 command, @value{GDBN} is free to connect to another target.
15567
15568 @kindex disconnect
15569 @item disconnect
15570 The @code{disconnect} command behaves like @code{detach}, except that
15571 the target is generally not resumed. It will wait for @value{GDBN}
15572 (this instance or another one) to connect and continue debugging. After
15573 the @code{disconnect} command, @value{GDBN} is again free to connect to
15574 another target.
15575
15576 @cindex send command to remote monitor
15577 @cindex extend @value{GDBN} for remote targets
15578 @cindex add new commands for external monitor
15579 @kindex monitor
15580 @item monitor @var{cmd}
15581 This command allows you to send arbitrary commands directly to the
15582 remote monitor. Since @value{GDBN} doesn't care about the commands it
15583 sends like this, this command is the way to extend @value{GDBN}---you
15584 can add new commands that only the external monitor will understand
15585 and implement.
15586 @end table
15587
15588 @node File Transfer
15589 @section Sending files to a remote system
15590 @cindex remote target, file transfer
15591 @cindex file transfer
15592 @cindex sending files to remote systems
15593
15594 Some remote targets offer the ability to transfer files over the same
15595 connection used to communicate with @value{GDBN}. This is convenient
15596 for targets accessible through other means, e.g.@: @sc{gnu}/Linux systems
15597 running @code{gdbserver} over a network interface. For other targets,
15598 e.g.@: embedded devices with only a single serial port, this may be
15599 the only way to upload or download files.
15600
15601 Not all remote targets support these commands.
15602
15603 @table @code
15604 @kindex remote put
15605 @item remote put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
15606 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
15607 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
15608
15609 @kindex remote get
15610 @item remote get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
15611 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
15612 on the host system.
15613
15614 @kindex remote delete
15615 @item remote delete @var{targetfile}
15616 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
15617
15618 @end table
15619
15620 @node Server
15621 @section Using the @code{gdbserver} Program
15622
15623 @kindex gdbserver
15624 @cindex remote connection without stubs
15625 @code{gdbserver} is a control program for Unix-like systems, which
15626 allows you to connect your program with a remote @value{GDBN} via
15627 @code{target remote}---but without linking in the usual debugging stub.
15628
15629 @code{gdbserver} is not a complete replacement for the debugging stubs,
15630 because it requires essentially the same operating-system facilities
15631 that @value{GDBN} itself does. In fact, a system that can run
15632 @code{gdbserver} to connect to a remote @value{GDBN} could also run
15633 @value{GDBN} locally! @code{gdbserver} is sometimes useful nevertheless,
15634 because it is a much smaller program than @value{GDBN} itself. It is
15635 also easier to port than all of @value{GDBN}, so you may be able to get
15636 started more quickly on a new system by using @code{gdbserver}.
15637 Finally, if you develop code for real-time systems, you may find that
15638 the tradeoffs involved in real-time operation make it more convenient to
15639 do as much development work as possible on another system, for example
15640 by cross-compiling. You can use @code{gdbserver} to make a similar
15641 choice for debugging.
15642
15643 @value{GDBN} and @code{gdbserver} communicate via either a serial line
15644 or a TCP connection, using the standard @value{GDBN} remote serial
15645 protocol.
15646
15647 @quotation
15648 @emph{Warning:} @code{gdbserver} does not have any built-in security.
15649 Do not run @code{gdbserver} connected to any public network; a
15650 @value{GDBN} connection to @code{gdbserver} provides access to the
15651 target system with the same privileges as the user running
15652 @code{gdbserver}.
15653 @end quotation
15654
15655 @subsection Running @code{gdbserver}
15656 @cindex arguments, to @code{gdbserver}
15657
15658 Run @code{gdbserver} on the target system. You need a copy of the
15659 program you want to debug, including any libraries it requires.
15660 @code{gdbserver} does not need your program's symbol table, so you can
15661 strip the program if necessary to save space. @value{GDBN} on the host
15662 system does all the symbol handling.
15663
15664 To use the server, you must tell it how to communicate with @value{GDBN};
15665 the name of your program; and the arguments for your program. The usual
15666 syntax is:
15667
15668 @smallexample
15669 target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [ @var{args} @dots{} ]
15670 @end smallexample
15671
15672 @var{comm} is either a device name (to use a serial line) or a TCP
15673 hostname and portnumber. For example, to debug Emacs with the argument
15674 @samp{foo.txt} and communicate with @value{GDBN} over the serial port
15675 @file{/dev/com1}:
15676
15677 @smallexample
15678 target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
15679 @end smallexample
15680
15681 @code{gdbserver} waits passively for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate
15682 with it.
15683
15684 To use a TCP connection instead of a serial line:
15685
15686 @smallexample
15687 target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
15688 @end smallexample
15689
15690 The only difference from the previous example is the first argument,
15691 specifying that you are communicating with the host @value{GDBN} via
15692 TCP. The @samp{host:2345} argument means that @code{gdbserver} is to
15693 expect a TCP connection from machine @samp{host} to local TCP port 2345.
15694 (Currently, the @samp{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number
15695 you want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any
15696 TCP ports already in use on the target system (for example, @code{23} is
15697 reserved for @code{telnet}).@footnote{If you choose a port number that
15698 conflicts with another service, @code{gdbserver} prints an error message
15699 and exits.} You must use the same port number with the host @value{GDBN}
15700 @code{target remote} command.
15701
15702 @subsubsection Attaching to a Running Program
15703
15704 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
15705 This is accomplished via the @code{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
15706
15707 @smallexample
15708 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
15709 @end smallexample
15710
15711 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't necessary
15712 to point @code{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
15713
15714 @pindex pidof
15715 @cindex attach to a program by name
15716 You can debug processes by name instead of process ID if your target has the
15717 @code{pidof} utility:
15718
15719 @smallexample
15720 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} `pidof @var{program}`
15721 @end smallexample
15722
15723 In case more than one copy of @var{program} is running, or @var{program}
15724 has multiple threads, most versions of @code{pidof} support the
15725 @code{-s} option to only return the first process ID.
15726
15727 @subsubsection Multi-Process Mode for @code{gdbserver}
15728 @cindex gdbserver, multiple processes
15729 @cindex multiple processes with gdbserver
15730
15731 When you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target remote},
15732 @code{gdbserver} debugs the specified program only once. When the
15733 program exits, or you detach from it, @value{GDBN} closes the connection
15734 and @code{gdbserver} exits.
15735
15736 If you connect using @kbd{target extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver}
15737 enters multi-process mode. When the debugged program exits, or you
15738 detach from it, @value{GDBN} stays connected to @code{gdbserver} even
15739 though no program is running. The @code{run} and @code{attach}
15740 commands instruct @code{gdbserver} to run or attach to a new program.
15741 The @code{run} command uses @code{set remote exec-file} (@pxref{set
15742 remote exec-file}) to select the program to run. Command line
15743 arguments are supported, except for wildcard expansion and I/O
15744 redirection (@pxref{Arguments}).
15745
15746 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
15747 or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
15748 Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
15749 the program you want to debug.
15750
15751 @code{gdbserver} does not automatically exit in multi-process mode.
15752 You can terminate it by using @code{monitor exit}
15753 (@pxref{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}).
15754
15755 @subsubsection Other Command-Line Arguments for @code{gdbserver}
15756
15757 The @option{--debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display extra
15758 status information about the debugging process. The
15759 @option{--remote-debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display
15760 remote protocol debug output. These options are intended for
15761 @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to the developers.
15762
15763 The @option{--wrapper} option specifies a wrapper to launch programs
15764 for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
15765 wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
15766 @kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
15767
15768 @code{gdbserver} runs the specified wrapper program with a combined
15769 command line including the wrapper arguments, then the name of the
15770 program to debug, then any arguments to the program. The wrapper
15771 runs until it executes your program, and then @value{GDBN} gains control.
15772
15773 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
15774 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
15775 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
15776 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
15777
15778 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
15779 the debugged program, without setting the variable in @code{gdbserver}'s
15780 environment:
15781
15782 @smallexample
15783 $ gdbserver --wrapper env LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so -- :2222 ./testprog
15784 @end smallexample
15785
15786 @subsection Connecting to @code{gdbserver}
15787
15788 Run @value{GDBN} on the host system.
15789
15790 First make sure you have the necessary symbol files. Load symbols for
15791 your application using the @code{file} command before you connect. Use
15792 @code{set sysroot} to locate target libraries (unless your @value{GDBN}
15793 was compiled with the correct sysroot using @code{--with-sysroot}).
15794
15795 The symbol file and target libraries must exactly match the executable
15796 and libraries on the target, with one exception: the files on the host
15797 system should not be stripped, even if the files on the target system
15798 are. Mismatched or missing files will lead to confusing results
15799 during debugging. On @sc{gnu}/Linux targets, mismatched or missing
15800 files may also prevent @code{gdbserver} from debugging multi-threaded
15801 programs.
15802
15803 Connect to your target (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
15804 For TCP connections, you must start up @code{gdbserver} prior to using
15805 the @code{target remote} command. Otherwise you may get an error whose
15806 text depends on the host system, but which usually looks something like
15807 @samp{Connection refused}. Don't use the @code{load}
15808 command in @value{GDBN} when using @code{gdbserver}, since the program is
15809 already on the target.
15810
15811 @subsection Monitor Commands for @code{gdbserver}
15812 @cindex monitor commands, for @code{gdbserver}
15813 @anchor{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}
15814
15815 During a @value{GDBN} session using @code{gdbserver}, you can use the
15816 @code{monitor} command to send special requests to @code{gdbserver}.
15817 Here are the available commands.
15818
15819 @table @code
15820 @item monitor help
15821 List the available monitor commands.
15822
15823 @item monitor set debug 0
15824 @itemx monitor set debug 1
15825 Disable or enable general debugging messages.
15826
15827 @item monitor set remote-debug 0
15828 @itemx monitor set remote-debug 1
15829 Disable or enable specific debugging messages associated with the remote
15830 protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}).
15831
15832 @item monitor set libthread-db-search-path [PATH]
15833 @cindex gdbserver, search path for @code{libthread_db}
15834 When this command is issued, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
15835 directories to search for @code{libthread_db} (@pxref{Threads,,set
15836 libthread-db-search-path}). If you omit @var{path},
15837 @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to an empty list.
15838
15839 @item monitor exit
15840 Tell gdbserver to exit immediately. This command should be followed by
15841 @code{disconnect} to close the debugging session. @code{gdbserver} will
15842 detach from any attached processes and kill any processes it created.
15843 Use @code{monitor exit} to terminate @code{gdbserver} at the end
15844 of a multi-process mode debug session.
15845
15846 @end table
15847
15848 @subsection Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
15849 @cindex tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
15850
15851 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints and fast
15852 tracepoints.
15853
15854 For fast tracepoints to work, a special library called the
15855 @dfn{in-process agent} (IPA), must be loaded in the inferior process.
15856 This library is built and distributed as an integral part of
15857 @code{gdbserver}.
15858
15859 There are several ways to load the in-process agent in your program:
15860
15861 @table @code
15862 @item Specifying it as dependency at link time
15863
15864 You can link your program dynamically with the in-process agent
15865 library. On most systems, this is accomplished by adding
15866 @code{-linproctrace} to the link command.
15867
15868 @item Using the system's preloading mechanisms
15869
15870 You can force loading the in-process agent at startup time by using
15871 your system's support for preloading shared libraries. Many Unixes
15872 support the concept of preloading user defined libraries. In most
15873 cases, you do that by specifying @code{LD_PRELOAD=libinproctrace.so}
15874 in the environment. See also the description of @code{gdbserver}'s
15875 @option{--wrapper} command line option.
15876
15877 @item Using @value{GDBN} to force loading the agent at run time
15878
15879 On some systems, you can force the inferior to load a shared library,
15880 by calling a dynamic loader function in the inferior that takes care
15881 of dynamically looking up and loading a shared library. On most Unix
15882 systems, the function is @code{dlopen}. You'll use the @code{call}
15883 command for that. For example:
15884
15885 @smallexample
15886 (@value{GDBP}) call dlopen ("libinproctrace.so", ...)
15887 @end smallexample
15888
15889 Note that on most Unix systems, for the @code{dlopen} function to be
15890 available, the program needs to be linked with @code{-ldl}.
15891 @end table
15892
15893 On systems that have a userspace dynamic loader, like most Unix
15894 systems, when you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target
15895 remote}, you'll find that the program is stopped at the dynamic
15896 loader's entry point, and no shared library has been loaded in the
15897 program's address space yet, including the in-process agent. In that
15898 case, before being able to use any of the fast tracepoints features,
15899 you need to let the loader run and load the shared libraries. The
15900 most simple way to do that is to run the program to the main
15901 procedure. E.g., if debugging a C or C@t{++} program, start
15902 @code{gdbserver} like so:
15903
15904 @smallexample
15905 $ gdbserver :9999 myprogram
15906 @end smallexample
15907
15908 Start GDB and connect to @code{gdbserver} like so, and run to main:
15909
15910 @smallexample
15911 $ gdb myprogram
15912 (@value{GDBP}) target remote myhost:9999
15913 0x00007f215893ba60 in ?? () from /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2
15914 (@value{GDBP}) b main
15915 (@value{GDBP}) continue
15916 @end smallexample
15917
15918 The in-process tracing agent library should now be loaded into the
15919 process; you can confirm it with the @code{info sharedlibrary}
15920 command, which will list @file{libinproctrace.so} as loaded in the
15921 process. You are now ready to install fast tracepoints and start
15922 tracing.
15923
15924 @node Remote Configuration
15925 @section Remote Configuration
15926
15927 @kindex set remote
15928 @kindex show remote
15929 This section documents the configuration options available when
15930 debugging remote programs. For the options related to the File I/O
15931 extensions of the remote protocol, see @ref{system,
15932 system-call-allowed}.
15933
15934 @table @code
15935 @item set remoteaddresssize @var{bits}
15936 @cindex address size for remote targets
15937 @cindex bits in remote address
15938 Set the maximum size of address in a memory packet to the specified
15939 number of bits. @value{GDBN} will mask off the address bits above
15940 that number, when it passes addresses to the remote target. The
15941 default value is the number of bits in the target's address.
15942
15943 @item show remoteaddresssize
15944 Show the current value of remote address size in bits.
15945
15946 @item set remotebaud @var{n}
15947 @cindex baud rate for remote targets
15948 Set the baud rate for the remote serial I/O to @var{n} baud. The
15949 value is used to set the speed of the serial port used for debugging
15950 remote targets.
15951
15952 @item show remotebaud
15953 Show the current speed of the remote connection.
15954
15955 @item set remotebreak
15956 @cindex interrupt remote programs
15957 @cindex BREAK signal instead of Ctrl-C
15958 @anchor{set remotebreak}
15959 If set to on, @value{GDBN} sends a @code{BREAK} signal to the remote
15960 when you type @kbd{Ctrl-c} to interrupt the program running
15961 on the remote. If set to off, @value{GDBN} sends the @samp{Ctrl-C}
15962 character instead. The default is off, since most remote systems
15963 expect to see @samp{Ctrl-C} as the interrupt signal.
15964
15965 @item show remotebreak
15966 Show whether @value{GDBN} sends @code{BREAK} or @samp{Ctrl-C} to
15967 interrupt the remote program.
15968
15969 @item set remoteflow on
15970 @itemx set remoteflow off
15971 @kindex set remoteflow
15972 Enable or disable hardware flow control (@code{RTS}/@code{CTS})
15973 on the serial port used to communicate to the remote target.
15974
15975 @item show remoteflow
15976 @kindex show remoteflow
15977 Show the current setting of hardware flow control.
15978
15979 @item set remotelogbase @var{base}
15980 Set the base (a.k.a.@: radix) of logging serial protocol
15981 communications to @var{base}. Supported values of @var{base} are:
15982 @code{ascii}, @code{octal}, and @code{hex}. The default is
15983 @code{ascii}.
15984
15985 @item show remotelogbase
15986 Show the current setting of the radix for logging remote serial
15987 protocol.
15988
15989 @item set remotelogfile @var{file}
15990 @cindex record serial communications on file
15991 Record remote serial communications on the named @var{file}. The
15992 default is not to record at all.
15993
15994 @item show remotelogfile.
15995 Show the current setting of the file name on which to record the
15996 serial communications.
15997
15998 @item set remotetimeout @var{num}
15999 @cindex timeout for serial communications
16000 @cindex remote timeout
16001 Set the timeout limit to wait for the remote target to respond to
16002 @var{num} seconds. The default is 2 seconds.
16003
16004 @item show remotetimeout
16005 Show the current number of seconds to wait for the remote target
16006 responses.
16007
16008 @cindex limit hardware breakpoints and watchpoints
16009 @cindex remote target, limit break- and watchpoints
16010 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}
16011 @anchor{set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit}
16012 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit @var{limit}
16013 @itemx set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit @var{limit}
16014 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} remote hardware breakpoint or
16015 watchpoints. A limit of -1, the default, is treated as unlimited.
16016
16017 @item set remote exec-file @var{filename}
16018 @itemx show remote exec-file
16019 @anchor{set remote exec-file}
16020 @cindex executable file, for remote target
16021 Select the file used for @code{run} with @code{target
16022 extended-remote}. This should be set to a filename valid on the
16023 target system. If it is not set, the target will use a default
16024 filename (e.g.@: the last program run).
16025
16026 @item set remote interrupt-sequence
16027 @cindex interrupt remote programs
16028 @cindex select Ctrl-C, BREAK or BREAK-g
16029 Allow the user to select one of @samp{Ctrl-C}, a @code{BREAK} or
16030 @samp{BREAK-g} as the
16031 sequence to the remote target in order to interrupt the execution.
16032 @samp{Ctrl-C} is a default. Some system prefers @code{BREAK} which
16033 is high level of serial line for some certain time.
16034 Linux kernel prefers @samp{BREAK-g}, a.k.a Magic SysRq g.
16035 It is @code{BREAK} signal followed by character @code{g}.
16036
16037 @item show interrupt-sequence
16038 Show which of @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or @code{BREAK-g}
16039 is sent by @value{GDBN} to interrupt the remote program.
16040 @code{BREAK-g} is BREAK signal followed by @code{g} and
16041 also known as Magic SysRq g.
16042
16043 @item set remote interrupt-on-connect
16044 @cindex send interrupt-sequence on start
16045 Specify whether interrupt-sequence is sent to remote target when
16046 @value{GDBN} connects to it. This is mostly needed when you debug
16047 Linux kernel. Linux kernel expects @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g}
16048 which is known as Magic SysRq g in order to connect @value{GDBN}.
16049
16050 @item show interrupt-on-connect
16051 Show whether interrupt-sequence is sent
16052 to remote target when @value{GDBN} connects to it.
16053
16054 @kindex set tcp
16055 @kindex show tcp
16056 @item set tcp auto-retry on
16057 @cindex auto-retry, for remote TCP target
16058 Enable auto-retry for remote TCP connections. This is useful if the remote
16059 debugging agent is launched in parallel with @value{GDBN}; there is a race
16060 condition because the agent may not become ready to accept the connection
16061 before @value{GDBN} attempts to connect. When auto-retry is
16062 enabled, if the initial attempt to connect fails, @value{GDBN} reattempts
16063 to establish the connection using the timeout specified by
16064 @code{set tcp connect-timeout}.
16065
16066 @item set tcp auto-retry off
16067 Do not auto-retry failed TCP connections.
16068
16069 @item show tcp auto-retry
16070 Show the current auto-retry setting.
16071
16072 @item set tcp connect-timeout @var{seconds}
16073 @cindex connection timeout, for remote TCP target
16074 @cindex timeout, for remote target connection
16075 Set the timeout for establishing a TCP connection to the remote target to
16076 @var{seconds}. The timeout affects both polling to retry failed connections
16077 (enabled by @code{set tcp auto-retry on}) and waiting for connections
16078 that are merely slow to complete, and represents an approximate cumulative
16079 value.
16080
16081 @item show tcp connect-timeout
16082 Show the current connection timeout setting.
16083 @end table
16084
16085 @cindex remote packets, enabling and disabling
16086 The @value{GDBN} remote protocol autodetects the packets supported by
16087 your debugging stub. If you need to override the autodetection, you
16088 can use these commands to enable or disable individual packets. Each
16089 packet can be set to @samp{on} (the remote target supports this
16090 packet), @samp{off} (the remote target does not support this packet),
16091 or @samp{auto} (detect remote target support for this packet). They
16092 all default to @samp{auto}. For more information about each packet,
16093 see @ref{Remote Protocol}.
16094
16095 During normal use, you should not have to use any of these commands.
16096 If you do, that may be a bug in your remote debugging stub, or a bug
16097 in @value{GDBN}. You may want to report the problem to the
16098 @value{GDBN} developers.
16099
16100 For each packet @var{name}, the command to enable or disable the
16101 packet is @code{set remote @var{name}-packet}. The available settings
16102 are:
16103
16104 @multitable @columnfractions 0.28 0.32 0.25
16105 @item Command Name
16106 @tab Remote Packet
16107 @tab Related Features
16108
16109 @item @code{fetch-register}
16110 @tab @code{p}
16111 @tab @code{info registers}
16112
16113 @item @code{set-register}
16114 @tab @code{P}
16115 @tab @code{set}
16116
16117 @item @code{binary-download}
16118 @tab @code{X}
16119 @tab @code{load}, @code{set}
16120
16121 @item @code{read-aux-vector}
16122 @tab @code{qXfer:auxv:read}
16123 @tab @code{info auxv}
16124
16125 @item @code{symbol-lookup}
16126 @tab @code{qSymbol}
16127 @tab Detecting multiple threads
16128
16129 @item @code{attach}
16130 @tab @code{vAttach}
16131 @tab @code{attach}
16132
16133 @item @code{verbose-resume}
16134 @tab @code{vCont}
16135 @tab Stepping or resuming multiple threads
16136
16137 @item @code{run}
16138 @tab @code{vRun}
16139 @tab @code{run}
16140
16141 @item @code{software-breakpoint}
16142 @tab @code{Z0}
16143 @tab @code{break}
16144
16145 @item @code{hardware-breakpoint}
16146 @tab @code{Z1}
16147 @tab @code{hbreak}
16148
16149 @item @code{write-watchpoint}
16150 @tab @code{Z2}
16151 @tab @code{watch}
16152
16153 @item @code{read-watchpoint}
16154 @tab @code{Z3}
16155 @tab @code{rwatch}
16156
16157 @item @code{access-watchpoint}
16158 @tab @code{Z4}
16159 @tab @code{awatch}
16160
16161 @item @code{target-features}
16162 @tab @code{qXfer:features:read}
16163 @tab @code{set architecture}
16164
16165 @item @code{library-info}
16166 @tab @code{qXfer:libraries:read}
16167 @tab @code{info sharedlibrary}
16168
16169 @item @code{memory-map}
16170 @tab @code{qXfer:memory-map:read}
16171 @tab @code{info mem}
16172
16173 @item @code{read-spu-object}
16174 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:read}
16175 @tab @code{info spu}
16176
16177 @item @code{write-spu-object}
16178 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:write}
16179 @tab @code{info spu}
16180
16181 @item @code{read-siginfo-object}
16182 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:read}
16183 @tab @code{print $_siginfo}
16184
16185 @item @code{write-siginfo-object}
16186 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:write}
16187 @tab @code{set $_siginfo}
16188
16189 @item @code{threads}
16190 @tab @code{qXfer:threads:read}
16191 @tab @code{info threads}
16192
16193 @item @code{get-thread-local-@*storage-address}
16194 @tab @code{qGetTLSAddr}
16195 @tab Displaying @code{__thread} variables
16196
16197 @item @code{get-thread-information-block-address}
16198 @tab @code{qGetTIBAddr}
16199 @tab Display MS-Windows Thread Information Block.
16200
16201 @item @code{search-memory}
16202 @tab @code{qSearch:memory}
16203 @tab @code{find}
16204
16205 @item @code{supported-packets}
16206 @tab @code{qSupported}
16207 @tab Remote communications parameters
16208
16209 @item @code{pass-signals}
16210 @tab @code{QPassSignals}
16211 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
16212
16213 @item @code{hostio-close-packet}
16214 @tab @code{vFile:close}
16215 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
16216
16217 @item @code{hostio-open-packet}
16218 @tab @code{vFile:open}
16219 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
16220
16221 @item @code{hostio-pread-packet}
16222 @tab @code{vFile:pread}
16223 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
16224
16225 @item @code{hostio-pwrite-packet}
16226 @tab @code{vFile:pwrite}
16227 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
16228
16229 @item @code{hostio-unlink-packet}
16230 @tab @code{vFile:unlink}
16231 @tab @code{remote delete}
16232
16233 @item @code{noack-packet}
16234 @tab @code{QStartNoAckMode}
16235 @tab Packet acknowledgment
16236
16237 @item @code{osdata}
16238 @tab @code{qXfer:osdata:read}
16239 @tab @code{info os}
16240
16241 @item @code{query-attached}
16242 @tab @code{qAttached}
16243 @tab Querying remote process attach state.
16244 @end multitable
16245
16246 @node Remote Stub
16247 @section Implementing a Remote Stub
16248
16249 @cindex debugging stub, example
16250 @cindex remote stub, example
16251 @cindex stub example, remote debugging
16252 The stub files provided with @value{GDBN} implement the target side of the
16253 communication protocol, and the @value{GDBN} side is implemented in the
16254 @value{GDBN} source file @file{remote.c}. Normally, you can simply allow
16255 these subroutines to communicate, and ignore the details. (If you're
16256 implementing your own stub file, you can still ignore the details: start
16257 with one of the existing stub files. @file{sparc-stub.c} is the best
16258 organized, and therefore the easiest to read.)
16259
16260 @cindex remote serial debugging, overview
16261 To debug a program running on another machine (the debugging
16262 @dfn{target} machine), you must first arrange for all the usual
16263 prerequisites for the program to run by itself. For example, for a C
16264 program, you need:
16265
16266 @enumerate
16267 @item
16268 A startup routine to set up the C runtime environment; these usually
16269 have a name like @file{crt0}. The startup routine may be supplied by
16270 your hardware supplier, or you may have to write your own.
16271
16272 @item
16273 A C subroutine library to support your program's
16274 subroutine calls, notably managing input and output.
16275
16276 @item
16277 A way of getting your program to the other machine---for example, a
16278 download program. These are often supplied by the hardware
16279 manufacturer, but you may have to write your own from hardware
16280 documentation.
16281 @end enumerate
16282
16283 The next step is to arrange for your program to use a serial port to
16284 communicate with the machine where @value{GDBN} is running (the @dfn{host}
16285 machine). In general terms, the scheme looks like this:
16286
16287 @table @emph
16288 @item On the host,
16289 @value{GDBN} already understands how to use this protocol; when everything
16290 else is set up, you can simply use the @samp{target remote} command
16291 (@pxref{Targets,,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
16292
16293 @item On the target,
16294 you must link with your program a few special-purpose subroutines that
16295 implement the @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol. The file containing these
16296 subroutines is called a @dfn{debugging stub}.
16297
16298 On certain remote targets, you can use an auxiliary program
16299 @code{gdbserver} instead of linking a stub into your program.
16300 @xref{Server,,Using the @code{gdbserver} Program}, for details.
16301 @end table
16302
16303 The debugging stub is specific to the architecture of the remote
16304 machine; for example, use @file{sparc-stub.c} to debug programs on
16305 @sc{sparc} boards.
16306
16307 @cindex remote serial stub list
16308 These working remote stubs are distributed with @value{GDBN}:
16309
16310 @table @code
16311
16312 @item i386-stub.c
16313 @cindex @file{i386-stub.c}
16314 @cindex Intel
16315 @cindex i386
16316 For Intel 386 and compatible architectures.
16317
16318 @item m68k-stub.c
16319 @cindex @file{m68k-stub.c}
16320 @cindex Motorola 680x0
16321 @cindex m680x0
16322 For Motorola 680x0 architectures.
16323
16324 @item sh-stub.c
16325 @cindex @file{sh-stub.c}
16326 @cindex Renesas
16327 @cindex SH
16328 For Renesas SH architectures.
16329
16330 @item sparc-stub.c
16331 @cindex @file{sparc-stub.c}
16332 @cindex Sparc
16333 For @sc{sparc} architectures.
16334
16335 @item sparcl-stub.c
16336 @cindex @file{sparcl-stub.c}
16337 @cindex Fujitsu
16338 @cindex SparcLite
16339 For Fujitsu @sc{sparclite} architectures.
16340
16341 @end table
16342
16343 The @file{README} file in the @value{GDBN} distribution may list other
16344 recently added stubs.
16345
16346 @menu
16347 * Stub Contents:: What the stub can do for you
16348 * Bootstrapping:: What you must do for the stub
16349 * Debug Session:: Putting it all together
16350 @end menu
16351
16352 @node Stub Contents
16353 @subsection What the Stub Can Do for You
16354
16355 @cindex remote serial stub
16356 The debugging stub for your architecture supplies these three
16357 subroutines:
16358
16359 @table @code
16360 @item set_debug_traps
16361 @findex set_debug_traps
16362 @cindex remote serial stub, initialization
16363 This routine arranges for @code{handle_exception} to run when your
16364 program stops. You must call this subroutine explicitly near the
16365 beginning of your program.
16366
16367 @item handle_exception
16368 @findex handle_exception
16369 @cindex remote serial stub, main routine
16370 This is the central workhorse, but your program never calls it
16371 explicitly---the setup code arranges for @code{handle_exception} to
16372 run when a trap is triggered.
16373
16374 @code{handle_exception} takes control when your program stops during
16375 execution (for example, on a breakpoint), and mediates communications
16376 with @value{GDBN} on the host machine. This is where the communications
16377 protocol is implemented; @code{handle_exception} acts as the @value{GDBN}
16378 representative on the target machine. It begins by sending summary
16379 information on the state of your program, then continues to execute,
16380 retrieving and transmitting any information @value{GDBN} needs, until you
16381 execute a @value{GDBN} command that makes your program resume; at that point,
16382 @code{handle_exception} returns control to your own code on the target
16383 machine.
16384
16385 @item breakpoint
16386 @cindex @code{breakpoint} subroutine, remote
16387 Use this auxiliary subroutine to make your program contain a
16388 breakpoint. Depending on the particular situation, this may be the only
16389 way for @value{GDBN} to get control. For instance, if your target
16390 machine has some sort of interrupt button, you won't need to call this;
16391 pressing the interrupt button transfers control to
16392 @code{handle_exception}---in effect, to @value{GDBN}. On some machines,
16393 simply receiving characters on the serial port may also trigger a trap;
16394 again, in that situation, you don't need to call @code{breakpoint} from
16395 your own program---simply running @samp{target remote} from the host
16396 @value{GDBN} session gets control.
16397
16398 Call @code{breakpoint} if none of these is true, or if you simply want
16399 to make certain your program stops at a predetermined point for the
16400 start of your debugging session.
16401 @end table
16402
16403 @node Bootstrapping
16404 @subsection What You Must Do for the Stub
16405
16406 @cindex remote stub, support routines
16407 The debugging stubs that come with @value{GDBN} are set up for a particular
16408 chip architecture, but they have no information about the rest of your
16409 debugging target machine.
16410
16411 First of all you need to tell the stub how to communicate with the
16412 serial port.
16413
16414 @table @code
16415 @item int getDebugChar()
16416 @findex getDebugChar
16417 Write this subroutine to read a single character from the serial port.
16418 It may be identical to @code{getchar} for your target system; a
16419 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
16420
16421 @item void putDebugChar(int)
16422 @findex putDebugChar
16423 Write this subroutine to write a single character to the serial port.
16424 It may be identical to @code{putchar} for your target system; a
16425 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
16426 @end table
16427
16428 @cindex control C, and remote debugging
16429 @cindex interrupting remote targets
16430 If you want @value{GDBN} to be able to stop your program while it is
16431 running, you need to use an interrupt-driven serial driver, and arrange
16432 for it to stop when it receives a @code{^C} (@samp{\003}, the control-C
16433 character). That is the character which @value{GDBN} uses to tell the
16434 remote system to stop.
16435
16436 Getting the debugging target to return the proper status to @value{GDBN}
16437 probably requires changes to the standard stub; one quick and dirty way
16438 is to just execute a breakpoint instruction (the ``dirty'' part is that
16439 @value{GDBN} reports a @code{SIGTRAP} instead of a @code{SIGINT}).
16440
16441 Other routines you need to supply are:
16442
16443 @table @code
16444 @item void exceptionHandler (int @var{exception_number}, void *@var{exception_address})
16445 @findex exceptionHandler
16446 Write this function to install @var{exception_address} in the exception
16447 handling tables. You need to do this because the stub does not have any
16448 way of knowing what the exception handling tables on your target system
16449 are like (for example, the processor's table might be in @sc{rom},
16450 containing entries which point to a table in @sc{ram}).
16451 @var{exception_number} is the exception number which should be changed;
16452 its meaning is architecture-dependent (for example, different numbers
16453 might represent divide by zero, misaligned access, etc). When this
16454 exception occurs, control should be transferred directly to
16455 @var{exception_address}, and the processor state (stack, registers,
16456 and so on) should be just as it is when a processor exception occurs. So if
16457 you want to use a jump instruction to reach @var{exception_address}, it
16458 should be a simple jump, not a jump to subroutine.
16459
16460 For the 386, @var{exception_address} should be installed as an interrupt
16461 gate so that interrupts are masked while the handler runs. The gate
16462 should be at privilege level 0 (the most privileged level). The
16463 @sc{sparc} and 68k stubs are able to mask interrupts themselves without
16464 help from @code{exceptionHandler}.
16465
16466 @item void flush_i_cache()
16467 @findex flush_i_cache
16468 On @sc{sparc} and @sc{sparclite} only, write this subroutine to flush the
16469 instruction cache, if any, on your target machine. If there is no
16470 instruction cache, this subroutine may be a no-op.
16471
16472 On target machines that have instruction caches, @value{GDBN} requires this
16473 function to make certain that the state of your program is stable.
16474 @end table
16475
16476 @noindent
16477 You must also make sure this library routine is available:
16478
16479 @table @code
16480 @item void *memset(void *, int, int)
16481 @findex memset
16482 This is the standard library function @code{memset} that sets an area of
16483 memory to a known value. If you have one of the free versions of
16484 @code{libc.a}, @code{memset} can be found there; otherwise, you must
16485 either obtain it from your hardware manufacturer, or write your own.
16486 @end table
16487
16488 If you do not use the GNU C compiler, you may need other standard
16489 library subroutines as well; this varies from one stub to another,
16490 but in general the stubs are likely to use any of the common library
16491 subroutines which @code{@value{NGCC}} generates as inline code.
16492
16493
16494 @node Debug Session
16495 @subsection Putting it All Together
16496
16497 @cindex remote serial debugging summary
16498 In summary, when your program is ready to debug, you must follow these
16499 steps.
16500
16501 @enumerate
16502 @item
16503 Make sure you have defined the supporting low-level routines
16504 (@pxref{Bootstrapping,,What You Must Do for the Stub}):
16505 @display
16506 @code{getDebugChar}, @code{putDebugChar},
16507 @code{flush_i_cache}, @code{memset}, @code{exceptionHandler}.
16508 @end display
16509
16510 @item
16511 Insert these lines near the top of your program:
16512
16513 @smallexample
16514 set_debug_traps();
16515 breakpoint();
16516 @end smallexample
16517
16518 @item
16519 For the 680x0 stub only, you need to provide a variable called
16520 @code{exceptionHook}. Normally you just use:
16521
16522 @smallexample
16523 void (*exceptionHook)() = 0;
16524 @end smallexample
16525
16526 @noindent
16527 but if before calling @code{set_debug_traps}, you set it to point to a
16528 function in your program, that function is called when
16529 @code{@value{GDBN}} continues after stopping on a trap (for example, bus
16530 error). The function indicated by @code{exceptionHook} is called with
16531 one parameter: an @code{int} which is the exception number.
16532
16533 @item
16534 Compile and link together: your program, the @value{GDBN} debugging stub for
16535 your target architecture, and the supporting subroutines.
16536
16537 @item
16538 Make sure you have a serial connection between your target machine and
16539 the @value{GDBN} host, and identify the serial port on the host.
16540
16541 @item
16542 @c The "remote" target now provides a `load' command, so we should
16543 @c document that. FIXME.
16544 Download your program to your target machine (or get it there by
16545 whatever means the manufacturer provides), and start it.
16546
16547 @item
16548 Start @value{GDBN} on the host, and connect to the target
16549 (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
16550
16551 @end enumerate
16552
16553 @node Configurations
16554 @chapter Configuration-Specific Information
16555
16556 While nearly all @value{GDBN} commands are available for all native and
16557 cross versions of the debugger, there are some exceptions. This chapter
16558 describes things that are only available in certain configurations.
16559
16560 There are three major categories of configurations: native
16561 configurations, where the host and target are the same, embedded
16562 operating system configurations, which are usually the same for several
16563 different processor architectures, and bare embedded processors, which
16564 are quite different from each other.
16565
16566 @menu
16567 * Native::
16568 * Embedded OS::
16569 * Embedded Processors::
16570 * Architectures::
16571 @end menu
16572
16573 @node Native
16574 @section Native
16575
16576 This section describes details specific to particular native
16577 configurations.
16578
16579 @menu
16580 * HP-UX:: HP-UX
16581 * BSD libkvm Interface:: Debugging BSD kernel memory images
16582 * SVR4 Process Information:: SVR4 process information
16583 * DJGPP Native:: Features specific to the DJGPP port
16584 * Cygwin Native:: Features specific to the Cygwin port
16585 * Hurd Native:: Features specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd
16586 * Neutrino:: Features specific to QNX Neutrino
16587 * Darwin:: Features specific to Darwin
16588 @end menu
16589
16590 @node HP-UX
16591 @subsection HP-UX
16592
16593 On HP-UX systems, if you refer to a function or variable name that
16594 begins with a dollar sign, @value{GDBN} searches for a user or system
16595 name first, before it searches for a convenience variable.
16596
16597
16598 @node BSD libkvm Interface
16599 @subsection BSD libkvm Interface
16600
16601 @cindex libkvm
16602 @cindex kernel memory image
16603 @cindex kernel crash dump
16604
16605 BSD-derived systems (FreeBSD/NetBSD/OpenBSD) have a kernel memory
16606 interface that provides a uniform interface for accessing kernel virtual
16607 memory images, including live systems and crash dumps. @value{GDBN}
16608 uses this interface to allow you to debug live kernels and kernel crash
16609 dumps on many native BSD configurations. This is implemented as a
16610 special @code{kvm} debugging target. For debugging a live system, load
16611 the currently running kernel into @value{GDBN} and connect to the
16612 @code{kvm} target:
16613
16614 @smallexample
16615 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm}
16616 @end smallexample
16617
16618 For debugging crash dumps, provide the file name of the crash dump as an
16619 argument:
16620
16621 @smallexample
16622 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm /var/crash/bsd.0}
16623 @end smallexample
16624
16625 Once connected to the @code{kvm} target, the following commands are
16626 available:
16627
16628 @table @code
16629 @kindex kvm
16630 @item kvm pcb
16631 Set current context from the @dfn{Process Control Block} (PCB) address.
16632
16633 @item kvm proc
16634 Set current context from proc address. This command isn't available on
16635 modern FreeBSD systems.
16636 @end table
16637
16638 @node SVR4 Process Information
16639 @subsection SVR4 Process Information
16640 @cindex /proc
16641 @cindex examine process image
16642 @cindex process info via @file{/proc}
16643
16644 Many versions of SVR4 and compatible systems provide a facility called
16645 @samp{/proc} that can be used to examine the image of a running
16646 process using file-system subroutines. If @value{GDBN} is configured
16647 for an operating system with this facility, the command @code{info
16648 proc} is available to report information about the process running
16649 your program, or about any process running on your system. @code{info
16650 proc} works only on SVR4 systems that include the @code{procfs} code.
16651 This includes, as of this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, OSF/1 (Digital
16652 Unix), Solaris, Irix, and Unixware, but not HP-UX, for example.
16653
16654 @table @code
16655 @kindex info proc
16656 @cindex process ID
16657 @item info proc
16658 @itemx info proc @var{process-id}
16659 Summarize available information about any running process. If a
16660 process ID is specified by @var{process-id}, display information about
16661 that process; otherwise display information about the program being
16662 debugged. The summary includes the debugged process ID, the command
16663 line used to invoke it, its current working directory, and its
16664 executable file's absolute file name.
16665
16666 On some systems, @var{process-id} can be of the form
16667 @samp{[@var{pid}]/@var{tid}} which specifies a certain thread ID
16668 within a process. If the optional @var{pid} part is missing, it means
16669 a thread from the process being debugged (the leading @samp{/} still
16670 needs to be present, or else @value{GDBN} will interpret the number as
16671 a process ID rather than a thread ID).
16672
16673 @item info proc mappings
16674 @cindex memory address space mappings
16675 Report the memory address space ranges accessible in the program, with
16676 information on whether the process has read, write, or execute access
16677 rights to each range. On @sc{gnu}/Linux systems, each memory range
16678 includes the object file which is mapped to that range, instead of the
16679 memory access rights to that range.
16680
16681 @item info proc stat
16682 @itemx info proc status
16683 @cindex process detailed status information
16684 These subcommands are specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux systems. They show
16685 the process-related information, including the user ID and group ID;
16686 how many threads are there in the process; its virtual memory usage;
16687 the signals that are pending, blocked, and ignored; its TTY; its
16688 consumption of system and user time; its stack size; its @samp{nice}
16689 value; etc. For more information, see the @samp{proc} man page
16690 (type @kbd{man 5 proc} from your shell prompt).
16691
16692 @item info proc all
16693 Show all the information about the process described under all of the
16694 above @code{info proc} subcommands.
16695
16696 @ignore
16697 @comment These sub-options of 'info proc' were not included when
16698 @comment procfs.c was re-written. Keep their descriptions around
16699 @comment against the day when someone finds the time to put them back in.
16700 @kindex info proc times
16701 @item info proc times
16702 Starting time, user CPU time, and system CPU time for your program and
16703 its children.
16704
16705 @kindex info proc id
16706 @item info proc id
16707 Report on the process IDs related to your program: its own process ID,
16708 the ID of its parent, the process group ID, and the session ID.
16709 @end ignore
16710
16711 @item set procfs-trace
16712 @kindex set procfs-trace
16713 @cindex @code{procfs} API calls
16714 This command enables and disables tracing of @code{procfs} API calls.
16715
16716 @item show procfs-trace
16717 @kindex show procfs-trace
16718 Show the current state of @code{procfs} API call tracing.
16719
16720 @item set procfs-file @var{file}
16721 @kindex set procfs-file
16722 Tell @value{GDBN} to write @code{procfs} API trace to the named
16723 @var{file}. @value{GDBN} appends the trace info to the previous
16724 contents of the file. The default is to display the trace on the
16725 standard output.
16726
16727 @item show procfs-file
16728 @kindex show procfs-file
16729 Show the file to which @code{procfs} API trace is written.
16730
16731 @item proc-trace-entry
16732 @itemx proc-trace-exit
16733 @itemx proc-untrace-entry
16734 @itemx proc-untrace-exit
16735 @kindex proc-trace-entry
16736 @kindex proc-trace-exit
16737 @kindex proc-untrace-entry
16738 @kindex proc-untrace-exit
16739 These commands enable and disable tracing of entries into and exits
16740 from the @code{syscall} interface.
16741
16742 @item info pidlist
16743 @kindex info pidlist
16744 @cindex process list, QNX Neutrino
16745 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all the
16746 processes and all the threads within each process.
16747
16748 @item info meminfo
16749 @kindex info meminfo
16750 @cindex mapinfo list, QNX Neutrino
16751 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all mapinfos.
16752 @end table
16753
16754 @node DJGPP Native
16755 @subsection Features for Debugging @sc{djgpp} Programs
16756 @cindex @sc{djgpp} debugging
16757 @cindex native @sc{djgpp} debugging
16758 @cindex MS-DOS-specific commands
16759
16760 @cindex DPMI
16761 @sc{djgpp} is a port of the @sc{gnu} development tools to MS-DOS and
16762 MS-Windows. @sc{djgpp} programs are 32-bit protected-mode programs
16763 that use the @dfn{DPMI} (DOS Protected-Mode Interface) API to run on
16764 top of real-mode DOS systems and their emulations.
16765
16766 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of @sc{djgpp} programs, and
16767 defines a few commands specific to the @sc{djgpp} port. This
16768 subsection describes those commands.
16769
16770 @table @code
16771 @kindex info dos
16772 @item info dos
16773 This is a prefix of @sc{djgpp}-specific commands which print
16774 information about the target system and important OS structures.
16775
16776 @kindex sysinfo
16777 @cindex MS-DOS system info
16778 @cindex free memory information (MS-DOS)
16779 @item info dos sysinfo
16780 This command displays assorted information about the underlying
16781 platform: the CPU type and features, the OS version and flavor, the
16782 DPMI version, and the available conventional and DPMI memory.
16783
16784 @cindex GDT
16785 @cindex LDT
16786 @cindex IDT
16787 @cindex segment descriptor tables
16788 @cindex descriptor tables display
16789 @item info dos gdt
16790 @itemx info dos ldt
16791 @itemx info dos idt
16792 These 3 commands display entries from, respectively, Global, Local,
16793 and Interrupt Descriptor Tables (GDT, LDT, and IDT). The descriptor
16794 tables are data structures which store a descriptor for each segment
16795 that is currently in use. The segment's selector is an index into a
16796 descriptor table; the table entry for that index holds the
16797 descriptor's base address and limit, and its attributes and access
16798 rights.
16799
16800 A typical @sc{djgpp} program uses 3 segments: a code segment, a data
16801 segment (used for both data and the stack), and a DOS segment (which
16802 allows access to DOS/BIOS data structures and absolute addresses in
16803 conventional memory). However, the DPMI host will usually define
16804 additional segments in order to support the DPMI environment.
16805
16806 @cindex garbled pointers
16807 These commands allow to display entries from the descriptor tables.
16808 Without an argument, all entries from the specified table are
16809 displayed. An argument, which should be an integer expression, means
16810 display a single entry whose index is given by the argument. For
16811 example, here's a convenient way to display information about the
16812 debugged program's data segment:
16813
16814 @smallexample
16815 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos ldt $ds}
16816 @exdent @code{0x13f: base=0x11970000 limit=0x0009ffff 32-Bit Data (Read/Write, Exp-up)}
16817 @end smallexample
16818
16819 @noindent
16820 This comes in handy when you want to see whether a pointer is outside
16821 the data segment's limit (i.e.@: @dfn{garbled}).
16822
16823 @cindex page tables display (MS-DOS)
16824 @item info dos pde
16825 @itemx info dos pte
16826 These two commands display entries from, respectively, the Page
16827 Directory and the Page Tables. Page Directories and Page Tables are
16828 data structures which control how virtual memory addresses are mapped
16829 into physical addresses. A Page Table includes an entry for every
16830 page of memory that is mapped into the program's address space; there
16831 may be several Page Tables, each one holding up to 4096 entries. A
16832 Page Directory has up to 4096 entries, one each for every Page Table
16833 that is currently in use.
16834
16835 Without an argument, @kbd{info dos pde} displays the entire Page
16836 Directory, and @kbd{info dos pte} displays all the entries in all of
16837 the Page Tables. An argument, an integer expression, given to the
16838 @kbd{info dos pde} command means display only that entry from the Page
16839 Directory table. An argument given to the @kbd{info dos pte} command
16840 means display entries from a single Page Table, the one pointed to by
16841 the specified entry in the Page Directory.
16842
16843 @cindex direct memory access (DMA) on MS-DOS
16844 These commands are useful when your program uses @dfn{DMA} (Direct
16845 Memory Access), which needs physical addresses to program the DMA
16846 controller.
16847
16848 These commands are supported only with some DPMI servers.
16849
16850 @cindex physical address from linear address
16851 @item info dos address-pte @var{addr}
16852 This command displays the Page Table entry for a specified linear
16853 address. The argument @var{addr} is a linear address which should
16854 already have the appropriate segment's base address added to it,
16855 because this command accepts addresses which may belong to @emph{any}
16856 segment. For example, here's how to display the Page Table entry for
16857 the page where a variable @code{i} is stored:
16858
16859 @smallexample
16860 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte __djgpp_base_address + (char *)&i}
16861 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x11a00d30:}
16862 @exdent @code{Base=0x02698000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0xd30}
16863 @end smallexample
16864
16865 @noindent
16866 This says that @code{i} is stored at offset @code{0xd30} from the page
16867 whose physical base address is @code{0x02698000}, and shows all the
16868 attributes of that page.
16869
16870 Note that you must cast the addresses of variables to a @code{char *},
16871 since otherwise the value of @code{__djgpp_base_address}, the base
16872 address of all variables and functions in a @sc{djgpp} program, will
16873 be added using the rules of C pointer arithmetics: if @code{i} is
16874 declared an @code{int}, @value{GDBN} will add 4 times the value of
16875 @code{__djgpp_base_address} to the address of @code{i}.
16876
16877 Here's another example, it displays the Page Table entry for the
16878 transfer buffer:
16879
16880 @smallexample
16881 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte *((unsigned *)&_go32_info_block + 3)}
16882 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x29110:}
16883 @exdent @code{Base=0x00029000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0x110}
16884 @end smallexample
16885
16886 @noindent
16887 (The @code{+ 3} offset is because the transfer buffer's address is the
16888 3rd member of the @code{_go32_info_block} structure.) The output
16889 clearly shows that this DPMI server maps the addresses in conventional
16890 memory 1:1, i.e.@: the physical (@code{0x00029000} + @code{0x110}) and
16891 linear (@code{0x29110}) addresses are identical.
16892
16893 This command is supported only with some DPMI servers.
16894 @end table
16895
16896 @cindex DOS serial data link, remote debugging
16897 In addition to native debugging, the DJGPP port supports remote
16898 debugging via a serial data link. The following commands are specific
16899 to remote serial debugging in the DJGPP port of @value{GDBN}.
16900
16901 @table @code
16902 @kindex set com1base
16903 @kindex set com1irq
16904 @kindex set com2base
16905 @kindex set com2irq
16906 @kindex set com3base
16907 @kindex set com3irq
16908 @kindex set com4base
16909 @kindex set com4irq
16910 @item set com1base @var{addr}
16911 This command sets the base I/O port address of the @file{COM1} serial
16912 port.
16913
16914 @item set com1irq @var{irq}
16915 This command sets the @dfn{Interrupt Request} (@code{IRQ}) line to use
16916 for the @file{COM1} serial port.
16917
16918 There are similar commands @samp{set com2base}, @samp{set com3irq},
16919 etc.@: for setting the port address and the @code{IRQ} lines for the
16920 other 3 COM ports.
16921
16922 @kindex show com1base
16923 @kindex show com1irq
16924 @kindex show com2base
16925 @kindex show com2irq
16926 @kindex show com3base
16927 @kindex show com3irq
16928 @kindex show com4base
16929 @kindex show com4irq
16930 The related commands @samp{show com1base}, @samp{show com1irq} etc.@:
16931 display the current settings of the base address and the @code{IRQ}
16932 lines used by the COM ports.
16933
16934 @item info serial
16935 @kindex info serial
16936 @cindex DOS serial port status
16937 This command prints the status of the 4 DOS serial ports. For each
16938 port, it prints whether it's active or not, its I/O base address and
16939 IRQ number, whether it uses a 16550-style FIFO, its baudrate, and the
16940 counts of various errors encountered so far.
16941 @end table
16942
16943
16944 @node Cygwin Native
16945 @subsection Features for Debugging MS Windows PE Executables
16946 @cindex MS Windows debugging
16947 @cindex native Cygwin debugging
16948 @cindex Cygwin-specific commands
16949
16950 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of MS Windows programs, including
16951 DLLs with and without symbolic debugging information.
16952
16953 @cindex Ctrl-BREAK, MS-Windows
16954 @cindex interrupt debuggee on MS-Windows
16955 MS-Windows programs that call @code{SetConsoleMode} to switch off the
16956 special meaning of the @samp{Ctrl-C} keystroke cannot be interrupted
16957 by typing @kbd{C-c}. For this reason, @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows
16958 supports @kbd{C-@key{BREAK}} as an alternative interrupt key
16959 sequence, which can be used to interrupt the debuggee even if it
16960 ignores @kbd{C-c}.
16961
16962 There are various additional Cygwin-specific commands, described in
16963 this section. Working with DLLs that have no debugging symbols is
16964 described in @ref{Non-debug DLL Symbols}.
16965
16966 @table @code
16967 @kindex info w32
16968 @item info w32
16969 This is a prefix of MS Windows-specific commands which print
16970 information about the target system and important OS structures.
16971
16972 @item info w32 selector
16973 This command displays information returned by
16974 the Win32 API @code{GetThreadSelectorEntry} function.
16975 It takes an optional argument that is evaluated to
16976 a long value to give the information about this given selector.
16977 Without argument, this command displays information
16978 about the six segment registers.
16979
16980 @item info w32 thread-information-block
16981 This command displays thread specific information stored in the
16982 Thread Information Block (readable on the X86 CPU family using @code{$fs}
16983 selector for 32-bit programs and @code{$gs} for 64-bit programs).
16984
16985 @kindex info dll
16986 @item info dll
16987 This is a Cygwin-specific alias of @code{info shared}.
16988
16989 @kindex dll-symbols
16990 @item dll-symbols
16991 This command loads symbols from a dll similarly to
16992 add-sym command but without the need to specify a base address.
16993
16994 @kindex set cygwin-exceptions
16995 @cindex debugging the Cygwin DLL
16996 @cindex Cygwin DLL, debugging
16997 @item set cygwin-exceptions @var{mode}
16998 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that
16999 happen inside the Cygwin DLL. If @var{mode} is @code{off},
17000 @value{GDBN} will delay recognition of exceptions, and may ignore some
17001 exceptions which seem to be caused by internal Cygwin DLL
17002 ``bookkeeping''. This option is meant primarily for debugging the
17003 Cygwin DLL itself; the default value is @code{off} to avoid annoying
17004 @value{GDBN} users with false @code{SIGSEGV} signals.
17005
17006 @kindex show cygwin-exceptions
17007 @item show cygwin-exceptions
17008 Displays whether @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that happen
17009 inside the Cygwin DLL itself.
17010
17011 @kindex set new-console
17012 @item set new-console @var{mode}
17013 If @var{mode} is @code{on} the debuggee will
17014 be started in a new console on next start.
17015 If @var{mode} is @code{off}, the debuggee will
17016 be started in the same console as the debugger.
17017
17018 @kindex show new-console
17019 @item show new-console
17020 Displays whether a new console is used
17021 when the debuggee is started.
17022
17023 @kindex set new-group
17024 @item set new-group @var{mode}
17025 This boolean value controls whether the debuggee should
17026 start a new group or stay in the same group as the debugger.
17027 This affects the way the Windows OS handles
17028 @samp{Ctrl-C}.
17029
17030 @kindex show new-group
17031 @item show new-group
17032 Displays current value of new-group boolean.
17033
17034 @kindex set debugevents
17035 @item set debugevents
17036 This boolean value adds debug output concerning kernel events related
17037 to the debuggee seen by the debugger. This includes events that
17038 signal thread and process creation and exit, DLL loading and
17039 unloading, console interrupts, and debugging messages produced by the
17040 Windows @code{OutputDebugString} API call.
17041
17042 @kindex set debugexec
17043 @item set debugexec
17044 This boolean value adds debug output concerning execute events
17045 (such as resume thread) seen by the debugger.
17046
17047 @kindex set debugexceptions
17048 @item set debugexceptions
17049 This boolean value adds debug output concerning exceptions in the
17050 debuggee seen by the debugger.
17051
17052 @kindex set debugmemory
17053 @item set debugmemory
17054 This boolean value adds debug output concerning debuggee memory reads
17055 and writes by the debugger.
17056
17057 @kindex set shell
17058 @item set shell
17059 This boolean values specifies whether the debuggee is called
17060 via a shell or directly (default value is on).
17061
17062 @kindex show shell
17063 @item show shell
17064 Displays if the debuggee will be started with a shell.
17065
17066 @end table
17067
17068 @menu
17069 * Non-debug DLL Symbols:: Support for DLLs without debugging symbols
17070 @end menu
17071
17072 @node Non-debug DLL Symbols
17073 @subsubsection Support for DLLs without Debugging Symbols
17074 @cindex DLLs with no debugging symbols
17075 @cindex Minimal symbols and DLLs
17076
17077 Very often on windows, some of the DLLs that your program relies on do
17078 not include symbolic debugging information (for example,
17079 @file{kernel32.dll}). When @value{GDBN} doesn't recognize any debugging
17080 symbols in a DLL, it relies on the minimal amount of symbolic
17081 information contained in the DLL's export table. This section
17082 describes working with such symbols, known internally to @value{GDBN} as
17083 ``minimal symbols''.
17084
17085 Note that before the debugged program has started execution, no DLLs
17086 will have been loaded. The easiest way around this problem is simply to
17087 start the program --- either by setting a breakpoint or letting the
17088 program run once to completion. It is also possible to force
17089 @value{GDBN} to load a particular DLL before starting the executable ---
17090 see the shared library information in @ref{Files}, or the
17091 @code{dll-symbols} command in @ref{Cygwin Native}. Currently,
17092 explicitly loading symbols from a DLL with no debugging information will
17093 cause the symbol names to be duplicated in @value{GDBN}'s lookup table,
17094 which may adversely affect symbol lookup performance.
17095
17096 @subsubsection DLL Name Prefixes
17097
17098 In keeping with the naming conventions used by the Microsoft debugging
17099 tools, DLL export symbols are made available with a prefix based on the
17100 DLL name, for instance @code{KERNEL32!CreateFileA}. The plain name is
17101 also entered into the symbol table, so @code{CreateFileA} is often
17102 sufficient. In some cases there will be name clashes within a program
17103 (particularly if the executable itself includes full debugging symbols)
17104 necessitating the use of the fully qualified name when referring to the
17105 contents of the DLL. Use single-quotes around the name to avoid the
17106 exclamation mark (``!'') being interpreted as a language operator.
17107
17108 Note that the internal name of the DLL may be all upper-case, even
17109 though the file name of the DLL is lower-case, or vice-versa. Since
17110 symbols within @value{GDBN} are @emph{case-sensitive} this may cause
17111 some confusion. If in doubt, try the @code{info functions} and
17112 @code{info variables} commands or even @code{maint print msymbols}
17113 (@pxref{Symbols}). Here's an example:
17114
17115 @smallexample
17116 (@value{GDBP}) info function CreateFileA
17117 All functions matching regular expression "CreateFileA":
17118
17119 Non-debugging symbols:
17120 0x77e885f4 CreateFileA
17121 0x77e885f4 KERNEL32!CreateFileA
17122 @end smallexample
17123
17124 @smallexample
17125 (@value{GDBP}) info function !
17126 All functions matching regular expression "!":
17127
17128 Non-debugging symbols:
17129 0x6100114c cygwin1!__assert
17130 0x61004034 cygwin1!_dll_crt0@@0
17131 0x61004240 cygwin1!dll_crt0(per_process *)
17132 [etc...]
17133 @end smallexample
17134
17135 @subsubsection Working with Minimal Symbols
17136
17137 Symbols extracted from a DLL's export table do not contain very much
17138 type information. All that @value{GDBN} can do is guess whether a symbol
17139 refers to a function or variable depending on the linker section that
17140 contains the symbol. Also note that the actual contents of the memory
17141 contained in a DLL are not available unless the program is running. This
17142 means that you cannot examine the contents of a variable or disassemble
17143 a function within a DLL without a running program.
17144
17145 Variables are generally treated as pointers and dereferenced
17146 automatically. For this reason, it is often necessary to prefix a
17147 variable name with the address-of operator (``&'') and provide explicit
17148 type information in the command. Here's an example of the type of
17149 problem:
17150
17151 @smallexample
17152 (@value{GDBP}) print 'cygwin1!__argv'
17153 $1 = 268572168
17154 @end smallexample
17155
17156 @smallexample
17157 (@value{GDBP}) x 'cygwin1!__argv'
17158 0x10021610: "\230y\""
17159 @end smallexample
17160
17161 And two possible solutions:
17162
17163 @smallexample
17164 (@value{GDBP}) print ((char **)'cygwin1!__argv')[0]
17165 $2 = 0x22fd98 "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
17166 @end smallexample
17167
17168 @smallexample
17169 (@value{GDBP}) x/2x &'cygwin1!__argv'
17170 0x610c0aa8 <cygwin1!__argv>: 0x10021608 0x00000000
17171 (@value{GDBP}) x/x 0x10021608
17172 0x10021608: 0x0022fd98
17173 (@value{GDBP}) x/s 0x0022fd98
17174 0x22fd98: "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
17175 @end smallexample
17176
17177 Setting a break point within a DLL is possible even before the program
17178 starts execution. However, under these circumstances, @value{GDBN} can't
17179 examine the initial instructions of the function in order to skip the
17180 function's frame set-up code. You can work around this by using ``*&''
17181 to set the breakpoint at a raw memory address:
17182
17183 @smallexample
17184 (@value{GDBP}) break *&'python22!PyOS_Readline'
17185 Breakpoint 1 at 0x1e04eff0
17186 @end smallexample
17187
17188 The author of these extensions is not entirely convinced that setting a
17189 break point within a shared DLL like @file{kernel32.dll} is completely
17190 safe.
17191
17192 @node Hurd Native
17193 @subsection Commands Specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd Systems
17194 @cindex @sc{gnu} Hurd debugging
17195
17196 This subsection describes @value{GDBN} commands specific to the
17197 @sc{gnu} Hurd native debugging.
17198
17199 @table @code
17200 @item set signals
17201 @itemx set sigs
17202 @kindex set signals@r{, Hurd command}
17203 @kindex set sigs@r{, Hurd command}
17204 This command toggles the state of inferior signal interception by
17205 @value{GDBN}. Mach exceptions, such as breakpoint traps, are not
17206 affected by this command. @code{sigs} is a shorthand alias for
17207 @code{signals}.
17208
17209 @item show signals
17210 @itemx show sigs
17211 @kindex show signals@r{, Hurd command}
17212 @kindex show sigs@r{, Hurd command}
17213 Show the current state of intercepting inferior's signals.
17214
17215 @item set signal-thread
17216 @itemx set sigthread
17217 @kindex set signal-thread
17218 @kindex set sigthread
17219 This command tells @value{GDBN} which thread is the @code{libc} signal
17220 thread. That thread is run when a signal is delivered to a running
17221 process. @code{set sigthread} is the shorthand alias of @code{set
17222 signal-thread}.
17223
17224 @item show signal-thread
17225 @itemx show sigthread
17226 @kindex show signal-thread
17227 @kindex show sigthread
17228 These two commands show which thread will run when the inferior is
17229 delivered a signal.
17230
17231 @item set stopped
17232 @kindex set stopped@r{, Hurd command}
17233 This commands tells @value{GDBN} that the inferior process is stopped,
17234 as with the @code{SIGSTOP} signal. The stopped process can be
17235 continued by delivering a signal to it.
17236
17237 @item show stopped
17238 @kindex show stopped@r{, Hurd command}
17239 This command shows whether @value{GDBN} thinks the debuggee is
17240 stopped.
17241
17242 @item set exceptions
17243 @kindex set exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
17244 Use this command to turn off trapping of exceptions in the inferior.
17245 When exception trapping is off, neither breakpoints nor
17246 single-stepping will work. To restore the default, set exception
17247 trapping on.
17248
17249 @item show exceptions
17250 @kindex show exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
17251 Show the current state of trapping exceptions in the inferior.
17252
17253 @item set task pause
17254 @kindex set task@r{, Hurd commands}
17255 @cindex task attributes (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
17256 @cindex pause current task (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
17257 This command toggles task suspension when @value{GDBN} has control.
17258 Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the task is suspended
17259 whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to off will take
17260 effect the next time the inferior is continued. If this option is set
17261 to off, you can use @code{set thread default pause on} or @code{set
17262 thread pause on} (see below) to pause individual threads.
17263
17264 @item show task pause
17265 @kindex show task@r{, Hurd commands}
17266 Show the current state of task suspension.
17267
17268 @item set task detach-suspend-count
17269 @cindex task suspend count
17270 @cindex detach from task, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17271 This command sets the suspend count the task will be left with when
17272 @value{GDBN} detaches from it.
17273
17274 @item show task detach-suspend-count
17275 Show the suspend count the task will be left with when detaching.
17276
17277 @item set task exception-port
17278 @itemx set task excp
17279 @cindex task exception port, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17280 This command sets the task exception port to which @value{GDBN} will
17281 forward exceptions. The argument should be the value of the @dfn{send
17282 rights} of the task. @code{set task excp} is a shorthand alias.
17283
17284 @item set noninvasive
17285 @cindex noninvasive task options
17286 This command switches @value{GDBN} to a mode that is the least
17287 invasive as far as interfering with the inferior is concerned. This
17288 is the same as using @code{set task pause}, @code{set exceptions}, and
17289 @code{set signals} to values opposite to the defaults.
17290
17291 @item info send-rights
17292 @itemx info receive-rights
17293 @itemx info port-rights
17294 @itemx info port-sets
17295 @itemx info dead-names
17296 @itemx info ports
17297 @itemx info psets
17298 @cindex send rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17299 @cindex receive rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17300 @cindex port rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17301 @cindex port sets, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17302 @cindex dead names, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17303 These commands display information about, respectively, send rights,
17304 receive rights, port rights, port sets, and dead names of a task.
17305 There are also shorthand aliases: @code{info ports} for @code{info
17306 port-rights} and @code{info psets} for @code{info port-sets}.
17307
17308 @item set thread pause
17309 @kindex set thread@r{, Hurd command}
17310 @cindex thread properties, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17311 @cindex pause current thread (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
17312 This command toggles current thread suspension when @value{GDBN} has
17313 control. Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the current
17314 thread is suspended whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to
17315 off will take effect the next time the inferior is continued.
17316 Normally, this command has no effect, since when @value{GDBN} has
17317 control, the whole task is suspended. However, if you used @code{set
17318 task pause off} (see above), this command comes in handy to suspend
17319 only the current thread.
17320
17321 @item show thread pause
17322 @kindex show thread@r{, Hurd command}
17323 This command shows the state of current thread suspension.
17324
17325 @item set thread run
17326 This command sets whether the current thread is allowed to run.
17327
17328 @item show thread run
17329 Show whether the current thread is allowed to run.
17330
17331 @item set thread detach-suspend-count
17332 @cindex thread suspend count, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17333 @cindex detach from thread, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17334 This command sets the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on a
17335 thread when detaching. This number is relative to the suspend count
17336 found by @value{GDBN} when it notices the thread; use @code{set thread
17337 takeover-suspend-count} to force it to an absolute value.
17338
17339 @item show thread detach-suspend-count
17340 Show the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on the thread when
17341 detaching.
17342
17343 @item set thread exception-port
17344 @itemx set thread excp
17345 Set the thread exception port to which to forward exceptions. This
17346 overrides the port set by @code{set task exception-port} (see above).
17347 @code{set thread excp} is the shorthand alias.
17348
17349 @item set thread takeover-suspend-count
17350 Normally, @value{GDBN}'s thread suspend counts are relative to the
17351 value @value{GDBN} finds when it notices each thread. This command
17352 changes the suspend counts to be absolute instead.
17353
17354 @item set thread default
17355 @itemx show thread default
17356 @cindex thread default settings, @sc{gnu} Hurd
17357 Each of the above @code{set thread} commands has a @code{set thread
17358 default} counterpart (e.g., @code{set thread default pause}, @code{set
17359 thread default exception-port}, etc.). The @code{thread default}
17360 variety of commands sets the default thread properties for all
17361 threads; you can then change the properties of individual threads with
17362 the non-default commands.
17363 @end table
17364
17365
17366 @node Neutrino
17367 @subsection QNX Neutrino
17368 @cindex QNX Neutrino
17369
17370 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the QNX
17371 Neutrino target:
17372
17373 @table @code
17374 @item set debug nto-debug
17375 @kindex set debug nto-debug
17376 When set to on, enables debugging messages specific to the QNX
17377 Neutrino support.
17378
17379 @item show debug nto-debug
17380 @kindex show debug nto-debug
17381 Show the current state of QNX Neutrino messages.
17382 @end table
17383
17384 @node Darwin
17385 @subsection Darwin
17386 @cindex Darwin
17387
17388 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the Darwin target:
17389
17390 @table @code
17391 @item set debug darwin @var{num}
17392 @kindex set debug darwin
17393 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages specific to
17394 the Darwin support. Higher values produce more verbose output.
17395
17396 @item show debug darwin
17397 @kindex show debug darwin
17398 Show the current state of Darwin messages.
17399
17400 @item set debug mach-o @var{num}
17401 @kindex set debug mach-o
17402 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages while
17403 @value{GDBN} is reading Darwin object files. (@dfn{Mach-O} is the
17404 file format used on Darwin for object and executable files.) Higher
17405 values produce more verbose output. This is a command to diagnose
17406 problems internal to @value{GDBN} and should not be needed in normal
17407 usage.
17408
17409 @item show debug mach-o
17410 @kindex show debug mach-o
17411 Show the current state of Mach-O file messages.
17412
17413 @item set mach-exceptions on
17414 @itemx set mach-exceptions off
17415 @kindex set mach-exceptions
17416 On Darwin, faults are first reported as a Mach exception and are then
17417 mapped to a Posix signal. Use this command to turn on trapping of
17418 Mach exceptions in the inferior. This might be sometimes useful to
17419 better understand the cause of a fault. The default is off.
17420
17421 @item show mach-exceptions
17422 @kindex show mach-exceptions
17423 Show the current state of exceptions trapping.
17424 @end table
17425
17426
17427 @node Embedded OS
17428 @section Embedded Operating Systems
17429
17430 This section describes configurations involving the debugging of
17431 embedded operating systems that are available for several different
17432 architectures.
17433
17434 @menu
17435 * VxWorks:: Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
17436 @end menu
17437
17438 @value{GDBN} includes the ability to debug programs running on
17439 various real-time operating systems.
17440
17441 @node VxWorks
17442 @subsection Using @value{GDBN} with VxWorks
17443
17444 @cindex VxWorks
17445
17446 @table @code
17447
17448 @kindex target vxworks
17449 @item target vxworks @var{machinename}
17450 A VxWorks system, attached via TCP/IP. The argument @var{machinename}
17451 is the target system's machine name or IP address.
17452
17453 @end table
17454
17455 On VxWorks, @code{load} links @var{filename} dynamically on the
17456 current target system as well as adding its symbols in @value{GDBN}.
17457
17458 @value{GDBN} enables developers to spawn and debug tasks running on networked
17459 VxWorks targets from a Unix host. Already-running tasks spawned from
17460 the VxWorks shell can also be debugged. @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
17461 both the Unix host and on the VxWorks target. The program
17462 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host. (It may be
17463 installed with the name @code{vxgdb}, to distinguish it from a
17464 @value{GDBN} for debugging programs on the host itself.)
17465
17466 @table @code
17467 @item VxWorks-timeout @var{args}
17468 @kindex vxworks-timeout
17469 All VxWorks-based targets now support the option @code{vxworks-timeout}.
17470 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
17471 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses to rpc's. You might use this if
17472 your VxWorks target is a slow software simulator or is on the far side
17473 of a thin network line.
17474 @end table
17475
17476 The following information on connecting to VxWorks was current when
17477 this manual was produced; newer releases of VxWorks may use revised
17478 procedures.
17479
17480 @findex INCLUDE_RDB
17481 To use @value{GDBN} with VxWorks, you must rebuild your VxWorks kernel
17482 to include the remote debugging interface routines in the VxWorks
17483 library @file{rdb.a}. To do this, define @code{INCLUDE_RDB} in the
17484 VxWorks configuration file @file{configAll.h} and rebuild your VxWorks
17485 kernel. The resulting kernel contains @file{rdb.a}, and spawns the
17486 source debugging task @code{tRdbTask} when VxWorks is booted. For more
17487 information on configuring and remaking VxWorks, see the manufacturer's
17488 manual.
17489 @c VxWorks, see the @cite{VxWorks Programmer's Guide}.
17490
17491 Once you have included @file{rdb.a} in your VxWorks system image and set
17492 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
17493 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}} (or
17494 @code{vxgdb}, depending on your installation).
17495
17496 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
17497
17498 @smallexample
17499 (vxgdb)
17500 @end smallexample
17501
17502 @menu
17503 * VxWorks Connection:: Connecting to VxWorks
17504 * VxWorks Download:: VxWorks download
17505 * VxWorks Attach:: Running tasks
17506 @end menu
17507
17508 @node VxWorks Connection
17509 @subsubsection Connecting to VxWorks
17510
17511 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a VxWorks target on the
17512 network. To connect to a target whose host name is ``@code{tt}'', type:
17513
17514 @smallexample
17515 (vxgdb) target vxworks tt
17516 @end smallexample
17517
17518 @need 750
17519 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
17520
17521 @smallexample
17522 Attaching remote machine across net...
17523 Connected to tt.
17524 @end smallexample
17525
17526 @need 1000
17527 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol tables of any object modules
17528 loaded into the VxWorks target since it was last booted. @value{GDBN} locates
17529 these files by searching the directories listed in the command search
17530 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}); if it fails
17531 to find an object file, it displays a message such as:
17532
17533 @smallexample
17534 prog.o: No such file or directory.
17535 @end smallexample
17536
17537 When this happens, add the appropriate directory to the search path with
17538 the @value{GDBN} command @code{path}, and execute the @code{target}
17539 command again.
17540
17541 @node VxWorks Download
17542 @subsubsection VxWorks Download
17543
17544 @cindex download to VxWorks
17545 If you have connected to the VxWorks target and you want to debug an
17546 object that has not yet been loaded, you can use the @value{GDBN}
17547 @code{load} command to download a file from Unix to VxWorks
17548 incrementally. The object file given as an argument to the @code{load}
17549 command is actually opened twice: first by the VxWorks target in order
17550 to download the code, then by @value{GDBN} in order to read the symbol
17551 table. This can lead to problems if the current working directories on
17552 the two systems differ. If both systems have NFS mounted the same
17553 filesystems, you can avoid these problems by using absolute paths.
17554 Otherwise, it is simplest to set the working directory on both systems
17555 to the directory in which the object file resides, and then to reference
17556 the file by its name, without any path. For instance, a program
17557 @file{prog.o} may reside in @file{@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb} in VxWorks
17558 and in @file{@var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb} on the host. To load this
17559 program, type this on VxWorks:
17560
17561 @smallexample
17562 -> cd "@var{vxpath}/vw/demo/rdb"
17563 @end smallexample
17564
17565 @noindent
17566 Then, in @value{GDBN}, type:
17567
17568 @smallexample
17569 (vxgdb) cd @var{hostpath}/vw/demo/rdb
17570 (vxgdb) load prog.o
17571 @end smallexample
17572
17573 @value{GDBN} displays a response similar to this:
17574
17575 @smallexample
17576 Reading symbol data from wherever/vw/demo/rdb/prog.o... done.
17577 @end smallexample
17578
17579 You can also use the @code{load} command to reload an object module
17580 after editing and recompiling the corresponding source file. Note that
17581 this makes @value{GDBN} delete all currently-defined breakpoints,
17582 auto-displays, and convenience variables, and to clear the value
17583 history. (This is necessary in order to preserve the integrity of
17584 debugger's data structures that reference the target system's symbol
17585 table.)
17586
17587 @node VxWorks Attach
17588 @subsubsection Running Tasks
17589
17590 @cindex running VxWorks tasks
17591 You can also attach to an existing task using the @code{attach} command as
17592 follows:
17593
17594 @smallexample
17595 (vxgdb) attach @var{task}
17596 @end smallexample
17597
17598 @noindent
17599 where @var{task} is the VxWorks hexadecimal task ID. The task can be running
17600 or suspended when you attach to it. Running tasks are suspended at
17601 the time of attachment.
17602
17603 @node Embedded Processors
17604 @section Embedded Processors
17605
17606 This section goes into details specific to particular embedded
17607 configurations.
17608
17609 @cindex send command to simulator
17610 Whenever a specific embedded processor has a simulator, @value{GDBN}
17611 allows to send an arbitrary command to the simulator.
17612
17613 @table @code
17614 @item sim @var{command}
17615 @kindex sim@r{, a command}
17616 Send an arbitrary @var{command} string to the simulator. Consult the
17617 documentation for the specific simulator in use for information about
17618 acceptable commands.
17619 @end table
17620
17621
17622 @menu
17623 * ARM:: ARM RDI
17624 * M32R/D:: Renesas M32R/D
17625 * M68K:: Motorola M68K
17626 * MicroBlaze:: Xilinx MicroBlaze
17627 * MIPS Embedded:: MIPS Embedded
17628 * OpenRISC 1000:: OpenRisc 1000
17629 * PA:: HP PA Embedded
17630 * PowerPC Embedded:: PowerPC Embedded
17631 * Sparclet:: Tsqware Sparclet
17632 * Sparclite:: Fujitsu Sparclite
17633 * Z8000:: Zilog Z8000
17634 * AVR:: Atmel AVR
17635 * CRIS:: CRIS
17636 * Super-H:: Renesas Super-H
17637 @end menu
17638
17639 @node ARM
17640 @subsection ARM
17641 @cindex ARM RDI
17642
17643 @table @code
17644 @kindex target rdi
17645 @item target rdi @var{dev}
17646 ARM Angel monitor, via RDI library interface to ADP protocol. You may
17647 use this target to communicate with both boards running the Angel
17648 monitor, or with the EmbeddedICE JTAG debug device.
17649
17650 @kindex target rdp
17651 @item target rdp @var{dev}
17652 ARM Demon monitor.
17653
17654 @end table
17655
17656 @value{GDBN} provides the following ARM-specific commands:
17657
17658 @table @code
17659 @item set arm disassembler
17660 @kindex set arm
17661 This commands selects from a list of disassembly styles. The
17662 @code{"std"} style is the standard style.
17663
17664 @item show arm disassembler
17665 @kindex show arm
17666 Show the current disassembly style.
17667
17668 @item set arm apcs32
17669 @cindex ARM 32-bit mode
17670 This command toggles ARM operation mode between 32-bit and 26-bit.
17671
17672 @item show arm apcs32
17673 Display the current usage of the ARM 32-bit mode.
17674
17675 @item set arm fpu @var{fputype}
17676 This command sets the ARM floating-point unit (FPU) type. The
17677 argument @var{fputype} can be one of these:
17678
17679 @table @code
17680 @item auto
17681 Determine the FPU type by querying the OS ABI.
17682 @item softfpa
17683 Software FPU, with mixed-endian doubles on little-endian ARM
17684 processors.
17685 @item fpa
17686 GCC-compiled FPA co-processor.
17687 @item softvfp
17688 Software FPU with pure-endian doubles.
17689 @item vfp
17690 VFP co-processor.
17691 @end table
17692
17693 @item show arm fpu
17694 Show the current type of the FPU.
17695
17696 @item set arm abi
17697 This command forces @value{GDBN} to use the specified ABI.
17698
17699 @item show arm abi
17700 Show the currently used ABI.
17701
17702 @item set arm fallback-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
17703 @value{GDBN} uses the symbol table, when available, to determine
17704 whether instructions are ARM or Thumb. This command controls
17705 @value{GDBN}'s default behavior when the symbol table is not
17706 available. The default is @samp{auto}, which causes @value{GDBN} to
17707 use the current execution mode (from the @code{T} bit in the @code{CPSR}
17708 register).
17709
17710 @item show arm fallback-mode
17711 Show the current fallback instruction mode.
17712
17713 @item set arm force-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
17714 This command overrides use of the symbol table to determine whether
17715 instructions are ARM or Thumb. The default is @samp{auto}, which
17716 causes @value{GDBN} to use the symbol table and then the setting
17717 of @samp{set arm fallback-mode}.
17718
17719 @item show arm force-mode
17720 Show the current forced instruction mode.
17721
17722 @item set debug arm
17723 Toggle whether to display ARM-specific debugging messages from the ARM
17724 target support subsystem.
17725
17726 @item show debug arm
17727 Show whether ARM-specific debugging messages are enabled.
17728 @end table
17729
17730 The following commands are available when an ARM target is debugged
17731 using the RDI interface:
17732
17733 @table @code
17734 @item rdilogfile @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
17735 @kindex rdilogfile
17736 @cindex ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) logging
17737 Set the filename for the ADP (Angel Debugger Protocol) packet log.
17738 With an argument, sets the log file to the specified @var{file}. With
17739 no argument, show the current log file name. The default log file is
17740 @file{rdi.log}.
17741
17742 @item rdilogenable @r{[}@var{arg}@r{]}
17743 @kindex rdilogenable
17744 Control logging of ADP packets. With an argument of 1 or @code{"yes"}
17745 enables logging, with an argument 0 or @code{"no"} disables it. With
17746 no arguments displays the current setting. When logging is enabled,
17747 ADP packets exchanged between @value{GDBN} and the RDI target device
17748 are logged to a file.
17749
17750 @item set rdiromatzero
17751 @kindex set rdiromatzero
17752 @cindex ROM at zero address, RDI
17753 Tell @value{GDBN} whether the target has ROM at address 0. If on,
17754 vector catching is disabled, so that zero address can be used. If off
17755 (the default), vector catching is enabled. For this command to take
17756 effect, it needs to be invoked prior to the @code{target rdi} command.
17757
17758 @item show rdiromatzero
17759 @kindex show rdiromatzero
17760 Show the current setting of ROM at zero address.
17761
17762 @item set rdiheartbeat
17763 @kindex set rdiheartbeat
17764 @cindex RDI heartbeat
17765 Enable or disable RDI heartbeat packets. It is not recommended to
17766 turn on this option, since it confuses ARM and EPI JTAG interface, as
17767 well as the Angel monitor.
17768
17769 @item show rdiheartbeat
17770 @kindex show rdiheartbeat
17771 Show the setting of RDI heartbeat packets.
17772 @end table
17773
17774 @table @code
17775 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
17776 The @value{GDBN} ARM simulator accepts the following optional arguments.
17777
17778 @table @code
17779 @item --swi-support=@var{type}
17780 Tell the simulator which SWI interfaces to support.
17781 @var{type} may be a comma separated list of the following values.
17782 The default value is @code{all}.
17783
17784 @table @code
17785 @item none
17786 @item demon
17787 @item angel
17788 @item redboot
17789 @item all
17790 @end table
17791 @end table
17792 @end table
17793
17794 @node M32R/D
17795 @subsection Renesas M32R/D and M32R/SDI
17796
17797 @table @code
17798 @kindex target m32r
17799 @item target m32r @var{dev}
17800 Renesas M32R/D ROM monitor.
17801
17802 @kindex target m32rsdi
17803 @item target m32rsdi @var{dev}
17804 Renesas M32R SDI server, connected via parallel port to the board.
17805 @end table
17806
17807 The following @value{GDBN} commands are specific to the M32R monitor:
17808
17809 @table @code
17810 @item set download-path @var{path}
17811 @kindex set download-path
17812 @cindex find downloadable @sc{srec} files (M32R)
17813 Set the default path for finding downloadable @sc{srec} files.
17814
17815 @item show download-path
17816 @kindex show download-path
17817 Show the default path for downloadable @sc{srec} files.
17818
17819 @item set board-address @var{addr}
17820 @kindex set board-address
17821 @cindex M32-EVA target board address
17822 Set the IP address for the M32R-EVA target board.
17823
17824 @item show board-address
17825 @kindex show board-address
17826 Show the current IP address of the target board.
17827
17828 @item set server-address @var{addr}
17829 @kindex set server-address
17830 @cindex download server address (M32R)
17831 Set the IP address for the download server, which is the @value{GDBN}'s
17832 host machine.
17833
17834 @item show server-address
17835 @kindex show server-address
17836 Display the IP address of the download server.
17837
17838 @item upload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
17839 @kindex upload@r{, M32R}
17840 Upload the specified @sc{srec} @var{file} via the monitor's Ethernet
17841 upload capability. If no @var{file} argument is given, the current
17842 executable file is uploaded.
17843
17844 @item tload @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
17845 @kindex tload@r{, M32R}
17846 Test the @code{upload} command.
17847 @end table
17848
17849 The following commands are available for M32R/SDI:
17850
17851 @table @code
17852 @item sdireset
17853 @kindex sdireset
17854 @cindex reset SDI connection, M32R
17855 This command resets the SDI connection.
17856
17857 @item sdistatus
17858 @kindex sdistatus
17859 This command shows the SDI connection status.
17860
17861 @item debug_chaos
17862 @kindex debug_chaos
17863 @cindex M32R/Chaos debugging
17864 Instructs the remote that M32R/Chaos debugging is to be used.
17865
17866 @item use_debug_dma
17867 @kindex use_debug_dma
17868 Instructs the remote to use the DEBUG_DMA method of accessing memory.
17869
17870 @item use_mon_code
17871 @kindex use_mon_code
17872 Instructs the remote to use the MON_CODE method of accessing memory.
17873
17874 @item use_ib_break
17875 @kindex use_ib_break
17876 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by IB break.
17877
17878 @item use_dbt_break
17879 @kindex use_dbt_break
17880 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by DBT.
17881 @end table
17882
17883 @node M68K
17884 @subsection M68k
17885
17886 The Motorola m68k configuration includes ColdFire support, and a
17887 target command for the following ROM monitor.
17888
17889 @table @code
17890
17891 @kindex target dbug
17892 @item target dbug @var{dev}
17893 dBUG ROM monitor for Motorola ColdFire.
17894
17895 @end table
17896
17897 @node MicroBlaze
17898 @subsection MicroBlaze
17899 @cindex Xilinx MicroBlaze
17900 @cindex XMD, Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger
17901
17902 The MicroBlaze is a soft-core processor supported on various Xilinx
17903 FPGAs, such as Spartan or Virtex series. Boards with these processors
17904 usually have JTAG ports which connect to a host system running the Xilinx
17905 Embedded Development Kit (EDK) or Software Development Kit (SDK).
17906 This host system is used to download the configuration bitstream to
17907 the target FPGA. The Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger (XMD) program
17908 communicates with the target board using the JTAG interface and
17909 presents a @code{gdbserver} interface to the board. By default
17910 @code{xmd} uses port @code{1234}. (While it is possible to change
17911 this default port, it requires the use of undocumented @code{xmd}
17912 commands. Contact Xilinx support if you need to do this.)
17913
17914 Use these GDB commands to connect to the MicroBlaze target processor.
17915
17916 @table @code
17917 @item target remote :1234
17918 Use this command to connect to the target if you are running @value{GDBN}
17919 on the same system as @code{xmd}.
17920
17921 @item target remote @var{xmd-host}:1234
17922 Use this command to connect to the target if it is connected to @code{xmd}
17923 running on a different system named @var{xmd-host}.
17924
17925 @item load
17926 Use this command to download a program to the MicroBlaze target.
17927
17928 @item set debug microblaze @var{n}
17929 Enable MicroBlaze-specific debugging messages if non-zero.
17930
17931 @item show debug microblaze @var{n}
17932 Show MicroBlaze-specific debugging level.
17933 @end table
17934
17935 @node MIPS Embedded
17936 @subsection MIPS Embedded
17937
17938 @cindex MIPS boards
17939 @value{GDBN} can use the MIPS remote debugging protocol to talk to a
17940 MIPS board attached to a serial line. This is available when
17941 you configure @value{GDBN} with @samp{--target=mips-idt-ecoff}.
17942
17943 @need 1000
17944 Use these @value{GDBN} commands to specify the connection to your target board:
17945
17946 @table @code
17947 @item target mips @var{port}
17948 @kindex target mips @var{port}
17949 To run a program on the board, start up @code{@value{GDBP}} with the
17950 name of your program as the argument. To connect to the board, use the
17951 command @samp{target mips @var{port}}, where @var{port} is the name of
17952 the serial port connected to the board. If the program has not already
17953 been downloaded to the board, you may use the @code{load} command to
17954 download it. You can then use all the usual @value{GDBN} commands.
17955
17956 For example, this sequence connects to the target board through a serial
17957 port, and loads and runs a program called @var{prog} through the
17958 debugger:
17959
17960 @smallexample
17961 host$ @value{GDBP} @var{prog}
17962 @value{GDBN} is free software and @dots{}
17963 (@value{GDBP}) target mips /dev/ttyb
17964 (@value{GDBP}) load @var{prog}
17965 (@value{GDBP}) run
17966 @end smallexample
17967
17968 @item target mips @var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}
17969 On some @value{GDBN} host configurations, you can specify a TCP
17970 connection (for instance, to a serial line managed by a terminal
17971 concentrator) instead of a serial port, using the syntax
17972 @samp{@var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}}.
17973
17974 @item target pmon @var{port}
17975 @kindex target pmon @var{port}
17976 PMON ROM monitor.
17977
17978 @item target ddb @var{port}
17979 @kindex target ddb @var{port}
17980 NEC's DDB variant of PMON for Vr4300.
17981
17982 @item target lsi @var{port}
17983 @kindex target lsi @var{port}
17984 LSI variant of PMON.
17985
17986 @kindex target r3900
17987 @item target r3900 @var{dev}
17988 Densan DVE-R3900 ROM monitor for Toshiba R3900 Mips.
17989
17990 @kindex target array
17991 @item target array @var{dev}
17992 Array Tech LSI33K RAID controller board.
17993
17994 @end table
17995
17996
17997 @noindent
17998 @value{GDBN} also supports these special commands for MIPS targets:
17999
18000 @table @code
18001 @item set mipsfpu double
18002 @itemx set mipsfpu single
18003 @itemx set mipsfpu none
18004 @itemx set mipsfpu auto
18005 @itemx show mipsfpu
18006 @kindex set mipsfpu
18007 @kindex show mipsfpu
18008 @cindex MIPS remote floating point
18009 @cindex floating point, MIPS remote
18010 If your target board does not support the MIPS floating point
18011 coprocessor, you should use the command @samp{set mipsfpu none} (if you
18012 need this, you may wish to put the command in your @value{GDBN} init
18013 file). This tells @value{GDBN} how to find the return value of
18014 functions which return floating point values. It also allows
18015 @value{GDBN} to avoid saving the floating point registers when calling
18016 functions on the board. If you are using a floating point coprocessor
18017 with only single precision floating point support, as on the @sc{r4650}
18018 processor, use the command @samp{set mipsfpu single}. The default
18019 double precision floating point coprocessor may be selected using
18020 @samp{set mipsfpu double}.
18021
18022 In previous versions the only choices were double precision or no
18023 floating point, so @samp{set mipsfpu on} will select double precision
18024 and @samp{set mipsfpu off} will select no floating point.
18025
18026 As usual, you can inquire about the @code{mipsfpu} variable with
18027 @samp{show mipsfpu}.
18028
18029 @item set timeout @var{seconds}
18030 @itemx set retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}
18031 @itemx show timeout
18032 @itemx show retransmit-timeout
18033 @cindex @code{timeout}, MIPS protocol
18034 @cindex @code{retransmit-timeout}, MIPS protocol
18035 @kindex set timeout
18036 @kindex show timeout
18037 @kindex set retransmit-timeout
18038 @kindex show retransmit-timeout
18039 You can control the timeout used while waiting for a packet, in the MIPS
18040 remote protocol, with the @code{set timeout @var{seconds}} command. The
18041 default is 5 seconds. Similarly, you can control the timeout used while
18042 waiting for an acknowledgment of a packet with the @code{set
18043 retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}} command. The default is 3 seconds.
18044 You can inspect both values with @code{show timeout} and @code{show
18045 retransmit-timeout}. (These commands are @emph{only} available when
18046 @value{GDBN} is configured for @samp{--target=mips-idt-ecoff}.)
18047
18048 The timeout set by @code{set timeout} does not apply when @value{GDBN}
18049 is waiting for your program to stop. In that case, @value{GDBN} waits
18050 forever because it has no way of knowing how long the program is going
18051 to run before stopping.
18052
18053 @item set syn-garbage-limit @var{num}
18054 @kindex set syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
18055 @cindex synchronize with remote MIPS target
18056 Limit the maximum number of characters @value{GDBN} should ignore when
18057 it tries to synchronize with the remote target. The default is 10
18058 characters. Setting the limit to -1 means there's no limit.
18059
18060 @item show syn-garbage-limit
18061 @kindex show syn-garbage-limit@r{, MIPS remote}
18062 Show the current limit on the number of characters to ignore when
18063 trying to synchronize with the remote system.
18064
18065 @item set monitor-prompt @var{prompt}
18066 @kindex set monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
18067 @cindex remote monitor prompt
18068 Tell @value{GDBN} to expect the specified @var{prompt} string from the
18069 remote monitor. The default depends on the target:
18070 @table @asis
18071 @item pmon target
18072 @samp{PMON}
18073 @item ddb target
18074 @samp{NEC010}
18075 @item lsi target
18076 @samp{PMON>}
18077 @end table
18078
18079 @item show monitor-prompt
18080 @kindex show monitor-prompt@r{, MIPS remote}
18081 Show the current strings @value{GDBN} expects as the prompt from the
18082 remote monitor.
18083
18084 @item set monitor-warnings
18085 @kindex set monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
18086 Enable or disable monitor warnings about hardware breakpoints. This
18087 has effect only for the @code{lsi} target. When on, @value{GDBN} will
18088 display warning messages whose codes are returned by the @code{lsi}
18089 PMON monitor for breakpoint commands.
18090
18091 @item show monitor-warnings
18092 @kindex show monitor-warnings@r{, MIPS remote}
18093 Show the current setting of printing monitor warnings.
18094
18095 @item pmon @var{command}
18096 @kindex pmon@r{, MIPS remote}
18097 @cindex send PMON command
18098 This command allows sending an arbitrary @var{command} string to the
18099 monitor. The monitor must be in debug mode for this to work.
18100 @end table
18101
18102 @node OpenRISC 1000
18103 @subsection OpenRISC 1000
18104 @cindex OpenRISC 1000
18105
18106 @cindex or1k boards
18107 See OR1k Architecture document (@uref{www.opencores.org}) for more information
18108 about platform and commands.
18109
18110 @table @code
18111
18112 @kindex target jtag
18113 @item target jtag jtag://@var{host}:@var{port}
18114
18115 Connects to remote JTAG server.
18116 JTAG remote server can be either an or1ksim or JTAG server,
18117 connected via parallel port to the board.
18118
18119 Example: @code{target jtag jtag://localhost:9999}
18120
18121 @kindex or1ksim
18122 @item or1ksim @var{command}
18123 If connected to @code{or1ksim} OpenRISC 1000 Architectural
18124 Simulator, proprietary commands can be executed.
18125
18126 @kindex info or1k spr
18127 @item info or1k spr
18128 Displays spr groups.
18129
18130 @item info or1k spr @var{group}
18131 @itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno}
18132 Displays register names in selected group.
18133
18134 @item info or1k spr @var{group} @var{register}
18135 @itemx info or1k spr @var{register}
18136 @itemx info or1k spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno}
18137 @itemx info or1k spr @var{registerno}
18138 Shows information about specified spr register.
18139
18140 @kindex spr
18141 @item spr @var{group} @var{register} @var{value}
18142 @itemx spr @var{register @var{value}}
18143 @itemx spr @var{groupno} @var{registerno @var{value}}
18144 @itemx spr @var{registerno @var{value}}
18145 Writes @var{value} to specified spr register.
18146 @end table
18147
18148 Some implementations of OpenRISC 1000 Architecture also have hardware trace.
18149 It is very similar to @value{GDBN} trace, except it does not interfere with normal
18150 program execution and is thus much faster. Hardware breakpoints/watchpoint
18151 triggers can be set using:
18152 @table @code
18153 @item $LEA/$LDATA
18154 Load effective address/data
18155 @item $SEA/$SDATA
18156 Store effective address/data
18157 @item $AEA/$ADATA
18158 Access effective address ($SEA or $LEA) or data ($SDATA/$LDATA)
18159 @item $FETCH
18160 Fetch data
18161 @end table
18162
18163 When triggered, it can capture low level data, like: @code{PC}, @code{LSEA},
18164 @code{LDATA}, @code{SDATA}, @code{READSPR}, @code{WRITESPR}, @code{INSTR}.
18165
18166 @code{htrace} commands:
18167 @cindex OpenRISC 1000 htrace
18168 @table @code
18169 @kindex hwatch
18170 @item hwatch @var{conditional}
18171 Set hardware watchpoint on combination of Load/Store Effective Address(es)
18172 or Data. For example:
18173
18174 @code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
18175
18176 @code{hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) && ($SDATA >= 50)}
18177
18178 @kindex htrace
18179 @item htrace info
18180 Display information about current HW trace configuration.
18181
18182 @item htrace trigger @var{conditional}
18183 Set starting criteria for HW trace.
18184
18185 @item htrace qualifier @var{conditional}
18186 Set acquisition qualifier for HW trace.
18187
18188 @item htrace stop @var{conditional}
18189 Set HW trace stopping criteria.
18190
18191 @item htrace record [@var{data}]*
18192 Selects the data to be recorded, when qualifier is met and HW trace was
18193 triggered.
18194
18195 @item htrace enable
18196 @itemx htrace disable
18197 Enables/disables the HW trace.
18198
18199 @item htrace rewind [@var{filename}]
18200 Clears currently recorded trace data.
18201
18202 If filename is specified, new trace file is made and any newly collected data
18203 will be written there.
18204
18205 @item htrace print [@var{start} [@var{len}]]
18206 Prints trace buffer, using current record configuration.
18207
18208 @item htrace mode continuous
18209 Set continuous trace mode.
18210
18211 @item htrace mode suspend
18212 Set suspend trace mode.
18213
18214 @end table
18215
18216 @node PowerPC Embedded
18217 @subsection PowerPC Embedded
18218
18219 @value{GDBN} provides the following PowerPC-specific commands:
18220
18221 @table @code
18222 @kindex set powerpc
18223 @item set powerpc soft-float
18224 @itemx show powerpc soft-float
18225 Force @value{GDBN} to use (or not use) a software floating point calling
18226 convention. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention based
18227 on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
18228
18229 @item set powerpc vector-abi
18230 @itemx show powerpc vector-abi
18231 Force @value{GDBN} to use the specified calling convention for vector
18232 arguments and return values. The valid options are @samp{auto};
18233 @samp{generic}, to avoid vector registers even if they are present;
18234 @samp{altivec}, to use AltiVec registers; and @samp{spe} to use SPE
18235 registers. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention
18236 based on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
18237
18238 @kindex target dink32
18239 @item target dink32 @var{dev}
18240 DINK32 ROM monitor.
18241
18242 @kindex target ppcbug
18243 @item target ppcbug @var{dev}
18244 @kindex target ppcbug1
18245 @item target ppcbug1 @var{dev}
18246 PPCBUG ROM monitor for PowerPC.
18247
18248 @kindex target sds
18249 @item target sds @var{dev}
18250 SDS monitor, running on a PowerPC board (such as Motorola's ADS).
18251 @end table
18252
18253 @cindex SDS protocol
18254 The following commands specific to the SDS protocol are supported
18255 by @value{GDBN}:
18256
18257 @table @code
18258 @item set sdstimeout @var{nsec}
18259 @kindex set sdstimeout
18260 Set the timeout for SDS protocol reads to be @var{nsec} seconds. The
18261 default is 2 seconds.
18262
18263 @item show sdstimeout
18264 @kindex show sdstimeout
18265 Show the current value of the SDS timeout.
18266
18267 @item sds @var{command}
18268 @kindex sds@r{, a command}
18269 Send the specified @var{command} string to the SDS monitor.
18270 @end table
18271
18272
18273 @node PA
18274 @subsection HP PA Embedded
18275
18276 @table @code
18277
18278 @kindex target op50n
18279 @item target op50n @var{dev}
18280 OP50N monitor, running on an OKI HPPA board.
18281
18282 @kindex target w89k
18283 @item target w89k @var{dev}
18284 W89K monitor, running on a Winbond HPPA board.
18285
18286 @end table
18287
18288 @node Sparclet
18289 @subsection Tsqware Sparclet
18290
18291 @cindex Sparclet
18292
18293 @value{GDBN} enables developers to debug tasks running on
18294 Sparclet targets from a Unix host.
18295 @value{GDBN} uses code that runs on
18296 both the Unix host and on the Sparclet target. The program
18297 @code{@value{GDBP}} is installed and executed on the Unix host.
18298
18299 @table @code
18300 @item remotetimeout @var{args}
18301 @kindex remotetimeout
18302 @value{GDBN} supports the option @code{remotetimeout}.
18303 This option is set by the user, and @var{args} represents the number of
18304 seconds @value{GDBN} waits for responses.
18305 @end table
18306
18307 @cindex compiling, on Sparclet
18308 When compiling for debugging, include the options @samp{-g} to get debug
18309 information and @samp{-Ttext} to relocate the program to where you wish to
18310 load it on the target. You may also want to add the options @samp{-n} or
18311 @samp{-N} in order to reduce the size of the sections. Example:
18312
18313 @smallexample
18314 sparclet-aout-gcc prog.c -Ttext 0x12010000 -g -o prog -N
18315 @end smallexample
18316
18317 You can use @code{objdump} to verify that the addresses are what you intended:
18318
18319 @smallexample
18320 sparclet-aout-objdump --headers --syms prog
18321 @end smallexample
18322
18323 @cindex running, on Sparclet
18324 Once you have set
18325 your Unix execution search path to find @value{GDBN}, you are ready to
18326 run @value{GDBN}. From your Unix host, run @code{@value{GDBP}}
18327 (or @code{sparclet-aout-gdb}, depending on your installation).
18328
18329 @value{GDBN} comes up showing the prompt:
18330
18331 @smallexample
18332 (gdbslet)
18333 @end smallexample
18334
18335 @menu
18336 * Sparclet File:: Setting the file to debug
18337 * Sparclet Connection:: Connecting to Sparclet
18338 * Sparclet Download:: Sparclet download
18339 * Sparclet Execution:: Running and debugging
18340 @end menu
18341
18342 @node Sparclet File
18343 @subsubsection Setting File to Debug
18344
18345 The @value{GDBN} command @code{file} lets you choose with program to debug.
18346
18347 @smallexample
18348 (gdbslet) file prog
18349 @end smallexample
18350
18351 @need 1000
18352 @value{GDBN} then attempts to read the symbol table of @file{prog}.
18353 @value{GDBN} locates
18354 the file by searching the directories listed in the command search
18355 path.
18356 If the file was compiled with debug information (option @samp{-g}), source
18357 files will be searched as well.
18358 @value{GDBN} locates
18359 the source files by searching the directories listed in the directory search
18360 path (@pxref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}).
18361 If it fails
18362 to find a file, it displays a message such as:
18363
18364 @smallexample
18365 prog: No such file or directory.
18366 @end smallexample
18367
18368 When this happens, add the appropriate directories to the search paths with
18369 the @value{GDBN} commands @code{path} and @code{dir}, and execute the
18370 @code{target} command again.
18371
18372 @node Sparclet Connection
18373 @subsubsection Connecting to Sparclet
18374
18375 The @value{GDBN} command @code{target} lets you connect to a Sparclet target.
18376 To connect to a target on serial port ``@code{ttya}'', type:
18377
18378 @smallexample
18379 (gdbslet) target sparclet /dev/ttya
18380 Remote target sparclet connected to /dev/ttya
18381 main () at ../prog.c:3
18382 @end smallexample
18383
18384 @need 750
18385 @value{GDBN} displays messages like these:
18386
18387 @smallexample
18388 Connected to ttya.
18389 @end smallexample
18390
18391 @node Sparclet Download
18392 @subsubsection Sparclet Download
18393
18394 @cindex download to Sparclet
18395 Once connected to the Sparclet target,
18396 you can use the @value{GDBN}
18397 @code{load} command to download the file from the host to the target.
18398 The file name and load offset should be given as arguments to the @code{load}
18399 command.
18400 Since the file format is aout, the program must be loaded to the starting
18401 address. You can use @code{objdump} to find out what this value is. The load
18402 offset is an offset which is added to the VMA (virtual memory address)
18403 of each of the file's sections.
18404 For instance, if the program
18405 @file{prog} was linked to text address 0x1201000, with data at 0x12010160
18406 and bss at 0x12010170, in @value{GDBN}, type:
18407
18408 @smallexample
18409 (gdbslet) load prog 0x12010000
18410 Loading section .text, size 0xdb0 vma 0x12010000
18411 @end smallexample
18412
18413 If the code is loaded at a different address then what the program was linked
18414 to, you may need to use the @code{section} and @code{add-symbol-file} commands
18415 to tell @value{GDBN} where to map the symbol table.
18416
18417 @node Sparclet Execution
18418 @subsubsection Running and Debugging
18419
18420 @cindex running and debugging Sparclet programs
18421 You can now begin debugging the task using @value{GDBN}'s execution control
18422 commands, @code{b}, @code{step}, @code{run}, etc. See the @value{GDBN}
18423 manual for the list of commands.
18424
18425 @smallexample
18426 (gdbslet) b main
18427 Breakpoint 1 at 0x12010000: file prog.c, line 3.
18428 (gdbslet) run
18429 Starting program: prog
18430 Breakpoint 1, main (argc=1, argv=0xeffff21c) at prog.c:3
18431 3 char *symarg = 0;
18432 (gdbslet) step
18433 4 char *execarg = "hello!";
18434 (gdbslet)
18435 @end smallexample
18436
18437 @node Sparclite
18438 @subsection Fujitsu Sparclite
18439
18440 @table @code
18441
18442 @kindex target sparclite
18443 @item target sparclite @var{dev}
18444 Fujitsu sparclite boards, used only for the purpose of loading.
18445 You must use an additional command to debug the program.
18446 For example: target remote @var{dev} using @value{GDBN} standard
18447 remote protocol.
18448
18449 @end table
18450
18451 @node Z8000
18452 @subsection Zilog Z8000
18453
18454 @cindex Z8000
18455 @cindex simulator, Z8000
18456 @cindex Zilog Z8000 simulator
18457
18458 When configured for debugging Zilog Z8000 targets, @value{GDBN} includes
18459 a Z8000 simulator.
18460
18461 For the Z8000 family, @samp{target sim} simulates either the Z8002 (the
18462 unsegmented variant of the Z8000 architecture) or the Z8001 (the
18463 segmented variant). The simulator recognizes which architecture is
18464 appropriate by inspecting the object code.
18465
18466 @table @code
18467 @item target sim @var{args}
18468 @kindex sim
18469 @kindex target sim@r{, with Z8000}
18470 Debug programs on a simulated CPU. If the simulator supports setup
18471 options, specify them via @var{args}.
18472 @end table
18473
18474 @noindent
18475 After specifying this target, you can debug programs for the simulated
18476 CPU in the same style as programs for your host computer; use the
18477 @code{file} command to load a new program image, the @code{run} command
18478 to run your program, and so on.
18479
18480 As well as making available all the usual machine registers
18481 (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}), the Z8000 simulator provides three
18482 additional items of information as specially named registers:
18483
18484 @table @code
18485
18486 @item cycles
18487 Counts clock-ticks in the simulator.
18488
18489 @item insts
18490 Counts instructions run in the simulator.
18491
18492 @item time
18493 Execution time in 60ths of a second.
18494
18495 @end table
18496
18497 You can refer to these values in @value{GDBN} expressions with the usual
18498 conventions; for example, @w{@samp{b fputc if $cycles>5000}} sets a
18499 conditional breakpoint that suspends only after at least 5000
18500 simulated clock ticks.
18501
18502 @node AVR
18503 @subsection Atmel AVR
18504 @cindex AVR
18505
18506 When configured for debugging the Atmel AVR, @value{GDBN} supports the
18507 following AVR-specific commands:
18508
18509 @table @code
18510 @item info io_registers
18511 @kindex info io_registers@r{, AVR}
18512 @cindex I/O registers (Atmel AVR)
18513 This command displays information about the AVR I/O registers. For
18514 each register, @value{GDBN} prints its number and value.
18515 @end table
18516
18517 @node CRIS
18518 @subsection CRIS
18519 @cindex CRIS
18520
18521 When configured for debugging CRIS, @value{GDBN} provides the
18522 following CRIS-specific commands:
18523
18524 @table @code
18525 @item set cris-version @var{ver}
18526 @cindex CRIS version
18527 Set the current CRIS version to @var{ver}, either @samp{10} or @samp{32}.
18528 The CRIS version affects register names and sizes. This command is useful in
18529 case autodetection of the CRIS version fails.
18530
18531 @item show cris-version
18532 Show the current CRIS version.
18533
18534 @item set cris-dwarf2-cfi
18535 @cindex DWARF-2 CFI and CRIS
18536 Set the usage of DWARF-2 CFI for CRIS debugging. The default is @samp{on}.
18537 Change to @samp{off} when using @code{gcc-cris} whose version is below
18538 @code{R59}.
18539
18540 @item show cris-dwarf2-cfi
18541 Show the current state of using DWARF-2 CFI.
18542
18543 @item set cris-mode @var{mode}
18544 @cindex CRIS mode
18545 Set the current CRIS mode to @var{mode}. It should only be changed when
18546 debugging in guru mode, in which case it should be set to
18547 @samp{guru} (the default is @samp{normal}).
18548
18549 @item show cris-mode
18550 Show the current CRIS mode.
18551 @end table
18552
18553 @node Super-H
18554 @subsection Renesas Super-H
18555 @cindex Super-H
18556
18557 For the Renesas Super-H processor, @value{GDBN} provides these
18558 commands:
18559
18560 @table @code
18561 @item regs
18562 @kindex regs@r{, Super-H}
18563 Show the values of all Super-H registers.
18564
18565 @item set sh calling-convention @var{convention}
18566 @kindex set sh calling-convention
18567 Set the calling-convention used when calling functions from @value{GDBN}.
18568 Allowed values are @samp{gcc}, which is the default setting, and @samp{renesas}.
18569 With the @samp{gcc} setting, functions are called using the @value{NGCC} calling
18570 convention. If the DWARF-2 information of the called function specifies
18571 that the function follows the Renesas calling convention, the function
18572 is called using the Renesas calling convention. If the calling convention
18573 is set to @samp{renesas}, the Renesas calling convention is always used,
18574 regardless of the DWARF-2 information. This can be used to override the
18575 default of @samp{gcc} if debug information is missing, or the compiler
18576 does not emit the DWARF-2 calling convention entry for a function.
18577
18578 @item show sh calling-convention
18579 @kindex show sh calling-convention
18580 Show the current calling convention setting.
18581
18582 @end table
18583
18584
18585 @node Architectures
18586 @section Architectures
18587
18588 This section describes characteristics of architectures that affect
18589 all uses of @value{GDBN} with the architecture, both native and cross.
18590
18591 @menu
18592 * i386::
18593 * A29K::
18594 * Alpha::
18595 * MIPS::
18596 * HPPA:: HP PA architecture
18597 * SPU:: Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
18598 * PowerPC::
18599 @end menu
18600
18601 @node i386
18602 @subsection x86 Architecture-specific Issues
18603
18604 @table @code
18605 @item set struct-convention @var{mode}
18606 @kindex set struct-convention
18607 @cindex struct return convention
18608 @cindex struct/union returned in registers
18609 Set the convention used by the inferior to return @code{struct}s and
18610 @code{union}s from functions to @var{mode}. Possible values of
18611 @var{mode} are @code{"pcc"}, @code{"reg"}, and @code{"default"} (the
18612 default). @code{"default"} or @code{"pcc"} means that @code{struct}s
18613 are returned on the stack, while @code{"reg"} means that a
18614 @code{struct} or a @code{union} whose size is 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes will
18615 be returned in a register.
18616
18617 @item show struct-convention
18618 @kindex show struct-convention
18619 Show the current setting of the convention to return @code{struct}s
18620 from functions.
18621 @end table
18622
18623 @node A29K
18624 @subsection A29K
18625
18626 @table @code
18627
18628 @kindex set rstack_high_address
18629 @cindex AMD 29K register stack
18630 @cindex register stack, AMD29K
18631 @item set rstack_high_address @var{address}
18632 On AMD 29000 family processors, registers are saved in a separate
18633 @dfn{register stack}. There is no way for @value{GDBN} to determine the
18634 extent of this stack. Normally, @value{GDBN} just assumes that the
18635 stack is ``large enough''. This may result in @value{GDBN} referencing
18636 memory locations that do not exist. If necessary, you can get around
18637 this problem by specifying the ending address of the register stack with
18638 the @code{set rstack_high_address} command. The argument should be an
18639 address, which you probably want to precede with @samp{0x} to specify in
18640 hexadecimal.
18641
18642 @kindex show rstack_high_address
18643 @item show rstack_high_address
18644 Display the current limit of the register stack, on AMD 29000 family
18645 processors.
18646
18647 @end table
18648
18649 @node Alpha
18650 @subsection Alpha
18651
18652 See the following section.
18653
18654 @node MIPS
18655 @subsection MIPS
18656
18657 @cindex stack on Alpha
18658 @cindex stack on MIPS
18659 @cindex Alpha stack
18660 @cindex MIPS stack
18661 Alpha- and MIPS-based computers use an unusual stack frame, which
18662 sometimes requires @value{GDBN} to search backward in the object code to
18663 find the beginning of a function.
18664
18665 @cindex response time, MIPS debugging
18666 To improve response time (especially for embedded applications, where
18667 @value{GDBN} may be restricted to a slow serial line for this search)
18668 you may want to limit the size of this search, using one of these
18669 commands:
18670
18671 @table @code
18672 @cindex @code{heuristic-fence-post} (Alpha, MIPS)
18673 @item set heuristic-fence-post @var{limit}
18674 Restrict @value{GDBN} to examining at most @var{limit} bytes in its
18675 search for the beginning of a function. A value of @var{0} (the
18676 default) means there is no limit. However, except for @var{0}, the
18677 larger the limit the more bytes @code{heuristic-fence-post} must search
18678 and therefore the longer it takes to run. You should only need to use
18679 this command when debugging a stripped executable.
18680
18681 @item show heuristic-fence-post
18682 Display the current limit.
18683 @end table
18684
18685 @noindent
18686 These commands are available @emph{only} when @value{GDBN} is configured
18687 for debugging programs on Alpha or MIPS processors.
18688
18689 Several MIPS-specific commands are available when debugging MIPS
18690 programs:
18691
18692 @table @code
18693 @item set mips abi @var{arg}
18694 @kindex set mips abi
18695 @cindex set ABI for MIPS
18696 Tell @value{GDBN} which MIPS ABI is used by the inferior. Possible
18697 values of @var{arg} are:
18698
18699 @table @samp
18700 @item auto
18701 The default ABI associated with the current binary (this is the
18702 default).
18703 @item o32
18704 @item o64
18705 @item n32
18706 @item n64
18707 @item eabi32
18708 @item eabi64
18709 @item auto
18710 @end table
18711
18712 @item show mips abi
18713 @kindex show mips abi
18714 Show the MIPS ABI used by @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
18715
18716 @item set mipsfpu
18717 @itemx show mipsfpu
18718 @xref{MIPS Embedded, set mipsfpu}.
18719
18720 @item set mips mask-address @var{arg}
18721 @kindex set mips mask-address
18722 @cindex MIPS addresses, masking
18723 This command determines whether the most-significant 32 bits of 64-bit
18724 MIPS addresses are masked off. The argument @var{arg} can be
18725 @samp{on}, @samp{off}, or @samp{auto}. The latter is the default
18726 setting, which lets @value{GDBN} determine the correct value.
18727
18728 @item show mips mask-address
18729 @kindex show mips mask-address
18730 Show whether the upper 32 bits of MIPS addresses are masked off or
18731 not.
18732
18733 @item set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
18734 @kindex set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
18735 This command controls compatibility with 64-bit MIPS targets that
18736 transfer data in 32-bit quantities. If you have an old MIPS 64 target
18737 that transfers 32 bits for some registers, like @sc{sr} and @sc{fsr},
18738 and 64 bits for other registers, set this option to @samp{on}.
18739
18740 @item show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
18741 @kindex show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
18742 Show the current setting of compatibility with older MIPS 64 targets.
18743
18744 @item set debug mips
18745 @kindex set debug mips
18746 This command turns on and off debugging messages for the MIPS-specific
18747 target code in @value{GDBN}.
18748
18749 @item show debug mips
18750 @kindex show debug mips
18751 Show the current setting of MIPS debugging messages.
18752 @end table
18753
18754
18755 @node HPPA
18756 @subsection HPPA
18757 @cindex HPPA support
18758
18759 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the HP PA architecture, it provides the
18760 following special commands:
18761
18762 @table @code
18763 @item set debug hppa
18764 @kindex set debug hppa
18765 This command determines whether HPPA architecture-specific debugging
18766 messages are to be displayed.
18767
18768 @item show debug hppa
18769 Show whether HPPA debugging messages are displayed.
18770
18771 @item maint print unwind @var{address}
18772 @kindex maint print unwind@r{, HPPA}
18773 This command displays the contents of the unwind table entry at the
18774 given @var{address}.
18775
18776 @end table
18777
18778
18779 @node SPU
18780 @subsection Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
18781 @cindex Cell Broadband Engine
18782 @cindex SPU
18783
18784 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture,
18785 it provides the following special commands:
18786
18787 @table @code
18788 @item info spu event
18789 @kindex info spu
18790 Display SPU event facility status. Shows current event mask
18791 and pending event status.
18792
18793 @item info spu signal
18794 Display SPU signal notification facility status. Shows pending
18795 signal-control word and signal notification mode of both signal
18796 notification channels.
18797
18798 @item info spu mailbox
18799 Display SPU mailbox facility status. Shows all pending entries,
18800 in order of processing, in each of the SPU Write Outbound,
18801 SPU Write Outbound Interrupt, and SPU Read Inbound mailboxes.
18802
18803 @item info spu dma
18804 Display MFC DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
18805 DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
18806 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
18807
18808 @item info spu proxydma
18809 Display MFC Proxy-DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
18810 Proxy-DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
18811 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
18812
18813 @end table
18814
18815 When @value{GDBN} is debugging a combined PowerPC/SPU application
18816 on the Cell Broadband Engine, it provides in addition the following
18817 special commands:
18818
18819 @table @code
18820 @item set spu stop-on-load @var{arg}
18821 @kindex set spu
18822 Set whether to stop for new SPE threads. When set to @code{on}, @value{GDBN}
18823 will give control to the user when a new SPE thread enters its @code{main}
18824 function. The default is @code{off}.
18825
18826 @item show spu stop-on-load
18827 @kindex show spu
18828 Show whether to stop for new SPE threads.
18829
18830 @item set spu auto-flush-cache @var{arg}
18831 Set whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache. When set to
18832 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will automatically cause the SPE software-managed
18833 cache to be flushed whenever SPE execution stops. This provides a consistent
18834 view of PowerPC memory that is accessed via the cache. If an application
18835 does not use the software-managed cache, this option has no effect.
18836
18837 @item show spu auto-flush-cache
18838 Show whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache.
18839
18840 @end table
18841
18842 @node PowerPC
18843 @subsection PowerPC
18844 @cindex PowerPC architecture
18845
18846 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the PowerPC architecture, it provides a set of
18847 pseudo-registers to enable inspection of 128-bit wide Decimal Floating Point
18848 numbers stored in the floating point registers. These values must be stored
18849 in two consecutive registers, always starting at an even register like
18850 @code{f0} or @code{f2}.
18851
18852 The pseudo-registers go from @code{$dl0} through @code{$dl15}, and are formed
18853 by joining the even/odd register pairs @code{f0} and @code{f1} for @code{$dl0},
18854 @code{f2} and @code{f3} for @code{$dl1} and so on.
18855
18856 For POWER7 processors, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers, the 64-bit
18857 wide Extended Floating Point Registers (@samp{f32} through @samp{f63}).
18858
18859
18860 @node Controlling GDB
18861 @chapter Controlling @value{GDBN}
18862
18863 You can alter the way @value{GDBN} interacts with you by using the
18864 @code{set} command. For commands controlling how @value{GDBN} displays
18865 data, see @ref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}. Other settings are
18866 described here.
18867
18868 @menu
18869 * Prompt:: Prompt
18870 * Editing:: Command editing
18871 * Command History:: Command history
18872 * Screen Size:: Screen size
18873 * Numbers:: Numbers
18874 * ABI:: Configuring the current ABI
18875 * Messages/Warnings:: Optional warnings and messages
18876 * Debugging Output:: Optional messages about internal happenings
18877 * Other Misc Settings:: Other Miscellaneous Settings
18878 @end menu
18879
18880 @node Prompt
18881 @section Prompt
18882
18883 @cindex prompt
18884
18885 @value{GDBN} indicates its readiness to read a command by printing a string
18886 called the @dfn{prompt}. This string is normally @samp{(@value{GDBP})}. You
18887 can change the prompt string with the @code{set prompt} command. For
18888 instance, when debugging @value{GDBN} with @value{GDBN}, it is useful to change
18889 the prompt in one of the @value{GDBN} sessions so that you can always tell
18890 which one you are talking to.
18891
18892 @emph{Note:} @code{set prompt} does not add a space for you after the
18893 prompt you set. This allows you to set a prompt which ends in a space
18894 or a prompt that does not.
18895
18896 @table @code
18897 @kindex set prompt
18898 @item set prompt @var{newprompt}
18899 Directs @value{GDBN} to use @var{newprompt} as its prompt string henceforth.
18900
18901 @kindex show prompt
18902 @item show prompt
18903 Prints a line of the form: @samp{Gdb's prompt is: @var{your-prompt}}
18904 @end table
18905
18906 @node Editing
18907 @section Command Editing
18908 @cindex readline
18909 @cindex command line editing
18910
18911 @value{GDBN} reads its input commands via the @dfn{Readline} interface. This
18912 @sc{gnu} library provides consistent behavior for programs which provide a
18913 command line interface to the user. Advantages are @sc{gnu} Emacs-style
18914 or @dfn{vi}-style inline editing of commands, @code{csh}-like history
18915 substitution, and a storage and recall of command history across
18916 debugging sessions.
18917
18918 You may control the behavior of command line editing in @value{GDBN} with the
18919 command @code{set}.
18920
18921 @table @code
18922 @kindex set editing
18923 @cindex editing
18924 @item set editing
18925 @itemx set editing on
18926 Enable command line editing (enabled by default).
18927
18928 @item set editing off
18929 Disable command line editing.
18930
18931 @kindex show editing
18932 @item show editing
18933 Show whether command line editing is enabled.
18934 @end table
18935
18936 @xref{Command Line Editing}, for more details about the Readline
18937 interface. Users unfamiliar with @sc{gnu} Emacs or @code{vi} are
18938 encouraged to read that chapter.
18939
18940 @node Command History
18941 @section Command History
18942 @cindex command history
18943
18944 @value{GDBN} can keep track of the commands you type during your
18945 debugging sessions, so that you can be certain of precisely what
18946 happened. Use these commands to manage the @value{GDBN} command
18947 history facility.
18948
18949 @value{GDBN} uses the @sc{gnu} History library, a part of the Readline
18950 package, to provide the history facility. @xref{Using History
18951 Interactively}, for the detailed description of the History library.
18952
18953 To issue a command to @value{GDBN} without affecting certain aspects of
18954 the state which is seen by users, prefix it with @samp{server }
18955 (@pxref{Server Prefix}). This
18956 means that this command will not affect the command history, nor will it
18957 affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which command to repeat if @key{RET} is
18958 pressed on a line by itself.
18959
18960 @cindex @code{server}, command prefix
18961 The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the value
18962 history; to print a value without recording it into the value history,
18963 use the @code{output} command instead of the @code{print} command.
18964
18965 Here is the description of @value{GDBN} commands related to command
18966 history.
18967
18968 @table @code
18969 @cindex history substitution
18970 @cindex history file
18971 @kindex set history filename
18972 @cindex @env{GDBHISTFILE}, environment variable
18973 @item set history filename @var{fname}
18974 Set the name of the @value{GDBN} command history file to @var{fname}.
18975 This is the file where @value{GDBN} reads an initial command history
18976 list, and where it writes the command history from this session when it
18977 exits. You can access this list through history expansion or through
18978 the history command editing characters listed below. This file defaults
18979 to the value of the environment variable @code{GDBHISTFILE}, or to
18980 @file{./.gdb_history} (@file{./_gdb_history} on MS-DOS) if this variable
18981 is not set.
18982
18983 @cindex save command history
18984 @kindex set history save
18985 @item set history save
18986 @itemx set history save on
18987 Record command history in a file, whose name may be specified with the
18988 @code{set history filename} command. By default, this option is disabled.
18989
18990 @item set history save off
18991 Stop recording command history in a file.
18992
18993 @cindex history size
18994 @kindex set history size
18995 @cindex @env{HISTSIZE}, environment variable
18996 @item set history size @var{size}
18997 Set the number of commands which @value{GDBN} keeps in its history list.
18998 This defaults to the value of the environment variable
18999 @code{HISTSIZE}, or to 256 if this variable is not set.
19000 @end table
19001
19002 History expansion assigns special meaning to the character @kbd{!}.
19003 @xref{Event Designators}, for more details.
19004
19005 @cindex history expansion, turn on/off
19006 Since @kbd{!} is also the logical not operator in C, history expansion
19007 is off by default. If you decide to enable history expansion with the
19008 @code{set history expansion on} command, you may sometimes need to
19009 follow @kbd{!} (when it is used as logical not, in an expression) with
19010 a space or a tab to prevent it from being expanded. The readline
19011 history facilities do not attempt substitution on the strings
19012 @kbd{!=} and @kbd{!(}, even when history expansion is enabled.
19013
19014 The commands to control history expansion are:
19015
19016 @table @code
19017 @item set history expansion on
19018 @itemx set history expansion
19019 @kindex set history expansion
19020 Enable history expansion. History expansion is off by default.
19021
19022 @item set history expansion off
19023 Disable history expansion.
19024
19025 @c @group
19026 @kindex show history
19027 @item show history
19028 @itemx show history filename
19029 @itemx show history save
19030 @itemx show history size
19031 @itemx show history expansion
19032 These commands display the state of the @value{GDBN} history parameters.
19033 @code{show history} by itself displays all four states.
19034 @c @end group
19035 @end table
19036
19037 @table @code
19038 @kindex show commands
19039 @cindex show last commands
19040 @cindex display command history
19041 @item show commands
19042 Display the last ten commands in the command history.
19043
19044 @item show commands @var{n}
19045 Print ten commands centered on command number @var{n}.
19046
19047 @item show commands +
19048 Print ten commands just after the commands last printed.
19049 @end table
19050
19051 @node Screen Size
19052 @section Screen Size
19053 @cindex size of screen
19054 @cindex pauses in output
19055
19056 Certain commands to @value{GDBN} may produce large amounts of
19057 information output to the screen. To help you read all of it,
19058 @value{GDBN} pauses and asks you for input at the end of each page of
19059 output. Type @key{RET} when you want to continue the output, or @kbd{q}
19060 to discard the remaining output. Also, the screen width setting
19061 determines when to wrap lines of output. Depending on what is being
19062 printed, @value{GDBN} tries to break the line at a readable place,
19063 rather than simply letting it overflow onto the following line.
19064
19065 Normally @value{GDBN} knows the size of the screen from the terminal
19066 driver software. For example, on Unix @value{GDBN} uses the termcap data base
19067 together with the value of the @code{TERM} environment variable and the
19068 @code{stty rows} and @code{stty cols} settings. If this is not correct,
19069 you can override it with the @code{set height} and @code{set
19070 width} commands:
19071
19072 @table @code
19073 @kindex set height
19074 @kindex set width
19075 @kindex show width
19076 @kindex show height
19077 @item set height @var{lpp}
19078 @itemx show height
19079 @itemx set width @var{cpl}
19080 @itemx show width
19081 These @code{set} commands specify a screen height of @var{lpp} lines and
19082 a screen width of @var{cpl} characters. The associated @code{show}
19083 commands display the current settings.
19084
19085 If you specify a height of zero lines, @value{GDBN} does not pause during
19086 output no matter how long the output is. This is useful if output is to a
19087 file or to an editor buffer.
19088
19089 Likewise, you can specify @samp{set width 0} to prevent @value{GDBN}
19090 from wrapping its output.
19091
19092 @item set pagination on
19093 @itemx set pagination off
19094 @kindex set pagination
19095 Turn the output pagination on or off; the default is on. Turning
19096 pagination off is the alternative to @code{set height 0}. Note that
19097 running @value{GDBN} with the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode
19098 Options, -batch}) also automatically disables pagination.
19099
19100 @item show pagination
19101 @kindex show pagination
19102 Show the current pagination mode.
19103 @end table
19104
19105 @node Numbers
19106 @section Numbers
19107 @cindex number representation
19108 @cindex entering numbers
19109
19110 You can always enter numbers in octal, decimal, or hexadecimal in
19111 @value{GDBN} by the usual conventions: octal numbers begin with
19112 @samp{0}, decimal numbers end with @samp{.}, and hexadecimal numbers
19113 begin with @samp{0x}. Numbers that neither begin with @samp{0} or
19114 @samp{0x}, nor end with a @samp{.} are, by default, entered in base
19115 10; likewise, the default display for numbers---when no particular
19116 format is specified---is base 10. You can change the default base for
19117 both input and output with the commands described below.
19118
19119 @table @code
19120 @kindex set input-radix
19121 @item set input-radix @var{base}
19122 Set the default base for numeric input. Supported choices
19123 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
19124 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix; for
19125 example, any of
19126
19127 @smallexample
19128 set input-radix 012
19129 set input-radix 10.
19130 set input-radix 0xa
19131 @end smallexample
19132
19133 @noindent
19134 sets the input base to decimal. On the other hand, @samp{set input-radix 10}
19135 leaves the input radix unchanged, no matter what it was, since
19136 @samp{10}, being without any leading or trailing signs of its base, is
19137 interpreted in the current radix. Thus, if the current radix is 16,
19138 @samp{10} is interpreted in hex, i.e.@: as 16 decimal, which doesn't
19139 change the radix.
19140
19141 @kindex set output-radix
19142 @item set output-radix @var{base}
19143 Set the default base for numeric display. Supported choices
19144 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. @var{base} must itself be
19145 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix.
19146
19147 @kindex show input-radix
19148 @item show input-radix
19149 Display the current default base for numeric input.
19150
19151 @kindex show output-radix
19152 @item show output-radix
19153 Display the current default base for numeric display.
19154
19155 @item set radix @r{[}@var{base}@r{]}
19156 @itemx show radix
19157 @kindex set radix
19158 @kindex show radix
19159 These commands set and show the default base for both input and output
19160 of numbers. @code{set radix} sets the radix of input and output to
19161 the same base; without an argument, it resets the radix back to its
19162 default value of 10.
19163
19164 @end table
19165
19166 @node ABI
19167 @section Configuring the Current ABI
19168
19169 @value{GDBN} can determine the @dfn{ABI} (Application Binary Interface) of your
19170 application automatically. However, sometimes you need to override its
19171 conclusions. Use these commands to manage @value{GDBN}'s view of the
19172 current ABI.
19173
19174 @cindex OS ABI
19175 @kindex set osabi
19176 @kindex show osabi
19177
19178 One @value{GDBN} configuration can debug binaries for multiple operating
19179 system targets, either via remote debugging or native emulation.
19180 @value{GDBN} will autodetect the @dfn{OS ABI} (Operating System ABI) in use,
19181 but you can override its conclusion using the @code{set osabi} command.
19182 One example where this is useful is in debugging of binaries which use
19183 an alternate C library (e.g.@: @sc{uClibc} for @sc{gnu}/Linux) which does
19184 not have the same identifying marks that the standard C library for your
19185 platform provides.
19186
19187 @table @code
19188 @item show osabi
19189 Show the OS ABI currently in use.
19190
19191 @item set osabi
19192 With no argument, show the list of registered available OS ABI's.
19193
19194 @item set osabi @var{abi}
19195 Set the current OS ABI to @var{abi}.
19196 @end table
19197
19198 @cindex float promotion
19199
19200 Generally, the way that an argument of type @code{float} is passed to a
19201 function depends on whether the function is prototyped. For a prototyped
19202 (i.e.@: ANSI/ISO style) function, @code{float} arguments are passed unchanged,
19203 according to the architecture's convention for @code{float}. For unprototyped
19204 (i.e.@: K&R style) functions, @code{float} arguments are first promoted to type
19205 @code{double} and then passed.
19206
19207 Unfortunately, some forms of debug information do not reliably indicate whether
19208 a function is prototyped. If @value{GDBN} calls a function that is not marked
19209 as prototyped, it consults @kbd{set coerce-float-to-double}.
19210
19211 @table @code
19212 @kindex set coerce-float-to-double
19213 @item set coerce-float-to-double
19214 @itemx set coerce-float-to-double on
19215 Arguments of type @code{float} will be promoted to @code{double} when passed
19216 to an unprototyped function. This is the default setting.
19217
19218 @item set coerce-float-to-double off
19219 Arguments of type @code{float} will be passed directly to unprototyped
19220 functions.
19221
19222 @kindex show coerce-float-to-double
19223 @item show coerce-float-to-double
19224 Show the current setting of promoting @code{float} to @code{double}.
19225 @end table
19226
19227 @kindex set cp-abi
19228 @kindex show cp-abi
19229 @value{GDBN} needs to know the ABI used for your program's C@t{++}
19230 objects. The correct C@t{++} ABI depends on which C@t{++} compiler was
19231 used to build your application. @value{GDBN} only fully supports
19232 programs with a single C@t{++} ABI; if your program contains code using
19233 multiple C@t{++} ABI's or if @value{GDBN} can not identify your
19234 program's ABI correctly, you can tell @value{GDBN} which ABI to use.
19235 Currently supported ABI's include ``gnu-v2'', for @code{g++} versions
19236 before 3.0, ``gnu-v3'', for @code{g++} versions 3.0 and later, and
19237 ``hpaCC'' for the HP ANSI C@t{++} compiler. Other C@t{++} compilers may
19238 use the ``gnu-v2'' or ``gnu-v3'' ABI's as well. The default setting is
19239 ``auto''.
19240
19241 @table @code
19242 @item show cp-abi
19243 Show the C@t{++} ABI currently in use.
19244
19245 @item set cp-abi
19246 With no argument, show the list of supported C@t{++} ABI's.
19247
19248 @item set cp-abi @var{abi}
19249 @itemx set cp-abi auto
19250 Set the current C@t{++} ABI to @var{abi}, or return to automatic detection.
19251 @end table
19252
19253 @node Messages/Warnings
19254 @section Optional Warnings and Messages
19255
19256 @cindex verbose operation
19257 @cindex optional warnings
19258 By default, @value{GDBN} is silent about its inner workings. If you are
19259 running on a slow machine, you may want to use the @code{set verbose}
19260 command. This makes @value{GDBN} tell you when it does a lengthy
19261 internal operation, so you will not think it has crashed.
19262
19263 Currently, the messages controlled by @code{set verbose} are those
19264 which announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read;
19265 see @code{symbol-file} in @ref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}.
19266
19267 @table @code
19268 @kindex set verbose
19269 @item set verbose on
19270 Enables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
19271
19272 @item set verbose off
19273 Disables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
19274
19275 @kindex show verbose
19276 @item show verbose
19277 Displays whether @code{set verbose} is on or off.
19278 @end table
19279
19280 By default, if @value{GDBN} encounters bugs in the symbol table of an
19281 object file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may
19282 find this information useful (@pxref{Symbol Errors, ,Errors Reading
19283 Symbol Files}).
19284
19285 @table @code
19286
19287 @kindex set complaints
19288 @item set complaints @var{limit}
19289 Permits @value{GDBN} to output @var{limit} complaints about each type of
19290 unusual symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set
19291 @var{limit} to zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number
19292 to prevent complaints from being suppressed.
19293
19294 @kindex show complaints
19295 @item show complaints
19296 Displays how many symbol complaints @value{GDBN} is permitted to produce.
19297
19298 @end table
19299
19300 @anchor{confirmation requests}
19301 By default, @value{GDBN} is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a
19302 lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if
19303 you try to run a program which is already running:
19304
19305 @smallexample
19306 (@value{GDBP}) run
19307 The program being debugged has been started already.
19308 Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
19309 @end smallexample
19310
19311 If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own
19312 commands, you can disable this ``feature'':
19313
19314 @table @code
19315
19316 @kindex set confirm
19317 @cindex flinching
19318 @cindex confirmation
19319 @cindex stupid questions
19320 @item set confirm off
19321 Disables confirmation requests. Note that running @value{GDBN} with
19322 the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode Options, -batch}) also
19323 automatically disables confirmation requests.
19324
19325 @item set confirm on
19326 Enables confirmation requests (the default).
19327
19328 @kindex show confirm
19329 @item show confirm
19330 Displays state of confirmation requests.
19331
19332 @end table
19333
19334 @cindex command tracing
19335 If you need to debug user-defined commands or sourced files you may find it
19336 useful to enable @dfn{command tracing}. In this mode each command will be
19337 printed as it is executed, prefixed with one or more @samp{+} symbols, the
19338 quantity denoting the call depth of each command.
19339
19340 @table @code
19341 @kindex set trace-commands
19342 @cindex command scripts, debugging
19343 @item set trace-commands on
19344 Enable command tracing.
19345 @item set trace-commands off
19346 Disable command tracing.
19347 @item show trace-commands
19348 Display the current state of command tracing.
19349 @end table
19350
19351 @node Debugging Output
19352 @section Optional Messages about Internal Happenings
19353 @cindex optional debugging messages
19354
19355 @value{GDBN} has commands that enable optional debugging messages from
19356 various @value{GDBN} subsystems; normally these commands are of
19357 interest to @value{GDBN} maintainers, or when reporting a bug. This
19358 section documents those commands.
19359
19360 @table @code
19361 @kindex set exec-done-display
19362 @item set exec-done-display
19363 Turns on or off the notification of asynchronous commands'
19364 completion. When on, @value{GDBN} will print a message when an
19365 asynchronous command finishes its execution. The default is off.
19366 @kindex show exec-done-display
19367 @item show exec-done-display
19368 Displays the current setting of asynchronous command completion
19369 notification.
19370 @kindex set debug
19371 @cindex gdbarch debugging info
19372 @cindex architecture debugging info
19373 @item set debug arch
19374 Turns on or off display of gdbarch debugging info. The default is off
19375 @kindex show debug
19376 @item show debug arch
19377 Displays the current state of displaying gdbarch debugging info.
19378 @item set debug aix-thread
19379 @cindex AIX threads
19380 Display debugging messages about inner workings of the AIX thread
19381 module.
19382 @item show debug aix-thread
19383 Show the current state of AIX thread debugging info display.
19384 @item set debug dwarf2-die
19385 @cindex DWARF2 DIEs
19386 Dump DWARF2 DIEs after they are read in.
19387 The value is the number of nesting levels to print.
19388 A value of zero turns off the display.
19389 @item show debug dwarf2-die
19390 Show the current state of DWARF2 DIE debugging.
19391 @item set debug displaced
19392 @cindex displaced stepping debugging info
19393 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for the
19394 displaced stepping support. The default is off.
19395 @item show debug displaced
19396 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} debugging info
19397 related to displaced stepping.
19398 @item set debug event
19399 @cindex event debugging info
19400 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} event debugging info. The
19401 default is off.
19402 @item show debug event
19403 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} event debugging
19404 info.
19405 @item set debug expression
19406 @cindex expression debugging info
19407 Turns on or off display of debugging info about @value{GDBN}
19408 expression parsing. The default is off.
19409 @item show debug expression
19410 Displays the current state of displaying debugging info about
19411 @value{GDBN} expression parsing.
19412 @item set debug frame
19413 @cindex frame debugging info
19414 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} frame debugging info. The
19415 default is off.
19416 @item show debug frame
19417 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} frame debugging
19418 info.
19419 @item set debug gnu-nat
19420 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug messages
19421 Turns on or off debugging messages from the @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug support.
19422 @item show debug gnu-nat
19423 Show the current state of @sc{gnu}/Hurd debugging messages.
19424 @item set debug infrun
19425 @cindex inferior debugging info
19426 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for running the inferior.
19427 The default is off. @file{infrun.c} contains GDB's runtime state machine used
19428 for implementing operations such as single-stepping the inferior.
19429 @item show debug infrun
19430 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} inferior debugging.
19431 @item set debug lin-lwp
19432 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP debug messages
19433 @cindex Linux lightweight processes
19434 Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP debug support.
19435 @item show debug lin-lwp
19436 Show the current state of Linux LWP debugging messages.
19437 @item set debug lin-lwp-async
19438 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP async debug messages
19439 @cindex Linux lightweight processes
19440 Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP async debug support.
19441 @item show debug lin-lwp-async
19442 Show the current state of Linux LWP async debugging messages.
19443 @item set debug observer
19444 @cindex observer debugging info
19445 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} observer debugging. This
19446 includes info such as the notification of observable events.
19447 @item show debug observer
19448 Displays the current state of observer debugging.
19449 @item set debug overload
19450 @cindex C@t{++} overload debugging info
19451 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload debugging
19452 info. This includes info such as ranking of functions, etc. The default
19453 is off.
19454 @item show debug overload
19455 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload
19456 debugging info.
19457 @cindex expression parser, debugging info
19458 @cindex debug expression parser
19459 @item set debug parser
19460 Turns on or off the display of expression parser debugging output.
19461 Internally, this sets the @code{yydebug} variable in the expression
19462 parser. @xref{Tracing, , Tracing Your Parser, bison, Bison}, for
19463 details. The default is off.
19464 @item show debug parser
19465 Show the current state of expression parser debugging.
19466 @cindex packets, reporting on stdout
19467 @cindex serial connections, debugging
19468 @cindex debug remote protocol
19469 @cindex remote protocol debugging
19470 @cindex display remote packets
19471 @item set debug remote
19472 Turns on or off display of reports on all packets sent back and forth across
19473 the serial line to the remote machine. The info is printed on the
19474 @value{GDBN} standard output stream. The default is off.
19475 @item show debug remote
19476 Displays the state of display of remote packets.
19477 @item set debug serial
19478 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} serial debugging info. The
19479 default is off.
19480 @item show debug serial
19481 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} serial debugging
19482 info.
19483 @item set debug solib-frv
19484 @cindex FR-V shared-library debugging
19485 Turns on or off debugging messages for FR-V shared-library code.
19486 @item show debug solib-frv
19487 Display the current state of FR-V shared-library code debugging
19488 messages.
19489 @item set debug target
19490 @cindex target debugging info
19491 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} target debugging info. This info
19492 includes what is going on at the target level of GDB, as it happens. The
19493 default is 0. Set it to 1 to track events, and to 2 to also track the
19494 value of large memory transfers. Changes to this flag do not take effect
19495 until the next time you connect to a target or use the @code{run} command.
19496 @item show debug target
19497 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} target debugging
19498 info.
19499 @item set debug timestamp
19500 @cindex timestampping debugging info
19501 Turns on or off display of timestamps with @value{GDBN} debugging info.
19502 When enabled, seconds and microseconds are displayed before each debugging
19503 message.
19504 @item show debug timestamp
19505 Displays the current state of displaying timestamps with @value{GDBN}
19506 debugging info.
19507 @item set debugvarobj
19508 @cindex variable object debugging info
19509 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} variable object debugging
19510 info. The default is off.
19511 @item show debugvarobj
19512 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} variable object
19513 debugging info.
19514 @item set debug xml
19515 @cindex XML parser debugging
19516 Turns on or off debugging messages for built-in XML parsers.
19517 @item show debug xml
19518 Displays the current state of XML debugging messages.
19519 @end table
19520
19521 @node Other Misc Settings
19522 @section Other Miscellaneous Settings
19523 @cindex miscellaneous settings
19524
19525 @table @code
19526 @kindex set interactive-mode
19527 @item set interactive-mode
19528 If @code{on}, forces @value{GDBN} to operate interactively.
19529 If @code{off}, forces @value{GDBN} to operate non-interactively,
19530 If @code{auto} (the default), @value{GDBN} guesses which mode to use,
19531 based on whether the debugger was started in a terminal or not.
19532
19533 In the vast majority of cases, the debugger should be able to guess
19534 correctly which mode should be used. But this setting can be useful
19535 in certain specific cases, such as running a MinGW @value{GDBN}
19536 inside a cygwin window.
19537
19538 @kindex show interactive-mode
19539 @item show interactive-mode
19540 Displays whether the debugger is operating in interactive mode or not.
19541 @end table
19542
19543 @node Extending GDB
19544 @chapter Extending @value{GDBN}
19545 @cindex extending GDB
19546
19547 @value{GDBN} provides two mechanisms for extension. The first is based
19548 on composition of @value{GDBN} commands, and the second is based on the
19549 Python scripting language.
19550
19551 To facilitate the use of these extensions, @value{GDBN} is capable
19552 of evaluating the contents of a file. When doing so, @value{GDBN}
19553 can recognize which scripting language is being used by looking at
19554 the filename extension. Files with an unrecognized filename extension
19555 are always treated as a @value{GDBN} Command Files.
19556 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
19557
19558 You can control how @value{GDBN} evaluates these files with the following
19559 setting:
19560
19561 @table @code
19562 @kindex set script-extension
19563 @kindex show script-extension
19564 @item set script-extension off
19565 All scripts are always evaluated as @value{GDBN} Command Files.
19566
19567 @item set script-extension soft
19568 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
19569 extension. If this scripting language is supported, @value{GDBN}
19570 evaluates the script using that language. Otherwise, it evaluates
19571 the file as a @value{GDBN} Command File.
19572
19573 @item set script-extension strict
19574 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
19575 extension, and evaluates the script using that language. If the
19576 language is not supported, then the evaluation fails.
19577
19578 @item show script-extension
19579 Display the current value of the @code{script-extension} option.
19580
19581 @end table
19582
19583 @menu
19584 * Sequences:: Canned Sequences of Commands
19585 * Python:: Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
19586 @end menu
19587
19588 @node Sequences
19589 @section Canned Sequences of Commands
19590
19591 Aside from breakpoint commands (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint
19592 Command Lists}), @value{GDBN} provides two ways to store sequences of
19593 commands for execution as a unit: user-defined commands and command
19594 files.
19595
19596 @menu
19597 * Define:: How to define your own commands
19598 * Hooks:: Hooks for user-defined commands
19599 * Command Files:: How to write scripts of commands to be stored in a file
19600 * Output:: Commands for controlled output
19601 @end menu
19602
19603 @node Define
19604 @subsection User-defined Commands
19605
19606 @cindex user-defined command
19607 @cindex arguments, to user-defined commands
19608 A @dfn{user-defined command} is a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands to
19609 which you assign a new name as a command. This is done with the
19610 @code{define} command. User commands may accept up to 10 arguments
19611 separated by whitespace. Arguments are accessed within the user command
19612 via @code{$arg0@dots{}$arg9}. A trivial example:
19613
19614 @smallexample
19615 define adder
19616 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
19617 end
19618 @end smallexample
19619
19620 @noindent
19621 To execute the command use:
19622
19623 @smallexample
19624 adder 1 2 3
19625 @end smallexample
19626
19627 @noindent
19628 This defines the command @code{adder}, which prints the sum of
19629 its three arguments. Note the arguments are text substitutions, so they may
19630 reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
19631 functions calls.
19632
19633 @cindex argument count in user-defined commands
19634 @cindex how many arguments (user-defined commands)
19635 In addition, @code{$argc} may be used to find out how many arguments have
19636 been passed. This expands to a number in the range 0@dots{}10.
19637
19638 @smallexample
19639 define adder
19640 if $argc == 2
19641 print $arg0 + $arg1
19642 end
19643 if $argc == 3
19644 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
19645 end
19646 end
19647 @end smallexample
19648
19649 @table @code
19650
19651 @kindex define
19652 @item define @var{commandname}
19653 Define a command named @var{commandname}. If there is already a command
19654 by that name, you are asked to confirm that you want to redefine it.
19655 @var{commandname} may be a bare command name consisting of letters,
19656 numbers, dashes, and underscores. It may also start with any predefined
19657 prefix command. For example, @samp{define target my-target} creates
19658 a user-defined @samp{target my-target} command.
19659
19660 The definition of the command is made up of other @value{GDBN} command lines,
19661 which are given following the @code{define} command. The end of these
19662 commands is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
19663
19664 @kindex document
19665 @kindex end@r{ (user-defined commands)}
19666 @item document @var{commandname}
19667 Document the user-defined command @var{commandname}, so that it can be
19668 accessed by @code{help}. The command @var{commandname} must already be
19669 defined. This command reads lines of documentation just as @code{define}
19670 reads the lines of the command definition, ending with @code{end}.
19671 After the @code{document} command is finished, @code{help} on command
19672 @var{commandname} displays the documentation you have written.
19673
19674 You may use the @code{document} command again to change the
19675 documentation of a command. Redefining the command with @code{define}
19676 does not change the documentation.
19677
19678 @kindex dont-repeat
19679 @cindex don't repeat command
19680 @item dont-repeat
19681 Used inside a user-defined command, this tells @value{GDBN} that this
19682 command should not be repeated when the user hits @key{RET}
19683 (@pxref{Command Syntax, repeat last command}).
19684
19685 @kindex help user-defined
19686 @item help user-defined
19687 List all user-defined commands, with the first line of the documentation
19688 (if any) for each.
19689
19690 @kindex show user
19691 @item show user
19692 @itemx show user @var{commandname}
19693 Display the @value{GDBN} commands used to define @var{commandname} (but
19694 not its documentation). If no @var{commandname} is given, display the
19695 definitions for all user-defined commands.
19696
19697 @cindex infinite recursion in user-defined commands
19698 @kindex show max-user-call-depth
19699 @kindex set max-user-call-depth
19700 @item show max-user-call-depth
19701 @itemx set max-user-call-depth
19702 The value of @code{max-user-call-depth} controls how many recursion
19703 levels are allowed in user-defined commands before @value{GDBN} suspects an
19704 infinite recursion and aborts the command.
19705 @end table
19706
19707 In addition to the above commands, user-defined commands frequently
19708 use control flow commands, described in @ref{Command Files}.
19709
19710 When user-defined commands are executed, the
19711 commands of the definition are not printed. An error in any command
19712 stops execution of the user-defined command.
19713
19714 If used interactively, commands that would ask for confirmation proceed
19715 without asking when used inside a user-defined command. Many @value{GDBN}
19716 commands that normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the
19717 messages when used in a user-defined command.
19718
19719 @node Hooks
19720 @subsection User-defined Command Hooks
19721 @cindex command hooks
19722 @cindex hooks, for commands
19723 @cindex hooks, pre-command
19724
19725 @kindex hook
19726 You may define @dfn{hooks}, which are a special kind of user-defined
19727 command. Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined
19728 command @samp{hook-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments)
19729 before that command.
19730
19731 @cindex hooks, post-command
19732 @kindex hookpost
19733 A hook may also be defined which is run after the command you executed.
19734 Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined command
19735 @samp{hookpost-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments) after
19736 that command. Post-execution hooks may exist simultaneously with
19737 pre-execution hooks, for the same command.
19738
19739 It is valid for a hook to call the command which it hooks. If this
19740 occurs, the hook is not re-executed, thereby avoiding infinite recursion.
19741
19742 @c It would be nice if hookpost could be passed a parameter indicating
19743 @c if the command it hooks executed properly or not. FIXME!
19744
19745 @kindex stop@r{, a pseudo-command}
19746 In addition, a pseudo-command, @samp{stop} exists. Defining
19747 (@samp{hook-stop}) makes the associated commands execute every time
19748 execution stops in your program: before breakpoint commands are run,
19749 displays are printed, or the stack frame is printed.
19750
19751 For example, to ignore @code{SIGALRM} signals while
19752 single-stepping, but treat them normally during normal execution,
19753 you could define:
19754
19755 @smallexample
19756 define hook-stop
19757 handle SIGALRM nopass
19758 end
19759
19760 define hook-run
19761 handle SIGALRM pass
19762 end
19763
19764 define hook-continue
19765 handle SIGALRM pass
19766 end
19767 @end smallexample
19768
19769 As a further example, to hook at the beginning and end of the @code{echo}
19770 command, and to add extra text to the beginning and end of the message,
19771 you could define:
19772
19773 @smallexample
19774 define hook-echo
19775 echo <<<---
19776 end
19777
19778 define hookpost-echo
19779 echo --->>>\n
19780 end
19781
19782 (@value{GDBP}) echo Hello World
19783 <<<---Hello World--->>>
19784 (@value{GDBP})
19785
19786 @end smallexample
19787
19788 You can define a hook for any single-word command in @value{GDBN}, but
19789 not for command aliases; you should define a hook for the basic command
19790 name, e.g.@: @code{backtrace} rather than @code{bt}.
19791 @c FIXME! So how does Joe User discover whether a command is an alias
19792 @c or not?
19793 You can hook a multi-word command by adding @code{hook-} or
19794 @code{hookpost-} to the last word of the command, e.g.@:
19795 @samp{define target hook-remote} to add a hook to @samp{target remote}.
19796
19797 If an error occurs during the execution of your hook, execution of
19798 @value{GDBN} commands stops and @value{GDBN} issues a prompt
19799 (before the command that you actually typed had a chance to run).
19800
19801 If you try to define a hook which does not match any known command, you
19802 get a warning from the @code{define} command.
19803
19804 @node Command Files
19805 @subsection Command Files
19806
19807 @cindex command files
19808 @cindex scripting commands
19809 A command file for @value{GDBN} is a text file made of lines that are
19810 @value{GDBN} commands. Comments (lines starting with @kbd{#}) may
19811 also be included. An empty line in a command file does nothing; it
19812 does not mean to repeat the last command, as it would from the
19813 terminal.
19814
19815 You can request the execution of a command file with the @code{source}
19816 command. Note that the @code{source} command is also used to evaluate
19817 scripts that are not Command Files. The exact behavior can be configured
19818 using the @code{script-extension} setting.
19819 @xref{Extending GDB,, Extending GDB}.
19820
19821 @table @code
19822 @kindex source
19823 @cindex execute commands from a file
19824 @item source [-s] [-v] @var{filename}
19825 Execute the command file @var{filename}.
19826 @end table
19827
19828 The lines in a command file are generally executed sequentially,
19829 unless the order of execution is changed by one of the
19830 @emph{flow-control commands} described below. The commands are not
19831 printed as they are executed. An error in any command terminates
19832 execution of the command file and control is returned to the console.
19833
19834 @value{GDBN} first searches for @var{filename} in the current directory.
19835 If the file is not found there, and @var{filename} does not specify a
19836 directory, then @value{GDBN} also looks for the file on the source search path
19837 (specified with the @samp{directory} command);
19838 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched because the compilation directory
19839 is not relevant to scripts.
19840
19841 If @code{-s} is specified, then @value{GDBN} searches for @var{filename}
19842 on the search path even if @var{filename} specifies a directory.
19843 The search is done by appending @var{filename} to each element of the
19844 search path. So, for example, if @var{filename} is @file{mylib/myscript}
19845 and the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
19846 look for the script @file{/home/user/mylib/myscript}.
19847 The search is also done if @var{filename} is an absolute path.
19848 For example, if @var{filename} is @file{/tmp/myscript} and
19849 the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
19850 look for the script @file{/home/user/tmp/myscript}.
19851 For DOS-like systems, if @var{filename} contains a drive specification,
19852 it is stripped before concatenation. For example, if @var{filename} is
19853 @file{d:myscript} and the search path contains @file{c:/tmp} then @value{GDBN}
19854 will look for the script @file{c:/tmp/myscript}.
19855
19856 If @code{-v}, for verbose mode, is given then @value{GDBN} displays
19857 each command as it is executed. The option must be given before
19858 @var{filename}, and is interpreted as part of the filename anywhere else.
19859
19860 Commands that would ask for confirmation if used interactively proceed
19861 without asking when used in a command file. Many @value{GDBN} commands that
19862 normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the messages
19863 when called from command files.
19864
19865 @value{GDBN} also accepts command input from standard input. In this
19866 mode, normal output goes to standard output and error output goes to
19867 standard error. Errors in a command file supplied on standard input do
19868 not terminate execution of the command file---execution continues with
19869 the next command.
19870
19871 @smallexample
19872 gdb < cmds > log 2>&1
19873 @end smallexample
19874
19875 (The syntax above will vary depending on the shell used.) This example
19876 will execute commands from the file @file{cmds}. All output and errors
19877 would be directed to @file{log}.
19878
19879 Since commands stored on command files tend to be more general than
19880 commands typed interactively, they frequently need to deal with
19881 complicated situations, such as different or unexpected values of
19882 variables and symbols, changes in how the program being debugged is
19883 built, etc. @value{GDBN} provides a set of flow-control commands to
19884 deal with these complexities. Using these commands, you can write
19885 complex scripts that loop over data structures, execute commands
19886 conditionally, etc.
19887
19888 @table @code
19889 @kindex if
19890 @kindex else
19891 @item if
19892 @itemx else
19893 This command allows to include in your script conditionally executed
19894 commands. The @code{if} command takes a single argument, which is an
19895 expression to evaluate. It is followed by a series of commands that
19896 are executed only if the expression is true (its value is nonzero).
19897 There can then optionally be an @code{else} line, followed by a series
19898 of commands that are only executed if the expression was false. The
19899 end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
19900
19901 @kindex while
19902 @item while
19903 This command allows to write loops. Its syntax is similar to
19904 @code{if}: the command takes a single argument, which is an expression
19905 to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to execute, one per
19906 line, terminated by an @code{end}. These commands are called the
19907 @dfn{body} of the loop. The commands in the body of @code{while} are
19908 executed repeatedly as long as the expression evaluates to true.
19909
19910 @kindex loop_break
19911 @item loop_break
19912 This command exits the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included.
19913 Execution of the script continues after that @code{while}s @code{end}
19914 line.
19915
19916 @kindex loop_continue
19917 @item loop_continue
19918 This command skips the execution of the rest of the body of commands
19919 in the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included. Execution
19920 branches to the beginning of the @code{while} loop, where it evaluates
19921 the controlling expression.
19922
19923 @kindex end@r{ (if/else/while commands)}
19924 @item end
19925 Terminate the block of commands that are the body of @code{if},
19926 @code{else}, or @code{while} flow-control commands.
19927 @end table
19928
19929
19930 @node Output
19931 @subsection Commands for Controlled Output
19932
19933 During the execution of a command file or a user-defined command, normal
19934 @value{GDBN} output is suppressed; the only output that appears is what is
19935 explicitly printed by the commands in the definition. This section
19936 describes three commands useful for generating exactly the output you
19937 want.
19938
19939 @table @code
19940 @kindex echo
19941 @item echo @var{text}
19942 @c I do not consider backslash-space a standard C escape sequence
19943 @c because it is not in ANSI.
19944 Print @var{text}. Nonprinting characters can be included in
19945 @var{text} using C escape sequences, such as @samp{\n} to print a
19946 newline. @strong{No newline is printed unless you specify one.}
19947 In addition to the standard C escape sequences, a backslash followed
19948 by a space stands for a space. This is useful for displaying a
19949 string with spaces at the beginning or the end, since leading and
19950 trailing spaces are otherwise trimmed from all arguments.
19951 To print @samp{@w{ }and foo =@w{ }}, use the command
19952 @samp{echo \@w{ }and foo = \@w{ }}.
19953
19954 A backslash at the end of @var{text} can be used, as in C, to continue
19955 the command onto subsequent lines. For example,
19956
19957 @smallexample
19958 echo This is some text\n\
19959 which is continued\n\
19960 onto several lines.\n
19961 @end smallexample
19962
19963 produces the same output as
19964
19965 @smallexample
19966 echo This is some text\n
19967 echo which is continued\n
19968 echo onto several lines.\n
19969 @end smallexample
19970
19971 @kindex output
19972 @item output @var{expression}
19973 Print the value of @var{expression} and nothing but that value: no
19974 newlines, no @samp{$@var{nn} = }. The value is not entered in the
19975 value history either. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information
19976 on expressions.
19977
19978 @item output/@var{fmt} @var{expression}
19979 Print the value of @var{expression} in format @var{fmt}. You can use
19980 the same formats as for @code{print}. @xref{Output Formats,,Output
19981 Formats}, for more information.
19982
19983 @kindex printf
19984 @item printf @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
19985 Print the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
19986 the string @var{template}. To print several values, make
19987 @var{expressions} be a comma-separated list of individual expressions,
19988 which may be either numbers or pointers. Their values are printed as
19989 specified by @var{template}, exactly as a C program would do by
19990 executing the code below:
19991
19992 @smallexample
19993 printf (@var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{});
19994 @end smallexample
19995
19996 As in @code{C} @code{printf}, ordinary characters in @var{template}
19997 are printed verbatim, while @dfn{conversion specification} introduced
19998 by the @samp{%} character cause subsequent @var{expressions} to be
19999 evaluated, their values converted and formatted according to type and
20000 style information encoded in the conversion specifications, and then
20001 printed.
20002
20003 For example, you can print two values in hex like this:
20004
20005 @smallexample
20006 printf "foo, bar-foo = 0x%x, 0x%x\n", foo, bar-foo
20007 @end smallexample
20008
20009 @code{printf} supports all the standard @code{C} conversion
20010 specifications, including the flags and modifiers between the @samp{%}
20011 character and the conversion letter, with the following exceptions:
20012
20013 @itemize @bullet
20014 @item
20015 The argument-ordering modifiers, such as @samp{2$}, are not supported.
20016
20017 @item
20018 The modifier @samp{*} is not supported for specifying precision or
20019 width.
20020
20021 @item
20022 The @samp{'} flag (for separation of digits into groups according to
20023 @code{LC_NUMERIC'}) is not supported.
20024
20025 @item
20026 The type modifiers @samp{hh}, @samp{j}, @samp{t}, and @samp{z} are not
20027 supported.
20028
20029 @item
20030 The conversion letter @samp{n} (as in @samp{%n}) is not supported.
20031
20032 @item
20033 The conversion letters @samp{a} and @samp{A} are not supported.
20034 @end itemize
20035
20036 @noindent
20037 Note that the @samp{ll} type modifier is supported only if the
20038 underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} supports
20039 the @code{long long int} type, and the @samp{L} type modifier is
20040 supported only if @code{long double} type is available.
20041
20042 As in @code{C}, @code{printf} supports simple backslash-escape
20043 sequences, such as @code{\n}, @samp{\t}, @samp{\\}, @samp{\"},
20044 @samp{\a}, and @samp{\f}, that consist of backslash followed by a
20045 single character. Octal and hexadecimal escape sequences are not
20046 supported.
20047
20048 Additionally, @code{printf} supports conversion specifications for DFP
20049 (@dfn{Decimal Floating Point}) types using the following length modifiers
20050 together with a floating point specifier.
20051 letters:
20052
20053 @itemize @bullet
20054 @item
20055 @samp{H} for printing @code{Decimal32} types.
20056
20057 @item
20058 @samp{D} for printing @code{Decimal64} types.
20059
20060 @item
20061 @samp{DD} for printing @code{Decimal128} types.
20062 @end itemize
20063
20064 If the underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} has
20065 support for the three length modifiers for DFP types, other modifiers
20066 such as width and precision will also be available for @value{GDBN} to use.
20067
20068 In case there is no such @code{C} support, no additional modifiers will be
20069 available and the value will be printed in the standard way.
20070
20071 Here's an example of printing DFP types using the above conversion letters:
20072 @smallexample
20073 printf "D32: %Hf - D64: %Df - D128: %DDf\n",1.2345df,1.2E10dd,1.2E1dl
20074 @end smallexample
20075
20076 @end table
20077
20078 @node Python
20079 @section Scripting @value{GDBN} using Python
20080 @cindex python scripting
20081 @cindex scripting with python
20082
20083 You can script @value{GDBN} using the @uref{http://www.python.org/,
20084 Python programming language}. This feature is available only if
20085 @value{GDBN} was configured using @option{--with-python}.
20086
20087 @menu
20088 * Python Commands:: Accessing Python from @value{GDBN}.
20089 * Python API:: Accessing @value{GDBN} from Python.
20090 * Auto-loading:: Automatically loading Python code.
20091 @end menu
20092
20093 @node Python Commands
20094 @subsection Python Commands
20095 @cindex python commands
20096 @cindex commands to access python
20097
20098 @value{GDBN} provides one command for accessing the Python interpreter,
20099 and one related setting:
20100
20101 @table @code
20102 @kindex python
20103 @item python @r{[}@var{code}@r{]}
20104 The @code{python} command can be used to evaluate Python code.
20105
20106 If given an argument, the @code{python} command will evaluate the
20107 argument as a Python command. For example:
20108
20109 @smallexample
20110 (@value{GDBP}) python print 23
20111 23
20112 @end smallexample
20113
20114 If you do not provide an argument to @code{python}, it will act as a
20115 multi-line command, like @code{define}. In this case, the Python
20116 script is made up of subsequent command lines, given after the
20117 @code{python} command. This command list is terminated using a line
20118 containing @code{end}. For example:
20119
20120 @smallexample
20121 (@value{GDBP}) python
20122 Type python script
20123 End with a line saying just "end".
20124 >print 23
20125 >end
20126 23
20127 @end smallexample
20128
20129 @kindex maint set python print-stack
20130 @item maint set python print-stack
20131 By default, @value{GDBN} will print a stack trace when an error occurs
20132 in a Python script. This can be controlled using @code{maint set
20133 python print-stack}: if @code{on}, the default, then Python stack
20134 printing is enabled; if @code{off}, then Python stack printing is
20135 disabled.
20136 @end table
20137
20138 It is also possible to execute a Python script from the @value{GDBN}
20139 interpreter:
20140
20141 @table @code
20142 @item source @file{script-name}
20143 The script name must end with @samp{.py} and @value{GDBN} must be configured
20144 to recognize the script language based on filename extension using
20145 the @code{script-extension} setting. @xref{Extending GDB, ,Extending GDB}.
20146
20147 @item python execfile ("script-name")
20148 This method is based on the @code{execfile} Python built-in function,
20149 and thus is always available.
20150 @end table
20151
20152 @node Python API
20153 @subsection Python API
20154 @cindex python api
20155 @cindex programming in python
20156
20157 @cindex python stdout
20158 @cindex python pagination
20159 At startup, @value{GDBN} overrides Python's @code{sys.stdout} and
20160 @code{sys.stderr} to print using @value{GDBN}'s output-paging streams.
20161 A Python program which outputs to one of these streams may have its
20162 output interrupted by the user (@pxref{Screen Size}). In this
20163 situation, a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt} exception is thrown.
20164
20165 @menu
20166 * Basic Python:: Basic Python Functions.
20167 * Exception Handling::
20168 * Values From Inferior::
20169 * Types In Python:: Python representation of types.
20170 * Pretty Printing API:: Pretty-printing values.
20171 * Selecting Pretty-Printers:: How GDB chooses a pretty-printer.
20172 * Disabling Pretty-Printers:: Disabling broken printers.
20173 * Commands In Python:: Implementing new commands in Python.
20174 * Parameters In Python:: Adding new @value{GDBN} parameters.
20175 * Functions In Python:: Writing new convenience functions.
20176 * Progspaces In Python:: Program spaces.
20177 * Objfiles In Python:: Object files.
20178 * Frames In Python:: Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
20179 * Blocks In Python:: Accessing frame blocks from Python.
20180 * Symbols In Python:: Python representation of symbols.
20181 * Symbol Tables In Python:: Python representation of symbol tables.
20182 * Lazy Strings In Python:: Python representation of lazy strings.
20183 * Breakpoints In Python:: Manipulating breakpoints using Python.
20184 @end menu
20185
20186 @node Basic Python
20187 @subsubsection Basic Python
20188
20189 @cindex python functions
20190 @cindex python module
20191 @cindex gdb module
20192 @value{GDBN} introduces a new Python module, named @code{gdb}. All
20193 methods and classes added by @value{GDBN} are placed in this module.
20194 @value{GDBN} automatically @code{import}s the @code{gdb} module for
20195 use in all scripts evaluated by the @code{python} command.
20196
20197 @findex gdb.execute
20198 @defun execute command [from_tty]
20199 Evaluate @var{command}, a string, as a @value{GDBN} CLI command.
20200 If a GDB exception happens while @var{command} runs, it is
20201 translated as described in @ref{Exception Handling,,Exception Handling}.
20202 If no exceptions occur, this function returns @code{None}.
20203
20204 @var{from_tty} specifies whether @value{GDBN} ought to consider this
20205 command as having originated from the user invoking it interactively.
20206 It must be a boolean value. If omitted, it defaults to @code{False}.
20207 @end defun
20208
20209 @findex gdb.breakpoints
20210 @defun breakpoints
20211 Return a sequence holding all of @value{GDBN}'s breakpoints.
20212 @xref{Breakpoints In Python}, for more information.
20213 @end defun
20214
20215 @findex gdb.parameter
20216 @defun parameter parameter
20217 Return the value of a @value{GDBN} parameter. @var{parameter} is a
20218 string naming the parameter to look up; @var{parameter} may contain
20219 spaces if the parameter has a multi-part name. For example,
20220 @samp{print object} is a valid parameter name.
20221
20222 If the named parameter does not exist, this function throws a
20223 @code{RuntimeError}. Otherwise, the parameter's value is converted to
20224 a Python value of the appropriate type, and returned.
20225 @end defun
20226
20227 @findex gdb.history
20228 @defun history number
20229 Return a value from @value{GDBN}'s value history (@pxref{Value
20230 History}). @var{number} indicates which history element to return.
20231 If @var{number} is negative, then @value{GDBN} will take its absolute value
20232 and count backward from the last element (i.e., the most recent element) to
20233 find the value to return. If @var{number} is zero, then @value{GDBN} will
20234 return the most recent element. If the element specified by @var{number}
20235 doesn't exist in the value history, a @code{RuntimeError} exception will be
20236 raised.
20237
20238 If no exception is raised, the return value is always an instance of
20239 @code{gdb.Value} (@pxref{Values From Inferior}).
20240 @end defun
20241
20242 @findex gdb.parse_and_eval
20243 @defun parse_and_eval expression
20244 Parse @var{expression} as an expression in the current language,
20245 evaluate it, and return the result as a @code{gdb.Value}.
20246 @var{expression} must be a string.
20247
20248 This function can be useful when implementing a new command
20249 (@pxref{Commands In Python}), as it provides a way to parse the
20250 command's argument as an expression. It is also useful simply to
20251 compute values, for example, it is the only way to get the value of a
20252 convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) as a @code{gdb.Value}.
20253 @end defun
20254
20255 @findex gdb.write
20256 @defun write string
20257 Print a string to @value{GDBN}'s paginated standard output stream.
20258 Writing to @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically
20259 call this function.
20260 @end defun
20261
20262 @findex gdb.flush
20263 @defun flush
20264 Flush @value{GDBN}'s paginated standard output stream. Flushing
20265 @code{sys.stdout} or @code{sys.stderr} will automatically call this
20266 function.
20267 @end defun
20268
20269 @findex gdb.target_charset
20270 @defun target_charset
20271 Return the name of the current target character set (@pxref{Character
20272 Sets}). This differs from @code{gdb.parameter('target-charset')} in
20273 that @samp{auto} is never returned.
20274 @end defun
20275
20276 @findex gdb.target_wide_charset
20277 @defun target_wide_charset
20278 Return the name of the current target wide character set
20279 (@pxref{Character Sets}). This differs from
20280 @code{gdb.parameter('target-wide-charset')} in that @samp{auto} is
20281 never returned.
20282 @end defun
20283
20284 @node Exception Handling
20285 @subsubsection Exception Handling
20286 @cindex python exceptions
20287 @cindex exceptions, python
20288
20289 When executing the @code{python} command, Python exceptions
20290 uncaught within the Python code are translated to calls to
20291 @value{GDBN} error-reporting mechanism. If the command that called
20292 @code{python} does not handle the error, @value{GDBN} will
20293 terminate it and print an error message containing the Python
20294 exception name, the associated value, and the Python call stack
20295 backtrace at the point where the exception was raised. Example:
20296
20297 @smallexample
20298 (@value{GDBP}) python print foo
20299 Traceback (most recent call last):
20300 File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
20301 NameError: name 'foo' is not defined
20302 @end smallexample
20303
20304 @value{GDBN} errors that happen in @value{GDBN} commands invoked by Python
20305 code are converted to Python @code{RuntimeError} exceptions. User
20306 interrupt (via @kbd{C-c} or by typing @kbd{q} at a pagination
20307 prompt) is translated to a Python @code{KeyboardInterrupt}
20308 exception. If you catch these exceptions in your Python code, your
20309 exception handler will see @code{RuntimeError} or
20310 @code{KeyboardInterrupt} as the exception type, the @value{GDBN} error
20311 message as its value, and the Python call stack backtrace at the
20312 Python statement closest to where the @value{GDBN} error occured as the
20313 traceback.
20314
20315 @findex gdb.GdbError
20316 When implementing @value{GDBN} commands in Python via @code{gdb.Command},
20317 it is useful to be able to throw an exception that doesn't cause a
20318 traceback to be printed. For example, the user may have invoked the
20319 command incorrectly. Use the @code{gdb.GdbError} exception
20320 to handle this case. Example:
20321
20322 @smallexample
20323 (gdb) python
20324 >class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
20325 > """Greet the whole world."""
20326 > def __init__ (self):
20327 > super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE)
20328 > def invoke (self, args, from_tty):
20329 > argv = gdb.string_to_argv (args)
20330 > if len (argv) != 0:
20331 > raise gdb.GdbError ("hello-world takes no arguments")
20332 > print "Hello, World!"
20333 >HelloWorld ()
20334 >end
20335 (gdb) hello-world 42
20336 hello-world takes no arguments
20337 @end smallexample
20338
20339 @node Values From Inferior
20340 @subsubsection Values From Inferior
20341 @cindex values from inferior, with Python
20342 @cindex python, working with values from inferior
20343
20344 @cindex @code{gdb.Value}
20345 @value{GDBN} provides values it obtains from the inferior program in
20346 an object of type @code{gdb.Value}. @value{GDBN} uses this object
20347 for its internal bookkeeping of the inferior's values, and for
20348 fetching values when necessary.
20349
20350 Inferior values that are simple scalars can be used directly in
20351 Python expressions that are valid for the value's data type. Here's
20352 an example for an integer or floating-point value @code{some_val}:
20353
20354 @smallexample
20355 bar = some_val + 2
20356 @end smallexample
20357
20358 @noindent
20359 As result of this, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object
20360 whose values are of the same type as those of @code{some_val}.
20361
20362 Inferior values that are structures or instances of some class can
20363 be accessed using the Python @dfn{dictionary syntax}. For example, if
20364 @code{some_val} is a @code{gdb.Value} instance holding a structure, you
20365 can access its @code{foo} element with:
20366
20367 @smallexample
20368 bar = some_val['foo']
20369 @end smallexample
20370
20371 Again, @code{bar} will also be a @code{gdb.Value} object.
20372
20373 The following attributes are provided:
20374
20375 @table @code
20376 @defivar Value address
20377 If this object is addressable, this read-only attribute holds a
20378 @code{gdb.Value} object representing the address. Otherwise,
20379 this attribute holds @code{None}.
20380 @end defivar
20381
20382 @cindex optimized out value in Python
20383 @defivar Value is_optimized_out
20384 This read-only boolean attribute is true if the compiler optimized out
20385 this value, thus it is not available for fetching from the inferior.
20386 @end defivar
20387
20388 @defivar Value type
20389 The type of this @code{gdb.Value}. The value of this attribute is a
20390 @code{gdb.Type} object.
20391 @end defivar
20392 @end table
20393
20394 The following methods are provided:
20395
20396 @table @code
20397 @defmethod Value cast type
20398 Return a new instance of @code{gdb.Value} that is the result of
20399 casting this instance to the type described by @var{type}, which must
20400 be a @code{gdb.Type} object. If the cast cannot be performed for some
20401 reason, this method throws an exception.
20402 @end defmethod
20403
20404 @defmethod Value dereference
20405 For pointer data types, this method returns a new @code{gdb.Value} object
20406 whose contents is the object pointed to by the pointer. For example, if
20407 @code{foo} is a C pointer to an @code{int}, declared in your C program as
20408
20409 @smallexample
20410 int *foo;
20411 @end smallexample
20412
20413 @noindent
20414 then you can use the corresponding @code{gdb.Value} to access what
20415 @code{foo} points to like this:
20416
20417 @smallexample
20418 bar = foo.dereference ()
20419 @end smallexample
20420
20421 The result @code{bar} will be a @code{gdb.Value} object holding the
20422 value pointed to by @code{foo}.
20423 @end defmethod
20424
20425 @defmethod Value string @r{[}encoding@r{]} @r{[}errors@r{]} @r{[}length@r{]}
20426 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
20427 converts the contents to a Python string. Otherwise, this method will
20428 throw an exception.
20429
20430 Strings are recognized in a language-specific way; whether a given
20431 @code{gdb.Value} represents a string is determined by the current
20432 language.
20433
20434 For C-like languages, a value is a string if it is a pointer to or an
20435 array of characters or ints. The string is assumed to be terminated
20436 by a zero of the appropriate width. However if the optional length
20437 argument is given, the string will be converted to that given length,
20438 ignoring any embedded zeros that the string may contain.
20439
20440 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
20441 naming the encoding of the string in the @code{gdb.Value}, such as
20442 @code{"ascii"}, @code{"iso-8859-6"} or @code{"utf-8"}. It accepts
20443 the same encodings as the corresponding argument to Python's
20444 @code{string.decode} method, and the Python codec machinery will be used
20445 to convert the string. If @var{encoding} is not given, or if
20446 @var{encoding} is the empty string, then either the @code{target-charset}
20447 (@pxref{Character Sets}) will be used, or a language-specific encoding
20448 will be used, if the current language is able to supply one.
20449
20450 The optional @var{errors} argument is the same as the corresponding
20451 argument to Python's @code{string.decode} method.
20452
20453 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
20454 fetched and converted to the given length.
20455 @end defmethod
20456
20457 @defmethod Value lazy_string @r{[}encoding@r{]} @r{[}length@r{]}
20458 If this @code{gdb.Value} represents a string, then this method
20459 converts the contents to a @code{gdb.LazyString} (@pxref{Lazy Strings
20460 In Python}). Otherwise, this method will throw an exception.
20461
20462 If the optional @var{encoding} argument is given, it must be a string
20463 naming the encoding of the @code{gdb.LazyString}. Some examples are:
20464 @samp{ascii}, @samp{iso-8859-6} or @samp{utf-8}. If the
20465 @var{encoding} argument is an encoding that @value{GDBN} does
20466 recognize, @value{GDBN} will raise an error.
20467
20468 When a lazy string is printed, the @value{GDBN} encoding machinery is
20469 used to convert the string during printing. If the optional
20470 @var{encoding} argument is not provided, or is an empty string,
20471 @value{GDBN} will automatically select the encoding most suitable for
20472 the string type. For further information on encoding in @value{GDBN}
20473 please see @ref{Character Sets}.
20474
20475 If the optional @var{length} argument is given, the string will be
20476 fetched and encoded to the length of characters specified. If
20477 the @var{length} argument is not provided, the string will be fetched
20478 and encoded until a null of appropriate width is found.
20479 @end defmethod
20480 @end table
20481
20482 @node Types In Python
20483 @subsubsection Types In Python
20484 @cindex types in Python
20485 @cindex Python, working with types
20486
20487 @tindex gdb.Type
20488 @value{GDBN} represents types from the inferior using the class
20489 @code{gdb.Type}.
20490
20491 The following type-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
20492 module:
20493
20494 @findex gdb.lookup_type
20495 @defun lookup_type name [block]
20496 This function looks up a type by name. @var{name} is the name of the
20497 type to look up. It must be a string.
20498
20499 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
20500 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
20501
20502 Ordinarily, this function will return an instance of @code{gdb.Type}.
20503 If the named type cannot be found, it will throw an exception.
20504 @end defun
20505
20506 An instance of @code{Type} has the following attributes:
20507
20508 @table @code
20509 @defivar Type code
20510 The type code for this type. The type code will be one of the
20511 @code{TYPE_CODE_} constants defined below.
20512 @end defivar
20513
20514 @defivar Type sizeof
20515 The size of this type, in target @code{char} units. Usually, a
20516 target's @code{char} type will be an 8-bit byte. However, on some
20517 unusual platforms, this type may have a different size.
20518 @end defivar
20519
20520 @defivar Type tag
20521 The tag name for this type. The tag name is the name after
20522 @code{struct}, @code{union}, or @code{enum} in C and C@t{++}; not all
20523 languages have this concept. If this type has no tag name, then
20524 @code{None} is returned.
20525 @end defivar
20526 @end table
20527
20528 The following methods are provided:
20529
20530 @table @code
20531 @defmethod Type fields
20532 For structure and union types, this method returns the fields. Range
20533 types have two fields, the minimum and maximum values. Enum types
20534 have one field per enum constant. Function and method types have one
20535 field per parameter. The base types of C@t{++} classes are also
20536 represented as fields. If the type has no fields, or does not fit
20537 into one of these categories, an empty sequence will be returned.
20538
20539 Each field is an object, with some pre-defined attributes:
20540 @table @code
20541 @item bitpos
20542 This attribute is not available for @code{static} fields (as in
20543 C@t{++} or Java). For non-@code{static} fields, the value is the bit
20544 position of the field.
20545
20546 @item name
20547 The name of the field, or @code{None} for anonymous fields.
20548
20549 @item artificial
20550 This is @code{True} if the field is artificial, usually meaning that
20551 it was provided by the compiler and not the user. This attribute is
20552 always provided, and is @code{False} if the field is not artificial.
20553
20554 @item is_base_class
20555 This is @code{True} if the field represents a base class of a C@t{++}
20556 structure. This attribute is always provided, and is @code{False}
20557 if the field is not a base class of the type that is the argument of
20558 @code{fields}, or if that type was not a C@t{++} class.
20559
20560 @item bitsize
20561 If the field is packed, or is a bitfield, then this will have a
20562 non-zero value, which is the size of the field in bits. Otherwise,
20563 this will be zero; in this case the field's size is given by its type.
20564
20565 @item type
20566 The type of the field. This is usually an instance of @code{Type},
20567 but it can be @code{None} in some situations.
20568 @end table
20569 @end defmethod
20570
20571 @defmethod Type const
20572 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
20573 @code{const}-qualified variant of this type.
20574 @end defmethod
20575
20576 @defmethod Type volatile
20577 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a
20578 @code{volatile}-qualified variant of this type.
20579 @end defmethod
20580
20581 @defmethod Type unqualified
20582 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents an unqualified
20583 variant of this type. That is, the result is neither @code{const} nor
20584 @code{volatile}.
20585 @end defmethod
20586
20587 @defmethod Type range
20588 Return a Python @code{Tuple} object that contains two elements: the
20589 low bound of the argument type and the high bound of that type. If
20590 the type does not have a range, @value{GDBN} will raise a
20591 @code{RuntimeError} exception.
20592 @end defmethod
20593
20594 @defmethod Type reference
20595 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a reference to this
20596 type.
20597 @end defmethod
20598
20599 @defmethod Type pointer
20600 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents a pointer to this
20601 type.
20602 @end defmethod
20603
20604 @defmethod Type strip_typedefs
20605 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} that represents the real type,
20606 after removing all layers of typedefs.
20607 @end defmethod
20608
20609 @defmethod Type target
20610 Return a new @code{gdb.Type} object which represents the target type
20611 of this type.
20612
20613 For a pointer type, the target type is the type of the pointed-to
20614 object. For an array type (meaning C-like arrays), the target type is
20615 the type of the elements of the array. For a function or method type,
20616 the target type is the type of the return value. For a complex type,
20617 the target type is the type of the elements. For a typedef, the
20618 target type is the aliased type.
20619
20620 If the type does not have a target, this method will throw an
20621 exception.
20622 @end defmethod
20623
20624 @defmethod Type template_argument n [block]
20625 If this @code{gdb.Type} is an instantiation of a template, this will
20626 return a new @code{gdb.Type} which represents the type of the
20627 @var{n}th template argument.
20628
20629 If this @code{gdb.Type} is not a template type, this will throw an
20630 exception. Ordinarily, only C@t{++} code will have template types.
20631
20632 If @var{block} is given, then @var{name} is looked up in that scope.
20633 Otherwise, it is searched for globally.
20634 @end defmethod
20635 @end table
20636
20637
20638 Each type has a code, which indicates what category this type falls
20639 into. The available type categories are represented by constants
20640 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
20641
20642 @table @code
20643 @findex TYPE_CODE_PTR
20644 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_PTR
20645 @item TYPE_CODE_PTR
20646 The type is a pointer.
20647
20648 @findex TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
20649 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
20650 @item TYPE_CODE_ARRAY
20651 The type is an array.
20652
20653 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
20654 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
20655 @item TYPE_CODE_STRUCT
20656 The type is a structure.
20657
20658 @findex TYPE_CODE_UNION
20659 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_UNION
20660 @item TYPE_CODE_UNION
20661 The type is a union.
20662
20663 @findex TYPE_CODE_ENUM
20664 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ENUM
20665 @item TYPE_CODE_ENUM
20666 The type is an enum.
20667
20668 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
20669 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
20670 @item TYPE_CODE_FLAGS
20671 A bit flags type, used for things such as status registers.
20672
20673 @findex TYPE_CODE_FUNC
20674 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FUNC
20675 @item TYPE_CODE_FUNC
20676 The type is a function.
20677
20678 @findex TYPE_CODE_INT
20679 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INT
20680 @item TYPE_CODE_INT
20681 The type is an integer type.
20682
20683 @findex TYPE_CODE_FLT
20684 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_FLT
20685 @item TYPE_CODE_FLT
20686 A floating point type.
20687
20688 @findex TYPE_CODE_VOID
20689 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_VOID
20690 @item TYPE_CODE_VOID
20691 The special type @code{void}.
20692
20693 @findex TYPE_CODE_SET
20694 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_SET
20695 @item TYPE_CODE_SET
20696 A Pascal set type.
20697
20698 @findex TYPE_CODE_RANGE
20699 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_RANGE
20700 @item TYPE_CODE_RANGE
20701 A range type, that is, an integer type with bounds.
20702
20703 @findex TYPE_CODE_STRING
20704 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_STRING
20705 @item TYPE_CODE_STRING
20706 A string type. Note that this is only used for certain languages with
20707 language-defined string types; C strings are not represented this way.
20708
20709 @findex TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
20710 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
20711 @item TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING
20712 A string of bits.
20713
20714 @findex TYPE_CODE_ERROR
20715 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_ERROR
20716 @item TYPE_CODE_ERROR
20717 An unknown or erroneous type.
20718
20719 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHOD
20720 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHOD
20721 @item TYPE_CODE_METHOD
20722 A method type, as found in C@t{++} or Java.
20723
20724 @findex TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
20725 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
20726 @item TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR
20727 A pointer-to-member-function.
20728
20729 @findex TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
20730 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
20731 @item TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR
20732 A pointer-to-member.
20733
20734 @findex TYPE_CODE_REF
20735 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_REF
20736 @item TYPE_CODE_REF
20737 A reference type.
20738
20739 @findex TYPE_CODE_CHAR
20740 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_CHAR
20741 @item TYPE_CODE_CHAR
20742 A character type.
20743
20744 @findex TYPE_CODE_BOOL
20745 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_BOOL
20746 @item TYPE_CODE_BOOL
20747 A boolean type.
20748
20749 @findex TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
20750 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
20751 @item TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX
20752 A complex float type.
20753
20754 @findex TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
20755 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
20756 @item TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF
20757 A typedef to some other type.
20758
20759 @findex TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
20760 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
20761 @item TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE
20762 A C@t{++} namespace.
20763
20764 @findex TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
20765 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
20766 @item TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT
20767 A decimal floating point type.
20768
20769 @findex TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
20770 @findex gdb.TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
20771 @item TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION
20772 A function internal to @value{GDBN}. This is the type used to represent
20773 convenience functions.
20774 @end table
20775
20776 @node Pretty Printing API
20777 @subsubsection Pretty Printing API
20778
20779 An example output is provided (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
20780
20781 A pretty-printer is just an object that holds a value and implements a
20782 specific interface, defined here.
20783
20784 @defop Operation {pretty printer} children (self)
20785 @value{GDBN} will call this method on a pretty-printer to compute the
20786 children of the pretty-printer's value.
20787
20788 This method must return an object conforming to the Python iterator
20789 protocol. Each item returned by the iterator must be a tuple holding
20790 two elements. The first element is the ``name'' of the child; the
20791 second element is the child's value. The value can be any Python
20792 object which is convertible to a @value{GDBN} value.
20793
20794 This method is optional. If it does not exist, @value{GDBN} will act
20795 as though the value has no children.
20796 @end defop
20797
20798 @defop Operation {pretty printer} display_hint (self)
20799 The CLI may call this method and use its result to change the
20800 formatting of a value. The result will also be supplied to an MI
20801 consumer as a @samp{displayhint} attribute of the variable being
20802 printed.
20803
20804 This method is optional. If it does exist, this method must return a
20805 string.
20806
20807 Some display hints are predefined by @value{GDBN}:
20808
20809 @table @samp
20810 @item array
20811 Indicate that the object being printed is ``array-like''. The CLI
20812 uses this to respect parameters such as @code{set print elements} and
20813 @code{set print array}.
20814
20815 @item map
20816 Indicate that the object being printed is ``map-like'', and that the
20817 children of this value can be assumed to alternate between keys and
20818 values.
20819
20820 @item string
20821 Indicate that the object being printed is ``string-like''. If the
20822 printer's @code{to_string} method returns a Python string of some
20823 kind, then @value{GDBN} will call its internal language-specific
20824 string-printing function to format the string. For the CLI this means
20825 adding quotation marks, possibly escaping some characters, respecting
20826 @code{set print elements}, and the like.
20827 @end table
20828 @end defop
20829
20830 @defop Operation {pretty printer} to_string (self)
20831 @value{GDBN} will call this method to display the string
20832 representation of the value passed to the object's constructor.
20833
20834 When printing from the CLI, if the @code{to_string} method exists,
20835 then @value{GDBN} will prepend its result to the values returned by
20836 @code{children}. Exactly how this formatting is done is dependent on
20837 the display hint, and may change as more hints are added. Also,
20838 depending on the print settings (@pxref{Print Settings}), the CLI may
20839 print just the result of @code{to_string} in a stack trace, omitting
20840 the result of @code{children}.
20841
20842 If this method returns a string, it is printed verbatim.
20843
20844 Otherwise, if this method returns an instance of @code{gdb.Value},
20845 then @value{GDBN} prints this value. This may result in a call to
20846 another pretty-printer.
20847
20848 If instead the method returns a Python value which is convertible to a
20849 @code{gdb.Value}, then @value{GDBN} performs the conversion and prints
20850 the resulting value. Again, this may result in a call to another
20851 pretty-printer. Python scalars (integers, floats, and booleans) and
20852 strings are convertible to @code{gdb.Value}; other types are not.
20853
20854 Finally, if this method returns @code{None} then no further operations
20855 are peformed in this method and nothing is printed.
20856
20857 If the result is not one of these types, an exception is raised.
20858 @end defop
20859
20860 @node Selecting Pretty-Printers
20861 @subsubsection Selecting Pretty-Printers
20862
20863 The Python list @code{gdb.pretty_printers} contains an array of
20864 functions or callable objects that have been registered via addition
20865 as a pretty-printer.
20866 Each @code{gdb.Progspace} contains a @code{pretty_printers} attribute.
20867 Each @code{gdb.Objfile} also contains a @code{pretty_printers}
20868 attribute.
20869
20870 A function on one of these lists is passed a single @code{gdb.Value}
20871 argument and should return a pretty-printer object conforming to the
20872 interface definition above (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}). If a function
20873 cannot create a pretty-printer for the value, it should return
20874 @code{None}.
20875
20876 @value{GDBN} first checks the @code{pretty_printers} attribute of each
20877 @code{gdb.Objfile} in the current program space and iteratively calls
20878 each enabled function (@pxref{Disabling Pretty-Printers})
20879 in the list for that @code{gdb.Objfile} until it receives
20880 a pretty-printer object.
20881 If no pretty-printer is found in the objfile lists, @value{GDBN} then
20882 searches the pretty-printer list of the current program space,
20883 calling each enabled function until an object is returned.
20884 After these lists have been exhausted, it tries the global
20885 @code{gdb.pretty_printers} list, again calling each enabled function until an
20886 object is returned.
20887
20888 The order in which the objfiles are searched is not specified. For a
20889 given list, functions are always invoked from the head of the list,
20890 and iterated over sequentially until the end of the list, or a printer
20891 object is returned.
20892
20893 Here is an example showing how a @code{std::string} printer might be
20894 written:
20895
20896 @smallexample
20897 class StdStringPrinter:
20898 "Print a std::string"
20899
20900 def __init__ (self, val):
20901 self.val = val
20902
20903 def to_string (self):
20904 return self.val['_M_dataplus']['_M_p']
20905
20906 def display_hint (self):
20907 return 'string'
20908 @end smallexample
20909
20910 And here is an example showing how a lookup function for the printer
20911 example above might be written.
20912
20913 @smallexample
20914 def str_lookup_function (val):
20915
20916 lookup_tag = val.type.tag
20917 regex = re.compile ("^std::basic_string<char,.*>$")
20918 if lookup_tag == None:
20919 return None
20920 if regex.match (lookup_tag):
20921 return StdStringPrinter (val)
20922
20923 return None
20924 @end smallexample
20925
20926 The example lookup function extracts the value's type, and attempts to
20927 match it to a type that it can pretty-print. If it is a type the
20928 printer can pretty-print, it will return a printer object. If not, it
20929 returns @code{None}.
20930
20931 We recommend that you put your core pretty-printers into a Python
20932 package. If your pretty-printers are for use with a library, we
20933 further recommend embedding a version number into the package name.
20934 This practice will enable @value{GDBN} to load multiple versions of
20935 your pretty-printers at the same time, because they will have
20936 different names.
20937
20938 You should write auto-loaded code (@pxref{Auto-loading}) such that it
20939 can be evaluated multiple times without changing its meaning. An
20940 ideal auto-load file will consist solely of @code{import}s of your
20941 printer modules, followed by a call to a register pretty-printers with
20942 the current objfile.
20943
20944 Taken as a whole, this approach will scale nicely to multiple
20945 inferiors, each potentially using a different library version.
20946 Embedding a version number in the Python package name will ensure that
20947 @value{GDBN} is able to load both sets of printers simultaneously.
20948 Then, because the search for pretty-printers is done by objfile, and
20949 because your auto-loaded code took care to register your library's
20950 printers with a specific objfile, @value{GDBN} will find the correct
20951 printers for the specific version of the library used by each
20952 inferior.
20953
20954 To continue the @code{std::string} example (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}),
20955 this code might appear in @code{gdb.libstdcxx.v6}:
20956
20957 @smallexample
20958 def register_printers (objfile):
20959 objfile.pretty_printers.add (str_lookup_function)
20960 @end smallexample
20961
20962 @noindent
20963 And then the corresponding contents of the auto-load file would be:
20964
20965 @smallexample
20966 import gdb.libstdcxx.v6
20967 gdb.libstdcxx.v6.register_printers (gdb.current_objfile ())
20968 @end smallexample
20969
20970 @node Disabling Pretty-Printers
20971 @subsubsection Disabling Pretty-Printers
20972 @cindex disabling pretty-printers
20973
20974 For various reasons a pretty-printer may not work.
20975 For example, the underlying data structure may have changed and
20976 the pretty-printer is out of date.
20977
20978 The consequences of a broken pretty-printer are severe enough that
20979 @value{GDBN} provides support for enabling and disabling individual
20980 printers. For example, if @code{print frame-arguments} is on,
20981 a backtrace can become highly illegible if any argument is printed
20982 with a broken printer.
20983
20984 Pretty-printers are enabled and disabled by attaching an @code{enabled}
20985 attribute to the registered function or callable object. If this attribute
20986 is present and its value is @code{False}, the printer is disabled, otherwise
20987 the printer is enabled.
20988
20989 @node Commands In Python
20990 @subsubsection Commands In Python
20991
20992 @cindex commands in python
20993 @cindex python commands
20994 You can implement new @value{GDBN} CLI commands in Python. A CLI
20995 command is implemented using an instance of the @code{gdb.Command}
20996 class, most commonly using a subclass.
20997
20998 @defmethod Command __init__ name @var{command_class} @r{[}@var{completer_class}@r{]} @r{[}@var{prefix}@r{]}
20999 The object initializer for @code{Command} registers the new command
21000 with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked from the
21001 subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
21002
21003 @var{name} is the name of the command. If @var{name} consists of
21004 multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
21005 commands. In this case, if one of the prefix commands does not exist,
21006 an exception is raised.
21007
21008 There is no support for multi-line commands.
21009
21010 @var{command_class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
21011 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to categorize the
21012 new command in the help system.
21013
21014 @var{completer_class} is an optional argument. If given, it should be
21015 one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined below. This argument
21016 tells @value{GDBN} how to perform completion for this command. If not
21017 given, @value{GDBN} will attempt to complete using the object's
21018 @code{complete} method (see below); if no such method is found, an
21019 error will occur when completion is attempted.
21020
21021 @var{prefix} is an optional argument. If @code{True}, then the new
21022 command is a prefix command; sub-commands of this command may be
21023 registered.
21024
21025 The help text for the new command is taken from the Python
21026 documentation string for the command's class, if there is one. If no
21027 documentation string is provided, the default value ``This command is
21028 not documented.'' is used.
21029 @end defmethod
21030
21031 @cindex don't repeat Python command
21032 @defmethod Command dont_repeat
21033 By default, a @value{GDBN} command is repeated when the user enters a
21034 blank line at the command prompt. A command can suppress this
21035 behavior by invoking the @code{dont_repeat} method. This is similar
21036 to the user command @code{dont-repeat}, see @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
21037 @end defmethod
21038
21039 @defmethod Command invoke argument from_tty
21040 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when this command is invoked.
21041
21042 @var{argument} is a string. It is the argument to the command, after
21043 leading and trailing whitespace has been stripped.
21044
21045 @var{from_tty} is a boolean argument. When true, this means that the
21046 command was entered by the user at the terminal; when false it means
21047 that the command came from elsewhere.
21048
21049 If this method throws an exception, it is turned into a @value{GDBN}
21050 @code{error} call. Otherwise, the return value is ignored.
21051
21052 @findex gdb.string_to_argv
21053 To break @var{argument} up into an argv-like string use
21054 @code{gdb.string_to_argv}. This function behaves identically to
21055 @value{GDBN}'s internal argument lexer @code{buildargv}.
21056 It is recommended to use this for consistency.
21057 Arguments are separated by spaces and may be quoted.
21058 Example:
21059
21060 @smallexample
21061 print gdb.string_to_argv ("1 2\ \\\"3 '4 \"5' \"6 '7\"")
21062 ['1', '2 "3', '4 "5', "6 '7"]
21063 @end smallexample
21064
21065 @end defmethod
21066
21067 @cindex completion of Python commands
21068 @defmethod Command complete text word
21069 This method is called by @value{GDBN} when the user attempts
21070 completion on this command. All forms of completion are handled by
21071 this method, that is, the @key{TAB} and @key{M-?} key bindings
21072 (@pxref{Completion}), and the @code{complete} command (@pxref{Help,
21073 complete}).
21074
21075 The arguments @var{text} and @var{word} are both strings. @var{text}
21076 holds the complete command line up to the cursor's location.
21077 @var{word} holds the last word of the command line; this is computed
21078 using a word-breaking heuristic.
21079
21080 The @code{complete} method can return several values:
21081 @itemize @bullet
21082 @item
21083 If the return value is a sequence, the contents of the sequence are
21084 used as the completions. It is up to @code{complete} to ensure that the
21085 contents actually do complete the word. A zero-length sequence is
21086 allowed, it means that there were no completions available. Only
21087 string elements of the sequence are used; other elements in the
21088 sequence are ignored.
21089
21090 @item
21091 If the return value is one of the @samp{COMPLETE_} constants defined
21092 below, then the corresponding @value{GDBN}-internal completion
21093 function is invoked, and its result is used.
21094
21095 @item
21096 All other results are treated as though there were no available
21097 completions.
21098 @end itemize
21099 @end defmethod
21100
21101 When a new command is registered, it must be declared as a member of
21102 some general class of commands. This is used to classify top-level
21103 commands in the on-line help system; note that prefix commands are not
21104 listed under their own category but rather that of their top-level
21105 command. The available classifications are represented by constants
21106 defined in the @code{gdb} module:
21107
21108 @table @code
21109 @findex COMMAND_NONE
21110 @findex gdb.COMMAND_NONE
21111 @item COMMAND_NONE
21112 The command does not belong to any particular class. A command in
21113 this category will not be displayed in any of the help categories.
21114
21115 @findex COMMAND_RUNNING
21116 @findex gdb.COMMAND_RUNNING
21117 @item COMMAND_RUNNING
21118 The command is related to running the inferior. For example,
21119 @code{start}, @code{step}, and @code{continue} are in this category.
21120 Type @kbd{help running} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
21121 commands in this category.
21122
21123 @findex COMMAND_DATA
21124 @findex gdb.COMMAND_DATA
21125 @item COMMAND_DATA
21126 The command is related to data or variables. For example,
21127 @code{call}, @code{find}, and @code{print} are in this category. Type
21128 @kbd{help data} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands
21129 in this category.
21130
21131 @findex COMMAND_STACK
21132 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STACK
21133 @item COMMAND_STACK
21134 The command has to do with manipulation of the stack. For example,
21135 @code{backtrace}, @code{frame}, and @code{return} are in this
21136 category. Type @kbd{help stack} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a
21137 list of commands in this category.
21138
21139 @findex COMMAND_FILES
21140 @findex gdb.COMMAND_FILES
21141 @item COMMAND_FILES
21142 This class is used for file-related commands. For example,
21143 @code{file}, @code{list} and @code{section} are in this category.
21144 Type @kbd{help files} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
21145 commands in this category.
21146
21147 @findex COMMAND_SUPPORT
21148 @findex gdb.COMMAND_SUPPORT
21149 @item COMMAND_SUPPORT
21150 This should be used for ``support facilities'', generally meaning
21151 things that are useful to the user when interacting with @value{GDBN},
21152 but not related to the state of the inferior. For example,
21153 @code{help}, @code{make}, and @code{shell} are in this category. Type
21154 @kbd{help support} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
21155 commands in this category.
21156
21157 @findex COMMAND_STATUS
21158 @findex gdb.COMMAND_STATUS
21159 @item COMMAND_STATUS
21160 The command is an @samp{info}-related command, that is, related to the
21161 state of @value{GDBN} itself. For example, @code{info}, @code{macro},
21162 and @code{show} are in this category. Type @kbd{help status} at the
21163 @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this category.
21164
21165 @findex COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
21166 @findex gdb.COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
21167 @item COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS
21168 The command has to do with breakpoints. For example, @code{break},
21169 @code{clear}, and @code{delete} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
21170 breakpoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in
21171 this category.
21172
21173 @findex COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
21174 @findex gdb.COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
21175 @item COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS
21176 The command has to do with tracepoints. For example, @code{trace},
21177 @code{actions}, and @code{tfind} are in this category. Type
21178 @kbd{help tracepoints} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
21179 commands in this category.
21180
21181 @findex COMMAND_OBSCURE
21182 @findex gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE
21183 @item COMMAND_OBSCURE
21184 The command is only used in unusual circumstances, or is not of
21185 general interest to users. For example, @code{checkpoint},
21186 @code{fork}, and @code{stop} are in this category. Type @kbd{help
21187 obscure} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of commands in this
21188 category.
21189
21190 @findex COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
21191 @findex gdb.COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
21192 @item COMMAND_MAINTENANCE
21193 The command is only useful to @value{GDBN} maintainers. The
21194 @code{maintenance} and @code{flushregs} commands are in this category.
21195 Type @kbd{help internals} at the @value{GDBN} prompt to see a list of
21196 commands in this category.
21197 @end table
21198
21199 A new command can use a predefined completion function, either by
21200 specifying it via an argument at initialization, or by returning it
21201 from the @code{complete} method. These predefined completion
21202 constants are all defined in the @code{gdb} module:
21203
21204 @table @code
21205 @findex COMPLETE_NONE
21206 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_NONE
21207 @item COMPLETE_NONE
21208 This constant means that no completion should be done.
21209
21210 @findex COMPLETE_FILENAME
21211 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_FILENAME
21212 @item COMPLETE_FILENAME
21213 This constant means that filename completion should be performed.
21214
21215 @findex COMPLETE_LOCATION
21216 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_LOCATION
21217 @item COMPLETE_LOCATION
21218 This constant means that location completion should be done.
21219 @xref{Specify Location}.
21220
21221 @findex COMPLETE_COMMAND
21222 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_COMMAND
21223 @item COMPLETE_COMMAND
21224 This constant means that completion should examine @value{GDBN}
21225 command names.
21226
21227 @findex COMPLETE_SYMBOL
21228 @findex gdb.COMPLETE_SYMBOL
21229 @item COMPLETE_SYMBOL
21230 This constant means that completion should be done using symbol names
21231 as the source.
21232 @end table
21233
21234 The following code snippet shows how a trivial CLI command can be
21235 implemented in Python:
21236
21237 @smallexample
21238 class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
21239 """Greet the whole world."""
21240
21241 def __init__ (self):
21242 super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE)
21243
21244 def invoke (self, arg, from_tty):
21245 print "Hello, World!"
21246
21247 HelloWorld ()
21248 @end smallexample
21249
21250 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
21251 registration of the command with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
21252 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
21253 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
21254
21255 @node Parameters In Python
21256 @subsubsection Parameters In Python
21257
21258 @cindex parameters in python
21259 @cindex python parameters
21260 @tindex gdb.Parameter
21261 @tindex Parameter
21262 You can implement new @value{GDBN} parameters using Python. A new
21263 parameter is implemented as an instance of the @code{gdb.Parameter}
21264 class.
21265
21266 Parameters are exposed to the user via the @code{set} and
21267 @code{show} commands. @xref{Help}.
21268
21269 There are many parameters that already exist and can be set in
21270 @value{GDBN}. Two examples are: @code{set follow fork} and
21271 @code{set charset}. Setting these parameters influences certain
21272 behavior in @value{GDBN}. Similarly, you can define parameters that
21273 can be used to influence behavior in custom Python scripts and commands.
21274
21275 @defmethod Parameter __init__ name @var{command-class} @var{parameter-class} @r{[}@var{enum-sequence}@r{]}
21276 The object initializer for @code{Parameter} registers the new
21277 parameter with @value{GDBN}. This initializer is normally invoked
21278 from the subclass' own @code{__init__} method.
21279
21280 @var{name} is the name of the new parameter. If @var{name} consists
21281 of multiple words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix
21282 parameters. An example of this can be illustrated with the
21283 @code{set print} set of parameters. If @var{name} is
21284 @code{print foo}, then @code{print} will be searched as the prefix
21285 parameter. In this case the parameter can subsequently be accessed in
21286 @value{GDBN} as @code{set print foo}.
21287
21288 If @var{name} consists of multiple words, and no prefix parameter group
21289 can be found, an exception is raised.
21290
21291 @var{command-class} should be one of the @samp{COMMAND_} constants
21292 (@pxref{Commands In Python}). This argument tells @value{GDBN} how to
21293 categorize the new parameter in the help system.
21294
21295 @var{parameter-class} should be one of the @samp{PARAM_} constants
21296 defined below. This argument tells @value{GDBN} the type of the new
21297 parameter; this information is used for input validation and
21298 completion.
21299
21300 If @var{parameter-class} is @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then
21301 @var{enum-sequence} must be a sequence of strings. These strings
21302 represent the possible values for the parameter.
21303
21304 If @var{parameter-class} is not @code{PARAM_ENUM}, then the presence
21305 of a fourth argument will cause an exception to be thrown.
21306
21307 The help text for the new parameter is taken from the Python
21308 documentation string for the parameter's class, if there is one. If
21309 there is no documentation string, a default value is used.
21310 @end defmethod
21311
21312 @defivar Parameter set_doc
21313 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
21314 the help text for this parameter's @code{set} command. The value is
21315 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
21316 have no effect.
21317 @end defivar
21318
21319 @defivar Parameter show_doc
21320 If this attribute exists, and is a string, then its value is used as
21321 the help text for this parameter's @code{show} command. The value is
21322 examined when @code{Parameter.__init__} is invoked; subsequent changes
21323 have no effect.
21324 @end defivar
21325
21326 @defivar Parameter value
21327 The @code{value} attribute holds the underlying value of the
21328 parameter. It can be read and assigned to just as any other
21329 attribute. @value{GDBN} does validation when assignments are made.
21330 @end defivar
21331
21332
21333 When a new parameter is defined, its type must be specified. The
21334 available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
21335 module:
21336
21337 @table @code
21338 @findex PARAM_BOOLEAN
21339 @findex gdb.PARAM_BOOLEAN
21340 @item PARAM_BOOLEAN
21341 The value is a plain boolean. The Python boolean values, @code{True}
21342 and @code{False} are the only valid values.
21343
21344 @findex PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
21345 @findex gdb.PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
21346 @item PARAM_AUTO_BOOLEAN
21347 The value has three possible states: true, false, and @samp{auto}. In
21348 Python, true and false are represented using boolean constants, and
21349 @samp{auto} is represented using @code{None}.
21350
21351 @findex PARAM_UINTEGER
21352 @findex gdb.PARAM_UINTEGER
21353 @item PARAM_UINTEGER
21354 The value is an unsigned integer. The value of 0 should be
21355 interpreted to mean ``unlimited''.
21356
21357 @findex PARAM_INTEGER
21358 @findex gdb.PARAM_INTEGER
21359 @item PARAM_INTEGER
21360 The value is a signed integer. The value of 0 should be interpreted
21361 to mean ``unlimited''.
21362
21363 @findex PARAM_STRING
21364 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING
21365 @item PARAM_STRING
21366 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, any escape
21367 sequences, such as @samp{\t}, @samp{\f}, and octal escapes, are
21368 translated into corresponding characters and encoded into the current
21369 host charset.
21370
21371 @findex PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
21372 @findex gdb.PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
21373 @item PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE
21374 The value is a string. When the user modifies the string, escapes are
21375 passed through untranslated.
21376
21377 @findex PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
21378 @findex gdb.PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
21379 @item PARAM_OPTIONAL_FILENAME
21380 The value is a either a filename (a string), or @code{None}.
21381
21382 @findex PARAM_FILENAME
21383 @findex gdb.PARAM_FILENAME
21384 @item PARAM_FILENAME
21385 The value is a filename. This is just like
21386 @code{PARAM_STRING_NOESCAPE}, but uses file names for completion.
21387
21388 @findex PARAM_ZINTEGER
21389 @findex gdb.PARAM_ZINTEGER
21390 @item PARAM_ZINTEGER
21391 The value is an integer. This is like @code{PARAM_INTEGER}, except 0
21392 is interpreted as itself.
21393
21394 @findex PARAM_ENUM
21395 @findex gdb.PARAM_ENUM
21396 @item PARAM_ENUM
21397 The value is a string, which must be one of a collection string
21398 constants provided when the parameter is created.
21399 @end table
21400
21401 @node Functions In Python
21402 @subsubsection Writing new convenience functions
21403
21404 @cindex writing convenience functions
21405 @cindex convenience functions in python
21406 @cindex python convenience functions
21407 @tindex gdb.Function
21408 @tindex Function
21409 You can implement new convenience functions (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
21410 in Python. A convenience function is an instance of a subclass of the
21411 class @code{gdb.Function}.
21412
21413 @defmethod Function __init__ name
21414 The initializer for @code{Function} registers the new function with
21415 @value{GDBN}. The argument @var{name} is the name of the function,
21416 a string. The function will be visible to the user as a convenience
21417 variable of type @code{internal function}, whose name is the same as
21418 the given @var{name}.
21419
21420 The documentation for the new function is taken from the documentation
21421 string for the new class.
21422 @end defmethod
21423
21424 @defmethod Function invoke @var{*args}
21425 When a convenience function is evaluated, its arguments are converted
21426 to instances of @code{gdb.Value}, and then the function's
21427 @code{invoke} method is called. Note that @value{GDBN} does not
21428 predetermine the arity of convenience functions. Instead, all
21429 available arguments are passed to @code{invoke}, following the
21430 standard Python calling convention. In particular, a convenience
21431 function can have default values for parameters without ill effect.
21432
21433 The return value of this method is used as its value in the enclosing
21434 expression. If an ordinary Python value is returned, it is converted
21435 to a @code{gdb.Value} following the usual rules.
21436 @end defmethod
21437
21438 The following code snippet shows how a trivial convenience function can
21439 be implemented in Python:
21440
21441 @smallexample
21442 class Greet (gdb.Function):
21443 """Return string to greet someone.
21444 Takes a name as argument."""
21445
21446 def __init__ (self):
21447 super (Greet, self).__init__ ("greet")
21448
21449 def invoke (self, name):
21450 return "Hello, %s!" % name.string ()
21451
21452 Greet ()
21453 @end smallexample
21454
21455 The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
21456 registration of the function with @value{GDBN}. Depending on how the
21457 Python code is read into @value{GDBN}, you may need to import the
21458 @code{gdb} module explicitly.
21459
21460 @node Progspaces In Python
21461 @subsubsection Program Spaces In Python
21462
21463 @cindex progspaces in python
21464 @tindex gdb.Progspace
21465 @tindex Progspace
21466 A program space, or @dfn{progspace}, represents a symbolic view
21467 of an address space.
21468 It consists of all of the objfiles of the program.
21469 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
21470 @xref{Inferiors and Programs, program spaces}, for more details
21471 about program spaces.
21472
21473 The following progspace-related functions are available in the
21474 @code{gdb} module:
21475
21476 @findex gdb.current_progspace
21477 @defun current_progspace
21478 This function returns the program space of the currently selected inferior.
21479 @xref{Inferiors and Programs}.
21480 @end defun
21481
21482 @findex gdb.progspaces
21483 @defun progspaces
21484 Return a sequence of all the progspaces currently known to @value{GDBN}.
21485 @end defun
21486
21487 Each progspace is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Progspace}
21488 class.
21489
21490 @defivar Progspace filename
21491 The file name of the progspace as a string.
21492 @end defivar
21493
21494 @defivar Progspace pretty_printers
21495 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
21496 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
21497 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
21498 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
21499 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
21500 information.
21501 @end defivar
21502
21503 @node Objfiles In Python
21504 @subsubsection Objfiles In Python
21505
21506 @cindex objfiles in python
21507 @tindex gdb.Objfile
21508 @tindex Objfile
21509 @value{GDBN} loads symbols for an inferior from various
21510 symbol-containing files (@pxref{Files}). These include the primary
21511 executable file, any shared libraries used by the inferior, and any
21512 separate debug info files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}).
21513 @value{GDBN} calls these symbol-containing files @dfn{objfiles}.
21514
21515 The following objfile-related functions are available in the
21516 @code{gdb} module:
21517
21518 @findex gdb.current_objfile
21519 @defun current_objfile
21520 When auto-loading a Python script (@pxref{Auto-loading}), @value{GDBN}
21521 sets the ``current objfile'' to the corresponding objfile. This
21522 function returns the current objfile. If there is no current objfile,
21523 this function returns @code{None}.
21524 @end defun
21525
21526 @findex gdb.objfiles
21527 @defun objfiles
21528 Return a sequence of all the objfiles current known to @value{GDBN}.
21529 @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
21530 @end defun
21531
21532 Each objfile is represented by an instance of the @code{gdb.Objfile}
21533 class.
21534
21535 @defivar Objfile filename
21536 The file name of the objfile as a string.
21537 @end defivar
21538
21539 @defivar Objfile pretty_printers
21540 The @code{pretty_printers} attribute is a list of functions. It is
21541 used to look up pretty-printers. A @code{Value} is passed to each
21542 function in order; if the function returns @code{None}, then the
21543 search continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object
21544 which is used to format the value. @xref{Pretty Printing API}, for more
21545 information.
21546 @end defivar
21547
21548 @node Frames In Python
21549 @subsubsection Accessing inferior stack frames from Python.
21550
21551 @cindex frames in python
21552 When the debugged program stops, @value{GDBN} is able to analyze its call
21553 stack (@pxref{Frames,,Stack frames}). The @code{gdb.Frame} class
21554 represents a frame in the stack. A @code{gdb.Frame} object is only valid
21555 while its corresponding frame exists in the inferior's stack. If you try
21556 to use an invalid frame object, @value{GDBN} will throw a @code{RuntimeError}
21557 exception.
21558
21559 Two @code{gdb.Frame} objects can be compared for equality with the @code{==}
21560 operator, like:
21561
21562 @smallexample
21563 (@value{GDBP}) python print gdb.newest_frame() == gdb.selected_frame ()
21564 True
21565 @end smallexample
21566
21567 The following frame-related functions are available in the @code{gdb} module:
21568
21569 @findex gdb.selected_frame
21570 @defun selected_frame
21571 Return the selected frame object. (@pxref{Selection,,Selecting a Frame}).
21572 @end defun
21573
21574 @defun frame_stop_reason_string reason
21575 Return a string explaining the reason why @value{GDBN} stopped unwinding
21576 frames, as expressed by the given @var{reason} code (an integer, see the
21577 @code{unwind_stop_reason} method further down in this section).
21578 @end defun
21579
21580 A @code{gdb.Frame} object has the following methods:
21581
21582 @table @code
21583 @defmethod Frame is_valid
21584 Returns true if the @code{gdb.Frame} object is valid, false if not.
21585 A frame object can become invalid if the frame it refers to doesn't
21586 exist anymore in the inferior. All @code{gdb.Frame} methods will throw
21587 an exception if it is invalid at the time the method is called.
21588 @end defmethod
21589
21590 @defmethod Frame name
21591 Returns the function name of the frame, or @code{None} if it can't be
21592 obtained.
21593 @end defmethod
21594
21595 @defmethod Frame type
21596 Returns the type of the frame. The value can be one of
21597 @code{gdb.NORMAL_FRAME}, @code{gdb.DUMMY_FRAME}, @code{gdb.SIGTRAMP_FRAME}
21598 or @code{gdb.SENTINEL_FRAME}.
21599 @end defmethod
21600
21601 @defmethod Frame unwind_stop_reason
21602 Return an integer representing the reason why it's not possible to find
21603 more frames toward the outermost frame. Use
21604 @code{gdb.frame_stop_reason_string} to convert the value returned by this
21605 function to a string.
21606 @end defmethod
21607
21608 @defmethod Frame pc
21609 Returns the frame's resume address.
21610 @end defmethod
21611
21612 @defmethod Frame block
21613 Return the frame's code block. @xref{Blocks In Python}.
21614 @end defmethod
21615
21616 @defmethod Frame function
21617 Return the symbol for the function corresponding to this frame.
21618 @xref{Symbols In Python}.
21619 @end defmethod
21620
21621 @defmethod Frame older
21622 Return the frame that called this frame.
21623 @end defmethod
21624
21625 @defmethod Frame newer
21626 Return the frame called by this frame.
21627 @end defmethod
21628
21629 @defmethod Frame find_sal
21630 Return the frame's symtab and line object.
21631 @xref{Symbol Tables In Python}.
21632 @end defmethod
21633
21634 @defmethod Frame read_var variable @r{[}block@r{]}
21635 Return the value of @var{variable} in this frame. If the optional
21636 argument @var{block} is provided, search for the variable from that
21637 block; otherwise start at the frame's current block (which is
21638 determined by the frame's current program counter). @var{variable}
21639 must be a string or a @code{gdb.Symbol} object. @var{block} must be a
21640 @code{gdb.Block} object.
21641 @end defmethod
21642
21643 @defmethod Frame select
21644 Set this frame to be the selected frame. @xref{Stack, ,Examining the
21645 Stack}.
21646 @end defmethod
21647 @end table
21648
21649 @node Blocks In Python
21650 @subsubsection Accessing frame blocks from Python.
21651
21652 @cindex blocks in python
21653 @tindex gdb.Block
21654
21655 Within each frame, @value{GDBN} maintains information on each block
21656 stored in that frame. These blocks are organized hierarchically, and
21657 are represented individually in Python as a @code{gdb.Block}.
21658 Please see @ref{Frames In Python}, for a more in-depth discussion on
21659 frames. Furthermore, see @ref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}, for more
21660 detailed technical information on @value{GDBN}'s book-keeping of the
21661 stack.
21662
21663 The following block-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
21664 module:
21665
21666 @findex gdb.block_for_pc
21667 @defun block_for_pc pc
21668 Return the @code{gdb.Block} containing the given @var{pc} value. If the
21669 block cannot be found for the @var{pc} value specified, the function
21670 will return @code{None}.
21671 @end defun
21672
21673 A @code{gdb.Block} object has the following attributes:
21674
21675 @table @code
21676 @defivar Block start
21677 The start address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
21678 @end defivar
21679
21680 @defivar Block end
21681 The end address of the block. This attribute is not writable.
21682 @end defivar
21683
21684 @defivar Block function
21685 The name of the block represented as a @code{gdb.Symbol}. If the
21686 block is not named, then this attribute holds @code{None}. This
21687 attribute is not writable.
21688 @end defivar
21689
21690 @defivar Block superblock
21691 The block containing this block. If this parent block does not exist,
21692 this attribute holds @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
21693 @end defivar
21694 @end table
21695
21696 @node Symbols In Python
21697 @subsubsection Python representation of Symbols.
21698
21699 @cindex symbols in python
21700 @tindex gdb.Symbol
21701
21702 @value{GDBN} represents every variable, function and type as an
21703 entry in a symbol table. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
21704 Similarly, Python represents these symbols in @value{GDBN} with the
21705 @code{gdb.Symbol} object.
21706
21707 The following symbol-related functions are available in the @code{gdb}
21708 module:
21709
21710 @findex gdb.lookup_symbol
21711 @defun lookup_symbol name [block] [domain]
21712 This function searches for a symbol by name. The search scope can be
21713 restricted to the parameters defined in the optional domain and block
21714 arguments.
21715
21716 @var{name} is the name of the symbol. It must be a string. The
21717 optional @var{block} argument restricts the search to symbols visible
21718 in that @var{block}. The @var{block} argument must be a
21719 @code{gdb.Block} object. The optional @var{domain} argument restricts
21720 the search to the domain type. The @var{domain} argument must be a
21721 domain constant defined in the @code{gdb} module and described later
21722 in this chapter.
21723 @end defun
21724
21725 A @code{gdb.Symbol} object has the following attributes:
21726
21727 @table @code
21728 @defivar Symbol symtab
21729 The symbol table in which the symbol appears. This attribute is
21730 represented as a @code{gdb.Symtab} object. @xref{Symbol Tables In
21731 Python}. This attribute is not writable.
21732 @end defivar
21733
21734 @defivar Symbol name
21735 The name of the symbol as a string. This attribute is not writable.
21736 @end defivar
21737
21738 @defivar Symbol linkage_name
21739 The name of the symbol, as used by the linker (i.e., may be mangled).
21740 This attribute is not writable.
21741 @end defivar
21742
21743 @defivar Symbol print_name
21744 The name of the symbol in a form suitable for output. This is either
21745 @code{name} or @code{linkage_name}, depending on whether the user
21746 asked @value{GDBN} to display demangled or mangled names.
21747 @end defivar
21748
21749 @defivar Symbol addr_class
21750 The address class of the symbol. This classifies how to find the value
21751 of a symbol. Each address class is a constant defined in the
21752 @code{gdb} module and described later in this chapter.
21753 @end defivar
21754
21755 @defivar Symbol is_argument
21756 @code{True} if the symbol is an argument of a function.
21757 @end defivar
21758
21759 @defivar Symbol is_constant
21760 @code{True} if the symbol is a constant.
21761 @end defivar
21762
21763 @defivar Symbol is_function
21764 @code{True} if the symbol is a function or a method.
21765 @end defivar
21766
21767 @defivar Symbol is_variable
21768 @code{True} if the symbol is a variable.
21769 @end defivar
21770 @end table
21771
21772 The available domain categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
21773 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
21774
21775 @table @code
21776 @findex SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
21777 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
21778 @item SYMBOL_UNDEF_DOMAIN
21779 This is used when a domain has not been discovered or none of the
21780 following domains apply. This usually indicates an error either
21781 in the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
21782 @findex SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
21783 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
21784 @item SYMBOL_VAR_DOMAIN
21785 This domain contains variables, function names, typedef names and enum
21786 type values.
21787 @findex SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
21788 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
21789 @item SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN
21790 This domain holds struct, union and enum type names.
21791 @findex SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
21792 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
21793 @item SYMBOL_LABEL_DOMAIN
21794 This domain contains names of labels (for gotos).
21795 @findex SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
21796 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
21797 @item SYMBOL_VARIABLES_DOMAIN
21798 This domain holds a subset of the @code{SYMBOLS_VAR_DOMAIN}; it
21799 contains everything minus functions and types.
21800 @findex SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
21801 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_FUNCTIONS_DOMAIN
21802 @item SYMBOL_FUNCTION_DOMAIN
21803 This domain contains all functions.
21804 @findex SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
21805 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
21806 @item SYMBOL_TYPES_DOMAIN
21807 This domain contains all types.
21808 @end table
21809
21810 The available address class categories in @code{gdb.Symbol} are represented
21811 as constants in the @code{gdb} module:
21812
21813 @table @code
21814 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
21815 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
21816 @item SYMBOL_LOC_UNDEF
21817 If this is returned by address class, it indicates an error either in
21818 the symbol information or in @value{GDBN}'s handling of symbols.
21819 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
21820 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
21821 @item SYMBOL_LOC_CONST
21822 Value is constant int.
21823 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
21824 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
21825 @item SYMBOL_LOC_STATIC
21826 Value is at a fixed address.
21827 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
21828 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
21829 @item SYMBOL_LOC_REGISTER
21830 Value is in a register.
21831 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
21832 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
21833 @item SYMBOL_LOC_ARG
21834 Value is an argument. This value is at the offset stored within the
21835 symbol inside the frame's argument list.
21836 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
21837 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
21838 @item SYMBOL_LOC_REF_ARG
21839 Value address is stored in the frame's argument list. Just like
21840 @code{LOC_ARG} except that the value's address is stored at the
21841 offset, not the value itself.
21842 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
21843 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
21844 @item SYMBOL_LOC_REGPARM_ADDR
21845 Value is a specified register. Just like @code{LOC_REGISTER} except
21846 the register holds the address of the argument instead of the argument
21847 itself.
21848 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
21849 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
21850 @item SYMBOL_LOC_LOCAL
21851 Value is a local variable.
21852 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
21853 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
21854 @item SYMBOL_LOC_TYPEDEF
21855 Value not used. Symbols in the domain @code{SYMBOL_STRUCT_DOMAIN} all
21856 have this class.
21857 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
21858 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
21859 @item SYMBOL_LOC_BLOCK
21860 Value is a block.
21861 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
21862 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
21863 @item SYMBOL_LOC_CONST_BYTES
21864 Value is a byte-sequence.
21865 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
21866 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
21867 @item SYMBOL_LOC_UNRESOLVED
21868 Value is at a fixed address, but the address of the variable has to be
21869 determined from the minimal symbol table whenever the variable is
21870 referenced.
21871 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
21872 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
21873 @item SYMBOL_LOC_OPTIMIZED_OUT
21874 The value does not actually exist in the program.
21875 @findex SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
21876 @findex gdb.SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
21877 @item SYMBOL_LOC_COMPUTED
21878 The value's address is a computed location.
21879 @end table
21880
21881 @node Symbol Tables In Python
21882 @subsubsection Symbol table representation in Python.
21883
21884 @cindex symbol tables in python
21885 @tindex gdb.Symtab
21886 @tindex gdb.Symtab_and_line
21887
21888 Access to symbol table data maintained by @value{GDBN} on the inferior
21889 is exposed to Python via two objects: @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} and
21890 @code{gdb.Symtab}. Symbol table and line data for a frame is returned
21891 from the @code{find_sal} method in @code{gdb.Frame} object.
21892 @xref{Frames In Python}.
21893
21894 For more information on @value{GDBN}'s symbol table management, see
21895 @ref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, for more information.
21896
21897 A @code{gdb.Symtab_and_line} object has the following attributes:
21898
21899 @table @code
21900 @defivar Symtab_and_line symtab
21901 The symbol table object (@code{gdb.Symtab}) for this frame.
21902 This attribute is not writable.
21903 @end defivar
21904
21905 @defivar Symtab_and_line pc
21906 Indicates the current program counter address. This attribute is not
21907 writable.
21908 @end defivar
21909
21910 @defivar Symtab_and_line line
21911 Indicates the current line number for this object. This
21912 attribute is not writable.
21913 @end defivar
21914 @end table
21915
21916 A @code{gdb.Symtab} object has the following attributes:
21917
21918 @table @code
21919 @defivar Symtab filename
21920 The symbol table's source filename. This attribute is not writable.
21921 @end defivar
21922
21923 @defivar Symtab objfile
21924 The symbol table's backing object file. @xref{Objfiles In Python}.
21925 This attribute is not writable.
21926 @end defivar
21927 @end table
21928
21929 The following methods are provided:
21930
21931 @table @code
21932 @defmethod Symtab fullname
21933 Return the symbol table's source absolute file name.
21934 @end defmethod
21935 @end table
21936
21937 @node Breakpoints In Python
21938 @subsubsection Manipulating breakpoints using Python
21939
21940 @cindex breakpoints in python
21941 @tindex gdb.Breakpoint
21942
21943 Python code can manipulate breakpoints via the @code{gdb.Breakpoint}
21944 class.
21945
21946 @defmethod Breakpoint __init__ spec @r{[}type@r{]} @r{[}wp_class@r{]}
21947 Create a new breakpoint. @var{spec} is a string naming the
21948 location of the breakpoint, or an expression that defines a
21949 watchpoint. The contents can be any location recognized by the
21950 @code{break} command, or in the case of a watchpoint, by the @code{watch}
21951 command. The optional @var{type} denotes the breakpoint to create
21952 from the types defined later in this chapter. This argument can be
21953 either: @code{BP_BREAKPOINT} or @code{BP_WATCHPOINT}. @var{type}
21954 defaults to @code{BP_BREAKPOINT}. The optional @var{wp_class}
21955 argument defines the class of watchpoint to create, if @var{type} is
21956 defined as @code{BP_WATCHPOINT}. If a watchpoint class is not
21957 provided, it is assumed to be a @var{WP_WRITE} class.
21958 @end defmethod
21959
21960 The available watchpoint types represented by constants are defined in the
21961 @code{gdb} module:
21962
21963 @table @code
21964 @findex WP_READ
21965 @findex gdb.WP_READ
21966 @item WP_READ
21967 Read only watchpoint.
21968
21969 @findex WP_WRITE
21970 @findex gdb.WP_WRITE
21971 @item WP_WRITE
21972 Write only watchpoint.
21973
21974 @findex WP_ACCESS
21975 @findex gdb.WP_ACCESS
21976 @item WP_ACCESS
21977 Read/Write watchpoint.
21978 @end table
21979
21980 @defmethod Breakpoint is_valid
21981 Return @code{True} if this @code{Breakpoint} object is valid,
21982 @code{False} otherwise. A @code{Breakpoint} object can become invalid
21983 if the user deletes the breakpoint. In this case, the object still
21984 exists, but the underlying breakpoint does not. In the cases of
21985 watchpoint scope, the watchpoint remains valid even if execution of the
21986 inferior leaves the scope of that watchpoint.
21987 @end defmethod
21988
21989 @defivar Breakpoint enabled
21990 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is enabled, and
21991 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
21992 @end defivar
21993
21994 @defivar Breakpoint silent
21995 This attribute is @code{True} if the breakpoint is silent, and
21996 @code{False} otherwise. This attribute is writable.
21997
21998 Note that a breakpoint can also be silent if it has commands and the
21999 first command is @code{silent}. This is not reported by the
22000 @code{silent} attribute.
22001 @end defivar
22002
22003 @defivar Breakpoint thread
22004 If the breakpoint is thread-specific, this attribute holds the thread
22005 id. If the breakpoint is not thread-specific, this attribute is
22006 @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
22007 @end defivar
22008
22009 @defivar Breakpoint task
22010 If the breakpoint is Ada task-specific, this attribute holds the Ada task
22011 id. If the breakpoint is not task-specific (or the underlying
22012 language is not Ada), this attribute is @code{None}. This attribute
22013 is writable.
22014 @end defivar
22015
22016 @defivar Breakpoint ignore_count
22017 This attribute holds the ignore count for the breakpoint, an integer.
22018 This attribute is writable.
22019 @end defivar
22020
22021 @defivar Breakpoint number
22022 This attribute holds the breakpoint's number --- the identifier used by
22023 the user to manipulate the breakpoint. This attribute is not writable.
22024 @end defivar
22025
22026 @defivar Breakpoint type
22027 This attribute holds the breakpoint's type --- the identifier used to
22028 determine the actual breakpoint type or use-case. This attribute is not
22029 writable.
22030 @end defivar
22031
22032 The available types are represented by constants defined in the @code{gdb}
22033 module:
22034
22035 @table @code
22036 @findex BP_BREAKPOINT
22037 @findex gdb.BP_BREAKPOINT
22038 @item BP_BREAKPOINT
22039 Normal code breakpoint.
22040
22041 @findex BP_WATCHPOINT
22042 @findex gdb.BP_WATCHPOINT
22043 @item BP_WATCHPOINT
22044 Watchpoint breakpoint.
22045
22046 @findex BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
22047 @findex gdb.BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
22048 @item BP_HARDWARE_WATCHPOINT
22049 Hardware assisted watchpoint.
22050
22051 @findex BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
22052 @findex gdb.BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
22053 @item BP_READ_WATCHPOINT
22054 Hardware assisted read watchpoint.
22055
22056 @findex BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
22057 @findex gdb.BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
22058 @item BP_ACCESS_WATCHPOINT
22059 Hardware assisted access watchpoint.
22060 @end table
22061
22062 @defivar Breakpoint hit_count
22063 This attribute holds the hit count for the breakpoint, an integer.
22064 This attribute is writable, but currently it can only be set to zero.
22065 @end defivar
22066
22067 @defivar Breakpoint location
22068 This attribute holds the location of the breakpoint, as specified by
22069 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have a location
22070 (that is, it is a watchpoint) the attribute's value is @code{None}. This
22071 attribute is not writable.
22072 @end defivar
22073
22074 @defivar Breakpoint expression
22075 This attribute holds a breakpoint expression, as specified by
22076 the user. It is a string. If the breakpoint does not have an
22077 expression (the breakpoint is not a watchpoint) the attribute's value
22078 is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
22079 @end defivar
22080
22081 @defivar Breakpoint condition
22082 This attribute holds the condition of the breakpoint, as specified by
22083 the user. It is a string. If there is no condition, this attribute's
22084 value is @code{None}. This attribute is writable.
22085 @end defivar
22086
22087 @defivar Breakpoint commands
22088 This attribute holds the commands attached to the breakpoint. If
22089 there are commands, this attribute's value is a string holding all the
22090 commands, separated by newlines. If there are no commands, this
22091 attribute is @code{None}. This attribute is not writable.
22092 @end defivar
22093
22094 @node Lazy Strings In Python
22095 @subsubsection Python representation of lazy strings.
22096
22097 @cindex lazy strings in python
22098 @tindex gdb.LazyString
22099
22100 A @dfn{lazy string} is a string whose contents is not retrieved or
22101 encoded until it is needed.
22102
22103 A @code{gdb.LazyString} is represented in @value{GDBN} as an
22104 @code{address} that points to a region of memory, an @code{encoding}
22105 that will be used to encode that region of memory, and a @code{length}
22106 to delimit the region of memory that represents the string. The
22107 difference between a @code{gdb.LazyString} and a string wrapped within
22108 a @code{gdb.Value} is that a @code{gdb.LazyString} will be treated
22109 differently by @value{GDBN} when printing. A @code{gdb.LazyString} is
22110 retrieved and encoded during printing, while a @code{gdb.Value}
22111 wrapping a string is immediately retrieved and encoded on creation.
22112
22113 A @code{gdb.LazyString} object has the following functions:
22114
22115 @defmethod LazyString value
22116 Convert the @code{gdb.LazyString} to a @code{gdb.Value}. This value
22117 will point to the string in memory, but will lose all the delayed
22118 retrieval, encoding and handling that @value{GDBN} applies to a
22119 @code{gdb.LazyString}.
22120 @end defmethod
22121
22122 @defivar LazyString address
22123 This attribute holds the address of the string. This attribute is not
22124 writable.
22125 @end defivar
22126
22127 @defivar LazyString length
22128 This attribute holds the length of the string in characters. If the
22129 length is -1, then the string will be fetched and encoded up to the
22130 first null of appropriate width. This attribute is not writable.
22131 @end defivar
22132
22133 @defivar LazyString encoding
22134 This attribute holds the encoding that will be applied to the string
22135 when the string is printed by @value{GDBN}. If the encoding is not
22136 set, or contains an empty string, then @value{GDBN} will select the
22137 most appropriate encoding when the string is printed. This attribute
22138 is not writable.
22139 @end defivar
22140
22141 @defivar LazyString type
22142 This attribute holds the type that is represented by the lazy string's
22143 type. For a lazy string this will always be a pointer type. To
22144 resolve this to the lazy string's character type, use the type's
22145 @code{target} method. @xref{Types In Python}. This attribute is not
22146 writable.
22147 @end defivar
22148
22149 @node Auto-loading
22150 @subsection Auto-loading
22151 @cindex auto-loading, Python
22152
22153 When a new object file is read (for example, due to the @code{file}
22154 command, or because the inferior has loaded a shared library),
22155 @value{GDBN} will look for Python support scripts in several ways:
22156 @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} and @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section.
22157
22158 @menu
22159 * objfile-gdb.py file:: The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
22160 * .debug_gdb_scripts section:: The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
22161 * Which flavor to choose?::
22162 @end menu
22163
22164 The auto-loading feature is useful for supplying application-specific
22165 debugging commands and scripts.
22166
22167 Auto-loading can be enabled or disabled.
22168
22169 @table @code
22170 @kindex maint set python auto-load
22171 @item maint set python auto-load [yes|no]
22172 Enable or disable the Python auto-loading feature.
22173
22174 @kindex maint show python auto-load
22175 @item maint show python auto-load
22176 Show whether Python auto-loading is enabled or disabled.
22177 @end table
22178
22179 When reading an auto-loaded file, @value{GDBN} sets the
22180 @dfn{current objfile}. This is available via the @code{gdb.current_objfile}
22181 function (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}). This can be useful for
22182 registering objfile-specific pretty-printers.
22183
22184 @node objfile-gdb.py file
22185 @subsubsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py} file
22186 @cindex @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py}
22187
22188 When a new object file is read, @value{GDBN} looks for
22189 a file named @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py},
22190 where @var{objfile} is the object file's real name, formed by ensuring
22191 that the file name is absolute, following all symlinks, and resolving
22192 @code{.} and @code{..} components. If this file exists and is
22193 readable, @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as a Python script.
22194
22195 If this file does not exist, and if the parameter
22196 @code{debug-file-directory} is set (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}),
22197 then @value{GDBN} will look for @var{real-name} in all of the
22198 directories mentioned in the value of @code{debug-file-directory}.
22199
22200 Finally, if this file does not exist, then @value{GDBN} will look for
22201 a file named @file{@var{data-directory}/python/auto-load/@var{real-name}}, where
22202 @var{data-directory} is @value{GDBN}'s data directory (available via
22203 @code{show data-directory}, @pxref{Data Files}), and @var{real-name}
22204 is the object file's real name, as described above.
22205
22206 @value{GDBN} does not track which files it has already auto-loaded this way.
22207 @value{GDBN} will load the associated script every time the corresponding
22208 @var{objfile} is opened.
22209 So your @file{-gdb.py} file should be careful to avoid errors if it
22210 is evaluated more than once.
22211
22212 @node .debug_gdb_scripts section
22213 @subsubsection The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
22214 @cindex @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
22215
22216 For systems using file formats like ELF and COFF,
22217 when @value{GDBN} loads a new object file
22218 it will look for a special section named @samp{.debug_gdb_scripts}.
22219 If this section exists, its contents is a list of names of scripts to load.
22220
22221 @value{GDBN} will look for each specified script file first in the
22222 current directory and then along the source search path
22223 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}),
22224 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched, since the compilation
22225 directory is not relevant to scripts.
22226
22227 Entries can be placed in section @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} with,
22228 for example, this GCC macro:
22229
22230 @example
22231 /* Note: The "MS" section flags are to remote duplicates. */
22232 #define DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT(script_name) \
22233 asm("\
22234 .pushsection \".debug_gdb_scripts\", \"MS\",@@progbits,1\n\
22235 .byte 1\n\
22236 .asciz \"" script_name "\"\n\
22237 .popsection \n\
22238 ");
22239 @end example
22240
22241 @noindent
22242 Then one can reference the macro in a header or source file like this:
22243
22244 @example
22245 DEFINE_GDB_SCRIPT ("my-app-scripts.py")
22246 @end example
22247
22248 The script name may include directories if desired.
22249
22250 If the macro is put in a header, any application or library
22251 using this header will get a reference to the specified script.
22252
22253 @node Which flavor to choose?
22254 @subsubsection Which flavor to choose?
22255
22256 Given the multiple ways of auto-loading Python scripts, it might not always
22257 be clear which one to choose. This section provides some guidance.
22258
22259 Benefits of the @file{-gdb.py} way:
22260
22261 @itemize @bullet
22262 @item
22263 Can be used with file formats that don't support multiple sections.
22264
22265 @item
22266 Ease of finding scripts for public libraries.
22267
22268 Scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section are searched for
22269 in the source search path.
22270 For publicly installed libraries, e.g., @file{libstdc++}, there typically
22271 isn't a source directory in which to find the script.
22272
22273 @item
22274 Doesn't require source code additions.
22275 @end itemize
22276
22277 Benefits of the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} way:
22278
22279 @itemize @bullet
22280 @item
22281 Works with static linking.
22282
22283 Scripts for libraries done the @file{-gdb.py} way require an objfile to
22284 trigger their loading. When an application is statically linked the only
22285 objfile available is the executable, and it is cumbersome to attach all the
22286 scripts from all the input libraries to the executable's @file{-gdb.py} script.
22287
22288 @item
22289 Works with classes that are entirely inlined.
22290
22291 Some classes can be entirely inlined, and thus there may not be an associated
22292 shared library to attach a @file{-gdb.py} script to.
22293
22294 @item
22295 Scripts needn't be copied out of the source tree.
22296
22297 In some circumstances, apps can be built out of large collections of internal
22298 libraries, and the build infrastructure necessary to install the
22299 @file{-gdb.py} scripts in a place where @value{GDBN} can find them is
22300 cumbersome. It may be easier to specify the scripts in the
22301 @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section as relative paths, and add a path to the
22302 top of the source tree to the source search path.
22303 @end itemize
22304
22305 @node Interpreters
22306 @chapter Command Interpreters
22307 @cindex command interpreters
22308
22309 @value{GDBN} supports multiple command interpreters, and some command
22310 infrastructure to allow users or user interface writers to switch
22311 between interpreters or run commands in other interpreters.
22312
22313 @value{GDBN} currently supports two command interpreters, the console
22314 interpreter (sometimes called the command-line interpreter or @sc{cli})
22315 and the machine interface interpreter (or @sc{gdb/mi}). This manual
22316 describes both of these interfaces in great detail.
22317
22318 By default, @value{GDBN} will start with the console interpreter.
22319 However, the user may choose to start @value{GDBN} with another
22320 interpreter by specifying the @option{-i} or @option{--interpreter}
22321 startup options. Defined interpreters include:
22322
22323 @table @code
22324 @item console
22325 @cindex console interpreter
22326 The traditional console or command-line interpreter. This is the most often
22327 used interpreter with @value{GDBN}. With no interpreter specified at runtime,
22328 @value{GDBN} will use this interpreter.
22329
22330 @item mi
22331 @cindex mi interpreter
22332 The newest @sc{gdb/mi} interface (currently @code{mi2}). Used primarily
22333 by programs wishing to use @value{GDBN} as a backend for a debugger GUI
22334 or an IDE. For more information, see @ref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi}
22335 Interface}.
22336
22337 @item mi2
22338 @cindex mi2 interpreter
22339 The current @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
22340
22341 @item mi1
22342 @cindex mi1 interpreter
22343 The @sc{gdb/mi} interface included in @value{GDBN} 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3.
22344
22345 @end table
22346
22347 @cindex invoke another interpreter
22348 The interpreter being used by @value{GDBN} may not be dynamically
22349 switched at runtime. Although possible, this could lead to a very
22350 precarious situation. Consider an IDE using @sc{gdb/mi}. If a user
22351 enters the command "interpreter-set console" in a console view,
22352 @value{GDBN} would switch to using the console interpreter, rendering
22353 the IDE inoperable!
22354
22355 @kindex interpreter-exec
22356 Although you may only choose a single interpreter at startup, you may execute
22357 commands in any interpreter from the current interpreter using the appropriate
22358 command. If you are running the console interpreter, simply use the
22359 @code{interpreter-exec} command:
22360
22361 @smallexample
22362 interpreter-exec mi "-data-list-register-names"
22363 @end smallexample
22364
22365 @sc{gdb/mi} has a similar command, although it is only available in versions of
22366 @value{GDBN} which support @sc{gdb/mi} version 2 (or greater).
22367
22368 @node TUI
22369 @chapter @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
22370 @cindex TUI
22371 @cindex Text User Interface
22372
22373 @menu
22374 * TUI Overview:: TUI overview
22375 * TUI Keys:: TUI key bindings
22376 * TUI Single Key Mode:: TUI single key mode
22377 * TUI Commands:: TUI-specific commands
22378 * TUI Configuration:: TUI configuration variables
22379 @end menu
22380
22381 The @value{GDBN} Text User Interface (TUI) is a terminal
22382 interface which uses the @code{curses} library to show the source
22383 file, the assembly output, the program registers and @value{GDBN}
22384 commands in separate text windows. The TUI mode is supported only
22385 on platforms where a suitable version of the @code{curses} library
22386 is available.
22387
22388 @pindex @value{GDBTUI}
22389 The TUI mode is enabled by default when you invoke @value{GDBN} as
22390 either @samp{@value{GDBTUI}} or @samp{@value{GDBP} -tui}.
22391 You can also switch in and out of TUI mode while @value{GDBN} runs by
22392 using various TUI commands and key bindings, such as @kbd{C-x C-a}.
22393 @xref{TUI Keys, ,TUI Key Bindings}.
22394
22395 @node TUI Overview
22396 @section TUI Overview
22397
22398 In TUI mode, @value{GDBN} can display several text windows:
22399
22400 @table @emph
22401 @item command
22402 This window is the @value{GDBN} command window with the @value{GDBN}
22403 prompt and the @value{GDBN} output. The @value{GDBN} input is still
22404 managed using readline.
22405
22406 @item source
22407 The source window shows the source file of the program. The current
22408 line and active breakpoints are displayed in this window.
22409
22410 @item assembly
22411 The assembly window shows the disassembly output of the program.
22412
22413 @item register
22414 This window shows the processor registers. Registers are highlighted
22415 when their values change.
22416 @end table
22417
22418 The source and assembly windows show the current program position
22419 by highlighting the current line and marking it with a @samp{>} marker.
22420 Breakpoints are indicated with two markers. The first marker
22421 indicates the breakpoint type:
22422
22423 @table @code
22424 @item B
22425 Breakpoint which was hit at least once.
22426
22427 @item b
22428 Breakpoint which was never hit.
22429
22430 @item H
22431 Hardware breakpoint which was hit at least once.
22432
22433 @item h
22434 Hardware breakpoint which was never hit.
22435 @end table
22436
22437 The second marker indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled or not:
22438
22439 @table @code
22440 @item +
22441 Breakpoint is enabled.
22442
22443 @item -
22444 Breakpoint is disabled.
22445 @end table
22446
22447 The source, assembly and register windows are updated when the current
22448 thread changes, when the frame changes, or when the program counter
22449 changes.
22450
22451 These windows are not all visible at the same time. The command
22452 window is always visible. The others can be arranged in several
22453 layouts:
22454
22455 @itemize @bullet
22456 @item
22457 source only,
22458
22459 @item
22460 assembly only,
22461
22462 @item
22463 source and assembly,
22464
22465 @item
22466 source and registers, or
22467
22468 @item
22469 assembly and registers.
22470 @end itemize
22471
22472 A status line above the command window shows the following information:
22473
22474 @table @emph
22475 @item target
22476 Indicates the current @value{GDBN} target.
22477 (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
22478
22479 @item process
22480 Gives the current process or thread number.
22481 When no process is being debugged, this field is set to @code{No process}.
22482
22483 @item function
22484 Gives the current function name for the selected frame.
22485 The name is demangled if demangling is turned on (@pxref{Print Settings}).
22486 When there is no symbol corresponding to the current program counter,
22487 the string @code{??} is displayed.
22488
22489 @item line
22490 Indicates the current line number for the selected frame.
22491 When the current line number is not known, the string @code{??} is displayed.
22492
22493 @item pc
22494 Indicates the current program counter address.
22495 @end table
22496
22497 @node TUI Keys
22498 @section TUI Key Bindings
22499 @cindex TUI key bindings
22500
22501 The TUI installs several key bindings in the readline keymaps
22502 (@pxref{Command Line Editing}). The following key bindings
22503 are installed for both TUI mode and the @value{GDBN} standard mode.
22504
22505 @table @kbd
22506 @kindex C-x C-a
22507 @item C-x C-a
22508 @kindex C-x a
22509 @itemx C-x a
22510 @kindex C-x A
22511 @itemx C-x A
22512 Enter or leave the TUI mode. When leaving the TUI mode,
22513 the curses window management stops and @value{GDBN} operates using
22514 its standard mode, writing on the terminal directly. When reentering
22515 the TUI mode, control is given back to the curses windows.
22516 The screen is then refreshed.
22517
22518 @kindex C-x 1
22519 @item C-x 1
22520 Use a TUI layout with only one window. The layout will
22521 either be @samp{source} or @samp{assembly}. When the TUI mode
22522 is not active, it will switch to the TUI mode.
22523
22524 Think of this key binding as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 1} binding.
22525
22526 @kindex C-x 2
22527 @item C-x 2
22528 Use a TUI layout with at least two windows. When the current
22529 layout already has two windows, the next layout with two windows is used.
22530 When a new layout is chosen, one window will always be common to the
22531 previous layout and the new one.
22532
22533 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 2} binding.
22534
22535 @kindex C-x o
22536 @item C-x o
22537 Change the active window. The TUI associates several key bindings
22538 (like scrolling and arrow keys) with the active window. This command
22539 gives the focus to the next TUI window.
22540
22541 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x o} binding.
22542
22543 @kindex C-x s
22544 @item C-x s
22545 Switch in and out of the TUI SingleKey mode that binds single
22546 keys to @value{GDBN} commands (@pxref{TUI Single Key Mode}).
22547 @end table
22548
22549 The following key bindings only work in the TUI mode:
22550
22551 @table @asis
22552 @kindex PgUp
22553 @item @key{PgUp}
22554 Scroll the active window one page up.
22555
22556 @kindex PgDn
22557 @item @key{PgDn}
22558 Scroll the active window one page down.
22559
22560 @kindex Up
22561 @item @key{Up}
22562 Scroll the active window one line up.
22563
22564 @kindex Down
22565 @item @key{Down}
22566 Scroll the active window one line down.
22567
22568 @kindex Left
22569 @item @key{Left}
22570 Scroll the active window one column left.
22571
22572 @kindex Right
22573 @item @key{Right}
22574 Scroll the active window one column right.
22575
22576 @kindex C-L
22577 @item @kbd{C-L}
22578 Refresh the screen.
22579 @end table
22580
22581 Because the arrow keys scroll the active window in the TUI mode, they
22582 are not available for their normal use by readline unless the command
22583 window has the focus. When another window is active, you must use
22584 other readline key bindings such as @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}
22585 and @kbd{C-f} to control the command window.
22586
22587 @node TUI Single Key Mode
22588 @section TUI Single Key Mode
22589 @cindex TUI single key mode
22590
22591 The TUI also provides a @dfn{SingleKey} mode, which binds several
22592 frequently used @value{GDBN} commands to single keys. Type @kbd{C-x s} to
22593 switch into this mode, where the following key bindings are used:
22594
22595 @table @kbd
22596 @kindex c @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
22597 @item c
22598 continue
22599
22600 @kindex d @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
22601 @item d
22602 down
22603
22604 @kindex f @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
22605 @item f
22606 finish
22607
22608 @kindex n @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
22609 @item n
22610 next
22611
22612 @kindex q @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
22613 @item q
22614 exit the SingleKey mode.
22615
22616 @kindex r @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
22617 @item r
22618 run
22619
22620 @kindex s @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
22621 @item s
22622 step
22623
22624 @kindex u @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
22625 @item u
22626 up
22627
22628 @kindex v @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
22629 @item v
22630 info locals
22631
22632 @kindex w @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
22633 @item w
22634 where
22635 @end table
22636
22637 Other keys temporarily switch to the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
22638 The key that was pressed is inserted in the editing buffer so that
22639 it is possible to type most @value{GDBN} commands without interaction
22640 with the TUI SingleKey mode. Once the command is entered the TUI
22641 SingleKey mode is restored. The only way to permanently leave
22642 this mode is by typing @kbd{q} or @kbd{C-x s}.
22643
22644
22645 @node TUI Commands
22646 @section TUI-specific Commands
22647 @cindex TUI commands
22648
22649 The TUI has specific commands to control the text windows.
22650 These commands are always available, even when @value{GDBN} is not in
22651 the TUI mode. When @value{GDBN} is in the standard mode, most
22652 of these commands will automatically switch to the TUI mode.
22653
22654 Note that if @value{GDBN}'s @code{stdout} is not connected to a
22655 terminal, or @value{GDBN} has been started with the machine interface
22656 interpreter (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}), most of
22657 these commands will fail with an error, because it would not be
22658 possible or desirable to enable curses window management.
22659
22660 @table @code
22661 @item info win
22662 @kindex info win
22663 List and give the size of all displayed windows.
22664
22665 @item layout next
22666 @kindex layout
22667 Display the next layout.
22668
22669 @item layout prev
22670 Display the previous layout.
22671
22672 @item layout src
22673 Display the source window only.
22674
22675 @item layout asm
22676 Display the assembly window only.
22677
22678 @item layout split
22679 Display the source and assembly window.
22680
22681 @item layout regs
22682 Display the register window together with the source or assembly window.
22683
22684 @item focus next
22685 @kindex focus
22686 Make the next window active for scrolling.
22687
22688 @item focus prev
22689 Make the previous window active for scrolling.
22690
22691 @item focus src
22692 Make the source window active for scrolling.
22693
22694 @item focus asm
22695 Make the assembly window active for scrolling.
22696
22697 @item focus regs
22698 Make the register window active for scrolling.
22699
22700 @item focus cmd
22701 Make the command window active for scrolling.
22702
22703 @item refresh
22704 @kindex refresh
22705 Refresh the screen. This is similar to typing @kbd{C-L}.
22706
22707 @item tui reg float
22708 @kindex tui reg
22709 Show the floating point registers in the register window.
22710
22711 @item tui reg general
22712 Show the general registers in the register window.
22713
22714 @item tui reg next
22715 Show the next register group. The list of register groups as well as
22716 their order is target specific. The predefined register groups are the
22717 following: @code{general}, @code{float}, @code{system}, @code{vector},
22718 @code{all}, @code{save}, @code{restore}.
22719
22720 @item tui reg system
22721 Show the system registers in the register window.
22722
22723 @item update
22724 @kindex update
22725 Update the source window and the current execution point.
22726
22727 @item winheight @var{name} +@var{count}
22728 @itemx winheight @var{name} -@var{count}
22729 @kindex winheight
22730 Change the height of the window @var{name} by @var{count}
22731 lines. Positive counts increase the height, while negative counts
22732 decrease it.
22733
22734 @item tabset @var{nchars}
22735 @kindex tabset
22736 Set the width of tab stops to be @var{nchars} characters.
22737 @end table
22738
22739 @node TUI Configuration
22740 @section TUI Configuration Variables
22741 @cindex TUI configuration variables
22742
22743 Several configuration variables control the appearance of TUI windows.
22744
22745 @table @code
22746 @item set tui border-kind @var{kind}
22747 @kindex set tui border-kind
22748 Select the border appearance for the source, assembly and register windows.
22749 The possible values are the following:
22750 @table @code
22751 @item space
22752 Use a space character to draw the border.
22753
22754 @item ascii
22755 Use @sc{ascii} characters @samp{+}, @samp{-} and @samp{|} to draw the border.
22756
22757 @item acs
22758 Use the Alternate Character Set to draw the border. The border is
22759 drawn using character line graphics if the terminal supports them.
22760 @end table
22761
22762 @item set tui border-mode @var{mode}
22763 @kindex set tui border-mode
22764 @itemx set tui active-border-mode @var{mode}
22765 @kindex set tui active-border-mode
22766 Select the display attributes for the borders of the inactive windows
22767 or the active window. The @var{mode} can be one of the following:
22768 @table @code
22769 @item normal
22770 Use normal attributes to display the border.
22771
22772 @item standout
22773 Use standout mode.
22774
22775 @item reverse
22776 Use reverse video mode.
22777
22778 @item half
22779 Use half bright mode.
22780
22781 @item half-standout
22782 Use half bright and standout mode.
22783
22784 @item bold
22785 Use extra bright or bold mode.
22786
22787 @item bold-standout
22788 Use extra bright or bold and standout mode.
22789 @end table
22790 @end table
22791
22792 @node Emacs
22793 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
22794
22795 @cindex Emacs
22796 @cindex @sc{gnu} Emacs
22797 A special interface allows you to use @sc{gnu} Emacs to view (and
22798 edit) the source files for the program you are debugging with
22799 @value{GDBN}.
22800
22801 To use this interface, use the command @kbd{M-x gdb} in Emacs. Give the
22802 executable file you want to debug as an argument. This command starts
22803 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess of Emacs, with input and output through a newly
22804 created Emacs buffer.
22805 @c (Do not use the @code{-tui} option to run @value{GDBN} from Emacs.)
22806
22807 Running @value{GDBN} under Emacs can be just like running @value{GDBN} normally except for two
22808 things:
22809
22810 @itemize @bullet
22811 @item
22812 All ``terminal'' input and output goes through an Emacs buffer, called
22813 the GUD buffer.
22814
22815 This applies both to @value{GDBN} commands and their output, and to the input
22816 and output done by the program you are debugging.
22817
22818 This is useful because it means that you can copy the text of previous
22819 commands and input them again; you can even use parts of the output
22820 in this way.
22821
22822 All the facilities of Emacs' Shell mode are available for interacting
22823 with your program. In particular, you can send signals the usual
22824 way---for example, @kbd{C-c C-c} for an interrupt, @kbd{C-c C-z} for a
22825 stop.
22826
22827 @item
22828 @value{GDBN} displays source code through Emacs.
22829
22830 Each time @value{GDBN} displays a stack frame, Emacs automatically finds the
22831 source file for that frame and puts an arrow (@samp{=>}) at the
22832 left margin of the current line. Emacs uses a separate buffer for
22833 source display, and splits the screen to show both your @value{GDBN} session
22834 and the source.
22835
22836 Explicit @value{GDBN} @code{list} or search commands still produce output as
22837 usual, but you probably have no reason to use them from Emacs.
22838 @end itemize
22839
22840 We call this @dfn{text command mode}. Emacs 22.1, and later, also uses
22841 a graphical mode, enabled by default, which provides further buffers
22842 that can control the execution and describe the state of your program.
22843 @xref{GDB Graphical Interface,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}.
22844
22845 If you specify an absolute file name when prompted for the @kbd{M-x
22846 gdb} argument, then Emacs sets your current working directory to where
22847 your program resides. If you only specify the file name, then Emacs
22848 sets your current working directory to to the directory associated
22849 with the previous buffer. In this case, @value{GDBN} may find your
22850 program by searching your environment's @code{PATH} variable, but on
22851 some operating systems it might not find the source. So, although the
22852 @value{GDBN} input and output session proceeds normally, the auxiliary
22853 buffer does not display the current source and line of execution.
22854
22855 The initial working directory of @value{GDBN} is printed on the top
22856 line of the GUD buffer and this serves as a default for the commands
22857 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files,
22858 ,Commands to Specify Files}.
22859
22860 By default, @kbd{M-x gdb} calls the program called @file{gdb}. If you
22861 need to call @value{GDBN} by a different name (for example, if you
22862 keep several configurations around, with different names) you can
22863 customize the Emacs variable @code{gud-gdb-command-name} to run the
22864 one you want.
22865
22866 In the GUD buffer, you can use these special Emacs commands in
22867 addition to the standard Shell mode commands:
22868
22869 @table @kbd
22870 @item C-h m
22871 Describe the features of Emacs' GUD Mode.
22872
22873 @item C-c C-s
22874 Execute to another source line, like the @value{GDBN} @code{step} command; also
22875 update the display window to show the current file and location.
22876
22877 @item C-c C-n
22878 Execute to next source line in this function, skipping all function
22879 calls, like the @value{GDBN} @code{next} command. Then update the display window
22880 to show the current file and location.
22881
22882 @item C-c C-i
22883 Execute one instruction, like the @value{GDBN} @code{stepi} command; update
22884 display window accordingly.
22885
22886 @item C-c C-f
22887 Execute until exit from the selected stack frame, like the @value{GDBN}
22888 @code{finish} command.
22889
22890 @item C-c C-r
22891 Continue execution of your program, like the @value{GDBN} @code{continue}
22892 command.
22893
22894 @item C-c <
22895 Go up the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument
22896 (@pxref{Arguments, , Numeric Arguments, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}),
22897 like the @value{GDBN} @code{up} command.
22898
22899 @item C-c >
22900 Go down the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument, like the
22901 @value{GDBN} @code{down} command.
22902 @end table
22903
22904 In any source file, the Emacs command @kbd{C-x @key{SPC}} (@code{gud-break})
22905 tells @value{GDBN} to set a breakpoint on the source line point is on.
22906
22907 In text command mode, if you type @kbd{M-x speedbar}, Emacs displays a
22908 separate frame which shows a backtrace when the GUD buffer is current.
22909 Move point to any frame in the stack and type @key{RET} to make it
22910 become the current frame and display the associated source in the
22911 source buffer. Alternatively, click @kbd{Mouse-2} to make the
22912 selected frame become the current one. In graphical mode, the
22913 speedbar displays watch expressions.
22914
22915 If you accidentally delete the source-display buffer, an easy way to get
22916 it back is to type the command @code{f} in the @value{GDBN} buffer, to
22917 request a frame display; when you run under Emacs, this recreates
22918 the source buffer if necessary to show you the context of the current
22919 frame.
22920
22921 The source files displayed in Emacs are in ordinary Emacs buffers
22922 which are visiting the source files in the usual way. You can edit
22923 the files with these buffers if you wish; but keep in mind that @value{GDBN}
22924 communicates with Emacs in terms of line numbers. If you add or
22925 delete lines from the text, the line numbers that @value{GDBN} knows cease
22926 to correspond properly with the code.
22927
22928 A more detailed description of Emacs' interaction with @value{GDBN} is
22929 given in the Emacs manual (@pxref{Debuggers,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu}
22930 Emacs Manual}).
22931
22932 @c The following dropped because Epoch is nonstandard. Reactivate
22933 @c if/when v19 does something similar. ---doc@cygnus.com 19dec1990
22934 @ignore
22935 @kindex Emacs Epoch environment
22936 @kindex Epoch
22937 @kindex inspect
22938
22939 Version 18 of @sc{gnu} Emacs has a built-in window system
22940 called the @code{epoch}
22941 environment. Users of this environment can use a new command,
22942 @code{inspect} which performs identically to @code{print} except that
22943 each value is printed in its own window.
22944 @end ignore
22945
22946
22947 @node GDB/MI
22948 @chapter The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface
22949
22950 @unnumberedsec Function and Purpose
22951
22952 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, its purpose
22953 @sc{gdb/mi} is a line based machine oriented text interface to
22954 @value{GDBN} and is activated by specifying using the
22955 @option{--interpreter} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}). It
22956 is specifically intended to support the development of systems which
22957 use the debugger as just one small component of a larger system.
22958
22959 This chapter is a specification of the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. It is written
22960 in the form of a reference manual.
22961
22962 Note that @sc{gdb/mi} is still under construction, so some of the
22963 features described below are incomplete and subject to change
22964 (@pxref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, , @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends}).
22965
22966 @unnumberedsec Notation and Terminology
22967
22968 @cindex notational conventions, for @sc{gdb/mi}
22969 This chapter uses the following notation:
22970
22971 @itemize @bullet
22972 @item
22973 @code{|} separates two alternatives.
22974
22975 @item
22976 @code{[ @var{something} ]} indicates that @var{something} is optional:
22977 it may or may not be given.
22978
22979 @item
22980 @code{( @var{group} )*} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
22981 may repeat zero or more times.
22982
22983 @item
22984 @code{( @var{group} )+} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
22985 may repeat one or more times.
22986
22987 @item
22988 @code{"@var{string}"} means a literal @var{string}.
22989 @end itemize
22990
22991 @ignore
22992 @heading Dependencies
22993 @end ignore
22994
22995 @menu
22996 * GDB/MI General Design::
22997 * GDB/MI Command Syntax::
22998 * GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI::
22999 * GDB/MI Development and Front Ends::
23000 * GDB/MI Output Records::
23001 * GDB/MI Simple Examples::
23002 * GDB/MI Command Description Format::
23003 * GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands::
23004 * GDB/MI Program Context::
23005 * GDB/MI Thread Commands::
23006 * GDB/MI Program Execution::
23007 * GDB/MI Stack Manipulation::
23008 * GDB/MI Variable Objects::
23009 * GDB/MI Data Manipulation::
23010 * GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands::
23011 * GDB/MI Symbol Query::
23012 * GDB/MI File Commands::
23013 @ignore
23014 * GDB/MI Kod Commands::
23015 * GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands::
23016 * GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands::
23017 @end ignore
23018 * GDB/MI Target Manipulation::
23019 * GDB/MI File Transfer Commands::
23020 * GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands::
23021 @end menu
23022
23023 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23024 @node GDB/MI General Design
23025 @section @sc{gdb/mi} General Design
23026 @cindex GDB/MI General Design
23027
23028 Interaction of a @sc{GDB/MI} frontend with @value{GDBN} involves three
23029 parts---commands sent to @value{GDBN}, responses to those commands
23030 and notifications. Each command results in exactly one response,
23031 indicating either successful completion of the command, or an error.
23032 For the commands that do not resume the target, the response contains the
23033 requested information. For the commands that resume the target, the
23034 response only indicates whether the target was successfully resumed.
23035 Notifications is the mechanism for reporting changes in the state of the
23036 target, or in @value{GDBN} state, that cannot conveniently be associated with
23037 a command and reported as part of that command response.
23038
23039 The important examples of notifications are:
23040 @itemize @bullet
23041
23042 @item
23043 Exec notifications. These are used to report changes in
23044 target state---when a target is resumed, or stopped. It would not
23045 be feasible to include this information in response of resuming
23046 commands, because one resume commands can result in multiple events in
23047 different threads. Also, quite some time may pass before any event
23048 happens in the target, while a frontend needs to know whether the resuming
23049 command itself was successfully executed.
23050
23051 @item
23052 Console output, and status notifications. Console output
23053 notifications are used to report output of CLI commands, as well as
23054 diagnostics for other commands. Status notifications are used to
23055 report the progress of a long-running operation. Naturally, including
23056 this information in command response would mean no output is produced
23057 until the command is finished, which is undesirable.
23058
23059 @item
23060 General notifications. Commands may have various side effects on
23061 the @value{GDBN} or target state beyond their official purpose. For example,
23062 a command may change the selected thread. Although such changes can
23063 be included in command response, using notification allows for more
23064 orthogonal frontend design.
23065
23066 @end itemize
23067
23068 There's no guarantee that whenever an MI command reports an error,
23069 @value{GDBN} or the target are in any specific state, and especially,
23070 the state is not reverted to the state before the MI command was
23071 processed. Therefore, whenever an MI command results in an error,
23072 we recommend that the frontend refreshes all the information shown in
23073 the user interface.
23074
23075
23076 @menu
23077 * Context management::
23078 * Asynchronous and non-stop modes::
23079 * Thread groups::
23080 @end menu
23081
23082 @node Context management
23083 @subsection Context management
23084
23085 In most cases when @value{GDBN} accesses the target, this access is
23086 done in context of a specific thread and frame (@pxref{Frames}).
23087 Often, even when accessing global data, the target requires that a thread
23088 be specified. The CLI interface maintains the selected thread and frame,
23089 and supplies them to target on each command. This is convenient,
23090 because a command line user would not want to specify that information
23091 explicitly on each command, and because user interacts with
23092 @value{GDBN} via a single terminal, so no confusion is possible as
23093 to what thread and frame are the current ones.
23094
23095 In the case of MI, the concept of selected thread and frame is less
23096 useful. First, a frontend can easily remember this information
23097 itself. Second, a graphical frontend can have more than one window,
23098 each one used for debugging a different thread, and the frontend might
23099 want to access additional threads for internal purposes. This
23100 increases the risk that by relying on implicitly selected thread, the
23101 frontend may be operating on a wrong one. Therefore, each MI command
23102 should explicitly specify which thread and frame to operate on. To
23103 make it possible, each MI command accepts the @samp{--thread} and
23104 @samp{--frame} options, the value to each is @value{GDBN} identifier
23105 for thread and frame to operate on.
23106
23107 Usually, each top-level window in a frontend allows the user to select
23108 a thread and a frame, and remembers the user selection for further
23109 operations. However, in some cases @value{GDBN} may suggest that the
23110 current thread be changed. For example, when stopping on a breakpoint
23111 it is reasonable to switch to the thread where breakpoint is hit. For
23112 another example, if the user issues the CLI @samp{thread} command via
23113 the frontend, it is desirable to change the frontend's selected thread to the
23114 one specified by user. @value{GDBN} communicates the suggestion to
23115 change current thread using the @samp{=thread-selected} notification.
23116 No such notification is available for the selected frame at the moment.
23117
23118 Note that historically, MI shares the selected thread with CLI, so
23119 frontends used the @code{-thread-select} to execute commands in the
23120 right context. However, getting this to work right is cumbersome. The
23121 simplest way is for frontend to emit @code{-thread-select} command
23122 before every command. This doubles the number of commands that need
23123 to be sent. The alternative approach is to suppress @code{-thread-select}
23124 if the selected thread in @value{GDBN} is supposed to be identical to the
23125 thread the frontend wants to operate on. However, getting this
23126 optimization right can be tricky. In particular, if the frontend
23127 sends several commands to @value{GDBN}, and one of the commands changes the
23128 selected thread, then the behaviour of subsequent commands will
23129 change. So, a frontend should either wait for response from such
23130 problematic commands, or explicitly add @code{-thread-select} for
23131 all subsequent commands. No frontend is known to do this exactly
23132 right, so it is suggested to just always pass the @samp{--thread} and
23133 @samp{--frame} options.
23134
23135 @node Asynchronous and non-stop modes
23136 @subsection Asynchronous command execution and non-stop mode
23137
23138 On some targets, @value{GDBN} is capable of processing MI commands
23139 even while the target is running. This is called @dfn{asynchronous
23140 command execution} (@pxref{Background Execution}). The frontend may
23141 specify a preferrence for asynchronous execution using the
23142 @code{-gdb-set target-async 1} command, which should be emitted before
23143 either running the executable or attaching to the target. After the
23144 frontend has started the executable or attached to the target, it can
23145 find if asynchronous execution is enabled using the
23146 @code{-list-target-features} command.
23147
23148 Even if @value{GDBN} can accept a command while target is running,
23149 many commands that access the target do not work when the target is
23150 running. Therefore, asynchronous command execution is most useful
23151 when combined with non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}). Then,
23152 it is possible to examine the state of one thread, while other threads
23153 are running.
23154
23155 When a given thread is running, MI commands that try to access the
23156 target in the context of that thread may not work, or may work only on
23157 some targets. In particular, commands that try to operate on thread's
23158 stack will not work, on any target. Commands that read memory, or
23159 modify breakpoints, may work or not work, depending on the target. Note
23160 that even commands that operate on global state, such as @code{print},
23161 @code{set}, and breakpoint commands, still access the target in the
23162 context of a specific thread, so frontend should try to find a
23163 stopped thread and perform the operation on that thread (using the
23164 @samp{--thread} option).
23165
23166 Which commands will work in the context of a running thread is
23167 highly target dependent. However, the two commands
23168 @code{-exec-interrupt}, to stop a thread, and @code{-thread-info},
23169 to find the state of a thread, will always work.
23170
23171 @node Thread groups
23172 @subsection Thread groups
23173 @value{GDBN} may be used to debug several processes at the same time.
23174 On some platfroms, @value{GDBN} may support debugging of several
23175 hardware systems, each one having several cores with several different
23176 processes running on each core. This section describes the MI
23177 mechanism to support such debugging scenarios.
23178
23179 The key observation is that regardless of the structure of the
23180 target, MI can have a global list of threads, because most commands that
23181 accept the @samp{--thread} option do not need to know what process that
23182 thread belongs to. Therefore, it is not necessary to introduce
23183 neither additional @samp{--process} option, nor an notion of the
23184 current process in the MI interface. The only strictly new feature
23185 that is required is the ability to find how the threads are grouped
23186 into processes.
23187
23188 To allow the user to discover such grouping, and to support arbitrary
23189 hierarchy of machines/cores/processes, MI introduces the concept of a
23190 @dfn{thread group}. Thread group is a collection of threads and other
23191 thread groups. A thread group always has a string identifier, a type,
23192 and may have additional attributes specific to the type. A new
23193 command, @code{-list-thread-groups}, returns the list of top-level
23194 thread groups, which correspond to processes that @value{GDBN} is
23195 debugging at the moment. By passing an identifier of a thread group
23196 to the @code{-list-thread-groups} command, it is possible to obtain
23197 the members of specific thread group.
23198
23199 To allow the user to easily discover processes, and other objects, he
23200 wishes to debug, a concept of @dfn{available thread group} is
23201 introduced. Available thread group is an thread group that
23202 @value{GDBN} is not debugging, but that can be attached to, using the
23203 @code{-target-attach} command. The list of available top-level thread
23204 groups can be obtained using @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}.
23205 In general, the content of a thread group may be only retrieved only
23206 after attaching to that thread group.
23207
23208 Thread groups are related to inferiors (@pxref{Inferiors and
23209 Programs}). Each inferior corresponds to a thread group of a special
23210 type @samp{process}, and some additional operations are permitted on
23211 such thread groups.
23212
23213 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23214 @node GDB/MI Command Syntax
23215 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Syntax
23216
23217 @menu
23218 * GDB/MI Input Syntax::
23219 * GDB/MI Output Syntax::
23220 @end menu
23221
23222 @node GDB/MI Input Syntax
23223 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Input Syntax
23224
23225 @cindex input syntax for @sc{gdb/mi}
23226 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, input syntax
23227 @table @code
23228 @item @var{command} @expansion{}
23229 @code{@var{cli-command} | @var{mi-command}}
23230
23231 @item @var{cli-command} @expansion{}
23232 @code{[ @var{token} ] @var{cli-command} @var{nl}}, where
23233 @var{cli-command} is any existing @value{GDBN} CLI command.
23234
23235 @item @var{mi-command} @expansion{}
23236 @code{[ @var{token} ] "-" @var{operation} ( " " @var{option} )*
23237 @code{[} " --" @code{]} ( " " @var{parameter} )* @var{nl}}
23238
23239 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
23240 "any sequence of digits"
23241
23242 @item @var{option} @expansion{}
23243 @code{"-" @var{parameter} [ " " @var{parameter} ]}
23244
23245 @item @var{parameter} @expansion{}
23246 @code{@var{non-blank-sequence} | @var{c-string}}
23247
23248 @item @var{operation} @expansion{}
23249 @emph{any of the operations described in this chapter}
23250
23251 @item @var{non-blank-sequence} @expansion{}
23252 @emph{anything, provided it doesn't contain special characters such as
23253 "-", @var{nl}, """ and of course " "}
23254
23255 @item @var{c-string} @expansion{}
23256 @code{""" @var{seven-bit-iso-c-string-content} """}
23257
23258 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
23259 @code{CR | CR-LF}
23260 @end table
23261
23262 @noindent
23263 Notes:
23264
23265 @itemize @bullet
23266 @item
23267 The CLI commands are still handled by the @sc{mi} interpreter; their
23268 output is described below.
23269
23270 @item
23271 The @code{@var{token}}, when present, is passed back when the command
23272 finishes.
23273
23274 @item
23275 Some @sc{mi} commands accept optional arguments as part of the parameter
23276 list. Each option is identified by a leading @samp{-} (dash) and may be
23277 followed by an optional argument parameter. Options occur first in the
23278 parameter list and can be delimited from normal parameters using
23279 @samp{--} (this is useful when some parameters begin with a dash).
23280 @end itemize
23281
23282 Pragmatics:
23283
23284 @itemize @bullet
23285 @item
23286 We want easy access to the existing CLI syntax (for debugging).
23287
23288 @item
23289 We want it to be easy to spot a @sc{mi} operation.
23290 @end itemize
23291
23292 @node GDB/MI Output Syntax
23293 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax
23294
23295 @cindex output syntax of @sc{gdb/mi}
23296 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, output syntax
23297 The output from @sc{gdb/mi} consists of zero or more out-of-band records
23298 followed, optionally, by a single result record. This result record
23299 is for the most recent command. The sequence of output records is
23300 terminated by @samp{(gdb)}.
23301
23302 If an input command was prefixed with a @code{@var{token}} then the
23303 corresponding output for that command will also be prefixed by that same
23304 @var{token}.
23305
23306 @table @code
23307 @item @var{output} @expansion{}
23308 @code{( @var{out-of-band-record} )* [ @var{result-record} ] "(gdb)" @var{nl}}
23309
23310 @item @var{result-record} @expansion{}
23311 @code{ [ @var{token} ] "^" @var{result-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
23312
23313 @item @var{out-of-band-record} @expansion{}
23314 @code{@var{async-record} | @var{stream-record}}
23315
23316 @item @var{async-record} @expansion{}
23317 @code{@var{exec-async-output} | @var{status-async-output} | @var{notify-async-output}}
23318
23319 @item @var{exec-async-output} @expansion{}
23320 @code{[ @var{token} ] "*" @var{async-output}}
23321
23322 @item @var{status-async-output} @expansion{}
23323 @code{[ @var{token} ] "+" @var{async-output}}
23324
23325 @item @var{notify-async-output} @expansion{}
23326 @code{[ @var{token} ] "=" @var{async-output}}
23327
23328 @item @var{async-output} @expansion{}
23329 @code{@var{async-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
23330
23331 @item @var{result-class} @expansion{}
23332 @code{"done" | "running" | "connected" | "error" | "exit"}
23333
23334 @item @var{async-class} @expansion{}
23335 @code{"stopped" | @var{others}} (where @var{others} will be added
23336 depending on the needs---this is still in development).
23337
23338 @item @var{result} @expansion{}
23339 @code{ @var{variable} "=" @var{value}}
23340
23341 @item @var{variable} @expansion{}
23342 @code{ @var{string} }
23343
23344 @item @var{value} @expansion{}
23345 @code{ @var{const} | @var{tuple} | @var{list} }
23346
23347 @item @var{const} @expansion{}
23348 @code{@var{c-string}}
23349
23350 @item @var{tuple} @expansion{}
23351 @code{ "@{@}" | "@{" @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "@}" }
23352
23353 @item @var{list} @expansion{}
23354 @code{ "[]" | "[" @var{value} ( "," @var{value} )* "]" | "["
23355 @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "]" }
23356
23357 @item @var{stream-record} @expansion{}
23358 @code{@var{console-stream-output} | @var{target-stream-output} | @var{log-stream-output}}
23359
23360 @item @var{console-stream-output} @expansion{}
23361 @code{"~" @var{c-string}}
23362
23363 @item @var{target-stream-output} @expansion{}
23364 @code{"@@" @var{c-string}}
23365
23366 @item @var{log-stream-output} @expansion{}
23367 @code{"&" @var{c-string}}
23368
23369 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
23370 @code{CR | CR-LF}
23371
23372 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
23373 @emph{any sequence of digits}.
23374 @end table
23375
23376 @noindent
23377 Notes:
23378
23379 @itemize @bullet
23380 @item
23381 All output sequences end in a single line containing a period.
23382
23383 @item
23384 The @code{@var{token}} is from the corresponding request. Note that
23385 for all async output, while the token is allowed by the grammar and
23386 may be output by future versions of @value{GDBN} for select async
23387 output messages, it is generally omitted. Frontends should treat
23388 all async output as reporting general changes in the state of the
23389 target and there should be no need to associate async output to any
23390 prior command.
23391
23392 @item
23393 @cindex status output in @sc{gdb/mi}
23394 @var{status-async-output} contains on-going status information about the
23395 progress of a slow operation. It can be discarded. All status output is
23396 prefixed by @samp{+}.
23397
23398 @item
23399 @cindex async output in @sc{gdb/mi}
23400 @var{exec-async-output} contains asynchronous state change on the target
23401 (stopped, started, disappeared). All async output is prefixed by
23402 @samp{*}.
23403
23404 @item
23405 @cindex notify output in @sc{gdb/mi}
23406 @var{notify-async-output} contains supplementary information that the
23407 client should handle (e.g., a new breakpoint information). All notify
23408 output is prefixed by @samp{=}.
23409
23410 @item
23411 @cindex console output in @sc{gdb/mi}
23412 @var{console-stream-output} is output that should be displayed as is in the
23413 console. It is the textual response to a CLI command. All the console
23414 output is prefixed by @samp{~}.
23415
23416 @item
23417 @cindex target output in @sc{gdb/mi}
23418 @var{target-stream-output} is the output produced by the target program.
23419 All the target output is prefixed by @samp{@@}.
23420
23421 @item
23422 @cindex log output in @sc{gdb/mi}
23423 @var{log-stream-output} is output text coming from @value{GDBN}'s internals, for
23424 instance messages that should be displayed as part of an error log. All
23425 the log output is prefixed by @samp{&}.
23426
23427 @item
23428 @cindex list output in @sc{gdb/mi}
23429 New @sc{gdb/mi} commands should only output @var{lists} containing
23430 @var{values}.
23431
23432
23433 @end itemize
23434
23435 @xref{GDB/MI Stream Records, , @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records}, for more
23436 details about the various output records.
23437
23438 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23439 @node GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI
23440 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Compatibility with CLI
23441
23442 @cindex compatibility, @sc{gdb/mi} and CLI
23443 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, compatibility with CLI
23444
23445 For the developers convenience CLI commands can be entered directly,
23446 but there may be some unexpected behaviour. For example, commands
23447 that query the user will behave as if the user replied yes, breakpoint
23448 command lists are not executed and some CLI commands, such as
23449 @code{if}, @code{when} and @code{define}, prompt for further input with
23450 @samp{>}, which is not valid MI output.
23451
23452 This feature may be removed at some stage in the future and it is
23453 recommended that front ends use the @code{-interpreter-exec} command
23454 (@pxref{-interpreter-exec}).
23455
23456 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23457 @node GDB/MI Development and Front Ends
23458 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends
23459 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi} development
23460
23461 The application which takes the MI output and presents the state of the
23462 program being debugged to the user is called a @dfn{front end}.
23463
23464 Although @sc{gdb/mi} is still incomplete, it is currently being used
23465 by a variety of front ends to @value{GDBN}. This makes it difficult
23466 to introduce new functionality without breaking existing usage. This
23467 section tries to minimize the problems by describing how the protocol
23468 might change.
23469
23470 Some changes in MI need not break a carefully designed front end, and
23471 for these the MI version will remain unchanged. The following is a
23472 list of changes that may occur within one level, so front ends should
23473 parse MI output in a way that can handle them:
23474
23475 @itemize @bullet
23476 @item
23477 New MI commands may be added.
23478
23479 @item
23480 New fields may be added to the output of any MI command.
23481
23482 @item
23483 The range of values for fields with specified values, e.g.,
23484 @code{in_scope} (@pxref{-var-update}) may be extended.
23485
23486 @c The format of field's content e.g type prefix, may change so parse it
23487 @c at your own risk. Yes, in general?
23488
23489 @c The order of fields may change? Shouldn't really matter but it might
23490 @c resolve inconsistencies.
23491 @end itemize
23492
23493 If the changes are likely to break front ends, the MI version level
23494 will be increased by one. This will allow the front end to parse the
23495 output according to the MI version. Apart from mi0, new versions of
23496 @value{GDBN} will not support old versions of MI and it will be the
23497 responsibility of the front end to work with the new one.
23498
23499 @c Starting with mi3, add a new command -mi-version that prints the MI
23500 @c version?
23501
23502 The best way to avoid unexpected changes in MI that might break your front
23503 end is to make your project known to @value{GDBN} developers and
23504 follow development on @email{gdb@@sourceware.org} and
23505 @email{gdb-patches@@sourceware.org}.
23506 @cindex mailing lists
23507
23508 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23509 @node GDB/MI Output Records
23510 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Output Records
23511
23512 @menu
23513 * GDB/MI Result Records::
23514 * GDB/MI Stream Records::
23515 * GDB/MI Async Records::
23516 * GDB/MI Frame Information::
23517 * GDB/MI Thread Information::
23518 @end menu
23519
23520 @node GDB/MI Result Records
23521 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Result Records
23522
23523 @cindex result records in @sc{gdb/mi}
23524 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, result records
23525 In addition to a number of out-of-band notifications, the response to a
23526 @sc{gdb/mi} command includes one of the following result indications:
23527
23528 @table @code
23529 @findex ^done
23530 @item "^done" [ "," @var{results} ]
23531 The synchronous operation was successful, @code{@var{results}} are the return
23532 values.
23533
23534 @item "^running"
23535 @findex ^running
23536 This result record is equivalent to @samp{^done}. Historically, it
23537 was output instead of @samp{^done} if the command has resumed the
23538 target. This behaviour is maintained for backward compatibility, but
23539 all frontends should treat @samp{^done} and @samp{^running}
23540 identically and rely on the @samp{*running} output record to determine
23541 which threads are resumed.
23542
23543 @item "^connected"
23544 @findex ^connected
23545 @value{GDBN} has connected to a remote target.
23546
23547 @item "^error" "," @var{c-string}
23548 @findex ^error
23549 The operation failed. The @code{@var{c-string}} contains the corresponding
23550 error message.
23551
23552 @item "^exit"
23553 @findex ^exit
23554 @value{GDBN} has terminated.
23555
23556 @end table
23557
23558 @node GDB/MI Stream Records
23559 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records
23560
23561 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, stream records
23562 @cindex stream records in @sc{gdb/mi}
23563 @value{GDBN} internally maintains a number of output streams: the console, the
23564 target, and the log. The output intended for each of these streams is
23565 funneled through the @sc{gdb/mi} interface using @dfn{stream records}.
23566
23567 Each stream record begins with a unique @dfn{prefix character} which
23568 identifies its stream (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, , @sc{gdb/mi} Output
23569 Syntax}). In addition to the prefix, each stream record contains a
23570 @code{@var{string-output}}. This is either raw text (with an implicit new
23571 line) or a quoted C string (which does not contain an implicit newline).
23572
23573 @table @code
23574 @item "~" @var{string-output}
23575 The console output stream contains text that should be displayed in the
23576 CLI console window. It contains the textual responses to CLI commands.
23577
23578 @item "@@" @var{string-output}
23579 The target output stream contains any textual output from the running
23580 target. This is only present when GDB's event loop is truly
23581 asynchronous, which is currently only the case for remote targets.
23582
23583 @item "&" @var{string-output}
23584 The log stream contains debugging messages being produced by @value{GDBN}'s
23585 internals.
23586 @end table
23587
23588 @node GDB/MI Async Records
23589 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Async Records
23590
23591 @cindex async records in @sc{gdb/mi}
23592 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, async records
23593 @dfn{Async} records are used to notify the @sc{gdb/mi} client of
23594 additional changes that have occurred. Those changes can either be a
23595 consequence of @sc{gdb/mi} commands (e.g., a breakpoint modified) or a result of
23596 target activity (e.g., target stopped).
23597
23598 The following is the list of possible async records:
23599
23600 @table @code
23601
23602 @item *running,thread-id="@var{thread}"
23603 The target is now running. The @var{thread} field tells which
23604 specific thread is now running, and can be @samp{all} if all threads
23605 are running. The frontend should assume that no interaction with a
23606 running thread is possible after this notification is produced.
23607 The frontend should not assume that this notification is output
23608 only once for any command. @value{GDBN} may emit this notification
23609 several times, either for different threads, because it cannot resume
23610 all threads together, or even for a single thread, if the thread must
23611 be stepped though some code before letting it run freely.
23612
23613 @item *stopped,reason="@var{reason}",thread-id="@var{id}",stopped-threads="@var{stopped}",core="@var{core}"
23614 The target has stopped. The @var{reason} field can have one of the
23615 following values:
23616
23617 @table @code
23618 @item breakpoint-hit
23619 A breakpoint was reached.
23620 @item watchpoint-trigger
23621 A watchpoint was triggered.
23622 @item read-watchpoint-trigger
23623 A read watchpoint was triggered.
23624 @item access-watchpoint-trigger
23625 An access watchpoint was triggered.
23626 @item function-finished
23627 An -exec-finish or similar CLI command was accomplished.
23628 @item location-reached
23629 An -exec-until or similar CLI command was accomplished.
23630 @item watchpoint-scope
23631 A watchpoint has gone out of scope.
23632 @item end-stepping-range
23633 An -exec-next, -exec-next-instruction, -exec-step, -exec-step-instruction or
23634 similar CLI command was accomplished.
23635 @item exited-signalled
23636 The inferior exited because of a signal.
23637 @item exited
23638 The inferior exited.
23639 @item exited-normally
23640 The inferior exited normally.
23641 @item signal-received
23642 A signal was received by the inferior.
23643 @end table
23644
23645 The @var{id} field identifies the thread that directly caused the stop
23646 -- for example by hitting a breakpoint. Depending on whether all-stop
23647 mode is in effect (@pxref{All-Stop Mode}), @value{GDBN} may either
23648 stop all threads, or only the thread that directly triggered the stop.
23649 If all threads are stopped, the @var{stopped} field will have the
23650 value of @code{"all"}. Otherwise, the value of the @var{stopped}
23651 field will be a list of thread identifiers. Presently, this list will
23652 always include a single thread, but frontend should be prepared to see
23653 several threads in the list. The @var{core} field reports the
23654 processor core on which the stop event has happened. This field may be absent
23655 if such information is not available.
23656
23657 @item =thread-group-added,id="@var{id}"
23658 @itemx =thread-group-removed,id="@var{id}"
23659 A thread group was either added or removed. The @var{id} field
23660 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. When a thread
23661 group is added, it generally might not be associated with a running
23662 process. When a thread group is removed, its id becomes invalid and
23663 cannot be used in any way.
23664
23665 @item =thread-group-started,id="@var{id}",pid="@var{pid}"
23666 A thread group became associated with a running program,
23667 either because the program was just started or the thread group
23668 was attached to a program. The @var{id} field contains the
23669 @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. The @var{pid} field
23670 contains process identifier, specific to the operating system.
23671
23672 @itemx =thread-group-exited,id="@var{id}"
23673 A thread group is no longer associated with a running program,
23674 either because the program has exited, or because it was detached
23675 from. The @var{id} field contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the
23676 thread group.
23677
23678 @item =thread-created,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
23679 @itemx =thread-exited,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
23680 A thread either was created, or has exited. The @var{id} field
23681 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread. The @var{gid}
23682 field identifies the thread group this thread belongs to.
23683
23684 @item =thread-selected,id="@var{id}"
23685 Informs that the selected thread was changed as result of the last
23686 command. This notification is not emitted as result of @code{-thread-select}
23687 command but is emitted whenever an MI command that is not documented
23688 to change the selected thread actually changes it. In particular,
23689 invoking, directly or indirectly (via user-defined command), the CLI
23690 @code{thread} command, will generate this notification.
23691
23692 We suggest that in response to this notification, front ends
23693 highlight the selected thread and cause subsequent commands to apply to
23694 that thread.
23695
23696 @item =library-loaded,...
23697 Reports that a new library file was loaded by the program. This
23698 notification has 4 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name},
23699 @var{host-name}, and @var{symbols-loaded}. The @var{id} field is an
23700 opaque identifier of the library. For remote debugging case,
23701 @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} fields give the name of the
23702 library file on the target, and on the host respectively. For native
23703 debugging, both those fields have the same value. The
23704 @var{symbols-loaded} field reports if the debug symbols for this
23705 library are loaded. The @var{thread-group} field, if present,
23706 specifies the id of the thread group in whose context the library was loaded.
23707 If the field is absent, it means the library was loaded in the context
23708 of all present thread groups.
23709
23710 @item =library-unloaded,...
23711 Reports that a library was unloaded by the program. This notification
23712 has 3 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} with
23713 the same meaning as for the @code{=library-loaded} notification.
23714 The @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the
23715 thread group in whose context the library was unloaded. If the field is
23716 absent, it means the library was unloaded in the context of all present
23717 thread groups.
23718
23719 @end table
23720
23721 @node GDB/MI Frame Information
23722 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Frame Information
23723
23724 Response from many MI commands includes an information about stack
23725 frame. This information is a tuple that may have the following
23726 fields:
23727
23728 @table @code
23729 @item level
23730 The level of the stack frame. The innermost frame has the level of
23731 zero. This field is always present.
23732
23733 @item func
23734 The name of the function corresponding to the frame. This field may
23735 be absent if @value{GDBN} is unable to determine the function name.
23736
23737 @item addr
23738 The code address for the frame. This field is always present.
23739
23740 @item file
23741 The name of the source files that correspond to the frame's code
23742 address. This field may be absent.
23743
23744 @item line
23745 The source line corresponding to the frames' code address. This field
23746 may be absent.
23747
23748 @item from
23749 The name of the binary file (either executable or shared library) the
23750 corresponds to the frame's code address. This field may be absent.
23751
23752 @end table
23753
23754 @node GDB/MI Thread Information
23755 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Information
23756
23757 Whenever @value{GDBN} has to report an information about a thread, it
23758 uses a tuple with the following fields:
23759
23760 @table @code
23761 @item id
23762 The numeric id assigned to the thread by @value{GDBN}. This field is
23763 always present.
23764
23765 @item target-id
23766 Target-specific string identifying the thread. This field is always present.
23767
23768 @item details
23769 Additional information about the thread provided by the target.
23770 It is supposed to be human-readable and not interpreted by the
23771 frontend. This field is optional.
23772
23773 @item state
23774 Either @samp{stopped} or @samp{running}, depending on whether the
23775 thread is presently running. This field is always present.
23776
23777 @item core
23778 The value of this field is an integer number of the processor core the
23779 thread was last seen on. This field is optional.
23780 @end table
23781
23782
23783 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23784 @node GDB/MI Simple Examples
23785 @section Simple Examples of @sc{gdb/mi} Interaction
23786 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, simple examples
23787
23788 This subsection presents several simple examples of interaction using
23789 the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. In these examples, @samp{->} means that the
23790 following line is passed to @sc{gdb/mi} as input, while @samp{<-} means
23791 the output received from @sc{gdb/mi}.
23792
23793 Note the line breaks shown in the examples are here only for
23794 readability, they don't appear in the real output.
23795
23796 @subheading Setting a Breakpoint
23797
23798 Setting a breakpoint generates synchronous output which contains detailed
23799 information of the breakpoint.
23800
23801 @smallexample
23802 -> -break-insert main
23803 <- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
23804 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
23805 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",times="0"@}
23806 <- (gdb)
23807 @end smallexample
23808
23809 @subheading Program Execution
23810
23811 Program execution generates asynchronous records and MI gives the
23812 reason that execution stopped.
23813
23814 @smallexample
23815 -> -exec-run
23816 <- ^running
23817 <- (gdb)
23818 <- *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
23819 frame=@{addr="0x08048564",func="main",
23820 args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},@{name="argv",value="0xbfc4d4d4"@}],
23821 file="myprog.c",fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68"@}
23822 <- (gdb)
23823 -> -exec-continue
23824 <- ^running
23825 <- (gdb)
23826 <- *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
23827 <- (gdb)
23828 @end smallexample
23829
23830 @subheading Quitting @value{GDBN}
23831
23832 Quitting @value{GDBN} just prints the result class @samp{^exit}.
23833
23834 @smallexample
23835 -> (gdb)
23836 <- -gdb-exit
23837 <- ^exit
23838 @end smallexample
23839
23840 Please note that @samp{^exit} is printed immediately, but it might
23841 take some time for @value{GDBN} to actually exit. During that time, @value{GDBN}
23842 performs necessary cleanups, including killing programs being debugged
23843 or disconnecting from debug hardware, so the frontend should wait till
23844 @value{GDBN} exits and should only forcibly kill @value{GDBN} if it
23845 fails to exit in reasonable time.
23846
23847 @subheading A Bad Command
23848
23849 Here's what happens if you pass a non-existent command:
23850
23851 @smallexample
23852 -> -rubbish
23853 <- ^error,msg="Undefined MI command: rubbish"
23854 <- (gdb)
23855 @end smallexample
23856
23857
23858 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23859 @node GDB/MI Command Description Format
23860 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Description Format
23861
23862 The remaining sections describe blocks of commands. Each block of
23863 commands is laid out in a fashion similar to this section.
23864
23865 @subheading Motivation
23866
23867 The motivation for this collection of commands.
23868
23869 @subheading Introduction
23870
23871 A brief introduction to this collection of commands as a whole.
23872
23873 @subheading Commands
23874
23875 For each command in the block, the following is described:
23876
23877 @subsubheading Synopsis
23878
23879 @smallexample
23880 -command @var{args}@dots{}
23881 @end smallexample
23882
23883 @subsubheading Result
23884
23885 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23886
23887 The corresponding @value{GDBN} CLI command(s), if any.
23888
23889 @subsubheading Example
23890
23891 Example(s) formatted for readability. Some of the described commands have
23892 not been implemented yet and these are labeled N.A.@: (not available).
23893
23894
23895 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
23896 @node GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands
23897 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Commands
23898
23899 @cindex breakpoint commands for @sc{gdb/mi}
23900 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, breakpoint commands
23901 This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
23902 breakpoints.
23903
23904 @subheading The @code{-break-after} Command
23905 @findex -break-after
23906
23907 @subsubheading Synopsis
23908
23909 @smallexample
23910 -break-after @var{number} @var{count}
23911 @end smallexample
23912
23913 The breakpoint number @var{number} is not in effect until it has been
23914 hit @var{count} times. To see how this is reflected in the output of
23915 the @samp{-break-list} command, see the description of the
23916 @samp{-break-list} command below.
23917
23918 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23919
23920 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ignore}.
23921
23922 @subsubheading Example
23923
23924 @smallexample
23925 (gdb)
23926 -break-insert main
23927 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
23928 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
23929 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
23930 (gdb)
23931 -break-after 1 3
23932 ~
23933 ^done
23934 (gdb)
23935 -break-list
23936 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
23937 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
23938 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
23939 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
23940 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
23941 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
23942 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
23943 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
23944 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
23945 line="5",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
23946 (gdb)
23947 @end smallexample
23948
23949 @ignore
23950 @subheading The @code{-break-catch} Command
23951 @findex -break-catch
23952 @end ignore
23953
23954 @subheading The @code{-break-commands} Command
23955 @findex -break-commands
23956
23957 @subsubheading Synopsis
23958
23959 @smallexample
23960 -break-commands @var{number} [ @var{command1} ... @var{commandN} ]
23961 @end smallexample
23962
23963 Specifies the CLI commands that should be executed when breakpoint
23964 @var{number} is hit. The parameters @var{command1} to @var{commandN}
23965 are the commands. If no command is specified, any previously-set
23966 commands are cleared. @xref{Break Commands}. Typical use of this
23967 functionality is tracing a program, that is, printing of values of
23968 some variables whenever breakpoint is hit and then continuing.
23969
23970 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
23971
23972 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{commands}.
23973
23974 @subsubheading Example
23975
23976 @smallexample
23977 (gdb)
23978 -break-insert main
23979 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
23980 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
23981 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"@}
23982 (gdb)
23983 -break-commands 1 "print v" "continue"
23984 ^done
23985 (gdb)
23986 @end smallexample
23987
23988 @subheading The @code{-break-condition} Command
23989 @findex -break-condition
23990
23991 @subsubheading Synopsis
23992
23993 @smallexample
23994 -break-condition @var{number} @var{expr}
23995 @end smallexample
23996
23997 Breakpoint @var{number} will stop the program only if the condition in
23998 @var{expr} is true. The condition becomes part of the
23999 @samp{-break-list} output (see the description of the @samp{-break-list}
24000 command below).
24001
24002 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24003
24004 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{condition}.
24005
24006 @subsubheading Example
24007
24008 @smallexample
24009 (gdb)
24010 -break-condition 1 1
24011 ^done
24012 (gdb)
24013 -break-list
24014 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
24015 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24016 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24017 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24018 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24019 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24020 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24021 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
24022 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
24023 line="5",cond="1",times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
24024 (gdb)
24025 @end smallexample
24026
24027 @subheading The @code{-break-delete} Command
24028 @findex -break-delete
24029
24030 @subsubheading Synopsis
24031
24032 @smallexample
24033 -break-delete ( @var{breakpoint} )+
24034 @end smallexample
24035
24036 Delete the breakpoint(s) whose number(s) are specified in the argument
24037 list. This is obviously reflected in the breakpoint list.
24038
24039 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24040
24041 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{delete}.
24042
24043 @subsubheading Example
24044
24045 @smallexample
24046 (gdb)
24047 -break-delete 1
24048 ^done
24049 (gdb)
24050 -break-list
24051 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
24052 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24053 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24054 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24055 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24056 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24057 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24058 body=[]@}
24059 (gdb)
24060 @end smallexample
24061
24062 @subheading The @code{-break-disable} Command
24063 @findex -break-disable
24064
24065 @subsubheading Synopsis
24066
24067 @smallexample
24068 -break-disable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
24069 @end smallexample
24070
24071 Disable the named @var{breakpoint}(s). The field @samp{enabled} in the
24072 break list is now set to @samp{n} for the named @var{breakpoint}(s).
24073
24074 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24075
24076 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disable}.
24077
24078 @subsubheading Example
24079
24080 @smallexample
24081 (gdb)
24082 -break-disable 2
24083 ^done
24084 (gdb)
24085 -break-list
24086 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
24087 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24088 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24089 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24090 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24091 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24092 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24093 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
24094 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
24095 line="5",times="0"@}]@}
24096 (gdb)
24097 @end smallexample
24098
24099 @subheading The @code{-break-enable} Command
24100 @findex -break-enable
24101
24102 @subsubheading Synopsis
24103
24104 @smallexample
24105 -break-enable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
24106 @end smallexample
24107
24108 Enable (previously disabled) @var{breakpoint}(s).
24109
24110 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24111
24112 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{enable}.
24113
24114 @subsubheading Example
24115
24116 @smallexample
24117 (gdb)
24118 -break-enable 2
24119 ^done
24120 (gdb)
24121 -break-list
24122 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
24123 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24124 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24125 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24126 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24127 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24128 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24129 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
24130 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
24131 line="5",times="0"@}]@}
24132 (gdb)
24133 @end smallexample
24134
24135 @subheading The @code{-break-info} Command
24136 @findex -break-info
24137
24138 @subsubheading Synopsis
24139
24140 @smallexample
24141 -break-info @var{breakpoint}
24142 @end smallexample
24143
24144 @c REDUNDANT???
24145 Get information about a single breakpoint.
24146
24147 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24148
24149 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break @var{breakpoint}}.
24150
24151 @subsubheading Example
24152 N.A.
24153
24154 @subheading The @code{-break-insert} Command
24155 @findex -break-insert
24156
24157 @subsubheading Synopsis
24158
24159 @smallexample
24160 -break-insert [ -t ] [ -h ] [ -f ] [ -d ] [ -a ]
24161 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
24162 [ -p @var{thread} ] [ @var{location} ]
24163 @end smallexample
24164
24165 @noindent
24166 If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
24167
24168 @itemize @bullet
24169 @item function
24170 @c @item +offset
24171 @c @item -offset
24172 @c @item linenum
24173 @item filename:linenum
24174 @item filename:function
24175 @item *address
24176 @end itemize
24177
24178 The possible optional parameters of this command are:
24179
24180 @table @samp
24181 @item -t
24182 Insert a temporary breakpoint.
24183 @item -h
24184 Insert a hardware breakpoint.
24185 @item -c @var{condition}
24186 Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
24187 @item -i @var{ignore-count}
24188 Initialize the @var{ignore-count}.
24189 @item -f
24190 If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example if it
24191 refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
24192 breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
24193 an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
24194 cannot be parsed.
24195 @item -d
24196 Create a disabled breakpoint.
24197 @item -a
24198 Create a tracepoint. @xref{Tracepoints}. When this parameter
24199 is used together with @samp{-h}, a fast tracepoint is created.
24200 @end table
24201
24202 @subsubheading Result
24203
24204 The result is in the form:
24205
24206 @smallexample
24207 ^done,bkpt=@{number="@var{number}",type="@var{type}",disp="del"|"keep",
24208 enabled="y"|"n",addr="@var{hex}",func="@var{funcname}",file="@var{filename}",
24209 fullname="@var{full_filename}",line="@var{lineno}",[thread="@var{threadno},]
24210 times="@var{times}"@}
24211 @end smallexample
24212
24213 @noindent
24214 where @var{number} is the @value{GDBN} number for this breakpoint,
24215 @var{funcname} is the name of the function where the breakpoint was
24216 inserted, @var{filename} is the name of the source file which contains
24217 this function, @var{lineno} is the source line number within that file
24218 and @var{times} the number of times that the breakpoint has been hit
24219 (always 0 for -break-insert but may be greater for -break-info or -break-list
24220 which use the same output).
24221
24222 Note: this format is open to change.
24223 @c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
24224
24225 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24226
24227 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{break}, @samp{tbreak},
24228 @samp{hbreak}, @samp{thbreak}, and @samp{rbreak}.
24229
24230 @subsubheading Example
24231
24232 @smallexample
24233 (gdb)
24234 -break-insert main
24235 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",
24236 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="4",times="0"@}
24237 (gdb)
24238 -break-insert -t foo
24239 ^done,bkpt=@{number="2",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c",
24240 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="11",times="0"@}
24241 (gdb)
24242 -break-list
24243 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
24244 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24245 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24246 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24247 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24248 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24249 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24250 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
24251 addr="0x0001072c", func="main",file="recursive2.c",
24252 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,"line="4",times="0"@},
24253 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
24254 addr="0x00010774",func="foo",file="recursive2.c",
24255 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}]@}
24256 (gdb)
24257 -break-insert -r foo.*
24258 ~int foo(int, int);
24259 ^done,bkpt=@{number="3",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c,
24260 "fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"@}
24261 (gdb)
24262 @end smallexample
24263
24264 @subheading The @code{-break-list} Command
24265 @findex -break-list
24266
24267 @subsubheading Synopsis
24268
24269 @smallexample
24270 -break-list
24271 @end smallexample
24272
24273 Displays the list of inserted breakpoints, showing the following fields:
24274
24275 @table @samp
24276 @item Number
24277 number of the breakpoint
24278 @item Type
24279 type of the breakpoint: @samp{breakpoint} or @samp{watchpoint}
24280 @item Disposition
24281 should the breakpoint be deleted or disabled when it is hit: @samp{keep}
24282 or @samp{nokeep}
24283 @item Enabled
24284 is the breakpoint enabled or no: @samp{y} or @samp{n}
24285 @item Address
24286 memory location at which the breakpoint is set
24287 @item What
24288 logical location of the breakpoint, expressed by function name, file
24289 name, line number
24290 @item Times
24291 number of times the breakpoint has been hit
24292 @end table
24293
24294 If there are no breakpoints or watchpoints, the @code{BreakpointTable}
24295 @code{body} field is an empty list.
24296
24297 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24298
24299 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break}.
24300
24301 @subsubheading Example
24302
24303 @smallexample
24304 (gdb)
24305 -break-list
24306 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
24307 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24308 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24309 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24310 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24311 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24312 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24313 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
24314 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",line="5",times="0"@},
24315 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
24316 addr="0x00010114",func="foo",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
24317 line="13",times="0"@}]@}
24318 (gdb)
24319 @end smallexample
24320
24321 Here's an example of the result when there are no breakpoints:
24322
24323 @smallexample
24324 (gdb)
24325 -break-list
24326 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
24327 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24328 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24329 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24330 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24331 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24332 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24333 body=[]@}
24334 (gdb)
24335 @end smallexample
24336
24337 @subheading The @code{-break-passcount} Command
24338 @findex -break-passcount
24339
24340 @subsubheading Synopsis
24341
24342 @smallexample
24343 -break-passcount @var{tracepoint-number} @var{passcount}
24344 @end smallexample
24345
24346 Set the passcount for tracepoint @var{tracepoint-number} to
24347 @var{passcount}. If the breakpoint referred to by @var{tracepoint-number}
24348 is not a tracepoint, error is emitted. This corresponds to CLI
24349 command @samp{passcount}.
24350
24351 @subheading The @code{-break-watch} Command
24352 @findex -break-watch
24353
24354 @subsubheading Synopsis
24355
24356 @smallexample
24357 -break-watch [ -a | -r ]
24358 @end smallexample
24359
24360 Create a watchpoint. With the @samp{-a} option it will create an
24361 @dfn{access} watchpoint, i.e., a watchpoint that triggers either on a
24362 read from or on a write to the memory location. With the @samp{-r}
24363 option, the watchpoint created is a @dfn{read} watchpoint, i.e., it will
24364 trigger only when the memory location is accessed for reading. Without
24365 either of the options, the watchpoint created is a regular watchpoint,
24366 i.e., it will trigger when the memory location is accessed for writing.
24367 @xref{Set Watchpoints, , Setting Watchpoints}.
24368
24369 Note that @samp{-break-list} will report a single list of watchpoints and
24370 breakpoints inserted.
24371
24372 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24373
24374 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{watch}, @samp{awatch}, and
24375 @samp{rwatch}.
24376
24377 @subsubheading Example
24378
24379 Setting a watchpoint on a variable in the @code{main} function:
24380
24381 @smallexample
24382 (gdb)
24383 -break-watch x
24384 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@}
24385 (gdb)
24386 -exec-continue
24387 ^running
24388 (gdb)
24389 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@},
24390 value=@{old="-268439212",new="55"@},
24391 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
24392 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="5"@}
24393 (gdb)
24394 @end smallexample
24395
24396 Setting a watchpoint on a variable local to a function. @value{GDBN} will stop
24397 the program execution twice: first for the variable changing value, then
24398 for the watchpoint going out of scope.
24399
24400 @smallexample
24401 (gdb)
24402 -break-watch C
24403 ^done,wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@}
24404 (gdb)
24405 -exec-continue
24406 ^running
24407 (gdb)
24408 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",
24409 wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@},value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
24410 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
24411 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
24412 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
24413 (gdb)
24414 -exec-continue
24415 ^running
24416 (gdb)
24417 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="5",
24418 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
24419 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
24420 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
24421 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
24422 (gdb)
24423 @end smallexample
24424
24425 Listing breakpoints and watchpoints, at different points in the program
24426 execution. Note that once the watchpoint goes out of scope, it is
24427 deleted.
24428
24429 @smallexample
24430 (gdb)
24431 -break-watch C
24432 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@}
24433 (gdb)
24434 -break-list
24435 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
24436 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24437 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24438 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24439 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24440 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24441 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24442 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
24443 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
24444 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
24445 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c"line="8",times="1"@},
24446 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
24447 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="0"@}]@}
24448 (gdb)
24449 -exec-continue
24450 ^running
24451 (gdb)
24452 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@},
24453 value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
24454 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
24455 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
24456 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
24457 (gdb)
24458 -break-list
24459 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
24460 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24461 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24462 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24463 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24464 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24465 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24466 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
24467 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
24468 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
24469 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",times="1"@},
24470 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
24471 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="-5"@}]@}
24472 (gdb)
24473 -exec-continue
24474 ^running
24475 ^done,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="2",
24476 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
24477 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
24478 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
24479 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
24480 (gdb)
24481 -break-list
24482 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
24483 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
24484 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
24485 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
24486 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
24487 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
24488 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
24489 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
24490 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
24491 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
24492 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",
24493 times="1"@}]@}
24494 (gdb)
24495 @end smallexample
24496
24497 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24498 @node GDB/MI Program Context
24499 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Context
24500
24501 @subheading The @code{-exec-arguments} Command
24502 @findex -exec-arguments
24503
24504
24505 @subsubheading Synopsis
24506
24507 @smallexample
24508 -exec-arguments @var{args}
24509 @end smallexample
24510
24511 Set the inferior program arguments, to be used in the next
24512 @samp{-exec-run}.
24513
24514 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24515
24516 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set args}.
24517
24518 @subsubheading Example
24519
24520 @smallexample
24521 (gdb)
24522 -exec-arguments -v word
24523 ^done
24524 (gdb)
24525 @end smallexample
24526
24527
24528 @ignore
24529 @subheading The @code{-exec-show-arguments} Command
24530 @findex -exec-show-arguments
24531
24532 @subsubheading Synopsis
24533
24534 @smallexample
24535 -exec-show-arguments
24536 @end smallexample
24537
24538 Print the arguments of the program.
24539
24540 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24541
24542 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show args}.
24543
24544 @subsubheading Example
24545 N.A.
24546 @end ignore
24547
24548
24549 @subheading The @code{-environment-cd} Command
24550 @findex -environment-cd
24551
24552 @subsubheading Synopsis
24553
24554 @smallexample
24555 -environment-cd @var{pathdir}
24556 @end smallexample
24557
24558 Set @value{GDBN}'s working directory.
24559
24560 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24561
24562 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{cd}.
24563
24564 @subsubheading Example
24565
24566 @smallexample
24567 (gdb)
24568 -environment-cd /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
24569 ^done
24570 (gdb)
24571 @end smallexample
24572
24573
24574 @subheading The @code{-environment-directory} Command
24575 @findex -environment-directory
24576
24577 @subsubheading Synopsis
24578
24579 @smallexample
24580 -environment-directory [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
24581 @end smallexample
24582
24583 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for source files.
24584 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the default
24585 search path. If directories @var{pathdir} are supplied in addition to the
24586 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
24587 occurs as normal.
24588 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
24589 multiple directories in a single command
24590 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
24591 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
24592 If blanks are needed as
24593 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
24594 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
24595 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
24596 character must not be used
24597 in any directory name.
24598 If no directories are specified, the current search path is displayed.
24599
24600 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24601
24602 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dir}.
24603
24604 @subsubheading Example
24605
24606 @smallexample
24607 (gdb)
24608 -environment-directory /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
24609 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
24610 (gdb)
24611 -environment-directory ""
24612 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
24613 (gdb)
24614 -environment-directory -r /home/jjohnstn/src/gdb /usr/src
24615 ^done,source-path="/home/jjohnstn/src/gdb:/usr/src:$cdir:$cwd"
24616 (gdb)
24617 -environment-directory -r
24618 ^done,source-path="$cdir:$cwd"
24619 (gdb)
24620 @end smallexample
24621
24622
24623 @subheading The @code{-environment-path} Command
24624 @findex -environment-path
24625
24626 @subsubheading Synopsis
24627
24628 @smallexample
24629 -environment-path [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
24630 @end smallexample
24631
24632 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for object files.
24633 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the original
24634 search path that existed at gdb start-up. If directories @var{pathdir} are
24635 supplied in addition to the
24636 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
24637 occurs as normal.
24638 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
24639 multiple directories in a single command
24640 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
24641 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
24642 If blanks are needed as
24643 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
24644 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
24645 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
24646 character must not be used
24647 in any directory name.
24648 If no directories are specified, the current path is displayed.
24649
24650
24651 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24652
24653 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{path}.
24654
24655 @subsubheading Example
24656
24657 @smallexample
24658 (gdb)
24659 -environment-path
24660 ^done,path="/usr/bin"
24661 (gdb)
24662 -environment-path /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb /bin
24663 ^done,path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb:/bin:/usr/bin"
24664 (gdb)
24665 -environment-path -r /usr/local/bin
24666 ^done,path="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin"
24667 (gdb)
24668 @end smallexample
24669
24670
24671 @subheading The @code{-environment-pwd} Command
24672 @findex -environment-pwd
24673
24674 @subsubheading Synopsis
24675
24676 @smallexample
24677 -environment-pwd
24678 @end smallexample
24679
24680 Show the current working directory.
24681
24682 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24683
24684 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{pwd}.
24685
24686 @subsubheading Example
24687
24688 @smallexample
24689 (gdb)
24690 -environment-pwd
24691 ^done,cwd="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb"
24692 (gdb)
24693 @end smallexample
24694
24695 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24696 @node GDB/MI Thread Commands
24697 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Commands
24698
24699
24700 @subheading The @code{-thread-info} Command
24701 @findex -thread-info
24702
24703 @subsubheading Synopsis
24704
24705 @smallexample
24706 -thread-info [ @var{thread-id} ]
24707 @end smallexample
24708
24709 Reports information about either a specific thread, if
24710 the @var{thread-id} parameter is present, or about all
24711 threads. When printing information about all threads,
24712 also reports the current thread.
24713
24714 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24715
24716 The @samp{info thread} command prints the same information
24717 about all threads.
24718
24719 @subsubheading Example
24720
24721 @smallexample
24722 -thread-info
24723 ^done,threads=[
24724 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
24725 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
24726 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
24727 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
24728 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}],
24729 current-thread-id="1"
24730 (gdb)
24731 @end smallexample
24732
24733 The @samp{state} field may have the following values:
24734
24735 @table @code
24736 @item stopped
24737 The thread is stopped. Frame information is available for stopped
24738 threads.
24739
24740 @item running
24741 The thread is running. There's no frame information for running
24742 threads.
24743
24744 @end table
24745
24746 @subheading The @code{-thread-list-ids} Command
24747 @findex -thread-list-ids
24748
24749 @subsubheading Synopsis
24750
24751 @smallexample
24752 -thread-list-ids
24753 @end smallexample
24754
24755 Produces a list of the currently known @value{GDBN} thread ids. At the
24756 end of the list it also prints the total number of such threads.
24757
24758 This command is retained for historical reasons, the
24759 @code{-thread-info} command should be used instead.
24760
24761 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24762
24763 Part of @samp{info threads} supplies the same information.
24764
24765 @subsubheading Example
24766
24767 @smallexample
24768 (gdb)
24769 -thread-list-ids
24770 ^done,thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
24771 current-thread-id="1",number-of-threads="3"
24772 (gdb)
24773 @end smallexample
24774
24775
24776 @subheading The @code{-thread-select} Command
24777 @findex -thread-select
24778
24779 @subsubheading Synopsis
24780
24781 @smallexample
24782 -thread-select @var{threadnum}
24783 @end smallexample
24784
24785 Make @var{threadnum} the current thread. It prints the number of the new
24786 current thread, and the topmost frame for that thread.
24787
24788 This command is deprecated in favor of explicitly using the
24789 @samp{--thread} option to each command.
24790
24791 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24792
24793 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{thread}.
24794
24795 @subsubheading Example
24796
24797 @smallexample
24798 (gdb)
24799 -exec-next
24800 ^running
24801 (gdb)
24802 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",thread-id="2",line="187",
24803 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/linux-dp.c"
24804 (gdb)
24805 -thread-list-ids
24806 ^done,
24807 thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
24808 number-of-threads="3"
24809 (gdb)
24810 -thread-select 3
24811 ^done,new-thread-id="3",
24812 frame=@{level="0",func="vprintf",
24813 args=[@{name="format",value="0x8048e9c \"%*s%c %d %c\\n\""@},
24814 @{name="arg",value="0x2"@}],file="vprintf.c",line="31"@}
24815 (gdb)
24816 @end smallexample
24817
24818 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
24819 @node GDB/MI Program Execution
24820 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Execution
24821
24822 These are the asynchronous commands which generate the out-of-band
24823 record @samp{*stopped}. Currently @value{GDBN} only really executes
24824 asynchronously with remote targets and this interaction is mimicked in
24825 other cases.
24826
24827 @subheading The @code{-exec-continue} Command
24828 @findex -exec-continue
24829
24830 @subsubheading Synopsis
24831
24832 @smallexample
24833 -exec-continue [--reverse] [--all|--thread-group N]
24834 @end smallexample
24835
24836 Resumes the execution of the inferior program, which will continue
24837 to execute until it reaches a debugger stop event. If the
24838 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, execution resumes in reverse until
24839 it reaches a stop event. Stop events may include
24840 @itemize @bullet
24841 @item
24842 breakpoints or watchpoints
24843 @item
24844 signals or exceptions
24845 @item
24846 the end of the process (or its beginning under @samp{--reverse})
24847 @item
24848 the end or beginning of a replay log if one is being used.
24849 @end itemize
24850 In all-stop mode (@pxref{All-Stop
24851 Mode}), may resume only one thread, or all threads, depending on the
24852 value of the @samp{scheduler-locking} variable. If @samp{--all} is
24853 specified, all threads (in all inferiors) will be resumed. The @samp{--all} option is
24854 ignored in all-stop mode. If the @samp{--thread-group} options is
24855 specified, then all threads in that thread group are resumed.
24856
24857 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24858
24859 The corresponding @value{GDBN} corresponding is @samp{continue}.
24860
24861 @subsubheading Example
24862
24863 @smallexample
24864 -exec-continue
24865 ^running
24866 (gdb)
24867 @@Hello world
24868 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="2",frame=@{
24869 func="foo",args=[],file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",
24870 line="13"@}
24871 (gdb)
24872 @end smallexample
24873
24874
24875 @subheading The @code{-exec-finish} Command
24876 @findex -exec-finish
24877
24878 @subsubheading Synopsis
24879
24880 @smallexample
24881 -exec-finish [--reverse]
24882 @end smallexample
24883
24884 Resumes the execution of the inferior program until the current
24885 function is exited. Displays the results returned by the function.
24886 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes the reverse
24887 execution of the inferior program until the point where current
24888 function was called.
24889
24890 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24891
24892 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{finish}.
24893
24894 @subsubheading Example
24895
24896 Function returning @code{void}.
24897
24898 @smallexample
24899 -exec-finish
24900 ^running
24901 (gdb)
24902 @@hello from foo
24903 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
24904 file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",line="7"@}
24905 (gdb)
24906 @end smallexample
24907
24908 Function returning other than @code{void}. The name of the internal
24909 @value{GDBN} variable storing the result is printed, together with the
24910 value itself.
24911
24912 @smallexample
24913 -exec-finish
24914 ^running
24915 (gdb)
24916 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{addr="0x000107b0",func="foo",
24917 args=[@{name="a",value="1"],@{name="b",value="9"@}@},
24918 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
24919 gdb-result-var="$1",return-value="0"
24920 (gdb)
24921 @end smallexample
24922
24923
24924 @subheading The @code{-exec-interrupt} Command
24925 @findex -exec-interrupt
24926
24927 @subsubheading Synopsis
24928
24929 @smallexample
24930 -exec-interrupt [--all|--thread-group N]
24931 @end smallexample
24932
24933 Interrupts the background execution of the target. Note how the token
24934 associated with the stop message is the one for the execution command
24935 that has been interrupted. The token for the interrupt itself only
24936 appears in the @samp{^done} output. If the user is trying to
24937 interrupt a non-running program, an error message will be printed.
24938
24939 Note that when asynchronous execution is enabled, this command is
24940 asynchronous just like other execution commands. That is, first the
24941 @samp{^done} response will be printed, and the target stop will be
24942 reported after that using the @samp{*stopped} notification.
24943
24944 In non-stop mode, only the context thread is interrupted by default.
24945 All threads (in all inferiors) will be interrupted if the
24946 @samp{--all} option is specified. If the @samp{--thread-group}
24947 option is specified, all threads in that group will be interrupted.
24948
24949 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24950
24951 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interrupt}.
24952
24953 @subsubheading Example
24954
24955 @smallexample
24956 (gdb)
24957 111-exec-continue
24958 111^running
24959
24960 (gdb)
24961 222-exec-interrupt
24962 222^done
24963 (gdb)
24964 111*stopped,signal-name="SIGINT",signal-meaning="Interrupt",
24965 frame=@{addr="0x00010140",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
24966 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="13"@}
24967 (gdb)
24968
24969 (gdb)
24970 -exec-interrupt
24971 ^error,msg="mi_cmd_exec_interrupt: Inferior not executing."
24972 (gdb)
24973 @end smallexample
24974
24975 @subheading The @code{-exec-jump} Command
24976 @findex -exec-jump
24977
24978 @subsubheading Synopsis
24979
24980 @smallexample
24981 -exec-jump @var{location}
24982 @end smallexample
24983
24984 Resumes execution of the inferior program at the location specified by
24985 parameter. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
24986 different forms of @var{location}.
24987
24988 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
24989
24990 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{jump}.
24991
24992 @subsubheading Example
24993
24994 @smallexample
24995 -exec-jump foo.c:10
24996 *running,thread-id="all"
24997 ^running
24998 @end smallexample
24999
25000
25001 @subheading The @code{-exec-next} Command
25002 @findex -exec-next
25003
25004 @subsubheading Synopsis
25005
25006 @smallexample
25007 -exec-next [--reverse]
25008 @end smallexample
25009
25010 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
25011 of the next source line is reached.
25012
25013 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
25014 of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the previous
25015 source line. If you issue this command on the first line of a
25016 function, it will take you back to the caller of that function, to the
25017 source line where the function was called.
25018
25019
25020 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25021
25022 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{next}.
25023
25024 @subsubheading Example
25025
25026 @smallexample
25027 -exec-next
25028 ^running
25029 (gdb)
25030 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="8",file="hello.c"
25031 (gdb)
25032 @end smallexample
25033
25034
25035 @subheading The @code{-exec-next-instruction} Command
25036 @findex -exec-next-instruction
25037
25038 @subsubheading Synopsis
25039
25040 @smallexample
25041 -exec-next-instruction [--reverse]
25042 @end smallexample
25043
25044 Executes one machine instruction. If the instruction is a function
25045 call, continues until the function returns. If the program stops at an
25046 instruction in the middle of a source line, the address will be
25047 printed as well.
25048
25049 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
25050 of the inferior program, stopping at the previous instruction. If the
25051 previously executed instruction was a return from another function,
25052 it will continue to execute in reverse until the call to that function
25053 (from the current stack frame) is reached.
25054
25055 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25056
25057 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{nexti}.
25058
25059 @subsubheading Example
25060
25061 @smallexample
25062 (gdb)
25063 -exec-next-instruction
25064 ^running
25065
25066 (gdb)
25067 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
25068 addr="0x000100d4",line="5",file="hello.c"
25069 (gdb)
25070 @end smallexample
25071
25072
25073 @subheading The @code{-exec-return} Command
25074 @findex -exec-return
25075
25076 @subsubheading Synopsis
25077
25078 @smallexample
25079 -exec-return
25080 @end smallexample
25081
25082 Makes current function return immediately. Doesn't execute the inferior.
25083 Displays the new current frame.
25084
25085 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25086
25087 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{return}.
25088
25089 @subsubheading Example
25090
25091 @smallexample
25092 (gdb)
25093 200-break-insert callee4
25094 200^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x00010734",
25095 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
25096 (gdb)
25097 000-exec-run
25098 000^running
25099 (gdb)
25100 000*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
25101 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
25102 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25103 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
25104 (gdb)
25105 205-break-delete
25106 205^done
25107 (gdb)
25108 111-exec-return
25109 111^done,frame=@{level="0",func="callee3",
25110 args=[@{name="strarg",
25111 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
25112 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25113 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
25114 (gdb)
25115 @end smallexample
25116
25117
25118 @subheading The @code{-exec-run} Command
25119 @findex -exec-run
25120
25121 @subsubheading Synopsis
25122
25123 @smallexample
25124 -exec-run [--all | --thread-group N]
25125 @end smallexample
25126
25127 Starts execution of the inferior from the beginning. The inferior
25128 executes until either a breakpoint is encountered or the program
25129 exits. In the latter case the output will include an exit code, if
25130 the program has exited exceptionally.
25131
25132 When no option is specified, the current inferior is started. If the
25133 @samp{--thread-group} option is specified, it should refer to a thread
25134 group of type @samp{process}, and that thread group will be started.
25135 If the @samp{--all} option is specified, then all inferiors will be started.
25136
25137 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25138
25139 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{run}.
25140
25141 @subsubheading Examples
25142
25143 @smallexample
25144 (gdb)
25145 -break-insert main
25146 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",line="4"@}
25147 (gdb)
25148 -exec-run
25149 ^running
25150 (gdb)
25151 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
25152 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
25153 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}
25154 (gdb)
25155 @end smallexample
25156
25157 @noindent
25158 Program exited normally:
25159
25160 @smallexample
25161 (gdb)
25162 -exec-run
25163 ^running
25164 (gdb)
25165 x = 55
25166 *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
25167 (gdb)
25168 @end smallexample
25169
25170 @noindent
25171 Program exited exceptionally:
25172
25173 @smallexample
25174 (gdb)
25175 -exec-run
25176 ^running
25177 (gdb)
25178 x = 55
25179 *stopped,reason="exited",exit-code="01"
25180 (gdb)
25181 @end smallexample
25182
25183 Another way the program can terminate is if it receives a signal such as
25184 @code{SIGINT}. In this case, @sc{gdb/mi} displays this:
25185
25186 @smallexample
25187 (gdb)
25188 *stopped,reason="exited-signalled",signal-name="SIGINT",
25189 signal-meaning="Interrupt"
25190 @end smallexample
25191
25192
25193 @c @subheading -exec-signal
25194
25195
25196 @subheading The @code{-exec-step} Command
25197 @findex -exec-step
25198
25199 @subsubheading Synopsis
25200
25201 @smallexample
25202 -exec-step [--reverse]
25203 @end smallexample
25204
25205 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
25206 of the next source line is reached, if the next source line is not a
25207 function call. If it is, stop at the first instruction of the called
25208 function. If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse
25209 execution of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the
25210 previously executed source line.
25211
25212 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25213
25214 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{step}.
25215
25216 @subsubheading Example
25217
25218 Stepping into a function:
25219
25220 @smallexample
25221 -exec-step
25222 ^running
25223 (gdb)
25224 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
25225 frame=@{func="foo",args=[@{name="a",value="10"@},
25226 @{name="b",value="0"@}],file="recursive2.c",
25227 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@}
25228 (gdb)
25229 @end smallexample
25230
25231 Regular stepping:
25232
25233 @smallexample
25234 -exec-step
25235 ^running
25236 (gdb)
25237 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="14",file="recursive2.c"
25238 (gdb)
25239 @end smallexample
25240
25241
25242 @subheading The @code{-exec-step-instruction} Command
25243 @findex -exec-step-instruction
25244
25245 @subsubheading Synopsis
25246
25247 @smallexample
25248 -exec-step-instruction [--reverse]
25249 @end smallexample
25250
25251 Resumes the inferior which executes one machine instruction. If the
25252 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution of the
25253 inferior program, stopping at the previously executed instruction.
25254 The output, once @value{GDBN} has stopped, will vary depending on
25255 whether we have stopped in the middle of a source line or not. In the
25256 former case, the address at which the program stopped will be printed
25257 as well.
25258
25259 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25260
25261 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{stepi}.
25262
25263 @subsubheading Example
25264
25265 @smallexample
25266 (gdb)
25267 -exec-step-instruction
25268 ^running
25269
25270 (gdb)
25271 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
25272 frame=@{func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
25273 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
25274 (gdb)
25275 -exec-step-instruction
25276 ^running
25277
25278 (gdb)
25279 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
25280 frame=@{addr="0x000100f4",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
25281 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
25282 (gdb)
25283 @end smallexample
25284
25285
25286 @subheading The @code{-exec-until} Command
25287 @findex -exec-until
25288
25289 @subsubheading Synopsis
25290
25291 @smallexample
25292 -exec-until [ @var{location} ]
25293 @end smallexample
25294
25295 Executes the inferior until the @var{location} specified in the
25296 argument is reached. If there is no argument, the inferior executes
25297 until a source line greater than the current one is reached. The
25298 reason for stopping in this case will be @samp{location-reached}.
25299
25300 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25301
25302 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{until}.
25303
25304 @subsubheading Example
25305
25306 @smallexample
25307 (gdb)
25308 -exec-until recursive2.c:6
25309 ^running
25310 (gdb)
25311 x = 55
25312 *stopped,reason="location-reached",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
25313 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="6"@}
25314 (gdb)
25315 @end smallexample
25316
25317 @ignore
25318 @subheading -file-clear
25319 Is this going away????
25320 @end ignore
25321
25322 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25323 @node GDB/MI Stack Manipulation
25324 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Stack Manipulation Commands
25325
25326
25327 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-frame} Command
25328 @findex -stack-info-frame
25329
25330 @subsubheading Synopsis
25331
25332 @smallexample
25333 -stack-info-frame
25334 @end smallexample
25335
25336 Get info on the selected frame.
25337
25338 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25339
25340 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info frame} or @samp{frame}
25341 (without arguments).
25342
25343 @subsubheading Example
25344
25345 @smallexample
25346 (gdb)
25347 -stack-info-frame
25348 ^done,frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
25349 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25350 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@}
25351 (gdb)
25352 @end smallexample
25353
25354 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-depth} Command
25355 @findex -stack-info-depth
25356
25357 @subsubheading Synopsis
25358
25359 @smallexample
25360 -stack-info-depth [ @var{max-depth} ]
25361 @end smallexample
25362
25363 Return the depth of the stack. If the integer argument @var{max-depth}
25364 is specified, do not count beyond @var{max-depth} frames.
25365
25366 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25367
25368 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
25369
25370 @subsubheading Example
25371
25372 For a stack with frame levels 0 through 11:
25373
25374 @smallexample
25375 (gdb)
25376 -stack-info-depth
25377 ^done,depth="12"
25378 (gdb)
25379 -stack-info-depth 4
25380 ^done,depth="4"
25381 (gdb)
25382 -stack-info-depth 12
25383 ^done,depth="12"
25384 (gdb)
25385 -stack-info-depth 11
25386 ^done,depth="11"
25387 (gdb)
25388 -stack-info-depth 13
25389 ^done,depth="12"
25390 (gdb)
25391 @end smallexample
25392
25393 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-arguments} Command
25394 @findex -stack-list-arguments
25395
25396 @subsubheading Synopsis
25397
25398 @smallexample
25399 -stack-list-arguments @var{print-values}
25400 [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
25401 @end smallexample
25402
25403 Display a list of the arguments for the frames between @var{low-frame}
25404 and @var{high-frame} (inclusive). If @var{low-frame} and
25405 @var{high-frame} are not provided, list the arguments for the whole
25406 call stack. If the two arguments are equal, show the single frame
25407 at the corresponding level. It is an error if @var{low-frame} is
25408 larger than the actual number of frames. On the other hand,
25409 @var{high-frame} may be larger than the actual number of frames, in
25410 which case only existing frames will be returned.
25411
25412 If @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
25413 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
25414 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
25415 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
25416 structures and unions.
25417
25418 Use of this command to obtain arguments in a single frame is
25419 deprecated in favor of the @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
25420
25421 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25422
25423 @value{GDBN} does not have an equivalent command. @code{gdbtk} has a
25424 @samp{gdb_get_args} command which partially overlaps with the
25425 functionality of @samp{-stack-list-arguments}.
25426
25427 @subsubheading Example
25428
25429 @smallexample
25430 (gdb)
25431 -stack-list-frames
25432 ^done,
25433 stack=[
25434 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
25435 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25436 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@},
25437 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
25438 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25439 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@},
25440 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x0001078c",func="callee2",
25441 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25442 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="22"@},
25443 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107b4",func="callee1",
25444 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25445 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="27"@},
25446 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107e0",func="main",
25447 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
25448 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="32"@}]
25449 (gdb)
25450 -stack-list-arguments 0
25451 ^done,
25452 stack-args=[
25453 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
25454 frame=@{level="1",args=[name="strarg"]@},
25455 frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@},
25456 frame=@{level="3",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg",name="fltarg"]@},
25457 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
25458 (gdb)
25459 -stack-list-arguments 1
25460 ^done,
25461 stack-args=[
25462 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
25463 frame=@{level="1",
25464 args=[@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
25465 frame=@{level="2",args=[
25466 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
25467 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
25468 @{frame=@{level="3",args=[
25469 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
25470 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@},
25471 @{name="fltarg",value="3.5"@}]@},
25472 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
25473 (gdb)
25474 -stack-list-arguments 0 2 2
25475 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@}]
25476 (gdb)
25477 -stack-list-arguments 1 2 2
25478 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",
25479 args=[@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
25480 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@}]
25481 (gdb)
25482 @end smallexample
25483
25484 @c @subheading -stack-list-exception-handlers
25485
25486
25487 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-frames} Command
25488 @findex -stack-list-frames
25489
25490 @subsubheading Synopsis
25491
25492 @smallexample
25493 -stack-list-frames [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
25494 @end smallexample
25495
25496 List the frames currently on the stack. For each frame it displays the
25497 following info:
25498
25499 @table @samp
25500 @item @var{level}
25501 The frame number, 0 being the topmost frame, i.e., the innermost function.
25502 @item @var{addr}
25503 The @code{$pc} value for that frame.
25504 @item @var{func}
25505 Function name.
25506 @item @var{file}
25507 File name of the source file where the function lives.
25508 @item @var{line}
25509 Line number corresponding to the @code{$pc}.
25510 @end table
25511
25512 If invoked without arguments, this command prints a backtrace for the
25513 whole stack. If given two integer arguments, it shows the frames whose
25514 levels are between the two arguments (inclusive). If the two arguments
25515 are equal, it shows the single frame at the corresponding level. It is
25516 an error if @var{low-frame} is larger than the actual number of
25517 frames. On the other hand, @var{high-frame} may be larger than the
25518 actual number of frames, in which case only existing frames will be returned.
25519
25520 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25521
25522 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{backtrace} and @samp{where}.
25523
25524 @subsubheading Example
25525
25526 Full stack backtrace:
25527
25528 @smallexample
25529 (gdb)
25530 -stack-list-frames
25531 ^done,stack=
25532 [frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0001076c",func="foo",
25533 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@},
25534 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25535 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
25536 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25537 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
25538 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25539 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
25540 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25541 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
25542 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25543 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
25544 frame=@{level="6",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25545 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
25546 frame=@{level="7",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25547 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
25548 frame=@{level="8",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25549 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
25550 frame=@{level="9",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25551 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
25552 frame=@{level="10",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25553 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
25554 frame=@{level="11",addr="0x00010738",func="main",
25555 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}]
25556 (gdb)
25557 @end smallexample
25558
25559 Show frames between @var{low_frame} and @var{high_frame}:
25560
25561 @smallexample
25562 (gdb)
25563 -stack-list-frames 3 5
25564 ^done,stack=
25565 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25566 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
25567 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25568 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
25569 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25570 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
25571 (gdb)
25572 @end smallexample
25573
25574 Show a single frame:
25575
25576 @smallexample
25577 (gdb)
25578 -stack-list-frames 3 3
25579 ^done,stack=
25580 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
25581 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
25582 (gdb)
25583 @end smallexample
25584
25585
25586 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-locals} Command
25587 @findex -stack-list-locals
25588
25589 @subsubheading Synopsis
25590
25591 @smallexample
25592 -stack-list-locals @var{print-values}
25593 @end smallexample
25594
25595 Display the local variable names for the selected frame. If
25596 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
25597 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
25598 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
25599 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
25600 structures and unions. In this last case, a frontend can immediately
25601 display the value of simple data types and create variable objects for
25602 other data types when the user wishes to explore their values in
25603 more detail.
25604
25605 This command is deprecated in favor of the
25606 @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
25607
25608 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25609
25610 @samp{info locals} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_get_locals} in @code{gdbtk}.
25611
25612 @subsubheading Example
25613
25614 @smallexample
25615 (gdb)
25616 -stack-list-locals 0
25617 ^done,locals=[name="A",name="B",name="C"]
25618 (gdb)
25619 -stack-list-locals --all-values
25620 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",value="1"@},@{name="B",value="2"@},
25621 @{name="C",value="@{1, 2, 3@}"@}]
25622 -stack-list-locals --simple-values
25623 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",type="int",value="1"@},
25624 @{name="B",type="int",value="2"@},@{name="C",type="int [3]"@}]
25625 (gdb)
25626 @end smallexample
25627
25628 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-variables} Command
25629 @findex -stack-list-variables
25630
25631 @subsubheading Synopsis
25632
25633 @smallexample
25634 -stack-list-variables @var{print-values}
25635 @end smallexample
25636
25637 Display the names of local variables and function arguments for the selected frame. If
25638 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
25639 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
25640 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
25641 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
25642 structures and unions.
25643
25644 @subsubheading Example
25645
25646 @smallexample
25647 (gdb)
25648 -stack-list-variables --thread 1 --frame 0 --all-values
25649 ^done,variables=[@{name="x",value="11"@},@{name="s",value="@{a = 1, b = 2@}"@}]
25650 (gdb)
25651 @end smallexample
25652
25653
25654 @subheading The @code{-stack-select-frame} Command
25655 @findex -stack-select-frame
25656
25657 @subsubheading Synopsis
25658
25659 @smallexample
25660 -stack-select-frame @var{framenum}
25661 @end smallexample
25662
25663 Change the selected frame. Select a different frame @var{framenum} on
25664 the stack.
25665
25666 This command in deprecated in favor of passing the @samp{--frame}
25667 option to every command.
25668
25669 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
25670
25671 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{frame}, @samp{up},
25672 @samp{down}, @samp{select-frame}, @samp{up-silent}, and @samp{down-silent}.
25673
25674 @subsubheading Example
25675
25676 @smallexample
25677 (gdb)
25678 -stack-select-frame 2
25679 ^done
25680 (gdb)
25681 @end smallexample
25682
25683 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25684 @node GDB/MI Variable Objects
25685 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Variable Objects
25686
25687 @ignore
25688
25689 @subheading Motivation for Variable Objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
25690
25691 For the implementation of a variable debugger window (locals, watched
25692 expressions, etc.), we are proposing the adaptation of the existing code
25693 used by @code{Insight}.
25694
25695 The two main reasons for that are:
25696
25697 @enumerate 1
25698 @item
25699 It has been proven in practice (it is already on its second generation).
25700
25701 @item
25702 It will shorten development time (needless to say how important it is
25703 now).
25704 @end enumerate
25705
25706 The original interface was designed to be used by Tcl code, so it was
25707 slightly changed so it could be used through @sc{gdb/mi}. This section
25708 describes the @sc{gdb/mi} operations that will be available and gives some
25709 hints about their use.
25710
25711 @emph{Note}: In addition to the set of operations described here, we
25712 expect the @sc{gui} implementation of a variable window to require, at
25713 least, the following operations:
25714
25715 @itemize @bullet
25716 @item @code{-gdb-show} @code{output-radix}
25717 @item @code{-stack-list-arguments}
25718 @item @code{-stack-list-locals}
25719 @item @code{-stack-select-frame}
25720 @end itemize
25721
25722 @end ignore
25723
25724 @subheading Introduction to Variable Objects
25725
25726 @cindex variable objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
25727
25728 Variable objects are "object-oriented" MI interface for examining and
25729 changing values of expressions. Unlike some other MI interfaces that
25730 work with expressions, variable objects are specifically designed for
25731 simple and efficient presentation in the frontend. A variable object
25732 is identified by string name. When a variable object is created, the
25733 frontend specifies the expression for that variable object. The
25734 expression can be a simple variable, or it can be an arbitrary complex
25735 expression, and can even involve CPU registers. After creating a
25736 variable object, the frontend can invoke other variable object
25737 operations---for example to obtain or change the value of a variable
25738 object, or to change display format.
25739
25740 Variable objects have hierarchical tree structure. Any variable object
25741 that corresponds to a composite type, such as structure in C, has
25742 a number of child variable objects, for example corresponding to each
25743 element of a structure. A child variable object can itself have
25744 children, recursively. Recursion ends when we reach
25745 leaf variable objects, which always have built-in types. Child variable
25746 objects are created only by explicit request, so if a frontend
25747 is not interested in the children of a particular variable object, no
25748 child will be created.
25749
25750 For a leaf variable object it is possible to obtain its value as a
25751 string, or set the value from a string. String value can be also
25752 obtained for a non-leaf variable object, but it's generally a string
25753 that only indicates the type of the object, and does not list its
25754 contents. Assignment to a non-leaf variable object is not allowed.
25755
25756 A frontend does not need to read the values of all variable objects each time
25757 the program stops. Instead, MI provides an update command that lists all
25758 variable objects whose values has changed since the last update
25759 operation. This considerably reduces the amount of data that must
25760 be transferred to the frontend. As noted above, children variable
25761 objects are created on demand, and only leaf variable objects have a
25762 real value. As result, gdb will read target memory only for leaf
25763 variables that frontend has created.
25764
25765 The automatic update is not always desirable. For example, a frontend
25766 might want to keep a value of some expression for future reference,
25767 and never update it. For another example, fetching memory is
25768 relatively slow for embedded targets, so a frontend might want
25769 to disable automatic update for the variables that are either not
25770 visible on the screen, or ``closed''. This is possible using so
25771 called ``frozen variable objects''. Such variable objects are never
25772 implicitly updated.
25773
25774 Variable objects can be either @dfn{fixed} or @dfn{floating}. For the
25775 fixed variable object, the expression is parsed when the variable
25776 object is created, including associating identifiers to specific
25777 variables. The meaning of expression never changes. For a floating
25778 variable object the values of variables whose names appear in the
25779 expressions are re-evaluated every time in the context of the current
25780 frame. Consider this example:
25781
25782 @smallexample
25783 void do_work(...)
25784 @{
25785 struct work_state state;
25786
25787 if (...)
25788 do_work(...);
25789 @}
25790 @end smallexample
25791
25792 If a fixed variable object for the @code{state} variable is created in
25793 this function, and we enter the recursive call, the the variable
25794 object will report the value of @code{state} in the top-level
25795 @code{do_work} invocation. On the other hand, a floating variable
25796 object will report the value of @code{state} in the current frame.
25797
25798 If an expression specified when creating a fixed variable object
25799 refers to a local variable, the variable object becomes bound to the
25800 thread and frame in which the variable object is created. When such
25801 variable object is updated, @value{GDBN} makes sure that the
25802 thread/frame combination the variable object is bound to still exists,
25803 and re-evaluates the variable object in context of that thread/frame.
25804
25805 The following is the complete set of @sc{gdb/mi} operations defined to
25806 access this functionality:
25807
25808 @multitable @columnfractions .4 .6
25809 @item @strong{Operation}
25810 @tab @strong{Description}
25811
25812 @item @code{-enable-pretty-printing}
25813 @tab enable Python-based pretty-printing
25814 @item @code{-var-create}
25815 @tab create a variable object
25816 @item @code{-var-delete}
25817 @tab delete the variable object and/or its children
25818 @item @code{-var-set-format}
25819 @tab set the display format of this variable
25820 @item @code{-var-show-format}
25821 @tab show the display format of this variable
25822 @item @code{-var-info-num-children}
25823 @tab tells how many children this object has
25824 @item @code{-var-list-children}
25825 @tab return a list of the object's children
25826 @item @code{-var-info-type}
25827 @tab show the type of this variable object
25828 @item @code{-var-info-expression}
25829 @tab print parent-relative expression that this variable object represents
25830 @item @code{-var-info-path-expression}
25831 @tab print full expression that this variable object represents
25832 @item @code{-var-show-attributes}
25833 @tab is this variable editable? does it exist here?
25834 @item @code{-var-evaluate-expression}
25835 @tab get the value of this variable
25836 @item @code{-var-assign}
25837 @tab set the value of this variable
25838 @item @code{-var-update}
25839 @tab update the variable and its children
25840 @item @code{-var-set-frozen}
25841 @tab set frozeness attribute
25842 @item @code{-var-set-update-range}
25843 @tab set range of children to display on update
25844 @end multitable
25845
25846 In the next subsection we describe each operation in detail and suggest
25847 how it can be used.
25848
25849 @subheading Description And Use of Operations on Variable Objects
25850
25851 @subheading The @code{-enable-pretty-printing} Command
25852 @findex -enable-pretty-printing
25853
25854 @smallexample
25855 -enable-pretty-printing
25856 @end smallexample
25857
25858 @value{GDBN} allows Python-based visualizers to affect the output of the
25859 MI variable object commands. However, because there was no way to
25860 implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
25861 request that this functionality be enabled.
25862
25863 Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
25864
25865 Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
25866 this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
25867
25868 This feature is currently (as of @value{GDBN} 7.0) experimental, and
25869 may work differently in future versions of @value{GDBN}.
25870
25871 @subheading The @code{-var-create} Command
25872 @findex -var-create
25873
25874 @subsubheading Synopsis
25875
25876 @smallexample
25877 -var-create @{@var{name} | "-"@}
25878 @{@var{frame-addr} | "*" | "@@"@} @var{expression}
25879 @end smallexample
25880
25881 This operation creates a variable object, which allows the monitoring of
25882 a variable, the result of an expression, a memory cell or a CPU
25883 register.
25884
25885 The @var{name} parameter is the string by which the object can be
25886 referenced. It must be unique. If @samp{-} is specified, the varobj
25887 system will generate a string ``varNNNNNN'' automatically. It will be
25888 unique provided that one does not specify @var{name} of that format.
25889 The command fails if a duplicate name is found.
25890
25891 The frame under which the expression should be evaluated can be
25892 specified by @var{frame-addr}. A @samp{*} indicates that the current
25893 frame should be used. A @samp{@@} indicates that a floating variable
25894 object must be created.
25895
25896 @var{expression} is any expression valid on the current language set (must not
25897 begin with a @samp{*}), or one of the following:
25898
25899 @itemize @bullet
25900 @item
25901 @samp{*@var{addr}}, where @var{addr} is the address of a memory cell
25902
25903 @item
25904 @samp{*@var{addr}-@var{addr}} --- a memory address range (TBD)
25905
25906 @item
25907 @samp{$@var{regname}} --- a CPU register name
25908 @end itemize
25909
25910 @cindex dynamic varobj
25911 A varobj's contents may be provided by a Python-based pretty-printer. In this
25912 case the varobj is known as a @dfn{dynamic varobj}. Dynamic varobjs
25913 have slightly different semantics in some cases. If the
25914 @code{-enable-pretty-printing} command is not sent, then @value{GDBN}
25915 will never create a dynamic varobj. This ensures backward
25916 compatibility for existing clients.
25917
25918 @subsubheading Result
25919
25920 This operation returns attributes of the newly-created varobj. These
25921 are:
25922
25923 @table @samp
25924 @item name
25925 The name of the varobj.
25926
25927 @item numchild
25928 The number of children of the varobj. This number is not necessarily
25929 reliable for a dynamic varobj. Instead, you must examine the
25930 @samp{has_more} attribute.
25931
25932 @item value
25933 The varobj's scalar value. For a varobj whose type is some sort of
25934 aggregate (e.g., a @code{struct}), or for a dynamic varobj, this value
25935 will not be interesting.
25936
25937 @item type
25938 The varobj's type. This is a string representation of the type, as
25939 would be printed by the @value{GDBN} CLI.
25940
25941 @item thread-id
25942 If a variable object is bound to a specific thread, then this is the
25943 thread's identifier.
25944
25945 @item has_more
25946 For a dynamic varobj, this indicates whether there appear to be any
25947 children available. For a non-dynamic varobj, this will be 0.
25948
25949 @item dynamic
25950 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
25951 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
25952 then this attribute will not be present.
25953
25954 @item displayhint
25955 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
25956 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
25957 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
25958 @end table
25959
25960 Typical output will look like this:
25961
25962 @smallexample
25963 name="@var{name}",numchild="@var{N}",type="@var{type}",thread-id="@var{M}",
25964 has_more="@var{has_more}"
25965 @end smallexample
25966
25967
25968 @subheading The @code{-var-delete} Command
25969 @findex -var-delete
25970
25971 @subsubheading Synopsis
25972
25973 @smallexample
25974 -var-delete [ -c ] @var{name}
25975 @end smallexample
25976
25977 Deletes a previously created variable object and all of its children.
25978 With the @samp{-c} option, just deletes the children.
25979
25980 Returns an error if the object @var{name} is not found.
25981
25982
25983 @subheading The @code{-var-set-format} Command
25984 @findex -var-set-format
25985
25986 @subsubheading Synopsis
25987
25988 @smallexample
25989 -var-set-format @var{name} @var{format-spec}
25990 @end smallexample
25991
25992 Sets the output format for the value of the object @var{name} to be
25993 @var{format-spec}.
25994
25995 @anchor{-var-set-format}
25996 The syntax for the @var{format-spec} is as follows:
25997
25998 @smallexample
25999 @var{format-spec} @expansion{}
26000 @{binary | decimal | hexadecimal | octal | natural@}
26001 @end smallexample
26002
26003 The natural format is the default format choosen automatically
26004 based on the variable type (like decimal for an @code{int}, hex
26005 for pointers, etc.).
26006
26007 For a variable with children, the format is set only on the
26008 variable itself, and the children are not affected.
26009
26010 @subheading The @code{-var-show-format} Command
26011 @findex -var-show-format
26012
26013 @subsubheading Synopsis
26014
26015 @smallexample
26016 -var-show-format @var{name}
26017 @end smallexample
26018
26019 Returns the format used to display the value of the object @var{name}.
26020
26021 @smallexample
26022 @var{format} @expansion{}
26023 @var{format-spec}
26024 @end smallexample
26025
26026
26027 @subheading The @code{-var-info-num-children} Command
26028 @findex -var-info-num-children
26029
26030 @subsubheading Synopsis
26031
26032 @smallexample
26033 -var-info-num-children @var{name}
26034 @end smallexample
26035
26036 Returns the number of children of a variable object @var{name}:
26037
26038 @smallexample
26039 numchild=@var{n}
26040 @end smallexample
26041
26042 Note that this number is not completely reliable for a dynamic varobj.
26043 It will return the current number of children, but more children may
26044 be available.
26045
26046
26047 @subheading The @code{-var-list-children} Command
26048 @findex -var-list-children
26049
26050 @subsubheading Synopsis
26051
26052 @smallexample
26053 -var-list-children [@var{print-values}] @var{name} [@var{from} @var{to}]
26054 @end smallexample
26055 @anchor{-var-list-children}
26056
26057 Return a list of the children of the specified variable object and
26058 create variable objects for them, if they do not already exist. With
26059 a single argument or if @var{print-values} has a value for of 0 or
26060 @code{--no-values}, print only the names of the variables; if
26061 @var{print-values} is 1 or @code{--all-values}, also print their
26062 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values} print the name and
26063 value for simple data types and just the name for arrays, structures
26064 and unions.
26065
26066 @var{from} and @var{to}, if specified, indicate the range of children
26067 to report. If @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is
26068 reset and all children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting
26069 at @var{from} (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be
26070 reported.
26071
26072 If a child range is requested, it will only affect the current call to
26073 @code{-var-list-children}, but not future calls to @code{-var-update}.
26074 For this, you must instead use @code{-var-set-update-range}. The
26075 intent of this approach is to enable a front end to implement any
26076 update approach it likes; for example, scrolling a view may cause the
26077 front end to request more children with @code{-var-list-children}, and
26078 then the front end could call @code{-var-set-update-range} with a
26079 different range to ensure that future updates are restricted to just
26080 the visible items.
26081
26082 For each child the following results are returned:
26083
26084 @table @var
26085
26086 @item name
26087 Name of the variable object created for this child.
26088
26089 @item exp
26090 The expression to be shown to the user by the front end to designate this child.
26091 For example this may be the name of a structure member.
26092
26093 For a dynamic varobj, this value cannot be used to form an
26094 expression. There is no way to do this at all with a dynamic varobj.
26095
26096 For C/C@t{++} structures there are several pseudo children returned to
26097 designate access qualifiers. For these pseudo children @var{exp} is
26098 @samp{public}, @samp{private}, or @samp{protected}. In this case the
26099 type and value are not present.
26100
26101 A dynamic varobj will not report the access qualifying
26102 pseudo-children, regardless of the language. This information is not
26103 available at all with a dynamic varobj.
26104
26105 @item numchild
26106 Number of children this child has. For a dynamic varobj, this will be
26107 0.
26108
26109 @item type
26110 The type of the child.
26111
26112 @item value
26113 If values were requested, this is the value.
26114
26115 @item thread-id
26116 If this variable object is associated with a thread, this is the thread id.
26117 Otherwise this result is not present.
26118
26119 @item frozen
26120 If the variable object is frozen, this variable will be present with a value of 1.
26121 @end table
26122
26123 The result may have its own attributes:
26124
26125 @table @samp
26126 @item displayhint
26127 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
26128 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
26129 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
26130
26131 @item has_more
26132 This is an integer attribute which is nonzero if there are children
26133 remaining after the end of the selected range.
26134 @end table
26135
26136 @subsubheading Example
26137
26138 @smallexample
26139 (gdb)
26140 -var-list-children n
26141 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
26142 numchild=@var{n},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
26143 (gdb)
26144 -var-list-children --all-values n
26145 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
26146 numchild=@var{n},value=@var{value},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
26147 @end smallexample
26148
26149
26150 @subheading The @code{-var-info-type} Command
26151 @findex -var-info-type
26152
26153 @subsubheading Synopsis
26154
26155 @smallexample
26156 -var-info-type @var{name}
26157 @end smallexample
26158
26159 Returns the type of the specified variable @var{name}. The type is
26160 returned as a string in the same format as it is output by the
26161 @value{GDBN} CLI:
26162
26163 @smallexample
26164 type=@var{typename}
26165 @end smallexample
26166
26167
26168 @subheading The @code{-var-info-expression} Command
26169 @findex -var-info-expression
26170
26171 @subsubheading Synopsis
26172
26173 @smallexample
26174 -var-info-expression @var{name}
26175 @end smallexample
26176
26177 Returns a string that is suitable for presenting this
26178 variable object in user interface. The string is generally
26179 not valid expression in the current language, and cannot be evaluated.
26180
26181 For example, if @code{a} is an array, and variable object
26182 @code{A} was created for @code{a}, then we'll get this output:
26183
26184 @smallexample
26185 (gdb) -var-info-expression A.1
26186 ^done,lang="C",exp="1"
26187 @end smallexample
26188
26189 @noindent
26190 Here, the values of @code{lang} can be @code{@{"C" | "C++" | "Java"@}}.
26191
26192 Note that the output of the @code{-var-list-children} command also
26193 includes those expressions, so the @code{-var-info-expression} command
26194 is of limited use.
26195
26196 @subheading The @code{-var-info-path-expression} Command
26197 @findex -var-info-path-expression
26198
26199 @subsubheading Synopsis
26200
26201 @smallexample
26202 -var-info-path-expression @var{name}
26203 @end smallexample
26204
26205 Returns an expression that can be evaluated in the current
26206 context and will yield the same value that a variable object has.
26207 Compare this with the @code{-var-info-expression} command, which
26208 result can be used only for UI presentation. Typical use of
26209 the @code{-var-info-path-expression} command is creating a
26210 watchpoint from a variable object.
26211
26212 This command is currently not valid for children of a dynamic varobj,
26213 and will give an error when invoked on one.
26214
26215 For example, suppose @code{C} is a C@t{++} class, derived from class
26216 @code{Base}, and that the @code{Base} class has a member called
26217 @code{m_size}. Assume a variable @code{c} is has the type of
26218 @code{C} and a variable object @code{C} was created for variable
26219 @code{c}. Then, we'll get this output:
26220 @smallexample
26221 (gdb) -var-info-path-expression C.Base.public.m_size
26222 ^done,path_expr=((Base)c).m_size)
26223 @end smallexample
26224
26225 @subheading The @code{-var-show-attributes} Command
26226 @findex -var-show-attributes
26227
26228 @subsubheading Synopsis
26229
26230 @smallexample
26231 -var-show-attributes @var{name}
26232 @end smallexample
26233
26234 List attributes of the specified variable object @var{name}:
26235
26236 @smallexample
26237 status=@var{attr} [ ( ,@var{attr} )* ]
26238 @end smallexample
26239
26240 @noindent
26241 where @var{attr} is @code{@{ @{ editable | noneditable @} | TBD @}}.
26242
26243 @subheading The @code{-var-evaluate-expression} Command
26244 @findex -var-evaluate-expression
26245
26246 @subsubheading Synopsis
26247
26248 @smallexample
26249 -var-evaluate-expression [-f @var{format-spec}] @var{name}
26250 @end smallexample
26251
26252 Evaluates the expression that is represented by the specified variable
26253 object and returns its value as a string. The format of the string
26254 can be specified with the @samp{-f} option. The possible values of
26255 this option are the same as for @code{-var-set-format}
26256 (@pxref{-var-set-format}). If the @samp{-f} option is not specified,
26257 the current display format will be used. The current display format
26258 can be changed using the @code{-var-set-format} command.
26259
26260 @smallexample
26261 value=@var{value}
26262 @end smallexample
26263
26264 Note that one must invoke @code{-var-list-children} for a variable
26265 before the value of a child variable can be evaluated.
26266
26267 @subheading The @code{-var-assign} Command
26268 @findex -var-assign
26269
26270 @subsubheading Synopsis
26271
26272 @smallexample
26273 -var-assign @var{name} @var{expression}
26274 @end smallexample
26275
26276 Assigns the value of @var{expression} to the variable object specified
26277 by @var{name}. The object must be @samp{editable}. If the variable's
26278 value is altered by the assign, the variable will show up in any
26279 subsequent @code{-var-update} list.
26280
26281 @subsubheading Example
26282
26283 @smallexample
26284 (gdb)
26285 -var-assign var1 3
26286 ^done,value="3"
26287 (gdb)
26288 -var-update *
26289 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",in_scope="true",type_changed="false"@}]
26290 (gdb)
26291 @end smallexample
26292
26293 @subheading The @code{-var-update} Command
26294 @findex -var-update
26295
26296 @subsubheading Synopsis
26297
26298 @smallexample
26299 -var-update [@var{print-values}] @{@var{name} | "*"@}
26300 @end smallexample
26301
26302 Reevaluate the expressions corresponding to the variable object
26303 @var{name} and all its direct and indirect children, and return the
26304 list of variable objects whose values have changed; @var{name} must
26305 be a root variable object. Here, ``changed'' means that the result of
26306 @code{-var-evaluate-expression} before and after the
26307 @code{-var-update} is different. If @samp{*} is used as the variable
26308 object names, all existing variable objects are updated, except
26309 for frozen ones (@pxref{-var-set-frozen}). The option
26310 @var{print-values} determines whether both names and values, or just
26311 names are printed. The possible values of this option are the same
26312 as for @code{-var-list-children} (@pxref{-var-list-children}). It is
26313 recommended to use the @samp{--all-values} option, to reduce the
26314 number of MI commands needed on each program stop.
26315
26316 With the @samp{*} parameter, if a variable object is bound to a
26317 currently running thread, it will not be updated, without any
26318 diagnostic.
26319
26320 If @code{-var-set-update-range} was previously used on a varobj, then
26321 only the selected range of children will be reported.
26322
26323 @code{-var-update} reports all the changed varobjs in a tuple named
26324 @samp{changelist}.
26325
26326 Each item in the change list is itself a tuple holding:
26327
26328 @table @samp
26329 @item name
26330 The name of the varobj.
26331
26332 @item value
26333 If values were requested for this update, then this field will be
26334 present and will hold the value of the varobj.
26335
26336 @item in_scope
26337 @anchor{-var-update}
26338 This field is a string which may take one of three values:
26339
26340 @table @code
26341 @item "true"
26342 The variable object's current value is valid.
26343
26344 @item "false"
26345 The variable object does not currently hold a valid value but it may
26346 hold one in the future if its associated expression comes back into
26347 scope.
26348
26349 @item "invalid"
26350 The variable object no longer holds a valid value.
26351 This can occur when the executable file being debugged has changed,
26352 either through recompilation or by using the @value{GDBN} @code{file}
26353 command. The front end should normally choose to delete these variable
26354 objects.
26355 @end table
26356
26357 In the future new values may be added to this list so the front should
26358 be prepared for this possibility. @xref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, ,@sc{GDB/MI} Development and Front Ends}.
26359
26360 @item type_changed
26361 This is only present if the varobj is still valid. If the type
26362 changed, then this will be the string @samp{true}; otherwise it will
26363 be @samp{false}.
26364
26365 @item new_type
26366 If the varobj's type changed, then this field will be present and will
26367 hold the new type.
26368
26369 @item new_num_children
26370 For a dynamic varobj, if the number of children changed, or if the
26371 type changed, this will be the new number of children.
26372
26373 The @samp{numchild} field in other varobj responses is generally not
26374 valid for a dynamic varobj -- it will show the number of children that
26375 @value{GDBN} knows about, but because dynamic varobjs lazily
26376 instantiate their children, this will not reflect the number of
26377 children which may be available.
26378
26379 The @samp{new_num_children} attribute only reports changes to the
26380 number of children known by @value{GDBN}. This is the only way to
26381 detect whether an update has removed children (which necessarily can
26382 only happen at the end of the update range).
26383
26384 @item displayhint
26385 The display hint, if any.
26386
26387 @item has_more
26388 This is an integer value, which will be 1 if there are more children
26389 available outside the varobj's update range.
26390
26391 @item dynamic
26392 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
26393 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
26394 then this attribute will not be present.
26395
26396 @item new_children
26397 If new children were added to a dynamic varobj within the selected
26398 update range (as set by @code{-var-set-update-range}), then they will
26399 be listed in this attribute.
26400 @end table
26401
26402 @subsubheading Example
26403
26404 @smallexample
26405 (gdb)
26406 -var-assign var1 3
26407 ^done,value="3"
26408 (gdb)
26409 -var-update --all-values var1
26410 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",value="3",in_scope="true",
26411 type_changed="false"@}]
26412 (gdb)
26413 @end smallexample
26414
26415 @subheading The @code{-var-set-frozen} Command
26416 @findex -var-set-frozen
26417 @anchor{-var-set-frozen}
26418
26419 @subsubheading Synopsis
26420
26421 @smallexample
26422 -var-set-frozen @var{name} @var{flag}
26423 @end smallexample
26424
26425 Set the frozenness flag on the variable object @var{name}. The
26426 @var{flag} parameter should be either @samp{1} to make the variable
26427 frozen or @samp{0} to make it unfrozen. If a variable object is
26428 frozen, then neither itself, nor any of its children, are
26429 implicitly updated by @code{-var-update} of
26430 a parent variable or by @code{-var-update *}. Only
26431 @code{-var-update} of the variable itself will update its value and
26432 values of its children. After a variable object is unfrozen, it is
26433 implicitly updated by all subsequent @code{-var-update} operations.
26434 Unfreezing a variable does not update it, only subsequent
26435 @code{-var-update} does.
26436
26437 @subsubheading Example
26438
26439 @smallexample
26440 (gdb)
26441 -var-set-frozen V 1
26442 ^done
26443 (gdb)
26444 @end smallexample
26445
26446 @subheading The @code{-var-set-update-range} command
26447 @findex -var-set-update-range
26448 @anchor{-var-set-update-range}
26449
26450 @subsubheading Synopsis
26451
26452 @smallexample
26453 -var-set-update-range @var{name} @var{from} @var{to}
26454 @end smallexample
26455
26456 Set the range of children to be returned by future invocations of
26457 @code{-var-update}.
26458
26459 @var{from} and @var{to} indicate the range of children to report. If
26460 @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is reset and all
26461 children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting at @var{from}
26462 (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be reported.
26463
26464 @subsubheading Example
26465
26466 @smallexample
26467 (gdb)
26468 -var-set-update-range V 1 2
26469 ^done
26470 @end smallexample
26471
26472 @subheading The @code{-var-set-visualizer} command
26473 @findex -var-set-visualizer
26474 @anchor{-var-set-visualizer}
26475
26476 @subsubheading Synopsis
26477
26478 @smallexample
26479 -var-set-visualizer @var{name} @var{visualizer}
26480 @end smallexample
26481
26482 Set a visualizer for the variable object @var{name}.
26483
26484 @var{visualizer} is the visualizer to use. The special value
26485 @samp{None} means to disable any visualizer in use.
26486
26487 If not @samp{None}, @var{visualizer} must be a Python expression.
26488 This expression must evaluate to a callable object which accepts a
26489 single argument. @value{GDBN} will call this object with the value of
26490 the varobj @var{name} as an argument (this is done so that the same
26491 Python pretty-printing code can be used for both the CLI and MI).
26492 When called, this object must return an object which conforms to the
26493 pretty-printing interface (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}).
26494
26495 The pre-defined function @code{gdb.default_visualizer} may be used to
26496 select a visualizer by following the built-in process
26497 (@pxref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}). This is done automatically when
26498 a varobj is created, and so ordinarily is not needed.
26499
26500 This feature is only available if Python support is enabled. The MI
26501 command @code{-list-features} (@pxref{GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands})
26502 can be used to check this.
26503
26504 @subsubheading Example
26505
26506 Resetting the visualizer:
26507
26508 @smallexample
26509 (gdb)
26510 -var-set-visualizer V None
26511 ^done
26512 @end smallexample
26513
26514 Reselecting the default (type-based) visualizer:
26515
26516 @smallexample
26517 (gdb)
26518 -var-set-visualizer V gdb.default_visualizer
26519 ^done
26520 @end smallexample
26521
26522 Suppose @code{SomeClass} is a visualizer class. A lambda expression
26523 can be used to instantiate this class for a varobj:
26524
26525 @smallexample
26526 (gdb)
26527 -var-set-visualizer V "lambda val: SomeClass()"
26528 ^done
26529 @end smallexample
26530
26531 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26532 @node GDB/MI Data Manipulation
26533 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Data Manipulation
26534
26535 @cindex data manipulation, in @sc{gdb/mi}
26536 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, data manipulation
26537 This section describes the @sc{gdb/mi} commands that manipulate data:
26538 examine memory and registers, evaluate expressions, etc.
26539
26540 @c REMOVED FROM THE INTERFACE.
26541 @c @subheading -data-assign
26542 @c Change the value of a program variable. Plenty of side effects.
26543 @c @subsubheading GDB Command
26544 @c set variable
26545 @c @subsubheading Example
26546 @c N.A.
26547
26548 @subheading The @code{-data-disassemble} Command
26549 @findex -data-disassemble
26550
26551 @subsubheading Synopsis
26552
26553 @smallexample
26554 -data-disassemble
26555 [ -s @var{start-addr} -e @var{end-addr} ]
26556 | [ -f @var{filename} -l @var{linenum} [ -n @var{lines} ] ]
26557 -- @var{mode}
26558 @end smallexample
26559
26560 @noindent
26561 Where:
26562
26563 @table @samp
26564 @item @var{start-addr}
26565 is the beginning address (or @code{$pc})
26566 @item @var{end-addr}
26567 is the end address
26568 @item @var{filename}
26569 is the name of the file to disassemble
26570 @item @var{linenum}
26571 is the line number to disassemble around
26572 @item @var{lines}
26573 is the number of disassembly lines to be produced. If it is -1,
26574 the whole function will be disassembled, in case no @var{end-addr} is
26575 specified. If @var{end-addr} is specified as a non-zero value, and
26576 @var{lines} is lower than the number of disassembly lines between
26577 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only @var{lines} lines are
26578 displayed; if @var{lines} is higher than the number of lines between
26579 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only the lines up to @var{end-addr}
26580 are displayed.
26581 @item @var{mode}
26582 is either 0 (meaning only disassembly) or 1 (meaning mixed source and
26583 disassembly).
26584 @end table
26585
26586 @subsubheading Result
26587
26588 The output for each instruction is composed of four fields:
26589
26590 @itemize @bullet
26591 @item Address
26592 @item Func-name
26593 @item Offset
26594 @item Instruction
26595 @end itemize
26596
26597 Note that whatever included in the instruction field, is not manipulated
26598 directly by @sc{gdb/mi}, i.e., it is not possible to adjust its format.
26599
26600 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26601
26602 There's no direct mapping from this command to the CLI.
26603
26604 @subsubheading Example
26605
26606 Disassemble from the current value of @code{$pc} to @code{$pc + 20}:
26607
26608 @smallexample
26609 (gdb)
26610 -data-disassemble -s $pc -e "$pc + 20" -- 0
26611 ^done,
26612 asm_insns=[
26613 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
26614 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
26615 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
26616 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
26617 @{address="0x000107c8",func-name="main",offset="12",
26618 inst="or %o2, 0x140, %o1\t! 0x11940 <_lib_version+8>"@},
26619 @{address="0x000107cc",func-name="main",offset="16",
26620 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
26621 @{address="0x000107d0",func-name="main",offset="20",
26622 inst="or %o2, 0x168, %o4\t! 0x11968 <_lib_version+48>"@}]
26623 (gdb)
26624 @end smallexample
26625
26626 Disassemble the whole @code{main} function. Line 32 is part of
26627 @code{main}.
26628
26629 @smallexample
26630 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -- 0
26631 ^done,asm_insns=[
26632 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
26633 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
26634 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
26635 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
26636 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
26637 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
26638 [@dots{}]
26639 @{address="0x0001081c",func-name="main",offset="96",inst="ret "@},
26640 @{address="0x00010820",func-name="main",offset="100",inst="restore "@}]
26641 (gdb)
26642 @end smallexample
26643
26644 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main}:
26645
26646 @smallexample
26647 (gdb)
26648 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 0
26649 ^done,asm_insns=[
26650 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
26651 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
26652 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
26653 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
26654 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
26655 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]
26656 (gdb)
26657 @end smallexample
26658
26659 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main} in mixed mode:
26660
26661 @smallexample
26662 (gdb)
26663 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 1
26664 ^done,asm_insns=[
26665 src_and_asm_line=@{line="31",
26666 file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
26667 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
26668 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
26669 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@}]@},
26670 src_and_asm_line=@{line="32",
26671 file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
26672 testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
26673 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
26674 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
26675 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
26676 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]@}]
26677 (gdb)
26678 @end smallexample
26679
26680
26681 @subheading The @code{-data-evaluate-expression} Command
26682 @findex -data-evaluate-expression
26683
26684 @subsubheading Synopsis
26685
26686 @smallexample
26687 -data-evaluate-expression @var{expr}
26688 @end smallexample
26689
26690 Evaluate @var{expr} as an expression. The expression could contain an
26691 inferior function call. The function call will execute synchronously.
26692 If the expression contains spaces, it must be enclosed in double quotes.
26693
26694 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26695
26696 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{print}, @samp{output}, and
26697 @samp{call}. In @code{gdbtk} only, there's a corresponding
26698 @samp{gdb_eval} command.
26699
26700 @subsubheading Example
26701
26702 In the following example, the numbers that precede the commands are the
26703 @dfn{tokens} described in @ref{GDB/MI Command Syntax, ,@sc{gdb/mi}
26704 Command Syntax}. Notice how @sc{gdb/mi} returns the same tokens in its
26705 output.
26706
26707 @smallexample
26708 211-data-evaluate-expression A
26709 211^done,value="1"
26710 (gdb)
26711 311-data-evaluate-expression &A
26712 311^done,value="0xefffeb7c"
26713 (gdb)
26714 411-data-evaluate-expression A+3
26715 411^done,value="4"
26716 (gdb)
26717 511-data-evaluate-expression "A + 3"
26718 511^done,value="4"
26719 (gdb)
26720 @end smallexample
26721
26722
26723 @subheading The @code{-data-list-changed-registers} Command
26724 @findex -data-list-changed-registers
26725
26726 @subsubheading Synopsis
26727
26728 @smallexample
26729 -data-list-changed-registers
26730 @end smallexample
26731
26732 Display a list of the registers that have changed.
26733
26734 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26735
26736 @value{GDBN} doesn't have a direct analog for this command; @code{gdbtk}
26737 has the corresponding command @samp{gdb_changed_register_list}.
26738
26739 @subsubheading Example
26740
26741 On a PPC MBX board:
26742
26743 @smallexample
26744 (gdb)
26745 -exec-continue
26746 ^running
26747
26748 (gdb)
26749 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",frame=@{
26750 func="main",args=[],file="try.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",
26751 line="5"@}
26752 (gdb)
26753 -data-list-changed-registers
26754 ^done,changed-registers=["0","1","2","4","5","6","7","8","9",
26755 "10","11","13","14","15","16","17","18","19","20","21","22","23",
26756 "24","25","26","27","28","30","31","64","65","66","67","69"]
26757 (gdb)
26758 @end smallexample
26759
26760
26761 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-names} Command
26762 @findex -data-list-register-names
26763
26764 @subsubheading Synopsis
26765
26766 @smallexample
26767 -data-list-register-names [ ( @var{regno} )+ ]
26768 @end smallexample
26769
26770 Show a list of register names for the current target. If no arguments
26771 are given, it shows a list of the names of all the registers. If
26772 integer numbers are given as arguments, it will print a list of the
26773 names of the registers corresponding to the arguments. To ensure
26774 consistency between a register name and its number, the output list may
26775 include empty register names.
26776
26777 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26778
26779 @value{GDBN} does not have a command which corresponds to
26780 @samp{-data-list-register-names}. In @code{gdbtk} there is a
26781 corresponding command @samp{gdb_regnames}.
26782
26783 @subsubheading Example
26784
26785 For the PPC MBX board:
26786 @smallexample
26787 (gdb)
26788 -data-list-register-names
26789 ^done,register-names=["r0","r1","r2","r3","r4","r5","r6","r7",
26790 "r8","r9","r10","r11","r12","r13","r14","r15","r16","r17","r18",
26791 "r19","r20","r21","r22","r23","r24","r25","r26","r27","r28","r29",
26792 "r30","r31","f0","f1","f2","f3","f4","f5","f6","f7","f8","f9",
26793 "f10","f11","f12","f13","f14","f15","f16","f17","f18","f19","f20",
26794 "f21","f22","f23","f24","f25","f26","f27","f28","f29","f30","f31",
26795 "", "pc","ps","cr","lr","ctr","xer"]
26796 (gdb)
26797 -data-list-register-names 1 2 3
26798 ^done,register-names=["r1","r2","r3"]
26799 (gdb)
26800 @end smallexample
26801
26802 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-values} Command
26803 @findex -data-list-register-values
26804
26805 @subsubheading Synopsis
26806
26807 @smallexample
26808 -data-list-register-values @var{fmt} [ ( @var{regno} )*]
26809 @end smallexample
26810
26811 Display the registers' contents. @var{fmt} is the format according to
26812 which the registers' contents are to be returned, followed by an optional
26813 list of numbers specifying the registers to display. A missing list of
26814 numbers indicates that the contents of all the registers must be returned.
26815
26816 Allowed formats for @var{fmt} are:
26817
26818 @table @code
26819 @item x
26820 Hexadecimal
26821 @item o
26822 Octal
26823 @item t
26824 Binary
26825 @item d
26826 Decimal
26827 @item r
26828 Raw
26829 @item N
26830 Natural
26831 @end table
26832
26833 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26834
26835 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{info reg}, @samp{info
26836 all-reg}, and (in @code{gdbtk}) @samp{gdb_fetch_registers}.
26837
26838 @subsubheading Example
26839
26840 For a PPC MBX board (note: line breaks are for readability only, they
26841 don't appear in the actual output):
26842
26843 @smallexample
26844 (gdb)
26845 -data-list-register-values r 64 65
26846 ^done,register-values=[@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
26847 @{number="65",value="0x00029002"@}]
26848 (gdb)
26849 -data-list-register-values x
26850 ^done,register-values=[@{number="0",value="0xfe0043c8"@},
26851 @{number="1",value="0x3fff88"@},@{number="2",value="0xfffffffe"@},
26852 @{number="3",value="0x0"@},@{number="4",value="0xa"@},
26853 @{number="5",value="0x3fff68"@},@{number="6",value="0x3fff58"@},
26854 @{number="7",value="0xfe011e98"@},@{number="8",value="0x2"@},
26855 @{number="9",value="0xfa202820"@},@{number="10",value="0xfa202808"@},
26856 @{number="11",value="0x1"@},@{number="12",value="0x0"@},
26857 @{number="13",value="0x4544"@},@{number="14",value="0xffdfffff"@},
26858 @{number="15",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="16",value="0xfffffeff"@},
26859 @{number="17",value="0xefffffed"@},@{number="18",value="0xfffffffe"@},
26860 @{number="19",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="20",value="0xffffffff"@},
26861 @{number="21",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="22",value="0xfffffff7"@},
26862 @{number="23",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="24",value="0xffffffff"@},
26863 @{number="25",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="26",value="0xfffffffb"@},
26864 @{number="27",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="28",value="0xf7bfffff"@},
26865 @{number="29",value="0x0"@},@{number="30",value="0xfe010000"@},
26866 @{number="31",value="0x0"@},@{number="32",value="0x0"@},
26867 @{number="33",value="0x0"@},@{number="34",value="0x0"@},
26868 @{number="35",value="0x0"@},@{number="36",value="0x0"@},
26869 @{number="37",value="0x0"@},@{number="38",value="0x0"@},
26870 @{number="39",value="0x0"@},@{number="40",value="0x0"@},
26871 @{number="41",value="0x0"@},@{number="42",value="0x0"@},
26872 @{number="43",value="0x0"@},@{number="44",value="0x0"@},
26873 @{number="45",value="0x0"@},@{number="46",value="0x0"@},
26874 @{number="47",value="0x0"@},@{number="48",value="0x0"@},
26875 @{number="49",value="0x0"@},@{number="50",value="0x0"@},
26876 @{number="51",value="0x0"@},@{number="52",value="0x0"@},
26877 @{number="53",value="0x0"@},@{number="54",value="0x0"@},
26878 @{number="55",value="0x0"@},@{number="56",value="0x0"@},
26879 @{number="57",value="0x0"@},@{number="58",value="0x0"@},
26880 @{number="59",value="0x0"@},@{number="60",value="0x0"@},
26881 @{number="61",value="0x0"@},@{number="62",value="0x0"@},
26882 @{number="63",value="0x0"@},@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
26883 @{number="65",value="0x29002"@},@{number="66",value="0x202f04b5"@},
26884 @{number="67",value="0xfe0043b0"@},@{number="68",value="0xfe00b3e4"@},
26885 @{number="69",value="0x20002b03"@}]
26886 (gdb)
26887 @end smallexample
26888
26889
26890 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory} Command
26891 @findex -data-read-memory
26892
26893 @subsubheading Synopsis
26894
26895 @smallexample
26896 -data-read-memory [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
26897 @var{address} @var{word-format} @var{word-size}
26898 @var{nr-rows} @var{nr-cols} [ @var{aschar} ]
26899 @end smallexample
26900
26901 @noindent
26902 where:
26903
26904 @table @samp
26905 @item @var{address}
26906 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
26907 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
26908 quoted using the C convention.
26909
26910 @item @var{word-format}
26911 The format to be used to print the memory words. The notation is the
26912 same as for @value{GDBN}'s @code{print} command (@pxref{Output Formats,
26913 ,Output Formats}).
26914
26915 @item @var{word-size}
26916 The size of each memory word in bytes.
26917
26918 @item @var{nr-rows}
26919 The number of rows in the output table.
26920
26921 @item @var{nr-cols}
26922 The number of columns in the output table.
26923
26924 @item @var{aschar}
26925 If present, indicates that each row should include an @sc{ascii} dump. The
26926 value of @var{aschar} is used as a padding character when a byte is not a
26927 member of the printable @sc{ascii} character set (printable @sc{ascii}
26928 characters are those whose code is between 32 and 126, inclusively).
26929
26930 @item @var{byte-offset}
26931 An offset to add to the @var{address} before fetching memory.
26932 @end table
26933
26934 This command displays memory contents as a table of @var{nr-rows} by
26935 @var{nr-cols} words, each word being @var{word-size} bytes. In total,
26936 @code{@var{nr-rows} * @var{nr-cols} * @var{word-size}} bytes are read
26937 (returned as @samp{total-bytes}). Should less than the requested number
26938 of bytes be returned by the target, the missing words are identified
26939 using @samp{N/A}. The number of bytes read from the target is returned
26940 in @samp{nr-bytes} and the starting address used to read memory in
26941 @samp{addr}.
26942
26943 The address of the next/previous row or page is available in
26944 @samp{next-row} and @samp{prev-row}, @samp{next-page} and
26945 @samp{prev-page}.
26946
26947 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26948
26949 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}. @code{gdbtk} has
26950 @samp{gdb_get_mem} memory read command.
26951
26952 @subsubheading Example
26953
26954 Read six bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+6} but then offset by
26955 @code{-6} bytes. Format as three rows of two columns. One byte per
26956 word. Display each word in hex.
26957
26958 @smallexample
26959 (gdb)
26960 9-data-read-memory -o -6 -- bytes+6 x 1 3 2
26961 9^done,addr="0x00001390",nr-bytes="6",total-bytes="6",
26962 next-row="0x00001396",prev-row="0x0000138e",next-page="0x00001396",
26963 prev-page="0x0000138a",memory=[
26964 @{addr="0x00001390",data=["0x00","0x01"]@},
26965 @{addr="0x00001392",data=["0x02","0x03"]@},
26966 @{addr="0x00001394",data=["0x04","0x05"]@}]
26967 (gdb)
26968 @end smallexample
26969
26970 Read two bytes of memory starting at address @code{shorts + 64} and
26971 display as a single word formatted in decimal.
26972
26973 @smallexample
26974 (gdb)
26975 5-data-read-memory shorts+64 d 2 1 1
26976 5^done,addr="0x00001510",nr-bytes="2",total-bytes="2",
26977 next-row="0x00001512",prev-row="0x0000150e",
26978 next-page="0x00001512",prev-page="0x0000150e",memory=[
26979 @{addr="0x00001510",data=["128"]@}]
26980 (gdb)
26981 @end smallexample
26982
26983 Read thirty two bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+16} and format
26984 as eight rows of four columns. Include a string encoding with @samp{x}
26985 used as the non-printable character.
26986
26987 @smallexample
26988 (gdb)
26989 4-data-read-memory bytes+16 x 1 8 4 x
26990 4^done,addr="0x000013a0",nr-bytes="32",total-bytes="32",
26991 next-row="0x000013c0",prev-row="0x0000139c",
26992 next-page="0x000013c0",prev-page="0x00001380",memory=[
26993 @{addr="0x000013a0",data=["0x10","0x11","0x12","0x13"],ascii="xxxx"@},
26994 @{addr="0x000013a4",data=["0x14","0x15","0x16","0x17"],ascii="xxxx"@},
26995 @{addr="0x000013a8",data=["0x18","0x19","0x1a","0x1b"],ascii="xxxx"@},
26996 @{addr="0x000013ac",data=["0x1c","0x1d","0x1e","0x1f"],ascii="xxxx"@},
26997 @{addr="0x000013b0",data=["0x20","0x21","0x22","0x23"],ascii=" !\"#"@},
26998 @{addr="0x000013b4",data=["0x24","0x25","0x26","0x27"],ascii="$%&'"@},
26999 @{addr="0x000013b8",data=["0x28","0x29","0x2a","0x2b"],ascii="()*+"@},
27000 @{addr="0x000013bc",data=["0x2c","0x2d","0x2e","0x2f"],ascii=",-./"@}]
27001 (gdb)
27002 @end smallexample
27003
27004 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27005 @node GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands
27006 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Tracepoint Commands
27007
27008 The commands defined in this section implement MI support for
27009 tracepoints. For detailed introduction, see @ref{Tracepoints}.
27010
27011 @subheading The @code{-trace-find} Command
27012 @findex -trace-find
27013
27014 @subsubheading Synopsis
27015
27016 @smallexample
27017 -trace-find @var{mode} [@var{parameters}@dots{}]
27018 @end smallexample
27019
27020 Find a trace frame using criteria defined by @var{mode} and
27021 @var{parameters}. The following table lists permissible
27022 modes and their parameters. For details of operation, see @ref{tfind}.
27023
27024 @table @samp
27025
27026 @item none
27027 No parameters are required. Stops examining trace frames.
27028
27029 @item frame-number
27030 An integer is required as parameter. Selects tracepoint frame with
27031 that index.
27032
27033 @item tracepoint-number
27034 An integer is required as parameter. Finds next
27035 trace frame that corresponds to tracepoint with the specified number.
27036
27037 @item pc
27038 An address is required as parameter. Finds
27039 next trace frame that corresponds to any tracepoint at the specified
27040 address.
27041
27042 @item pc-inside-range
27043 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds next trace
27044 frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address inside the
27045 specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
27046
27047 @item pc-outside-range
27048 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds
27049 next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address outside
27050 the specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
27051
27052 @item line
27053 Line specification is required as parameter. @xref{Specify Location}.
27054 Finds next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at
27055 the specified location.
27056
27057 @end table
27058
27059 If @samp{none} was passed as @var{mode}, the response does not
27060 have fields. Otherwise, the response may have the following fields:
27061
27062 @table @samp
27063 @item found
27064 This field has either @samp{0} or @samp{1} as the value, depending
27065 on whether a matching tracepoint was found.
27066
27067 @item traceframe
27068 The index of the found traceframe. This field is present iff
27069 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
27070
27071 @item tracepoint
27072 The index of the found tracepoint. This field is present iff
27073 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
27074
27075 @item frame
27076 The information about the frame corresponding to the found trace
27077 frame. This field is present only if a trace frame was found.
27078 @xref{GDB/MI Frame Information}, for description of this field.
27079
27080 @end table
27081
27082 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27083
27084 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tfind}.
27085
27086 @subheading -trace-define-variable
27087 @findex -trace-define-variable
27088
27089 @subsubheading Synopsis
27090
27091 @smallexample
27092 -trace-define-variable @var{name} [ @var{value} ]
27093 @end smallexample
27094
27095 Create trace variable @var{name} if it does not exist. If
27096 @var{value} is specified, sets the initial value of the specified
27097 trace variable to that value. Note that the @var{name} should start
27098 with the @samp{$} character.
27099
27100 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27101
27102 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariable}.
27103
27104 @subheading -trace-list-variables
27105 @findex -trace-list-variables
27106
27107 @subsubheading Synopsis
27108
27109 @smallexample
27110 -trace-list-variables
27111 @end smallexample
27112
27113 Return a table of all defined trace variables. Each element of the
27114 table has the following fields:
27115
27116 @table @samp
27117 @item name
27118 The name of the trace variable. This field is always present.
27119
27120 @item initial
27121 The initial value. This is a 64-bit signed integer. This
27122 field is always present.
27123
27124 @item current
27125 The value the trace variable has at the moment. This is a 64-bit
27126 signed integer. This field is absent iff current value is
27127 not defined, for example if the trace was never run, or is
27128 presently running.
27129
27130 @end table
27131
27132 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27133
27134 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariables}.
27135
27136 @subsubheading Example
27137
27138 @smallexample
27139 (gdb)
27140 -trace-list-variables
27141 ^done,trace-variables=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="3",
27142 hdr=[@{width="15",alignment="-1",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@},
27143 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="initial",colhdr="Initial"@},
27144 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr="Current"@}],
27145 body=[variable=@{name="$trace_timestamp",initial="0"@}
27146 variable=@{name="$foo",initial="10",current="15"@}]@}
27147 (gdb)
27148 @end smallexample
27149
27150 @subheading -trace-save
27151 @findex -trace-save
27152
27153 @subsubheading Synopsis
27154
27155 @smallexample
27156 -trace-save [-r ] @var{filename}
27157 @end smallexample
27158
27159 Saves the collected trace data to @var{filename}. Without the
27160 @samp{-r} option, the data is downloaded from the target and saved
27161 in a local file. With the @samp{-r} option the target is asked
27162 to perform the save.
27163
27164 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27165
27166 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tsave}.
27167
27168
27169 @subheading -trace-start
27170 @findex -trace-start
27171
27172 @subsubheading Synopsis
27173
27174 @smallexample
27175 -trace-start
27176 @end smallexample
27177
27178 Starts a tracing experiments. The result of this command does not
27179 have any fields.
27180
27181 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27182
27183 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstart}.
27184
27185 @subheading -trace-status
27186 @findex -trace-status
27187
27188 @subsubheading Synopsis
27189
27190 @smallexample
27191 -trace-status
27192 @end smallexample
27193
27194 Obtains the status of a tracing experiment. The result may include
27195 the following fields:
27196
27197 @table @samp
27198
27199 @item supported
27200 May have a value of either @samp{0}, when no tracing operations are
27201 supported, @samp{1}, when all tracing operations are supported, or
27202 @samp{file} when examining trace file. In the latter case, examining
27203 of trace frame is possible but new tracing experiement cannot be
27204 started. This field is always present.
27205
27206 @item running
27207 May have a value of either @samp{0} or @samp{1} depending on whether
27208 tracing experiement is in progress on target. This field is present
27209 if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
27210
27211 @item stop-reason
27212 Report the reason why the tracing was stopped last time. This field
27213 may be absent iff tracing was never stopped on target yet. The
27214 value of @samp{request} means the tracing was stopped as result of
27215 the @code{-trace-stop} command. The value of @samp{overflow} means
27216 the tracing buffer is full. The value of @samp{disconnection} means
27217 tracing was automatically stopped when @value{GDBN} has disconnected.
27218 The value of @samp{passcount} means tracing was stopped when a
27219 tracepoint was passed a maximal number of times for that tracepoint.
27220 This field is present if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
27221
27222 @item stopping-tracepoint
27223 The number of tracepoint whose passcount as exceeded. This field is
27224 present iff the @samp{stop-reason} field has the value of
27225 @samp{passcount}.
27226
27227 @item frames
27228 @itemx frames-created
27229 The @samp{frames} field is a count of the total number of trace frames
27230 in the trace buffer, while @samp{frames-created} is the total created
27231 during the run, including ones that were discarded, such as when a
27232 circular trace buffer filled up. Both fields are optional.
27233
27234 @item buffer-size
27235 @itemx buffer-free
27236 These fields tell the current size of the tracing buffer and the
27237 remaining space. These fields are optional.
27238
27239 @item circular
27240 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
27241 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
27242 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
27243 and may fill up.
27244
27245 @item disconnected
27246 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
27247 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
27248 that the trace run will stop.
27249
27250 @end table
27251
27252 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27253
27254 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstatus}.
27255
27256 @subheading -trace-stop
27257 @findex -trace-stop
27258
27259 @subsubheading Synopsis
27260
27261 @smallexample
27262 -trace-stop
27263 @end smallexample
27264
27265 Stops a tracing experiment. The result of this command has the same
27266 fields as @code{-trace-status}, except that the @samp{supported} and
27267 @samp{running} fields are not output.
27268
27269 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27270
27271 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstop}.
27272
27273
27274 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27275 @node GDB/MI Symbol Query
27276 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Symbol Query Commands
27277
27278
27279 @ignore
27280 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-address} Command
27281 @findex -symbol-info-address
27282
27283 @subsubheading Synopsis
27284
27285 @smallexample
27286 -symbol-info-address @var{symbol}
27287 @end smallexample
27288
27289 Describe where @var{symbol} is stored.
27290
27291 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27292
27293 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info address}.
27294
27295 @subsubheading Example
27296 N.A.
27297
27298
27299 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-file} Command
27300 @findex -symbol-info-file
27301
27302 @subsubheading Synopsis
27303
27304 @smallexample
27305 -symbol-info-file
27306 @end smallexample
27307
27308 Show the file for the symbol.
27309
27310 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27311
27312 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command. @code{gdbtk} has
27313 @samp{gdb_find_file}.
27314
27315 @subsubheading Example
27316 N.A.
27317
27318
27319 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-function} Command
27320 @findex -symbol-info-function
27321
27322 @subsubheading Synopsis
27323
27324 @smallexample
27325 -symbol-info-function
27326 @end smallexample
27327
27328 Show which function the symbol lives in.
27329
27330 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27331
27332 @samp{gdb_get_function} in @code{gdbtk}.
27333
27334 @subsubheading Example
27335 N.A.
27336
27337
27338 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-line} Command
27339 @findex -symbol-info-line
27340
27341 @subsubheading Synopsis
27342
27343 @smallexample
27344 -symbol-info-line
27345 @end smallexample
27346
27347 Show the core addresses of the code for a source line.
27348
27349 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27350
27351 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info line}.
27352 @code{gdbtk} has the @samp{gdb_get_line} and @samp{gdb_get_file} commands.
27353
27354 @subsubheading Example
27355 N.A.
27356
27357
27358 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-symbol} Command
27359 @findex -symbol-info-symbol
27360
27361 @subsubheading Synopsis
27362
27363 @smallexample
27364 -symbol-info-symbol @var{addr}
27365 @end smallexample
27366
27367 Describe what symbol is at location @var{addr}.
27368
27369 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27370
27371 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info symbol}.
27372
27373 @subsubheading Example
27374 N.A.
27375
27376
27377 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-functions} Command
27378 @findex -symbol-list-functions
27379
27380 @subsubheading Synopsis
27381
27382 @smallexample
27383 -symbol-list-functions
27384 @end smallexample
27385
27386 List the functions in the executable.
27387
27388 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27389
27390 @samp{info functions} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_listfunc} and
27391 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
27392
27393 @subsubheading Example
27394 N.A.
27395 @end ignore
27396
27397
27398 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-lines} Command
27399 @findex -symbol-list-lines
27400
27401 @subsubheading Synopsis
27402
27403 @smallexample
27404 -symbol-list-lines @var{filename}
27405 @end smallexample
27406
27407 Print the list of lines that contain code and their associated program
27408 addresses for the given source filename. The entries are sorted in
27409 ascending PC order.
27410
27411 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27412
27413 There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
27414
27415 @subsubheading Example
27416 @smallexample
27417 (gdb)
27418 -symbol-list-lines basics.c
27419 ^done,lines=[@{pc="0x08048554",line="7"@},@{pc="0x0804855a",line="8"@}]
27420 (gdb)
27421 @end smallexample
27422
27423
27424 @ignore
27425 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-types} Command
27426 @findex -symbol-list-types
27427
27428 @subsubheading Synopsis
27429
27430 @smallexample
27431 -symbol-list-types
27432 @end smallexample
27433
27434 List all the type names.
27435
27436 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27437
27438 The corresponding commands are @samp{info types} in @value{GDBN},
27439 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
27440
27441 @subsubheading Example
27442 N.A.
27443
27444
27445 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-variables} Command
27446 @findex -symbol-list-variables
27447
27448 @subsubheading Synopsis
27449
27450 @smallexample
27451 -symbol-list-variables
27452 @end smallexample
27453
27454 List all the global and static variable names.
27455
27456 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27457
27458 @samp{info variables} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
27459
27460 @subsubheading Example
27461 N.A.
27462
27463
27464 @subheading The @code{-symbol-locate} Command
27465 @findex -symbol-locate
27466
27467 @subsubheading Synopsis
27468
27469 @smallexample
27470 -symbol-locate
27471 @end smallexample
27472
27473 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27474
27475 @samp{gdb_loc} in @code{gdbtk}.
27476
27477 @subsubheading Example
27478 N.A.
27479
27480
27481 @subheading The @code{-symbol-type} Command
27482 @findex -symbol-type
27483
27484 @subsubheading Synopsis
27485
27486 @smallexample
27487 -symbol-type @var{variable}
27488 @end smallexample
27489
27490 Show type of @var{variable}.
27491
27492 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27493
27494 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ptype}, @code{gdbtk} has
27495 @samp{gdb_obj_variable}.
27496
27497 @subsubheading Example
27498 N.A.
27499 @end ignore
27500
27501
27502 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27503 @node GDB/MI File Commands
27504 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Commands
27505
27506 This section describes the GDB/MI commands to specify executable file names
27507 and to read in and obtain symbol table information.
27508
27509 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-and-symbols} Command
27510 @findex -file-exec-and-symbols
27511
27512 @subsubheading Synopsis
27513
27514 @smallexample
27515 -file-exec-and-symbols @var{file}
27516 @end smallexample
27517
27518 Specify the executable file to be debugged. This file is the one from
27519 which the symbol table is also read. If no file is specified, the
27520 command clears the executable and symbol information. If breakpoints
27521 are set when using this command with no arguments, @value{GDBN} will produce
27522 error messages. Otherwise, no output is produced, except a completion
27523 notification.
27524
27525 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27526
27527 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{file}.
27528
27529 @subsubheading Example
27530
27531 @smallexample
27532 (gdb)
27533 -file-exec-and-symbols /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
27534 ^done
27535 (gdb)
27536 @end smallexample
27537
27538
27539 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-file} Command
27540 @findex -file-exec-file
27541
27542 @subsubheading Synopsis
27543
27544 @smallexample
27545 -file-exec-file @var{file}
27546 @end smallexample
27547
27548 Specify the executable file to be debugged. Unlike
27549 @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols}, the symbol table is @emph{not} read
27550 from this file. If used without argument, @value{GDBN} clears the information
27551 about the executable file. No output is produced, except a completion
27552 notification.
27553
27554 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27555
27556 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{exec-file}.
27557
27558 @subsubheading Example
27559
27560 @smallexample
27561 (gdb)
27562 -file-exec-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
27563 ^done
27564 (gdb)
27565 @end smallexample
27566
27567
27568 @ignore
27569 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-sections} Command
27570 @findex -file-list-exec-sections
27571
27572 @subsubheading Synopsis
27573
27574 @smallexample
27575 -file-list-exec-sections
27576 @end smallexample
27577
27578 List the sections of the current executable file.
27579
27580 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27581
27582 The @value{GDBN} command @samp{info file} shows, among the rest, the same
27583 information as this command. @code{gdbtk} has a corresponding command
27584 @samp{gdb_load_info}.
27585
27586 @subsubheading Example
27587 N.A.
27588 @end ignore
27589
27590
27591 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-file} Command
27592 @findex -file-list-exec-source-file
27593
27594 @subsubheading Synopsis
27595
27596 @smallexample
27597 -file-list-exec-source-file
27598 @end smallexample
27599
27600 List the line number, the current source file, and the absolute path
27601 to the current source file for the current executable. The macro
27602 information field has a value of @samp{1} or @samp{0} depending on
27603 whether or not the file includes preprocessor macro information.
27604
27605 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27606
27607 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info source}
27608
27609 @subsubheading Example
27610
27611 @smallexample
27612 (gdb)
27613 123-file-list-exec-source-file
27614 123^done,line="1",file="foo.c",fullname="/home/bar/foo.c,macro-info="1"
27615 (gdb)
27616 @end smallexample
27617
27618
27619 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-files} Command
27620 @findex -file-list-exec-source-files
27621
27622 @subsubheading Synopsis
27623
27624 @smallexample
27625 -file-list-exec-source-files
27626 @end smallexample
27627
27628 List the source files for the current executable.
27629
27630 It will always output the filename, but only when @value{GDBN} can find
27631 the absolute file name of a source file, will it output the fullname.
27632
27633 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27634
27635 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info sources}.
27636 @code{gdbtk} has an analogous command @samp{gdb_listfiles}.
27637
27638 @subsubheading Example
27639 @smallexample
27640 (gdb)
27641 -file-list-exec-source-files
27642 ^done,files=[
27643 @{file=foo.c,fullname=/home/foo.c@},
27644 @{file=/home/bar.c,fullname=/home/bar.c@},
27645 @{file=gdb_could_not_find_fullpath.c@}]
27646 (gdb)
27647 @end smallexample
27648
27649 @ignore
27650 @subheading The @code{-file-list-shared-libraries} Command
27651 @findex -file-list-shared-libraries
27652
27653 @subsubheading Synopsis
27654
27655 @smallexample
27656 -file-list-shared-libraries
27657 @end smallexample
27658
27659 List the shared libraries in the program.
27660
27661 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27662
27663 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info shared}.
27664
27665 @subsubheading Example
27666 N.A.
27667
27668
27669 @subheading The @code{-file-list-symbol-files} Command
27670 @findex -file-list-symbol-files
27671
27672 @subsubheading Synopsis
27673
27674 @smallexample
27675 -file-list-symbol-files
27676 @end smallexample
27677
27678 List symbol files.
27679
27680 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27681
27682 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info file} (part of it).
27683
27684 @subsubheading Example
27685 N.A.
27686 @end ignore
27687
27688
27689 @subheading The @code{-file-symbol-file} Command
27690 @findex -file-symbol-file
27691
27692 @subsubheading Synopsis
27693
27694 @smallexample
27695 -file-symbol-file @var{file}
27696 @end smallexample
27697
27698 Read symbol table info from the specified @var{file} argument. When
27699 used without arguments, clears @value{GDBN}'s symbol table info. No output is
27700 produced, except for a completion notification.
27701
27702 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27703
27704 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{symbol-file}.
27705
27706 @subsubheading Example
27707
27708 @smallexample
27709 (gdb)
27710 -file-symbol-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
27711 ^done
27712 (gdb)
27713 @end smallexample
27714
27715 @ignore
27716 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27717 @node GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands
27718 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Memory Overlay Commands
27719
27720 The memory overlay commands are not implemented.
27721
27722 @c @subheading -overlay-auto
27723
27724 @c @subheading -overlay-list-mapping-state
27725
27726 @c @subheading -overlay-list-overlays
27727
27728 @c @subheading -overlay-map
27729
27730 @c @subheading -overlay-off
27731
27732 @c @subheading -overlay-on
27733
27734 @c @subheading -overlay-unmap
27735
27736 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27737 @node GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands
27738 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Signal Handling Commands
27739
27740 Signal handling commands are not implemented.
27741
27742 @c @subheading -signal-handle
27743
27744 @c @subheading -signal-list-handle-actions
27745
27746 @c @subheading -signal-list-signal-types
27747 @end ignore
27748
27749
27750 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27751 @node GDB/MI Target Manipulation
27752 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Target Manipulation Commands
27753
27754
27755 @subheading The @code{-target-attach} Command
27756 @findex -target-attach
27757
27758 @subsubheading Synopsis
27759
27760 @smallexample
27761 -target-attach @var{pid} | @var{gid} | @var{file}
27762 @end smallexample
27763
27764 Attach to a process @var{pid} or a file @var{file} outside of
27765 @value{GDBN}, or a thread group @var{gid}. If attaching to a thread
27766 group, the id previously returned by
27767 @samp{-list-thread-groups --available} must be used.
27768
27769 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27770
27771 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{attach}.
27772
27773 @subsubheading Example
27774 @smallexample
27775 (gdb)
27776 -target-attach 34
27777 =thread-created,id="1"
27778 *stopped,thread-id="1",frame=@{addr="0xb7f7e410",func="bar",args=[]@}
27779 ^done
27780 (gdb)
27781 @end smallexample
27782
27783 @ignore
27784 @subheading The @code{-target-compare-sections} Command
27785 @findex -target-compare-sections
27786
27787 @subsubheading Synopsis
27788
27789 @smallexample
27790 -target-compare-sections [ @var{section} ]
27791 @end smallexample
27792
27793 Compare data of section @var{section} on target to the exec file.
27794 Without the argument, all sections are compared.
27795
27796 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27797
27798 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{compare-sections}.
27799
27800 @subsubheading Example
27801 N.A.
27802 @end ignore
27803
27804
27805 @subheading The @code{-target-detach} Command
27806 @findex -target-detach
27807
27808 @subsubheading Synopsis
27809
27810 @smallexample
27811 -target-detach [ @var{pid} | @var{gid} ]
27812 @end smallexample
27813
27814 Detach from the remote target which normally resumes its execution.
27815 If either @var{pid} or @var{gid} is specified, detaches from either
27816 the specified process, or specified thread group. There's no output.
27817
27818 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27819
27820 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{detach}.
27821
27822 @subsubheading Example
27823
27824 @smallexample
27825 (gdb)
27826 -target-detach
27827 ^done
27828 (gdb)
27829 @end smallexample
27830
27831
27832 @subheading The @code{-target-disconnect} Command
27833 @findex -target-disconnect
27834
27835 @subsubheading Synopsis
27836
27837 @smallexample
27838 -target-disconnect
27839 @end smallexample
27840
27841 Disconnect from the remote target. There's no output and the target is
27842 generally not resumed.
27843
27844 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27845
27846 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disconnect}.
27847
27848 @subsubheading Example
27849
27850 @smallexample
27851 (gdb)
27852 -target-disconnect
27853 ^done
27854 (gdb)
27855 @end smallexample
27856
27857
27858 @subheading The @code{-target-download} Command
27859 @findex -target-download
27860
27861 @subsubheading Synopsis
27862
27863 @smallexample
27864 -target-download
27865 @end smallexample
27866
27867 Loads the executable onto the remote target.
27868 It prints out an update message every half second, which includes the fields:
27869
27870 @table @samp
27871 @item section
27872 The name of the section.
27873 @item section-sent
27874 The size of what has been sent so far for that section.
27875 @item section-size
27876 The size of the section.
27877 @item total-sent
27878 The total size of what was sent so far (the current and the previous sections).
27879 @item total-size
27880 The size of the overall executable to download.
27881 @end table
27882
27883 @noindent
27884 Each message is sent as status record (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, ,
27885 @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax}).
27886
27887 In addition, it prints the name and size of the sections, as they are
27888 downloaded. These messages include the following fields:
27889
27890 @table @samp
27891 @item section
27892 The name of the section.
27893 @item section-size
27894 The size of the section.
27895 @item total-size
27896 The size of the overall executable to download.
27897 @end table
27898
27899 @noindent
27900 At the end, a summary is printed.
27901
27902 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27903
27904 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{load}.
27905
27906 @subsubheading Example
27907
27908 Note: each status message appears on a single line. Here the messages
27909 have been broken down so that they can fit onto a page.
27910
27911 @smallexample
27912 (gdb)
27913 -target-download
27914 +download,@{section=".text",section-size="6668",total-size="9880"@}
27915 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="512",section-size="6668",
27916 total-sent="512",total-size="9880"@}
27917 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1024",section-size="6668",
27918 total-sent="1024",total-size="9880"@}
27919 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1536",section-size="6668",
27920 total-sent="1536",total-size="9880"@}
27921 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2048",section-size="6668",
27922 total-sent="2048",total-size="9880"@}
27923 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2560",section-size="6668",
27924 total-sent="2560",total-size="9880"@}
27925 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3072",section-size="6668",
27926 total-sent="3072",total-size="9880"@}
27927 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3584",section-size="6668",
27928 total-sent="3584",total-size="9880"@}
27929 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4096",section-size="6668",
27930 total-sent="4096",total-size="9880"@}
27931 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4608",section-size="6668",
27932 total-sent="4608",total-size="9880"@}
27933 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5120",section-size="6668",
27934 total-sent="5120",total-size="9880"@}
27935 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5632",section-size="6668",
27936 total-sent="5632",total-size="9880"@}
27937 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6144",section-size="6668",
27938 total-sent="6144",total-size="9880"@}
27939 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6656",section-size="6668",
27940 total-sent="6656",total-size="9880"@}
27941 +download,@{section=".init",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
27942 +download,@{section=".fini",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
27943 +download,@{section=".data",section-size="3156",total-size="9880"@}
27944 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="512",section-size="3156",
27945 total-sent="7236",total-size="9880"@}
27946 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1024",section-size="3156",
27947 total-sent="7748",total-size="9880"@}
27948 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1536",section-size="3156",
27949 total-sent="8260",total-size="9880"@}
27950 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2048",section-size="3156",
27951 total-sent="8772",total-size="9880"@}
27952 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2560",section-size="3156",
27953 total-sent="9284",total-size="9880"@}
27954 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="3072",section-size="3156",
27955 total-sent="9796",total-size="9880"@}
27956 ^done,address="0x10004",load-size="9880",transfer-rate="6586",
27957 write-rate="429"
27958 (gdb)
27959 @end smallexample
27960
27961
27962 @ignore
27963 @subheading The @code{-target-exec-status} Command
27964 @findex -target-exec-status
27965
27966 @subsubheading Synopsis
27967
27968 @smallexample
27969 -target-exec-status
27970 @end smallexample
27971
27972 Provide information on the state of the target (whether it is running or
27973 not, for instance).
27974
27975 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27976
27977 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
27978
27979 @subsubheading Example
27980 N.A.
27981
27982
27983 @subheading The @code{-target-list-available-targets} Command
27984 @findex -target-list-available-targets
27985
27986 @subsubheading Synopsis
27987
27988 @smallexample
27989 -target-list-available-targets
27990 @end smallexample
27991
27992 List the possible targets to connect to.
27993
27994 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27995
27996 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{help target}.
27997
27998 @subsubheading Example
27999 N.A.
28000
28001
28002 @subheading The @code{-target-list-current-targets} Command
28003 @findex -target-list-current-targets
28004
28005 @subsubheading Synopsis
28006
28007 @smallexample
28008 -target-list-current-targets
28009 @end smallexample
28010
28011 Describe the current target.
28012
28013 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28014
28015 The corresponding information is printed by @samp{info file} (among
28016 other things).
28017
28018 @subsubheading Example
28019 N.A.
28020
28021
28022 @subheading The @code{-target-list-parameters} Command
28023 @findex -target-list-parameters
28024
28025 @subsubheading Synopsis
28026
28027 @smallexample
28028 -target-list-parameters
28029 @end smallexample
28030
28031 @c ????
28032 @end ignore
28033
28034 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28035
28036 No equivalent.
28037
28038 @subsubheading Example
28039 N.A.
28040
28041
28042 @subheading The @code{-target-select} Command
28043 @findex -target-select
28044
28045 @subsubheading Synopsis
28046
28047 @smallexample
28048 -target-select @var{type} @var{parameters @dots{}}
28049 @end smallexample
28050
28051 Connect @value{GDBN} to the remote target. This command takes two args:
28052
28053 @table @samp
28054 @item @var{type}
28055 The type of target, for instance @samp{remote}, etc.
28056 @item @var{parameters}
28057 Device names, host names and the like. @xref{Target Commands, ,
28058 Commands for Managing Targets}, for more details.
28059 @end table
28060
28061 The output is a connection notification, followed by the address at
28062 which the target program is, in the following form:
28063
28064 @smallexample
28065 ^connected,addr="@var{address}",func="@var{function name}",
28066 args=[@var{arg list}]
28067 @end smallexample
28068
28069 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28070
28071 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{target}.
28072
28073 @subsubheading Example
28074
28075 @smallexample
28076 (gdb)
28077 -target-select remote /dev/ttya
28078 ^connected,addr="0xfe00a300",func="??",args=[]
28079 (gdb)
28080 @end smallexample
28081
28082 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28083 @node GDB/MI File Transfer Commands
28084 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Transfer Commands
28085
28086
28087 @subheading The @code{-target-file-put} Command
28088 @findex -target-file-put
28089
28090 @subsubheading Synopsis
28091
28092 @smallexample
28093 -target-file-put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
28094 @end smallexample
28095
28096 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
28097 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
28098
28099 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28100
28101 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote put}.
28102
28103 @subsubheading Example
28104
28105 @smallexample
28106 (gdb)
28107 -target-file-put localfile remotefile
28108 ^done
28109 (gdb)
28110 @end smallexample
28111
28112
28113 @subheading The @code{-target-file-get} Command
28114 @findex -target-file-get
28115
28116 @subsubheading Synopsis
28117
28118 @smallexample
28119 -target-file-get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
28120 @end smallexample
28121
28122 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
28123 on the host system.
28124
28125 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28126
28127 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote get}.
28128
28129 @subsubheading Example
28130
28131 @smallexample
28132 (gdb)
28133 -target-file-get remotefile localfile
28134 ^done
28135 (gdb)
28136 @end smallexample
28137
28138
28139 @subheading The @code{-target-file-delete} Command
28140 @findex -target-file-delete
28141
28142 @subsubheading Synopsis
28143
28144 @smallexample
28145 -target-file-delete @var{targetfile}
28146 @end smallexample
28147
28148 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
28149
28150 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28151
28152 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote delete}.
28153
28154 @subsubheading Example
28155
28156 @smallexample
28157 (gdb)
28158 -target-file-delete remotefile
28159 ^done
28160 (gdb)
28161 @end smallexample
28162
28163
28164 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28165 @node GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands
28166 @section Miscellaneous @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
28167
28168 @c @subheading -gdb-complete
28169
28170 @subheading The @code{-gdb-exit} Command
28171 @findex -gdb-exit
28172
28173 @subsubheading Synopsis
28174
28175 @smallexample
28176 -gdb-exit
28177 @end smallexample
28178
28179 Exit @value{GDBN} immediately.
28180
28181 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28182
28183 Approximately corresponds to @samp{quit}.
28184
28185 @subsubheading Example
28186
28187 @smallexample
28188 (gdb)
28189 -gdb-exit
28190 ^exit
28191 @end smallexample
28192
28193
28194 @ignore
28195 @subheading The @code{-exec-abort} Command
28196 @findex -exec-abort
28197
28198 @subsubheading Synopsis
28199
28200 @smallexample
28201 -exec-abort
28202 @end smallexample
28203
28204 Kill the inferior running program.
28205
28206 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28207
28208 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{kill}.
28209
28210 @subsubheading Example
28211 N.A.
28212 @end ignore
28213
28214
28215 @subheading The @code{-gdb-set} Command
28216 @findex -gdb-set
28217
28218 @subsubheading Synopsis
28219
28220 @smallexample
28221 -gdb-set
28222 @end smallexample
28223
28224 Set an internal @value{GDBN} variable.
28225 @c IS THIS A DOLLAR VARIABLE? OR SOMETHING LIKE ANNOTATE ?????
28226
28227 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28228
28229 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set}.
28230
28231 @subsubheading Example
28232
28233 @smallexample
28234 (gdb)
28235 -gdb-set $foo=3
28236 ^done
28237 (gdb)
28238 @end smallexample
28239
28240
28241 @subheading The @code{-gdb-show} Command
28242 @findex -gdb-show
28243
28244 @subsubheading Synopsis
28245
28246 @smallexample
28247 -gdb-show
28248 @end smallexample
28249
28250 Show the current value of a @value{GDBN} variable.
28251
28252 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28253
28254 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show}.
28255
28256 @subsubheading Example
28257
28258 @smallexample
28259 (gdb)
28260 -gdb-show annotate
28261 ^done,value="0"
28262 (gdb)
28263 @end smallexample
28264
28265 @c @subheading -gdb-source
28266
28267
28268 @subheading The @code{-gdb-version} Command
28269 @findex -gdb-version
28270
28271 @subsubheading Synopsis
28272
28273 @smallexample
28274 -gdb-version
28275 @end smallexample
28276
28277 Show version information for @value{GDBN}. Used mostly in testing.
28278
28279 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28280
28281 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{show version}. @value{GDBN} by
28282 default shows this information when you start an interactive session.
28283
28284 @subsubheading Example
28285
28286 @c This example modifies the actual output from GDB to avoid overfull
28287 @c box in TeX.
28288 @smallexample
28289 (gdb)
28290 -gdb-version
28291 ~GNU gdb 5.2.1
28292 ~Copyright 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
28293 ~GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License, and
28294 ~you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under
28295 ~ certain conditions.
28296 ~Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
28297 ~There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty" for
28298 ~ details.
28299 ~This GDB was configured as
28300 "--host=sparc-sun-solaris2.5.1 --target=ppc-eabi".
28301 ^done
28302 (gdb)
28303 @end smallexample
28304
28305 @subheading The @code{-list-features} Command
28306 @findex -list-features
28307
28308 Returns a list of particular features of the MI protocol that
28309 this version of gdb implements. A feature can be a command,
28310 or a new field in an output of some command, or even an
28311 important bugfix. While a frontend can sometimes detect presence
28312 of a feature at runtime, it is easier to perform detection at debugger
28313 startup.
28314
28315 The command returns a list of strings, with each string naming an
28316 available feature. Each returned string is just a name, it does not
28317 have any internal structure. The list of possible feature names
28318 is given below.
28319
28320 Example output:
28321
28322 @smallexample
28323 (gdb) -list-features
28324 ^done,result=["feature1","feature2"]
28325 @end smallexample
28326
28327 The current list of features is:
28328
28329 @table @samp
28330 @item frozen-varobjs
28331 Indicates presence of the @code{-var-set-frozen} command, as well
28332 as possible presense of the @code{frozen} field in the output
28333 of @code{-varobj-create}.
28334 @item pending-breakpoints
28335 Indicates presence of the @option{-f} option to the @code{-break-insert} command.
28336 @item python
28337 Indicates presence of Python scripting support, Python-based
28338 pretty-printing commands, and possible presence of the
28339 @samp{display_hint} field in the output of @code{-var-list-children}
28340 @item thread-info
28341 Indicates presence of the @code{-thread-info} command.
28342
28343 @end table
28344
28345 @subheading The @code{-list-target-features} Command
28346 @findex -list-target-features
28347
28348 Returns a list of particular features that are supported by the
28349 target. Those features affect the permitted MI commands, but
28350 unlike the features reported by the @code{-list-features} command, the
28351 features depend on which target GDB is using at the moment. Whenever
28352 a target can change, due to commands such as @code{-target-select},
28353 @code{-target-attach} or @code{-exec-run}, the list of target features
28354 may change, and the frontend should obtain it again.
28355 Example output:
28356
28357 @smallexample
28358 (gdb) -list-features
28359 ^done,result=["async"]
28360 @end smallexample
28361
28362 The current list of features is:
28363
28364 @table @samp
28365 @item async
28366 Indicates that the target is capable of asynchronous command
28367 execution, which means that @value{GDBN} will accept further commands
28368 while the target is running.
28369
28370 @end table
28371
28372 @subheading The @code{-list-thread-groups} Command
28373 @findex -list-thread-groups
28374
28375 @subheading Synopsis
28376
28377 @smallexample
28378 -list-thread-groups [ --available ] [ --recurse 1 ] [ @var{group} ... ]
28379 @end smallexample
28380
28381 Lists thread groups (@pxref{Thread groups}). When a single thread
28382 group is passed as the argument, lists the children of that group.
28383 When several thread group are passed, lists information about those
28384 thread groups. Without any parameters, lists information about all
28385 top-level thread groups.
28386
28387 Normally, thread groups that are being debugged are reported.
28388 With the @samp{--available} option, @value{GDBN} reports thread groups
28389 available on the target.
28390
28391 The output of this command may have either a @samp{threads} result or
28392 a @samp{groups} result. The @samp{thread} result has a list of tuples
28393 as value, with each tuple describing a thread (@pxref{GDB/MI Thread
28394 Information}). The @samp{groups} result has a list of tuples as value,
28395 each tuple describing a thread group. If top-level groups are
28396 requested (that is, no parameter is passed), or when several groups
28397 are passed, the output always has a @samp{groups} result. The format
28398 of the @samp{group} result is described below.
28399
28400 To reduce the number of roundtrips it's possible to list thread groups
28401 together with their children, by passing the @samp{--recurse} option
28402 and the recursion depth. Presently, only recursion depth of 1 is
28403 permitted. If this option is present, then every reported thread group
28404 will also include its children, either as @samp{group} or
28405 @samp{threads} field.
28406
28407 In general, any combination of option and parameters is permitted, with
28408 the following caveats:
28409
28410 @itemize @bullet
28411 @item
28412 When a single thread group is passed, the output will typically
28413 be the @samp{threads} result. Because threads may not contain
28414 anything, the @samp{recurse} option will be ignored.
28415
28416 @item
28417 When the @samp{--available} option is passed, limited information may
28418 be available. In particular, the list of threads of a process might
28419 be inaccessible. Further, specifying specific thread groups might
28420 not give any performance advantage over listing all thread groups.
28421 The frontend should assume that @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}
28422 is always an expensive operation and cache the results.
28423
28424 @end itemize
28425
28426 The @samp{groups} result is a list of tuples, where each tuple may
28427 have the following fields:
28428
28429 @table @code
28430 @item id
28431 Identifier of the thread group. This field is always present.
28432 The identifier is an opaque string; frontends should not try to
28433 convert it to an integer, even though it might look like one.
28434
28435 @item type
28436 The type of the thread group. At present, only @samp{process} is a
28437 valid type.
28438
28439 @item pid
28440 The target-specific process identifier. This field is only present
28441 for thread groups of type @samp{process} and only if the process exists.
28442
28443 @item num_children
28444 The number of children this thread group has. This field may be
28445 absent for an available thread group.
28446
28447 @item threads
28448 This field has a list of tuples as value, each tuple describing a
28449 thread. It may be present if the @samp{--recurse} option is
28450 specified, and it's actually possible to obtain the threads.
28451
28452 @item cores
28453 This field is a list of integers, each identifying a core that one
28454 thread of the group is running on. This field may be absent if
28455 such information is not available.
28456
28457 @item executable
28458 The name of the executable file that corresponds to this thread group.
28459 The field is only present for thread groups of type @samp{process},
28460 and only if there is a corresponding executable file.
28461
28462 @end table
28463
28464 @subheading Example
28465
28466 @smallexample
28467 @value{GDBP}
28468 -list-thread-groups
28469 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2"@}]
28470 -list-thread-groups 17
28471 ^done,threads=[@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
28472 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
28473 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
28474 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
28475 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}]]
28476 -list-thread-groups --available
28477 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2]@}]
28478 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1
28479 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
28480 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
28481 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},..]
28482 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1 17 18
28483 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
28484 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
28485 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},...]
28486 @end smallexample
28487
28488
28489 @subheading The @code{-add-inferior} Command
28490 @findex -add-inferior
28491
28492 @subheading Synopsis
28493
28494 @smallexample
28495 -add-inferior
28496 @end smallexample
28497
28498 Creates a new inferior (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). The created
28499 inferior is not associated with any executable. Such association may
28500 be established with the @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols} command
28501 (@pxref{GDB/MI File Commands}). The command response has a single
28502 field, @samp{thread-group}, whose value is the identifier of the
28503 thread group corresponding to the new inferior.
28504
28505 @subheading Example
28506
28507 @smallexample
28508 @value{GDBP}
28509 -add-inferior
28510 ^done,thread-group="i3"
28511 @end smallexample
28512
28513 @subheading The @code{-interpreter-exec} Command
28514 @findex -interpreter-exec
28515
28516 @subheading Synopsis
28517
28518 @smallexample
28519 -interpreter-exec @var{interpreter} @var{command}
28520 @end smallexample
28521 @anchor{-interpreter-exec}
28522
28523 Execute the specified @var{command} in the given @var{interpreter}.
28524
28525 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
28526
28527 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interpreter-exec}.
28528
28529 @subheading Example
28530
28531 @smallexample
28532 (gdb)
28533 -interpreter-exec console "break main"
28534 &"During symbol reading, couldn't parse type; debugger out of date?.\n"
28535 &"During symbol reading, bad structure-type format.\n"
28536 ~"Breakpoint 1 at 0x8074fc6: file ../../src/gdb/main.c, line 743.\n"
28537 ^done
28538 (gdb)
28539 @end smallexample
28540
28541 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-set} Command
28542 @findex -inferior-tty-set
28543
28544 @subheading Synopsis
28545
28546 @smallexample
28547 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
28548 @end smallexample
28549
28550 Set terminal for future runs of the program being debugged.
28551
28552 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
28553
28554 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set inferior-tty} /dev/pts/1.
28555
28556 @subheading Example
28557
28558 @smallexample
28559 (gdb)
28560 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
28561 ^done
28562 (gdb)
28563 @end smallexample
28564
28565 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-show} Command
28566 @findex -inferior-tty-show
28567
28568 @subheading Synopsis
28569
28570 @smallexample
28571 -inferior-tty-show
28572 @end smallexample
28573
28574 Show terminal for future runs of program being debugged.
28575
28576 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
28577
28578 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show inferior-tty}.
28579
28580 @subheading Example
28581
28582 @smallexample
28583 (gdb)
28584 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
28585 ^done
28586 (gdb)
28587 -inferior-tty-show
28588 ^done,inferior_tty_terminal="/dev/pts/1"
28589 (gdb)
28590 @end smallexample
28591
28592 @subheading The @code{-enable-timings} Command
28593 @findex -enable-timings
28594
28595 @subheading Synopsis
28596
28597 @smallexample
28598 -enable-timings [yes | no]
28599 @end smallexample
28600
28601 Toggle the printing of the wallclock, user and system times for an MI
28602 command as a field in its output. This command is to help frontend
28603 developers optimize the performance of their code. No argument is
28604 equivalent to @samp{yes}.
28605
28606 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
28607
28608 No equivalent.
28609
28610 @subheading Example
28611
28612 @smallexample
28613 (gdb)
28614 -enable-timings
28615 ^done
28616 (gdb)
28617 -break-insert main
28618 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
28619 addr="0x080484ed",func="main",file="myprog.c",
28620 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73",times="0"@},
28621 time=@{wallclock="0.05185",user="0.00800",system="0.00000"@}
28622 (gdb)
28623 -enable-timings no
28624 ^done
28625 (gdb)
28626 -exec-run
28627 ^running
28628 (gdb)
28629 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
28630 frame=@{addr="0x080484ed",func="main",args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},
28631 @{name="argv",value="0xbfb60364"@}],file="myprog.c",
28632 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73"@}
28633 (gdb)
28634 @end smallexample
28635
28636 @node Annotations
28637 @chapter @value{GDBN} Annotations
28638
28639 This chapter describes annotations in @value{GDBN}. Annotations were
28640 designed to interface @value{GDBN} to graphical user interfaces or other
28641 similar programs which want to interact with @value{GDBN} at a
28642 relatively high level.
28643
28644 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
28645 (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
28646
28647 @ignore
28648 This is Edition @value{EDITION}, @value{DATE}.
28649 @end ignore
28650
28651 @menu
28652 * Annotations Overview:: What annotations are; the general syntax.
28653 * Server Prefix:: Issuing a command without affecting user state.
28654 * Prompting:: Annotations marking @value{GDBN}'s need for input.
28655 * Errors:: Annotations for error messages.
28656 * Invalidation:: Some annotations describe things now invalid.
28657 * Annotations for Running::
28658 Whether the program is running, how it stopped, etc.
28659 * Source Annotations:: Annotations describing source code.
28660 @end menu
28661
28662 @node Annotations Overview
28663 @section What is an Annotation?
28664 @cindex annotations
28665
28666 Annotations start with a newline character, two @samp{control-z}
28667 characters, and the name of the annotation. If there is no additional
28668 information associated with this annotation, the name of the annotation
28669 is followed immediately by a newline. If there is additional
28670 information, the name of the annotation is followed by a space, the
28671 additional information, and a newline. The additional information
28672 cannot contain newline characters.
28673
28674 Any output not beginning with a newline and two @samp{control-z}
28675 characters denotes literal output from @value{GDBN}. Currently there is
28676 no need for @value{GDBN} to output a newline followed by two
28677 @samp{control-z} characters, but if there was such a need, the
28678 annotations could be extended with an @samp{escape} annotation which
28679 means those three characters as output.
28680
28681 The annotation @var{level}, which is specified using the
28682 @option{--annotate} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}), controls
28683 how much information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt,
28684 values of expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0
28685 is for no annotations, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a
28686 subprocess of @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable
28687 for programs that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 annotations have
28688 been made obsolete (@pxref{Limitations, , Limitations of the Annotation
28689 Interface, annotate, GDB's Obsolete Annotations}).
28690
28691 @table @code
28692 @kindex set annotate
28693 @item set annotate @var{level}
28694 The @value{GDBN} command @code{set annotate} sets the level of
28695 annotations to the specified @var{level}.
28696
28697 @item show annotate
28698 @kindex show annotate
28699 Show the current annotation level.
28700 @end table
28701
28702 This chapter describes level 3 annotations.
28703
28704 A simple example of starting up @value{GDBN} with annotations is:
28705
28706 @smallexample
28707 $ @kbd{gdb --annotate=3}
28708 GNU gdb 6.0
28709 Copyright 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
28710 GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License,
28711 and you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it
28712 under certain conditions.
28713 Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
28714 There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty"
28715 for details.
28716 This GDB was configured as "i386-pc-linux-gnu"
28717
28718 ^Z^Zpre-prompt
28719 (@value{GDBP})
28720 ^Z^Zprompt
28721 @kbd{quit}
28722
28723 ^Z^Zpost-prompt
28724 $
28725 @end smallexample
28726
28727 Here @samp{quit} is input to @value{GDBN}; the rest is output from
28728 @value{GDBN}. The three lines beginning @samp{^Z^Z} (where @samp{^Z}
28729 denotes a @samp{control-z} character) are annotations; the rest is
28730 output from @value{GDBN}.
28731
28732 @node Server Prefix
28733 @section The Server Prefix
28734 @cindex server prefix
28735
28736 If you prefix a command with @samp{server } then it will not affect
28737 the command history, nor will it affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which
28738 command to repeat if @key{RET} is pressed on a line by itself. This
28739 means that commands can be run behind a user's back by a front-end in
28740 a transparent manner.
28741
28742 The @code{server } prefix does not affect the recording of values into
28743 the value history; to print a value without recording it into the
28744 value history, use the @code{output} command instead of the
28745 @code{print} command.
28746
28747 Using this prefix also disables confirmation requests
28748 (@pxref{confirmation requests}).
28749
28750 @node Prompting
28751 @section Annotation for @value{GDBN} Input
28752
28753 @cindex annotations for prompts
28754 When @value{GDBN} prompts for input, it annotates this fact so it is possible
28755 to know when to send output, when the output from a given command is
28756 over, etc.
28757
28758 Different kinds of input each have a different @dfn{input type}. Each
28759 input type has three annotations: a @code{pre-} annotation, which
28760 denotes the beginning of any prompt which is being output, a plain
28761 annotation, which denotes the end of the prompt, and then a @code{post-}
28762 annotation which denotes the end of any echo which may (or may not) be
28763 associated with the input. For example, the @code{prompt} input type
28764 features the following annotations:
28765
28766 @smallexample
28767 ^Z^Zpre-prompt
28768 ^Z^Zprompt
28769 ^Z^Zpost-prompt
28770 @end smallexample
28771
28772 The input types are
28773
28774 @table @code
28775 @findex pre-prompt annotation
28776 @findex prompt annotation
28777 @findex post-prompt annotation
28778 @item prompt
28779 When @value{GDBN} is prompting for a command (the main @value{GDBN} prompt).
28780
28781 @findex pre-commands annotation
28782 @findex commands annotation
28783 @findex post-commands annotation
28784 @item commands
28785 When @value{GDBN} prompts for a set of commands, like in the @code{commands}
28786 command. The annotations are repeated for each command which is input.
28787
28788 @findex pre-overload-choice annotation
28789 @findex overload-choice annotation
28790 @findex post-overload-choice annotation
28791 @item overload-choice
28792 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to select between various overloaded functions.
28793
28794 @findex pre-query annotation
28795 @findex query annotation
28796 @findex post-query annotation
28797 @item query
28798 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to confirm a potentially dangerous operation.
28799
28800 @findex pre-prompt-for-continue annotation
28801 @findex prompt-for-continue annotation
28802 @findex post-prompt-for-continue annotation
28803 @item prompt-for-continue
28804 When @value{GDBN} is asking the user to press return to continue. Note: Don't
28805 expect this to work well; instead use @code{set height 0} to disable
28806 prompting. This is because the counting of lines is buggy in the
28807 presence of annotations.
28808 @end table
28809
28810 @node Errors
28811 @section Errors
28812 @cindex annotations for errors, warnings and interrupts
28813
28814 @findex quit annotation
28815 @smallexample
28816 ^Z^Zquit
28817 @end smallexample
28818
28819 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an interrupt.
28820
28821 @findex error annotation
28822 @smallexample
28823 ^Z^Zerror
28824 @end smallexample
28825
28826 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an error.
28827
28828 Quit and error annotations indicate that any annotations which @value{GDBN} was
28829 in the middle of may end abruptly. For example, if a
28830 @code{value-history-begin} annotation is followed by a @code{error}, one
28831 cannot expect to receive the matching @code{value-history-end}. One
28832 cannot expect not to receive it either, however; an error annotation
28833 does not necessarily mean that @value{GDBN} is immediately returning all the way
28834 to the top level.
28835
28836 @findex error-begin annotation
28837 A quit or error annotation may be preceded by
28838
28839 @smallexample
28840 ^Z^Zerror-begin
28841 @end smallexample
28842
28843 Any output between that and the quit or error annotation is the error
28844 message.
28845
28846 Warning messages are not yet annotated.
28847 @c If we want to change that, need to fix warning(), type_error(),
28848 @c range_error(), and possibly other places.
28849
28850 @node Invalidation
28851 @section Invalidation Notices
28852
28853 @cindex annotations for invalidation messages
28854 The following annotations say that certain pieces of state may have
28855 changed.
28856
28857 @table @code
28858 @findex frames-invalid annotation
28859 @item ^Z^Zframes-invalid
28860
28861 The frames (for example, output from the @code{backtrace} command) may
28862 have changed.
28863
28864 @findex breakpoints-invalid annotation
28865 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoints-invalid
28866
28867 The breakpoints may have changed. For example, the user just added or
28868 deleted a breakpoint.
28869 @end table
28870
28871 @node Annotations for Running
28872 @section Running the Program
28873 @cindex annotations for running programs
28874
28875 @findex starting annotation
28876 @findex stopping annotation
28877 When the program starts executing due to a @value{GDBN} command such as
28878 @code{step} or @code{continue},
28879
28880 @smallexample
28881 ^Z^Zstarting
28882 @end smallexample
28883
28884 is output. When the program stops,
28885
28886 @smallexample
28887 ^Z^Zstopped
28888 @end smallexample
28889
28890 is output. Before the @code{stopped} annotation, a variety of
28891 annotations describe how the program stopped.
28892
28893 @table @code
28894 @findex exited annotation
28895 @item ^Z^Zexited @var{exit-status}
28896 The program exited, and @var{exit-status} is the exit status (zero for
28897 successful exit, otherwise nonzero).
28898
28899 @findex signalled annotation
28900 @findex signal-name annotation
28901 @findex signal-name-end annotation
28902 @findex signal-string annotation
28903 @findex signal-string-end annotation
28904 @item ^Z^Zsignalled
28905 The program exited with a signal. After the @code{^Z^Zsignalled}, the
28906 annotation continues:
28907
28908 @smallexample
28909 @var{intro-text}
28910 ^Z^Zsignal-name
28911 @var{name}
28912 ^Z^Zsignal-name-end
28913 @var{middle-text}
28914 ^Z^Zsignal-string
28915 @var{string}
28916 ^Z^Zsignal-string-end
28917 @var{end-text}
28918 @end smallexample
28919
28920 @noindent
28921 where @var{name} is the name of the signal, such as @code{SIGILL} or
28922 @code{SIGSEGV}, and @var{string} is the explanation of the signal, such
28923 as @code{Illegal Instruction} or @code{Segmentation fault}.
28924 @var{intro-text}, @var{middle-text}, and @var{end-text} are for the
28925 user's benefit and have no particular format.
28926
28927 @findex signal annotation
28928 @item ^Z^Zsignal
28929 The syntax of this annotation is just like @code{signalled}, but @value{GDBN} is
28930 just saying that the program received the signal, not that it was
28931 terminated with it.
28932
28933 @findex breakpoint annotation
28934 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoint @var{number}
28935 The program hit breakpoint number @var{number}.
28936
28937 @findex watchpoint annotation
28938 @item ^Z^Zwatchpoint @var{number}
28939 The program hit watchpoint number @var{number}.
28940 @end table
28941
28942 @node Source Annotations
28943 @section Displaying Source
28944 @cindex annotations for source display
28945
28946 @findex source annotation
28947 The following annotation is used instead of displaying source code:
28948
28949 @smallexample
28950 ^Z^Zsource @var{filename}:@var{line}:@var{character}:@var{middle}:@var{addr}
28951 @end smallexample
28952
28953 where @var{filename} is an absolute file name indicating which source
28954 file, @var{line} is the line number within that file (where 1 is the
28955 first line in the file), @var{character} is the character position
28956 within the file (where 0 is the first character in the file) (for most
28957 debug formats this will necessarily point to the beginning of a line),
28958 @var{middle} is @samp{middle} if @var{addr} is in the middle of the
28959 line, or @samp{beg} if @var{addr} is at the beginning of the line, and
28960 @var{addr} is the address in the target program associated with the
28961 source which is being displayed. @var{addr} is in the form @samp{0x}
28962 followed by one or more lowercase hex digits (note that this does not
28963 depend on the language).
28964
28965 @node JIT Interface
28966 @chapter JIT Compilation Interface
28967 @cindex just-in-time compilation
28968 @cindex JIT compilation interface
28969
28970 This chapter documents @value{GDBN}'s @dfn{just-in-time} (JIT) compilation
28971 interface. A JIT compiler is a program or library that generates native
28972 executable code at runtime and executes it, usually in order to achieve good
28973 performance while maintaining platform independence.
28974
28975 Programs that use JIT compilation are normally difficult to debug because
28976 portions of their code are generated at runtime, instead of being loaded from
28977 object files, which is where @value{GDBN} normally finds the program's symbols
28978 and debug information. In order to debug programs that use JIT compilation,
28979 @value{GDBN} has an interface that allows the program to register in-memory
28980 symbol files with @value{GDBN} at runtime.
28981
28982 If you are using @value{GDBN} to debug a program that uses this interface, then
28983 it should work transparently so long as you have not stripped the binary. If
28984 you are developing a JIT compiler, then the interface is documented in the rest
28985 of this chapter. At this time, the only known client of this interface is the
28986 LLVM JIT.
28987
28988 Broadly speaking, the JIT interface mirrors the dynamic loader interface. The
28989 JIT compiler communicates with @value{GDBN} by writing data into a global
28990 variable and calling a fuction at a well-known symbol. When @value{GDBN}
28991 attaches, it reads a linked list of symbol files from the global variable to
28992 find existing code, and puts a breakpoint in the function so that it can find
28993 out about additional code.
28994
28995 @menu
28996 * Declarations:: Relevant C struct declarations
28997 * Registering Code:: Steps to register code
28998 * Unregistering Code:: Steps to unregister code
28999 @end menu
29000
29001 @node Declarations
29002 @section JIT Declarations
29003
29004 These are the relevant struct declarations that a C program should include to
29005 implement the interface:
29006
29007 @smallexample
29008 typedef enum
29009 @{
29010 JIT_NOACTION = 0,
29011 JIT_REGISTER_FN,
29012 JIT_UNREGISTER_FN
29013 @} jit_actions_t;
29014
29015 struct jit_code_entry
29016 @{
29017 struct jit_code_entry *next_entry;
29018 struct jit_code_entry *prev_entry;
29019 const char *symfile_addr;
29020 uint64_t symfile_size;
29021 @};
29022
29023 struct jit_descriptor
29024 @{
29025 uint32_t version;
29026 /* This type should be jit_actions_t, but we use uint32_t
29027 to be explicit about the bitwidth. */
29028 uint32_t action_flag;
29029 struct jit_code_entry *relevant_entry;
29030 struct jit_code_entry *first_entry;
29031 @};
29032
29033 /* GDB puts a breakpoint in this function. */
29034 void __attribute__((noinline)) __jit_debug_register_code() @{ @};
29035
29036 /* Make sure to specify the version statically, because the
29037 debugger may check the version before we can set it. */
29038 struct jit_descriptor __jit_debug_descriptor = @{ 1, 0, 0, 0 @};
29039 @end smallexample
29040
29041 If the JIT is multi-threaded, then it is important that the JIT synchronize any
29042 modifications to this global data properly, which can easily be done by putting
29043 a global mutex around modifications to these structures.
29044
29045 @node Registering Code
29046 @section Registering Code
29047
29048 To register code with @value{GDBN}, the JIT should follow this protocol:
29049
29050 @itemize @bullet
29051 @item
29052 Generate an object file in memory with symbols and other desired debug
29053 information. The file must include the virtual addresses of the sections.
29054
29055 @item
29056 Create a code entry for the file, which gives the start and size of the symbol
29057 file.
29058
29059 @item
29060 Add it to the linked list in the JIT descriptor.
29061
29062 @item
29063 Point the relevant_entry field of the descriptor at the entry.
29064
29065 @item
29066 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_REGISTER} and call
29067 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
29068 @end itemize
29069
29070 When @value{GDBN} is attached and the breakpoint fires, @value{GDBN} uses the
29071 @code{relevant_entry} pointer so it doesn't have to walk the list looking for
29072 new code. However, the linked list must still be maintained in order to allow
29073 @value{GDBN} to attach to a running process and still find the symbol files.
29074
29075 @node Unregistering Code
29076 @section Unregistering Code
29077
29078 If code is freed, then the JIT should use the following protocol:
29079
29080 @itemize @bullet
29081 @item
29082 Remove the code entry corresponding to the code from the linked list.
29083
29084 @item
29085 Point the @code{relevant_entry} field of the descriptor at the code entry.
29086
29087 @item
29088 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_UNREGISTER} and call
29089 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
29090 @end itemize
29091
29092 If the JIT frees or recompiles code without unregistering it, then @value{GDBN}
29093 and the JIT will leak the memory used for the associated symbol files.
29094
29095 @node GDB Bugs
29096 @chapter Reporting Bugs in @value{GDBN}
29097 @cindex bugs in @value{GDBN}
29098 @cindex reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
29099
29100 Your bug reports play an essential role in making @value{GDBN} reliable.
29101
29102 Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it
29103 may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help
29104 the entire community by making the next version of @value{GDBN} work better. Bug
29105 reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @value{GDBN}.
29106
29107 In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
29108 information that enables us to fix the bug.
29109
29110 @menu
29111 * Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
29112 * Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
29113 @end menu
29114
29115 @node Bug Criteria
29116 @section Have You Found a Bug?
29117 @cindex bug criteria
29118
29119 If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
29120
29121 @itemize @bullet
29122 @cindex fatal signal
29123 @cindex debugger crash
29124 @cindex crash of debugger
29125 @item
29126 If the debugger gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
29127 @value{GDBN} bug. Reliable debuggers never crash.
29128
29129 @cindex error on valid input
29130 @item
29131 If @value{GDBN} produces an error message for valid input, that is a
29132 bug. (Note that if you're cross debugging, the problem may also be
29133 somewhere in the connection to the target.)
29134
29135 @cindex invalid input
29136 @item
29137 If @value{GDBN} does not produce an error message for invalid input,
29138 that is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of
29139 ``invalid input'' might be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support
29140 for traditional practice''.
29141
29142 @item
29143 If you are an experienced user of debugging tools, your suggestions
29144 for improvement of @value{GDBN} are welcome in any case.
29145 @end itemize
29146
29147 @node Bug Reporting
29148 @section How to Report Bugs
29149 @cindex bug reports
29150 @cindex @value{GDBN} bugs, reporting
29151
29152 A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products.
29153 If you obtained @value{GDBN} from a support organization, we recommend you
29154 contact that organization first.
29155
29156 You can find contact information for many support companies and
29157 individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
29158 distribution.
29159 @c should add a web page ref...
29160
29161 @ifset BUGURL
29162 @ifset BUGURL_DEFAULT
29163 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
29164 @value{GDBN}. The preferred method is to submit them directly using
29165 @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/, @value{GDBN}'s Bugs web
29166 page}. Alternatively, the @email{bug-gdb@@gnu.org, e-mail gateway} can
29167 be used.
29168
29169 @strong{Do not send bug reports to @samp{info-gdb}, or to
29170 @samp{help-gdb}, or to any newsgroups.} Most users of @value{GDBN} do
29171 not want to receive bug reports. Those that do have arranged to receive
29172 @samp{bug-gdb}.
29173
29174 The mailing list @samp{bug-gdb} has a newsgroup @samp{gnu.gdb.bug} which
29175 serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
29176 the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
29177 newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
29178 problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
29179 path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
29180 we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
29181 bug reports to the mailing list.
29182 @end ifset
29183 @ifclear BUGURL_DEFAULT
29184 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
29185 @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.
29186 @end ifclear
29187 @end ifset
29188
29189 The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
29190 @strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
29191 fact or leave it out, state it!
29192
29193 Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
29194 problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
29195 assume that the name of the variable you use in an example does not matter.
29196 Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a
29197 stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where that
29198 name is stored in memory; perhaps, if the name were different, the contents
29199 of that location would fool the debugger into doing the right thing despite
29200 the bug. Play it safe and give a specific, complete example. That is the
29201 easiest thing for you to do, and the most helpful.
29202
29203 Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the
29204 bug. It may be that the bug has been reported previously, but neither
29205 you nor we can know that unless your bug report is complete and
29206 self-contained.
29207
29208 Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
29209 bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
29210 @emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
29211 bugs properly.
29212
29213 To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
29214
29215 @itemize @bullet
29216 @item
29217 The version of @value{GDBN}. @value{GDBN} announces it if you start
29218 with no arguments; you can also print it at any time using @code{show
29219 version}.
29220
29221 Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
29222 the bug in the current version of @value{GDBN}.
29223
29224 @item
29225 The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
29226 version number.
29227
29228 @item
29229 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @value{GDBN}---e.g.@:
29230 ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1''.
29231
29232 @item
29233 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the program you are
29234 debugging---e.g.@: ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1'', or ``HP92453-01 A.10.32.03 HP
29235 C Compiler''. For @value{NGCC}, you can say @kbd{@value{GCC} --version}
29236 to get this information; for other compilers, see the documentation for
29237 those compilers.
29238
29239 @item
29240 The command arguments you gave the compiler to compile your example and
29241 observe the bug. For example, did you use @samp{-O}? To guarantee
29242 you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy of the
29243 Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
29244
29245 If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
29246 and then we might not encounter the bug.
29247
29248 @item
29249 A complete input script, and all necessary source files, that will
29250 reproduce the bug.
29251
29252 @item
29253 A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
29254 incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
29255
29256 Of course, if the bug is that @value{GDBN} gets a fatal signal, then we
29257 will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
29258 not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
29259 a chance to make a mistake.
29260
29261 Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
29262 say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
29263 copy of @value{GDBN} is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
29264 the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
29265 crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
29266 ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
29267 us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
29268 to draw any conclusion from our observations.
29269
29270 @pindex script
29271 @cindex recording a session script
29272 To collect all this information, you can use a session recording program
29273 such as @command{script}, which is available on many Unix systems.
29274 Just run your @value{GDBN} session inside @command{script} and then
29275 include the @file{typescript} file with your bug report.
29276
29277 Another way to record a @value{GDBN} session is to run @value{GDBN}
29278 inside Emacs and then save the entire buffer to a file.
29279
29280 @item
29281 If you wish to suggest changes to the @value{GDBN} source, send us context
29282 diffs. If you even discuss something in the @value{GDBN} source, refer to
29283 it by context, not by line number.
29284
29285 The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
29286 sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
29287
29288 @end itemize
29289
29290 Here are some things that are not necessary:
29291
29292 @itemize @bullet
29293 @item
29294 A description of the envelope of the bug.
29295
29296 Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
29297 which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
29298 changes will not affect it.
29299
29300 This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
29301 will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
29302 with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
29303 We recommend that you save your time for something else.
29304
29305 Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
29306 of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
29307 output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
29308 less time, and so on.
29309
29310 However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
29311 report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
29312
29313 @item
29314 A patch for the bug.
29315
29316 A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
29317 the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
29318 a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
29319 to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
29320
29321 Sometimes with a program as complicated as @value{GDBN} it is very hard to
29322 construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path
29323 through the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able
29324 to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
29325
29326 And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
29327 patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
29328 help us to understand.
29329
29330 @item
29331 A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
29332
29333 Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
29334 things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
29335 @end itemize
29336
29337 @c The readline documentation is distributed with the readline code
29338 @c and consists of the two following files:
29339 @c rluser.texinfo
29340 @c inc-hist.texinfo
29341 @c Use -I with makeinfo to point to the appropriate directory,
29342 @c environment var TEXINPUTS with TeX.
29343 @include rluser.texi
29344 @include inc-hist.texinfo
29345
29346
29347 @node Formatting Documentation
29348 @appendix Formatting Documentation
29349
29350 @cindex @value{GDBN} reference card
29351 @cindex reference card
29352 The @value{GDBN} 4 release includes an already-formatted reference card, ready
29353 for printing with PostScript or Ghostscript, in the @file{gdb}
29354 subdirectory of the main source directory@footnote{In
29355 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/refcard.ps} of the version @value{GDBVN}
29356 release.}. If you can use PostScript or Ghostscript with your printer,
29357 you can print the reference card immediately with @file{refcard.ps}.
29358
29359 The release also includes the source for the reference card. You
29360 can format it, using @TeX{}, by typing:
29361
29362 @smallexample
29363 make refcard.dvi
29364 @end smallexample
29365
29366 The @value{GDBN} reference card is designed to print in @dfn{landscape}
29367 mode on US ``letter'' size paper;
29368 that is, on a sheet 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches
29369 high. You will need to specify this form of printing as an option to
29370 your @sc{dvi} output program.
29371
29372 @cindex documentation
29373
29374 All the documentation for @value{GDBN} comes as part of the machine-readable
29375 distribution. The documentation is written in Texinfo format, which is
29376 a documentation system that uses a single source file to produce both
29377 on-line information and a printed manual. You can use one of the Info
29378 formatting commands to create the on-line version of the documentation
29379 and @TeX{} (or @code{texi2roff}) to typeset the printed version.
29380
29381 @value{GDBN} includes an already formatted copy of the on-line Info
29382 version of this manual in the @file{gdb} subdirectory. The main Info
29383 file is @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/gdb.info}, and it refers to
29384 subordinate files matching @samp{gdb.info*} in the same directory. If
29385 necessary, you can print out these files, or read them with any editor;
29386 but they are easier to read using the @code{info} subsystem in @sc{gnu}
29387 Emacs or the standalone @code{info} program, available as part of the
29388 @sc{gnu} Texinfo distribution.
29389
29390 If you want to format these Info files yourself, you need one of the
29391 Info formatting programs, such as @code{texinfo-format-buffer} or
29392 @code{makeinfo}.
29393
29394 If you have @code{makeinfo} installed, and are in the top level
29395 @value{GDBN} source directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, in the case of
29396 version @value{GDBVN}), you can make the Info file by typing:
29397
29398 @smallexample
29399 cd gdb
29400 make gdb.info
29401 @end smallexample
29402
29403 If you want to typeset and print copies of this manual, you need @TeX{},
29404 a program to print its @sc{dvi} output files, and @file{texinfo.tex}, the
29405 Texinfo definitions file.
29406
29407 @TeX{} is a typesetting program; it does not print files directly, but
29408 produces output files called @sc{dvi} files. To print a typeset
29409 document, you need a program to print @sc{dvi} files. If your system
29410 has @TeX{} installed, chances are it has such a program. The precise
29411 command to use depends on your system; @kbd{lpr -d} is common; another
29412 (for PostScript devices) is @kbd{dvips}. The @sc{dvi} print command may
29413 require a file name without any extension or a @samp{.dvi} extension.
29414
29415 @TeX{} also requires a macro definitions file called
29416 @file{texinfo.tex}. This file tells @TeX{} how to typeset a document
29417 written in Texinfo format. On its own, @TeX{} cannot either read or
29418 typeset a Texinfo file. @file{texinfo.tex} is distributed with GDB
29419 and is located in the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}/texinfo}
29420 directory.
29421
29422 If you have @TeX{} and a @sc{dvi} printer program installed, you can
29423 typeset and print this manual. First switch to the @file{gdb}
29424 subdirectory of the main source directory (for example, to
29425 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb}) and type:
29426
29427 @smallexample
29428 make gdb.dvi
29429 @end smallexample
29430
29431 Then give @file{gdb.dvi} to your @sc{dvi} printing program.
29432
29433 @node Installing GDB
29434 @appendix Installing @value{GDBN}
29435 @cindex installation
29436
29437 @menu
29438 * Requirements:: Requirements for building @value{GDBN}
29439 * Running Configure:: Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} script
29440 * Separate Objdir:: Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
29441 * Config Names:: Specifying names for hosts and targets
29442 * Configure Options:: Summary of options for configure
29443 * System-wide configuration:: Having a system-wide init file
29444 @end menu
29445
29446 @node Requirements
29447 @section Requirements for Building @value{GDBN}
29448 @cindex building @value{GDBN}, requirements for
29449
29450 Building @value{GDBN} requires various tools and packages to be available.
29451 Other packages will be used only if they are found.
29452
29453 @heading Tools/Packages Necessary for Building @value{GDBN}
29454 @table @asis
29455 @item ISO C90 compiler
29456 @value{GDBN} is written in ISO C90. It should be buildable with any
29457 working C90 compiler, e.g.@: GCC.
29458
29459 @end table
29460
29461 @heading Tools/Packages Optional for Building @value{GDBN}
29462 @table @asis
29463 @item Expat
29464 @anchor{Expat}
29465 @value{GDBN} can use the Expat XML parsing library. This library may be
29466 included with your operating system distribution; if it is not, you
29467 can get the latest version from @url{http://expat.sourceforge.net}.
29468 The @file{configure} script will search for this library in several
29469 standard locations; if it is installed in an unusual path, you can
29470 use the @option{--with-libexpat-prefix} option to specify its location.
29471
29472 Expat is used for:
29473
29474 @itemize @bullet
29475 @item
29476 Remote protocol memory maps (@pxref{Memory Map Format})
29477 @item
29478 Target descriptions (@pxref{Target Descriptions})
29479 @item
29480 Remote shared library lists (@pxref{Library List Format})
29481 @item
29482 MS-Windows shared libraries (@pxref{Shared Libraries})
29483 @end itemize
29484
29485 @item zlib
29486 @cindex compressed debug sections
29487 @value{GDBN} will use the @samp{zlib} library, if available, to read
29488 compressed debug sections. Some linkers, such as GNU gold, are capable
29489 of producing binaries with compressed debug sections. If @value{GDBN}
29490 is compiled with @samp{zlib}, it will be able to read the debug
29491 information in such binaries.
29492
29493 The @samp{zlib} library is likely included with your operating system
29494 distribution; if it is not, you can get the latest version from
29495 @url{http://zlib.net}.
29496
29497 @item iconv
29498 @value{GDBN}'s features related to character sets (@pxref{Character
29499 Sets}) require a functioning @code{iconv} implementation. If you are
29500 on a GNU system, then this is provided by the GNU C Library. Some
29501 other systems also provide a working @code{iconv}.
29502
29503 On systems with @code{iconv}, you can install GNU Libiconv. If you
29504 have previously installed Libiconv, you can use the
29505 @option{--with-libiconv-prefix} option to configure.
29506
29507 @value{GDBN}'s top-level @file{configure} and @file{Makefile} will
29508 arrange to build Libiconv if a directory named @file{libiconv} appears
29509 in the top-most source directory. If Libiconv is built this way, and
29510 if the operating system does not provide a suitable @code{iconv}
29511 implementation, then the just-built library will automatically be used
29512 by @value{GDBN}. One easy way to set this up is to download GNU
29513 Libiconv, unpack it, and then rename the directory holding the
29514 Libiconv source code to @samp{libiconv}.
29515 @end table
29516
29517 @node Running Configure
29518 @section Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} Script
29519 @cindex configuring @value{GDBN}
29520 @value{GDBN} comes with a @file{configure} script that automates the process
29521 of preparing @value{GDBN} for installation; you can then use @code{make} to
29522 build the @code{gdb} program.
29523 @iftex
29524 @c irrelevant in info file; it's as current as the code it lives with.
29525 @footnote{If you have a more recent version of @value{GDBN} than @value{GDBVN},
29526 look at the @file{README} file in the sources; we may have improved the
29527 installation procedures since publishing this manual.}
29528 @end iftex
29529
29530 The @value{GDBN} distribution includes all the source code you need for
29531 @value{GDBN} in a single directory, whose name is usually composed by
29532 appending the version number to @samp{gdb}.
29533
29534 For example, the @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN} distribution is in the
29535 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory. That directory contains:
29536
29537 @table @code
29538 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure @r{(and supporting files)}
29539 script for configuring @value{GDBN} and all its supporting libraries
29540
29541 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb
29542 the source specific to @value{GDBN} itself
29543
29544 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
29545 source for the Binary File Descriptor library
29546
29547 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/include
29548 @sc{gnu} include files
29549
29550 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/libiberty
29551 source for the @samp{-liberty} free software library
29552
29553 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/opcodes
29554 source for the library of opcode tables and disassemblers
29555
29556 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/readline
29557 source for the @sc{gnu} command-line interface
29558
29559 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/glob
29560 source for the @sc{gnu} filename pattern-matching subroutine
29561
29562 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/mmalloc
29563 source for the @sc{gnu} memory-mapped malloc package
29564 @end table
29565
29566 The simplest way to configure and build @value{GDBN} is to run @file{configure}
29567 from the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory, which in
29568 this example is the @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory.
29569
29570 First switch to the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory
29571 if you are not already in it; then run @file{configure}. Pass the
29572 identifier for the platform on which @value{GDBN} will run as an
29573 argument.
29574
29575 For example:
29576
29577 @smallexample
29578 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
29579 ./configure @var{host}
29580 make
29581 @end smallexample
29582
29583 @noindent
29584 where @var{host} is an identifier such as @samp{sun4} or
29585 @samp{decstation}, that identifies the platform where @value{GDBN} will run.
29586 (You can often leave off @var{host}; @file{configure} tries to guess the
29587 correct value by examining your system.)
29588
29589 Running @samp{configure @var{host}} and then running @code{make} builds the
29590 @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, @file{mmalloc}, and @file{libiberty}
29591 libraries, then @code{gdb} itself. The configured source files, and the
29592 binaries, are left in the corresponding source directories.
29593
29594 @need 750
29595 @file{configure} is a Bourne-shell (@code{/bin/sh}) script; if your
29596 system does not recognize this automatically when you run a different
29597 shell, you may need to run @code{sh} on it explicitly:
29598
29599 @smallexample
29600 sh configure @var{host}
29601 @end smallexample
29602
29603 If you run @file{configure} from a directory that contains source
29604 directories for multiple libraries or programs, such as the
29605 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} source directory for version @value{GDBVN},
29606 @file{configure}
29607 creates configuration files for every directory level underneath (unless
29608 you tell it not to, with the @samp{--norecursion} option).
29609
29610 You should run the @file{configure} script from the top directory in the
29611 source tree, the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory. If you run
29612 @file{configure} from one of the subdirectories, you will configure only
29613 that subdirectory. That is usually not what you want. In particular,
29614 if you run the first @file{configure} from the @file{gdb} subdirectory
29615 of the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory, you will omit the
29616 configuration of @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, and other sibling
29617 directories of the @file{gdb} subdirectory. This leads to build errors
29618 about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
29619
29620 You can install @code{@value{GDBP}} anywhere; it has no hardwired paths.
29621 However, you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by
29622 the @samp{SHELL} environment variable) is publicly readable. Remember
29623 that @value{GDBN} uses the shell to start your program---some systems refuse to
29624 let @value{GDBN} debug child processes whose programs are not readable.
29625
29626 @node Separate Objdir
29627 @section Compiling @value{GDBN} in Another Directory
29628
29629 If you want to run @value{GDBN} versions for several host or target machines,
29630 you need a different @code{gdb} compiled for each combination of
29631 host and target. @file{configure} is designed to make this easy by
29632 allowing you to generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory,
29633 rather than in the source directory. If your @code{make} program
29634 handles the @samp{VPATH} feature (@sc{gnu} @code{make} does), running
29635 @code{make} in each of these directories builds the @code{gdb}
29636 program specified there.
29637
29638 To build @code{gdb} in a separate directory, run @file{configure}
29639 with the @samp{--srcdir} option to specify where to find the source.
29640 (You also need to specify a path to find @file{configure}
29641 itself from your working directory. If the path to @file{configure}
29642 would be the same as the argument to @samp{--srcdir}, you can leave out
29643 the @samp{--srcdir} option; it is assumed.)
29644
29645 For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, you can build @value{GDBN} in a
29646 separate directory for a Sun 4 like this:
29647
29648 @smallexample
29649 @group
29650 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
29651 mkdir ../gdb-sun4
29652 cd ../gdb-sun4
29653 ../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure sun4
29654 make
29655 @end group
29656 @end smallexample
29657
29658 When @file{configure} builds a configuration using a remote source
29659 directory, it creates a tree for the binaries with the same structure
29660 (and using the same names) as the tree under the source directory. In
29661 the example, you'd find the Sun 4 library @file{libiberty.a} in the
29662 directory @file{gdb-sun4/libiberty}, and @value{GDBN} itself in
29663 @file{gdb-sun4/gdb}.
29664
29665 Make sure that your path to the @file{configure} script has just one
29666 instance of @file{gdb} in it. If your path to @file{configure} looks
29667 like @file{../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/configure}, you are configuring only
29668 one subdirectory of @value{GDBN}, not the whole package. This leads to
29669 build errors about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
29670
29671 One popular reason to build several @value{GDBN} configurations in separate
29672 directories is to configure @value{GDBN} for cross-compiling (where
29673 @value{GDBN} runs on one machine---the @dfn{host}---while debugging
29674 programs that run on another machine---the @dfn{target}).
29675 You specify a cross-debugging target by
29676 giving the @samp{--target=@var{target}} option to @file{configure}.
29677
29678 When you run @code{make} to build a program or library, you must run
29679 it in a configured directory---whatever directory you were in when you
29680 called @file{configure} (or one of its subdirectories).
29681
29682 The @code{Makefile} that @file{configure} generates in each source
29683 directory also runs recursively. If you type @code{make} in a source
29684 directory such as @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} (or in a separate configured
29685 directory configured with @samp{--srcdir=@var{dirname}/gdb-@value{GDBVN}}), you
29686 will build all the required libraries, and then build GDB.
29687
29688 When you have multiple hosts or targets configured in separate
29689 directories, you can run @code{make} on them in parallel (for example,
29690 if they are NFS-mounted on each of the hosts); they will not interfere
29691 with each other.
29692
29693 @node Config Names
29694 @section Specifying Names for Hosts and Targets
29695
29696 The specifications used for hosts and targets in the @file{configure}
29697 script are based on a three-part naming scheme, but some short predefined
29698 aliases are also supported. The full naming scheme encodes three pieces
29699 of information in the following pattern:
29700
29701 @smallexample
29702 @var{architecture}-@var{vendor}-@var{os}
29703 @end smallexample
29704
29705 For example, you can use the alias @code{sun4} as a @var{host} argument,
29706 or as the value for @var{target} in a @code{--target=@var{target}}
29707 option. The equivalent full name is @samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}.
29708
29709 The @file{configure} script accompanying @value{GDBN} does not provide
29710 any query facility to list all supported host and target names or
29711 aliases. @file{configure} calls the Bourne shell script
29712 @code{config.sub} to map abbreviations to full names; you can read the
29713 script, if you wish, or you can use it to test your guesses on
29714 abbreviations---for example:
29715
29716 @smallexample
29717 % sh config.sub i386-linux
29718 i386-pc-linux-gnu
29719 % sh config.sub alpha-linux
29720 alpha-unknown-linux-gnu
29721 % sh config.sub hp9k700
29722 hppa1.1-hp-hpux
29723 % sh config.sub sun4
29724 sparc-sun-sunos4.1.1
29725 % sh config.sub sun3
29726 m68k-sun-sunos4.1.1
29727 % sh config.sub i986v
29728 Invalid configuration `i986v': machine `i986v' not recognized
29729 @end smallexample
29730
29731 @noindent
29732 @code{config.sub} is also distributed in the @value{GDBN} source
29733 directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, for version @value{GDBVN}).
29734
29735 @node Configure Options
29736 @section @file{configure} Options
29737
29738 Here is a summary of the @file{configure} options and arguments that
29739 are most often useful for building @value{GDBN}. @file{configure} also has
29740 several other options not listed here. @inforef{What Configure
29741 Does,,configure.info}, for a full explanation of @file{configure}.
29742
29743 @smallexample
29744 configure @r{[}--help@r{]}
29745 @r{[}--prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
29746 @r{[}--exec-prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
29747 @r{[}--srcdir=@var{dirname}@r{]}
29748 @r{[}--norecursion@r{]} @r{[}--rm@r{]}
29749 @r{[}--target=@var{target}@r{]}
29750 @var{host}
29751 @end smallexample
29752
29753 @noindent
29754 You may introduce options with a single @samp{-} rather than
29755 @samp{--} if you prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use
29756 @samp{--}.
29757
29758 @table @code
29759 @item --help
29760 Display a quick summary of how to invoke @file{configure}.
29761
29762 @item --prefix=@var{dir}
29763 Configure the source to install programs and files under directory
29764 @file{@var{dir}}.
29765
29766 @item --exec-prefix=@var{dir}
29767 Configure the source to install programs under directory
29768 @file{@var{dir}}.
29769
29770 @c avoid splitting the warning from the explanation:
29771 @need 2000
29772 @item --srcdir=@var{dirname}
29773 @strong{Warning: using this option requires @sc{gnu} @code{make}, or another
29774 @code{make} that implements the @code{VPATH} feature.}@*
29775 Use this option to make configurations in directories separate from the
29776 @value{GDBN} source directories. Among other things, you can use this to
29777 build (or maintain) several configurations simultaneously, in separate
29778 directories. @file{configure} writes configuration-specific files in
29779 the current directory, but arranges for them to use the source in the
29780 directory @var{dirname}. @file{configure} creates directories under
29781 the working directory in parallel to the source directories below
29782 @var{dirname}.
29783
29784 @item --norecursion
29785 Configure only the directory level where @file{configure} is executed; do not
29786 propagate configuration to subdirectories.
29787
29788 @item --target=@var{target}
29789 Configure @value{GDBN} for cross-debugging programs running on the specified
29790 @var{target}. Without this option, @value{GDBN} is configured to debug
29791 programs that run on the same machine (@var{host}) as @value{GDBN} itself.
29792
29793 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available targets.
29794
29795 @item @var{host} @dots{}
29796 Configure @value{GDBN} to run on the specified @var{host}.
29797
29798 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available hosts.
29799 @end table
29800
29801 There are many other options available as well, but they are generally
29802 needed for special purposes only.
29803
29804 @node System-wide configuration
29805 @section System-wide configuration and settings
29806 @cindex system-wide init file
29807
29808 @value{GDBN} can be configured to have a system-wide init file;
29809 this file will be read and executed at startup (@pxref{Startup, , What
29810 @value{GDBN} does during startup}).
29811
29812 Here is the corresponding configure option:
29813
29814 @table @code
29815 @item --with-system-gdbinit=@var{file}
29816 Specify that the default location of the system-wide init file is
29817 @var{file}.
29818 @end table
29819
29820 If @value{GDBN} has been configured with the option @option{--prefix=$prefix},
29821 it may be subject to relocation. Two possible cases:
29822
29823 @itemize @bullet
29824 @item
29825 If the default location of this init file contains @file{$prefix},
29826 it will be subject to relocation. Suppose that the configure options
29827 are @option{--prefix=$prefix --with-system-gdbinit=$prefix/etc/gdbinit};
29828 if @value{GDBN} is moved from @file{$prefix} to @file{$install}, the system
29829 init file is looked for as @file{$install/etc/gdbinit} instead of
29830 @file{$prefix/etc/gdbinit}.
29831
29832 @item
29833 By contrast, if the default location does not contain the prefix,
29834 it will not be relocated. E.g.@: if @value{GDBN} has been configured with
29835 @option{--prefix=/usr/local --with-system-gdbinit=/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
29836 then @value{GDBN} will always look for @file{/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
29837 wherever @value{GDBN} is installed.
29838 @end itemize
29839
29840 @node Maintenance Commands
29841 @appendix Maintenance Commands
29842 @cindex maintenance commands
29843 @cindex internal commands
29844
29845 In addition to commands intended for @value{GDBN} users, @value{GDBN}
29846 includes a number of commands intended for @value{GDBN} developers,
29847 that are not documented elsewhere in this manual. These commands are
29848 provided here for reference. (For commands that turn on debugging
29849 messages, see @ref{Debugging Output}.)
29850
29851 @table @code
29852 @kindex maint agent
29853 @kindex maint agent-eval
29854 @item maint agent @var{expression}
29855 @itemx maint agent-eval @var{expression}
29856 Translate the given @var{expression} into remote agent bytecodes.
29857 This command is useful for debugging the Agent Expression mechanism
29858 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}). The @samp{agent} version produces an
29859 expression useful for data collection, such as by tracepoints, while
29860 @samp{maint agent-eval} produces an expression that evaluates directly
29861 to a result. For instance, a collection expression for @code{globa +
29862 globb} will include bytecodes to record four bytes of memory at each
29863 of the addresses of @code{globa} and @code{globb}, while discarding
29864 the result of the addition, while an evaluation expression will do the
29865 addition and return the sum.
29866
29867 @kindex maint info breakpoints
29868 @item @anchor{maint info breakpoints}maint info breakpoints
29869 Using the same format as @samp{info breakpoints}, display both the
29870 breakpoints you've set explicitly, and those @value{GDBN} is using for
29871 internal purposes. Internal breakpoints are shown with negative
29872 breakpoint numbers. The type column identifies what kind of breakpoint
29873 is shown:
29874
29875 @table @code
29876 @item breakpoint
29877 Normal, explicitly set breakpoint.
29878
29879 @item watchpoint
29880 Normal, explicitly set watchpoint.
29881
29882 @item longjmp
29883 Internal breakpoint, used to handle correctly stepping through
29884 @code{longjmp} calls.
29885
29886 @item longjmp resume
29887 Internal breakpoint at the target of a @code{longjmp}.
29888
29889 @item until
29890 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{until} command.
29891
29892 @item finish
29893 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{finish} command.
29894
29895 @item shlib events
29896 Shared library events.
29897
29898 @end table
29899
29900 @kindex set displaced-stepping
29901 @kindex show displaced-stepping
29902 @cindex displaced stepping support
29903 @cindex out-of-line single-stepping
29904 @item set displaced-stepping
29905 @itemx show displaced-stepping
29906 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will do @dfn{displaced stepping}
29907 if the target supports it. Displaced stepping is a way to single-step
29908 over breakpoints without removing them from the inferior, by executing
29909 an out-of-line copy of the instruction that was originally at the
29910 breakpoint location. It is also known as out-of-line single-stepping.
29911
29912 @table @code
29913 @item set displaced-stepping on
29914 If the target architecture supports it, @value{GDBN} will use
29915 displaced stepping to step over breakpoints.
29916
29917 @item set displaced-stepping off
29918 @value{GDBN} will not use displaced stepping to step over breakpoints,
29919 even if such is supported by the target architecture.
29920
29921 @cindex non-stop mode, and @samp{set displaced-stepping}
29922 @item set displaced-stepping auto
29923 This is the default mode. @value{GDBN} will use displaced stepping
29924 only if non-stop mode is active (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) and the target
29925 architecture supports displaced stepping.
29926 @end table
29927
29928 @kindex maint check-symtabs
29929 @item maint check-symtabs
29930 Check the consistency of psymtabs and symtabs.
29931
29932 @kindex maint cplus first_component
29933 @item maint cplus first_component @var{name}
29934 Print the first C@t{++} class/namespace component of @var{name}.
29935
29936 @kindex maint cplus namespace
29937 @item maint cplus namespace
29938 Print the list of possible C@t{++} namespaces.
29939
29940 @kindex maint demangle
29941 @item maint demangle @var{name}
29942 Demangle a C@t{++} or Objective-C mangled @var{name}.
29943
29944 @kindex maint deprecate
29945 @kindex maint undeprecate
29946 @cindex deprecated commands
29947 @item maint deprecate @var{command} @r{[}@var{replacement}@r{]}
29948 @itemx maint undeprecate @var{command}
29949 Deprecate or undeprecate the named @var{command}. Deprecated commands
29950 cause @value{GDBN} to issue a warning when you use them. The optional
29951 argument @var{replacement} says which newer command should be used in
29952 favor of the deprecated one; if it is given, @value{GDBN} will mention
29953 the replacement as part of the warning.
29954
29955 @kindex maint dump-me
29956 @item maint dump-me
29957 @cindex @code{SIGQUIT} signal, dump core of @value{GDBN}
29958 Cause a fatal signal in the debugger and force it to dump its core.
29959 This is supported only on systems which support aborting a program
29960 with the @code{SIGQUIT} signal.
29961
29962 @kindex maint internal-error
29963 @kindex maint internal-warning
29964 @item maint internal-error @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
29965 @itemx maint internal-warning @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
29966 Cause @value{GDBN} to call the internal function @code{internal_error}
29967 or @code{internal_warning} and hence behave as though an internal error
29968 or internal warning has been detected. In addition to reporting the
29969 internal problem, these functions give the user the opportunity to
29970 either quit @value{GDBN} or create a core file of the current
29971 @value{GDBN} session.
29972
29973 These commands take an optional parameter @var{message-text} that is
29974 used as the text of the error or warning message.
29975
29976 Here's an example of using @code{internal-error}:
29977
29978 @smallexample
29979 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint internal-error testing, 1, 2}
29980 @dots{}/maint.c:121: internal-error: testing, 1, 2
29981 A problem internal to GDB has been detected. Further
29982 debugging may prove unreliable.
29983 Quit this debugging session? (y or n) @kbd{n}
29984 Create a core file? (y or n) @kbd{n}
29985 (@value{GDBP})
29986 @end smallexample
29987
29988 @cindex @value{GDBN} internal error
29989 @cindex internal errors, control of @value{GDBN} behavior
29990
29991 @kindex maint set internal-error
29992 @kindex maint show internal-error
29993 @kindex maint set internal-warning
29994 @kindex maint show internal-warning
29995 @item maint set internal-error @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
29996 @itemx maint show internal-error @var{action}
29997 @itemx maint set internal-warning @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
29998 @itemx maint show internal-warning @var{action}
29999 When @value{GDBN} reports an internal problem (error or warning) it
30000 gives the user the opportunity to both quit @value{GDBN} and create a
30001 core file of the current @value{GDBN} session. These commands let you
30002 override the default behaviour for each particular @var{action},
30003 described in the table below.
30004
30005 @table @samp
30006 @item quit
30007 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
30008 quit. The default is to ask the user what to do.
30009
30010 @item corefile
30011 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
30012 create a core file. The default is to ask the user what to do.
30013 @end table
30014
30015 @kindex maint packet
30016 @item maint packet @var{text}
30017 If @value{GDBN} is talking to an inferior via the serial protocol,
30018 then this command sends the string @var{text} to the inferior, and
30019 displays the response packet. @value{GDBN} supplies the initial
30020 @samp{$} character, the terminating @samp{#} character, and the
30021 checksum.
30022
30023 @kindex maint print architecture
30024 @item maint print architecture @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
30025 Print the entire architecture configuration. The optional argument
30026 @var{file} names the file where the output goes.
30027
30028 @kindex maint print c-tdesc
30029 @item maint print c-tdesc
30030 Print the current target description (@pxref{Target Descriptions}) as
30031 a C source file. The created source file can be used in @value{GDBN}
30032 when an XML parser is not available to parse the description.
30033
30034 @kindex maint print dummy-frames
30035 @item maint print dummy-frames
30036 Prints the contents of @value{GDBN}'s internal dummy-frame stack.
30037
30038 @smallexample
30039 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{b add}
30040 @dots{}
30041 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{print add(2,3)}
30042 Breakpoint 2, add (a=2, b=3) at @dots{}
30043 58 return (a + b);
30044 The program being debugged stopped while in a function called from GDB.
30045 @dots{}
30046 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print dummy-frames}
30047 0x1a57c80: pc=0x01014068 fp=0x0200bddc sp=0x0200bdd6
30048 top=0x0200bdd4 id=@{stack=0x200bddc,code=0x101405c@}
30049 call_lo=0x01014000 call_hi=0x01014001
30050 (@value{GDBP})
30051 @end smallexample
30052
30053 Takes an optional file parameter.
30054
30055 @kindex maint print registers
30056 @kindex maint print raw-registers
30057 @kindex maint print cooked-registers
30058 @kindex maint print register-groups
30059 @item maint print registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
30060 @itemx maint print raw-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
30061 @itemx maint print cooked-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
30062 @itemx maint print register-groups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
30063 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register data structures.
30064
30065 The command @code{maint print raw-registers} includes the contents of
30066 the raw register cache; the command @code{maint print cooked-registers}
30067 includes the (cooked) value of all registers, including registers which
30068 aren't available on the target nor visible to user; and the
30069 command @code{maint print register-groups} includes the groups that each
30070 register is a member of. @xref{Registers,, Registers, gdbint,
30071 @value{GDBN} Internals}.
30072
30073 These commands take an optional parameter, a file name to which to
30074 write the information.
30075
30076 @kindex maint print reggroups
30077 @item maint print reggroups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
30078 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register group data structures. The
30079 optional argument @var{file} tells to what file to write the
30080 information.
30081
30082 The register groups info looks like this:
30083
30084 @smallexample
30085 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print reggroups}
30086 Group Type
30087 general user
30088 float user
30089 all user
30090 vector user
30091 system user
30092 save internal
30093 restore internal
30094 @end smallexample
30095
30096 @kindex flushregs
30097 @item flushregs
30098 This command forces @value{GDBN} to flush its internal register cache.
30099
30100 @kindex maint print objfiles
30101 @cindex info for known object files
30102 @item maint print objfiles
30103 Print a dump of all known object files. For each object file, this
30104 command prints its name, address in memory, and all of its psymtabs
30105 and symtabs.
30106
30107 @kindex maint print section-scripts
30108 @cindex info for known .debug_gdb_scripts-loaded scripts
30109 @item maint print section-scripts [@var{regexp}]
30110 Print a dump of scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_section} section.
30111 If @var{regexp} is specified, only print scripts loaded by object files
30112 matching @var{regexp}.
30113 For each script, this command prints its name as specified in the objfile,
30114 and the full path if known.
30115 @xref{.debug_gdb_scripts section}.
30116
30117 @kindex maint print statistics
30118 @cindex bcache statistics
30119 @item maint print statistics
30120 This command prints, for each object file in the program, various data
30121 about that object file followed by the byte cache (@dfn{bcache})
30122 statistics for the object file. The objfile data includes the number
30123 of minimal, partial, full, and stabs symbols, the number of types
30124 defined by the objfile, the number of as yet unexpanded psym tables,
30125 the number of line tables and string tables, and the amount of memory
30126 used by the various tables. The bcache statistics include the counts,
30127 sizes, and counts of duplicates of all and unique objects, max,
30128 average, and median entry size, total memory used and its overhead and
30129 savings, and various measures of the hash table size and chain
30130 lengths.
30131
30132 @kindex maint print target-stack
30133 @cindex target stack description
30134 @item maint print target-stack
30135 A @dfn{target} is an interface between the debugger and a particular
30136 kind of file or process. Targets can be stacked in @dfn{strata},
30137 so that more than one target can potentially respond to a request.
30138 In particular, memory accesses will walk down the stack of targets
30139 until they find a target that is interested in handling that particular
30140 address.
30141
30142 This command prints a short description of each layer that was pushed on
30143 the @dfn{target stack}, starting from the top layer down to the bottom one.
30144
30145 @kindex maint print type
30146 @cindex type chain of a data type
30147 @item maint print type @var{expr}
30148 Print the type chain for a type specified by @var{expr}. The argument
30149 can be either a type name or a symbol. If it is a symbol, the type of
30150 that symbol is described. The type chain produced by this command is
30151 a recursive definition of the data type as stored in @value{GDBN}'s
30152 data structures, including its flags and contained types.
30153
30154 @kindex maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
30155 @kindex maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
30156 @item maint set dwarf2 always-disassemble
30157 @item maint show dwarf2 always-disassemble
30158 Control the behavior of @code{info address} when using DWARF debugging
30159 information.
30160
30161 The default is @code{off}, which means that @value{GDBN} should try to
30162 describe a variable's location in an easily readable format. When
30163 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will instead display the DWARF location
30164 expression in an assembly-like format. Note that some locations are
30165 too complex for @value{GDBN} to describe simply; in this case you will
30166 always see the disassembly form.
30167
30168 Here is an example of the resulting disassembly:
30169
30170 @smallexample
30171 (gdb) info addr argc
30172 Symbol "argc" is a complex DWARF expression:
30173 1: DW_OP_fbreg 0
30174 @end smallexample
30175
30176 For more information on these expressions, see
30177 @uref{http://www.dwarfstd.org/, the DWARF standard}.
30178
30179 @kindex maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
30180 @kindex maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
30181 @item maint set dwarf2 max-cache-age
30182 @itemx maint show dwarf2 max-cache-age
30183 Control the DWARF 2 compilation unit cache.
30184
30185 @cindex DWARF 2 compilation units cache
30186 In object files with inter-compilation-unit references, such as those
30187 produced by the GCC option @samp{-feliminate-dwarf2-dups}, the DWARF 2
30188 reader needs to frequently refer to previously read compilation units.
30189 This setting controls how long a compilation unit will remain in the
30190 cache if it is not referenced. A higher limit means that cached
30191 compilation units will be stored in memory longer, and more total
30192 memory will be used. Setting it to zero disables caching, which will
30193 slow down @value{GDBN} startup, but reduce memory consumption.
30194
30195 @kindex maint set profile
30196 @kindex maint show profile
30197 @cindex profiling GDB
30198 @item maint set profile
30199 @itemx maint show profile
30200 Control profiling of @value{GDBN}.
30201
30202 Profiling will be disabled until you use the @samp{maint set profile}
30203 command to enable it. When you enable profiling, the system will begin
30204 collecting timing and execution count data; when you disable profiling or
30205 exit @value{GDBN}, the results will be written to a log file. Remember that
30206 if you use profiling, @value{GDBN} will overwrite the profiling log file
30207 (often called @file{gmon.out}). If you have a record of important profiling
30208 data in a @file{gmon.out} file, be sure to move it to a safe location.
30209
30210 Configuring with @samp{--enable-profiling} arranges for @value{GDBN} to be
30211 compiled with the @samp{-pg} compiler option.
30212
30213 @kindex maint set show-debug-regs
30214 @kindex maint show show-debug-regs
30215 @cindex hardware debug registers
30216 @item maint set show-debug-regs
30217 @itemx maint show show-debug-regs
30218 Control whether to show variables that mirror the hardware debug
30219 registers. Use @code{ON} to enable, @code{OFF} to disable. If
30220 enabled, the debug registers values are shown when @value{GDBN} inserts or
30221 removes a hardware breakpoint or watchpoint, and when the inferior
30222 triggers a hardware-assisted breakpoint or watchpoint.
30223
30224 @kindex maint set show-all-tib
30225 @kindex maint show show-all-tib
30226 @item maint set show-all-tib
30227 @itemx maint show show-all-tib
30228 Control whether to show all non zero areas within a 1k block starting
30229 at thread local base, when using the @samp{info w32 thread-information-block}
30230 command.
30231
30232 @kindex maint space
30233 @cindex memory used by commands
30234 @item maint space
30235 Control whether to display memory usage for each command. If set to a
30236 nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much memory each command
30237 took, following the command's own output. This can also be requested
30238 by invoking @value{GDBN} with the @option{--statistics} command-line
30239 switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
30240
30241 @kindex maint time
30242 @cindex time of command execution
30243 @item maint time
30244 Control whether to display the execution time for each command. If
30245 set to a nonzero value, @value{GDBN} will display how much time it
30246 took to execute each command, following the command's own output.
30247 The time is not printed for the commands that run the target, since
30248 there's no mechanism currently to compute how much time was spend
30249 by @value{GDBN} and how much time was spend by the program been debugged.
30250 it's not possibly currently
30251 This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
30252 @option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
30253
30254 @kindex maint translate-address
30255 @item maint translate-address @r{[}@var{section}@r{]} @var{addr}
30256 Find the symbol stored at the location specified by the address
30257 @var{addr} and an optional section name @var{section}. If found,
30258 @value{GDBN} prints the name of the closest symbol and an offset from
30259 the symbol's location to the specified address. This is similar to
30260 the @code{info address} command (@pxref{Symbols}), except that this
30261 command also allows to find symbols in other sections.
30262
30263 If section was not specified, the section in which the symbol was found
30264 is also printed. For dynamically linked executables, the name of
30265 executable or shared library containing the symbol is printed as well.
30266
30267 @end table
30268
30269 The following command is useful for non-interactive invocations of
30270 @value{GDBN}, such as in the test suite.
30271
30272 @table @code
30273 @item set watchdog @var{nsec}
30274 @kindex set watchdog
30275 @cindex watchdog timer
30276 @cindex timeout for commands
30277 Set the maximum number of seconds @value{GDBN} will wait for the
30278 target operation to finish. If this time expires, @value{GDBN}
30279 reports and error and the command is aborted.
30280
30281 @item show watchdog
30282 Show the current setting of the target wait timeout.
30283 @end table
30284
30285 @node Remote Protocol
30286 @appendix @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol
30287
30288 @menu
30289 * Overview::
30290 * Packets::
30291 * Stop Reply Packets::
30292 * General Query Packets::
30293 * Architecture-Specific Protocol Details::
30294 * Tracepoint Packets::
30295 * Host I/O Packets::
30296 * Interrupts::
30297 * Notification Packets::
30298 * Remote Non-Stop::
30299 * Packet Acknowledgment::
30300 * Examples::
30301 * File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension::
30302 * Library List Format::
30303 * Memory Map Format::
30304 * Thread List Format::
30305 @end menu
30306
30307 @node Overview
30308 @section Overview
30309
30310 There may be occasions when you need to know something about the
30311 protocol---for example, if there is only one serial port to your target
30312 machine, you might want your program to do something special if it
30313 recognizes a packet meant for @value{GDBN}.
30314
30315 In the examples below, @samp{->} and @samp{<-} are used to indicate
30316 transmitted and received data, respectively.
30317
30318 @cindex protocol, @value{GDBN} remote serial
30319 @cindex serial protocol, @value{GDBN} remote
30320 @cindex remote serial protocol
30321 All @value{GDBN} commands and responses (other than acknowledgments
30322 and notifications, see @ref{Notification Packets}) are sent as a
30323 @var{packet}. A @var{packet} is introduced with the character
30324 @samp{$}, the actual @var{packet-data}, and the terminating character
30325 @samp{#} followed by a two-digit @var{checksum}:
30326
30327 @smallexample
30328 @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
30329 @end smallexample
30330 @noindent
30331
30332 @cindex checksum, for @value{GDBN} remote
30333 @noindent
30334 The two-digit @var{checksum} is computed as the modulo 256 sum of all
30335 characters between the leading @samp{$} and the trailing @samp{#} (an
30336 eight bit unsigned checksum).
30337
30338 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0 the protocol
30339 specification also included an optional two-digit @var{sequence-id}:
30340
30341 @smallexample
30342 @code{$}@var{sequence-id}@code{:}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
30343 @end smallexample
30344
30345 @cindex sequence-id, for @value{GDBN} remote
30346 @noindent
30347 That @var{sequence-id} was appended to the acknowledgment. @value{GDBN}
30348 has never output @var{sequence-id}s. Stubs that handle packets added
30349 since @value{GDBN} 5.0 must not accept @var{sequence-id}.
30350
30351 When either the host or the target machine receives a packet, the first
30352 response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
30353 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request
30354 retransmission):
30355
30356 @smallexample
30357 -> @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
30358 <- @code{+}
30359 @end smallexample
30360 @noindent
30361
30362 The @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments can be disabled
30363 once a connection is established.
30364 @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}, for details.
30365
30366 The host (@value{GDBN}) sends @var{command}s, and the target (the
30367 debugging stub incorporated in your program) sends a @var{response}. In
30368 the case of step and continue @var{command}s, the response is only sent
30369 when the operation has completed, and the target has again stopped all
30370 threads in all attached processes. This is the default all-stop mode
30371 behavior, but the remote protocol also supports @value{GDBN}'s non-stop
30372 execution mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}, for details.
30373
30374 @var{packet-data} consists of a sequence of characters with the
30375 exception of @samp{#} and @samp{$} (see @samp{X} packet for additional
30376 exceptions).
30377
30378 @cindex remote protocol, field separator
30379 Fields within the packet should be separated using @samp{,} @samp{;} or
30380 @samp{:}. Except where otherwise noted all numbers are represented in
30381 @sc{hex} with leading zeros suppressed.
30382
30383 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0, the character
30384 @samp{:} could not appear as the third character in a packet (as it
30385 would potentially conflict with the @var{sequence-id}).
30386
30387 @cindex remote protocol, binary data
30388 @anchor{Binary Data}
30389 Binary data in most packets is encoded either as two hexadecimal
30390 digits per byte of binary data. This allowed the traditional remote
30391 protocol to work over connections which were only seven-bit clean.
30392 Some packets designed more recently assume an eight-bit clean
30393 connection, and use a more efficient encoding to send and receive
30394 binary data.
30395
30396 The binary data representation uses @code{7d} (@sc{ascii} @samp{@}})
30397 as an escape character. Any escaped byte is transmitted as the escape
30398 character followed by the original character XORed with @code{0x20}.
30399 For example, the byte @code{0x7d} would be transmitted as the two
30400 bytes @code{0x7d 0x5d}. The bytes @code{0x23} (@sc{ascii} @samp{#}),
30401 @code{0x24} (@sc{ascii} @samp{$}), and @code{0x7d} (@sc{ascii}
30402 @samp{@}}) must always be escaped. Responses sent by the stub
30403 must also escape @code{0x2a} (@sc{ascii} @samp{*}), so that it
30404 is not interpreted as the start of a run-length encoded sequence
30405 (described next).
30406
30407 Response @var{data} can be run-length encoded to save space.
30408 Run-length encoding replaces runs of identical characters with one
30409 instance of the repeated character, followed by a @samp{*} and a
30410 repeat count. The repeat count is itself sent encoded, to avoid
30411 binary characters in @var{data}: a value of @var{n} is sent as
30412 @code{@var{n}+29}. For a repeat count greater or equal to 3, this
30413 produces a printable @sc{ascii} character, e.g.@: a space (@sc{ascii}
30414 code 32) for a repeat count of 3. (This is because run-length
30415 encoding starts to win for counts 3 or more.) Thus, for example,
30416 @samp{0* } is a run-length encoding of ``0000'': the space character
30417 after @samp{*} means repeat the leading @code{0} @w{@code{32 - 29 =
30418 3}} more times.
30419
30420 The printable characters @samp{#} and @samp{$} or with a numeric value
30421 greater than 126 must not be used. Runs of six repeats (@samp{#}) or
30422 seven repeats (@samp{$}) can be expanded using a repeat count of only
30423 five (@samp{"}). For example, @samp{00000000} can be encoded as
30424 @samp{0*"00}.
30425
30426 The error response returned for some packets includes a two character
30427 error number. That number is not well defined.
30428
30429 @cindex empty response, for unsupported packets
30430 For any @var{command} not supported by the stub, an empty response
30431 (@samp{$#00}) should be returned. That way it is possible to extend the
30432 protocol. A newer @value{GDBN} can tell if a packet is supported based
30433 on that response.
30434
30435 A stub is required to support the @samp{g}, @samp{G}, @samp{m}, @samp{M},
30436 @samp{c}, and @samp{s} @var{command}s. All other @var{command}s are
30437 optional.
30438
30439 @node Packets
30440 @section Packets
30441
30442 The following table provides a complete list of all currently defined
30443 @var{command}s and their corresponding response @var{data}.
30444 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for details about the File
30445 I/O extension of the remote protocol.
30446
30447 Each packet's description has a template showing the packet's overall
30448 syntax, followed by an explanation of the packet's meaning. We
30449 include spaces in some of the templates for clarity; these are not
30450 part of the packet's syntax. No @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to
30451 separate its components. For example, a template like @samp{foo
30452 @var{bar} @var{baz}} describes a packet beginning with the three ASCII
30453 bytes @samp{foo}, followed by a @var{bar}, followed directly by a
30454 @var{baz}. @value{GDBN} does not transmit a space character between the
30455 @samp{foo} and the @var{bar}, or between the @var{bar} and the
30456 @var{baz}.
30457
30458 @cindex @var{thread-id}, in remote protocol
30459 @anchor{thread-id syntax}
30460 Several packets and replies include a @var{thread-id} field to identify
30461 a thread. Normally these are positive numbers with a target-specific
30462 interpretation, formatted as big-endian hex strings. A @var{thread-id}
30463 can also be a literal @samp{-1} to indicate all threads, or @samp{0} to
30464 pick any thread.
30465
30466 In addition, the remote protocol supports a multiprocess feature in
30467 which the @var{thread-id} syntax is extended to optionally include both
30468 process and thread ID fields, as @samp{p@var{pid}.@var{tid}}.
30469 The @var{pid} (process) and @var{tid} (thread) components each have the
30470 format described above: a positive number with target-specific
30471 interpretation formatted as a big-endian hex string, literal @samp{-1}
30472 to indicate all processes or threads (respectively), or @samp{0} to
30473 indicate an arbitrary process or thread. Specifying just a process, as
30474 @samp{p@var{pid}}, is equivalent to @samp{p@var{pid}.-1}. It is an
30475 error to specify all processes but a specific thread, such as
30476 @samp{p-1.@var{tid}}. Note that the @samp{p} prefix is @emph{not} used
30477 for those packets and replies explicitly documented to include a process
30478 ID, rather than a @var{thread-id}.
30479
30480 The multiprocess @var{thread-id} syntax extensions are only used if both
30481 @value{GDBN} and the stub report support for the @samp{multiprocess}
30482 feature using @samp{qSupported}. @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for
30483 more information.
30484
30485 Note that all packet forms beginning with an upper- or lower-case
30486 letter, other than those described here, are reserved for future use.
30487
30488 Here are the packet descriptions.
30489
30490 @table @samp
30491
30492 @item !
30493 @cindex @samp{!} packet
30494 @anchor{extended mode}
30495 Enable extended mode. In extended mode, the remote server is made
30496 persistent. The @samp{R} packet is used to restart the program being
30497 debugged.
30498
30499 Reply:
30500 @table @samp
30501 @item OK
30502 The remote target both supports and has enabled extended mode.
30503 @end table
30504
30505 @item ?
30506 @cindex @samp{?} packet
30507 Indicate the reason the target halted. The reply is the same as for
30508 step and continue. This packet has a special interpretation when the
30509 target is in non-stop mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}.
30510
30511 Reply:
30512 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
30513
30514 @item A @var{arglen},@var{argnum},@var{arg},@dots{}
30515 @cindex @samp{A} packet
30516 Initialized @code{argv[]} array passed into program. @var{arglen}
30517 specifies the number of bytes in the hex encoded byte stream
30518 @var{arg}. See @code{gdbserver} for more details.
30519
30520 Reply:
30521 @table @samp
30522 @item OK
30523 The arguments were set.
30524 @item E @var{NN}
30525 An error occurred.
30526 @end table
30527
30528 @item b @var{baud}
30529 @cindex @samp{b} packet
30530 (Don't use this packet; its behavior is not well-defined.)
30531 Change the serial line speed to @var{baud}.
30532
30533 JTC: @emph{When does the transport layer state change? When it's
30534 received, or after the ACK is transmitted. In either case, there are
30535 problems if the command or the acknowledgment packet is dropped.}
30536
30537 Stan: @emph{If people really wanted to add something like this, and get
30538 it working for the first time, they ought to modify ser-unix.c to send
30539 some kind of out-of-band message to a specially-setup stub and have the
30540 switch happen "in between" packets, so that from remote protocol's point
30541 of view, nothing actually happened.}
30542
30543 @item B @var{addr},@var{mode}
30544 @cindex @samp{B} packet
30545 Set (@var{mode} is @samp{S}) or clear (@var{mode} is @samp{C}) a
30546 breakpoint at @var{addr}.
30547
30548 Don't use this packet. Use the @samp{Z} and @samp{z} packets instead
30549 (@pxref{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}).
30550
30551 @cindex @samp{bc} packet
30552 @anchor{bc}
30553 @item bc
30554 Backward continue. Execute the target system in reverse. No parameter.
30555 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
30556
30557 Reply:
30558 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
30559
30560 @cindex @samp{bs} packet
30561 @anchor{bs}
30562 @item bs
30563 Backward single step. Execute one instruction in reverse. No parameter.
30564 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
30565
30566 Reply:
30567 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
30568
30569 @item c @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
30570 @cindex @samp{c} packet
30571 Continue. @var{addr} is address to resume. If @var{addr} is omitted,
30572 resume at current address.
30573
30574 Reply:
30575 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
30576
30577 @item C @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
30578 @cindex @samp{C} packet
30579 Continue with signal @var{sig} (hex signal number). If
30580 @samp{;@var{addr}} is omitted, resume at same address.
30581
30582 Reply:
30583 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
30584
30585 @item d
30586 @cindex @samp{d} packet
30587 Toggle debug flag.
30588
30589 Don't use this packet; instead, define a general set packet
30590 (@pxref{General Query Packets}).
30591
30592 @item D
30593 @itemx D;@var{pid}
30594 @cindex @samp{D} packet
30595 The first form of the packet is used to detach @value{GDBN} from the
30596 remote system. It is sent to the remote target
30597 before @value{GDBN} disconnects via the @code{detach} command.
30598
30599 The second form, including a process ID, is used when multiprocess
30600 protocol extensions are enabled (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}), to
30601 detach only a specific process. The @var{pid} is specified as a
30602 big-endian hex string.
30603
30604 Reply:
30605 @table @samp
30606 @item OK
30607 for success
30608 @item E @var{NN}
30609 for an error
30610 @end table
30611
30612 @item F @var{RC},@var{EE},@var{CF};@var{XX}
30613 @cindex @samp{F} packet
30614 A reply from @value{GDBN} to an @samp{F} packet sent by the target.
30615 This is part of the File-I/O protocol extension. @xref{File-I/O
30616 Remote Protocol Extension}, for the specification.
30617
30618 @item g
30619 @anchor{read registers packet}
30620 @cindex @samp{g} packet
30621 Read general registers.
30622
30623 Reply:
30624 @table @samp
30625 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
30626 Each byte of register data is described by two hex digits. The bytes
30627 with the register are transmitted in target byte order. The size of
30628 each register and their position within the @samp{g} packet are
30629 determined by the @value{GDBN} internal gdbarch functions
30630 @code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE} and @code{gdbarch_register_name}. The
30631 specification of several standard @samp{g} packets is specified below.
30632 @item E @var{NN}
30633 for an error.
30634 @end table
30635
30636 @item G @var{XX@dots{}}
30637 @cindex @samp{G} packet
30638 Write general registers. @xref{read registers packet}, for a
30639 description of the @var{XX@dots{}} data.
30640
30641 Reply:
30642 @table @samp
30643 @item OK
30644 for success
30645 @item E @var{NN}
30646 for an error
30647 @end table
30648
30649 @item H @var{c} @var{thread-id}
30650 @cindex @samp{H} packet
30651 Set thread for subsequent operations (@samp{m}, @samp{M}, @samp{g},
30652 @samp{G}, et.al.). @var{c} depends on the operation to be performed: it
30653 should be @samp{c} for step and continue operations, @samp{g} for other
30654 operations. The thread designator @var{thread-id} has the format and
30655 interpretation described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
30656
30657 Reply:
30658 @table @samp
30659 @item OK
30660 for success
30661 @item E @var{NN}
30662 for an error
30663 @end table
30664
30665 @c FIXME: JTC:
30666 @c 'H': How restrictive (or permissive) is the thread model. If a
30667 @c thread is selected and stopped, are other threads allowed
30668 @c to continue to execute? As I mentioned above, I think the
30669 @c semantics of each command when a thread is selected must be
30670 @c described. For example:
30671 @c
30672 @c 'g': If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
30673 @c selected, returns the register block from that thread;
30674 @c otherwise returns current registers.
30675 @c
30676 @c 'G' If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
30677 @c selected, sets the registers of the register block of
30678 @c that thread; otherwise sets current registers.
30679
30680 @item i @r{[}@var{addr}@r{[},@var{nnn}@r{]]}
30681 @anchor{cycle step packet}
30682 @cindex @samp{i} packet
30683 Step the remote target by a single clock cycle. If @samp{,@var{nnn}} is
30684 present, cycle step @var{nnn} cycles. If @var{addr} is present, cycle
30685 step starting at that address.
30686
30687 @item I
30688 @cindex @samp{I} packet
30689 Signal, then cycle step. @xref{step with signal packet}. @xref{cycle
30690 step packet}.
30691
30692 @item k
30693 @cindex @samp{k} packet
30694 Kill request.
30695
30696 FIXME: @emph{There is no description of how to operate when a specific
30697 thread context has been selected (i.e.@: does 'k' kill only that
30698 thread?)}.
30699
30700 @item m @var{addr},@var{length}
30701 @cindex @samp{m} packet
30702 Read @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
30703 Note that @var{addr} may not be aligned to any particular boundary.
30704
30705 The stub need not use any particular size or alignment when gathering
30706 data from memory for the response; even if @var{addr} is word-aligned
30707 and @var{length} is a multiple of the word size, the stub is free to
30708 use byte accesses, or not. For this reason, this packet may not be
30709 suitable for accessing memory-mapped I/O devices.
30710 @cindex alignment of remote memory accesses
30711 @cindex size of remote memory accesses
30712 @cindex memory, alignment and size of remote accesses
30713
30714 Reply:
30715 @table @samp
30716 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
30717 Memory contents; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit hexadecimal
30718 number. The reply may contain fewer bytes than requested if the
30719 server was able to read only part of the region of memory.
30720 @item E @var{NN}
30721 @var{NN} is errno
30722 @end table
30723
30724 @item M @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
30725 @cindex @samp{M} packet
30726 Write @var{length} bytes of memory starting at address @var{addr}.
30727 @var{XX@dots{}} is the data; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit
30728 hexadecimal number.
30729
30730 Reply:
30731 @table @samp
30732 @item OK
30733 for success
30734 @item E @var{NN}
30735 for an error (this includes the case where only part of the data was
30736 written).
30737 @end table
30738
30739 @item p @var{n}
30740 @cindex @samp{p} packet
30741 Read the value of register @var{n}; @var{n} is in hex.
30742 @xref{read registers packet}, for a description of how the returned
30743 register value is encoded.
30744
30745 Reply:
30746 @table @samp
30747 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
30748 the register's value
30749 @item E @var{NN}
30750 for an error
30751 @item
30752 Indicating an unrecognized @var{query}.
30753 @end table
30754
30755 @item P @var{n@dots{}}=@var{r@dots{}}
30756 @anchor{write register packet}
30757 @cindex @samp{P} packet
30758 Write register @var{n@dots{}} with value @var{r@dots{}}. The register
30759 number @var{n} is in hexadecimal, and @var{r@dots{}} contains two hex
30760 digits for each byte in the register (target byte order).
30761
30762 Reply:
30763 @table @samp
30764 @item OK
30765 for success
30766 @item E @var{NN}
30767 for an error
30768 @end table
30769
30770 @item q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
30771 @itemx Q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
30772 @cindex @samp{q} packet
30773 @cindex @samp{Q} packet
30774 General query (@samp{q}) and set (@samp{Q}). These packets are
30775 described fully in @ref{General Query Packets}.
30776
30777 @item r
30778 @cindex @samp{r} packet
30779 Reset the entire system.
30780
30781 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{R} packet instead.
30782
30783 @item R @var{XX}
30784 @cindex @samp{R} packet
30785 Restart the program being debugged. @var{XX}, while needed, is ignored.
30786 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
30787
30788 The @samp{R} packet has no reply.
30789
30790 @item s @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
30791 @cindex @samp{s} packet
30792 Single step. @var{addr} is the address at which to resume. If
30793 @var{addr} is omitted, resume at same address.
30794
30795 Reply:
30796 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
30797
30798 @item S @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
30799 @anchor{step with signal packet}
30800 @cindex @samp{S} packet
30801 Step with signal. This is analogous to the @samp{C} packet, but
30802 requests a single-step, rather than a normal resumption of execution.
30803
30804 Reply:
30805 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
30806
30807 @item t @var{addr}:@var{PP},@var{MM}
30808 @cindex @samp{t} packet
30809 Search backwards starting at address @var{addr} for a match with pattern
30810 @var{PP} and mask @var{MM}. @var{PP} and @var{MM} are 4 bytes.
30811 @var{addr} must be at least 3 digits.
30812
30813 @item T @var{thread-id}
30814 @cindex @samp{T} packet
30815 Find out if the thread @var{thread-id} is alive. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
30816
30817 Reply:
30818 @table @samp
30819 @item OK
30820 thread is still alive
30821 @item E @var{NN}
30822 thread is dead
30823 @end table
30824
30825 @item v
30826 Packets starting with @samp{v} are identified by a multi-letter name,
30827 up to the first @samp{;} or @samp{?} (or the end of the packet).
30828
30829 @item vAttach;@var{pid}
30830 @cindex @samp{vAttach} packet
30831 Attach to a new process with the specified process ID @var{pid}.
30832 The process ID is a
30833 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. In all-stop mode, all
30834 threads in the attached process are stopped; in non-stop mode, it may be
30835 attached without being stopped if that is supported by the target.
30836
30837 @c In non-stop mode, on a successful vAttach, the stub should set the
30838 @c current thread to a thread of the newly-attached process. After
30839 @c attaching, GDB queries for the attached process's thread ID with qC.
30840 @c Also note that, from a user perspective, whether or not the
30841 @c target is stopped on attach in non-stop mode depends on whether you
30842 @c use the foreground or background version of the attach command, not
30843 @c on what vAttach does; GDB does the right thing with respect to either
30844 @c stopping or restarting threads.
30845
30846 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
30847
30848 Reply:
30849 @table @samp
30850 @item E @var{nn}
30851 for an error
30852 @item @r{Any stop packet}
30853 for success in all-stop mode (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
30854 @item OK
30855 for success in non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop})
30856 @end table
30857
30858 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@r{[}:@var{thread-id}@r{]]}@dots{}
30859 @cindex @samp{vCont} packet
30860 Resume the inferior, specifying different actions for each thread.
30861 If an action is specified with no @var{thread-id}, then it is applied to any
30862 threads that don't have a specific action specified; if no default action is
30863 specified then other threads should remain stopped in all-stop mode and
30864 in their current state in non-stop mode.
30865 Specifying multiple
30866 default actions is an error; specifying no actions is also an error.
30867 Thread IDs are specified using the syntax described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
30868
30869 Currently supported actions are:
30870
30871 @table @samp
30872 @item c
30873 Continue.
30874 @item C @var{sig}
30875 Continue with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
30876 @item s
30877 Step.
30878 @item S @var{sig}
30879 Step with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
30880 @item t
30881 Stop.
30882 @end table
30883
30884 The optional argument @var{addr} normally associated with the
30885 @samp{c}, @samp{C}, @samp{s}, and @samp{S} packets is
30886 not supported in @samp{vCont}.
30887
30888 The @samp{t} action is only relevant in non-stop mode
30889 (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}) and may be ignored by the stub otherwise.
30890 A stop reply should be generated for any affected thread not already stopped.
30891 When a thread is stopped by means of a @samp{t} action,
30892 the corresponding stop reply should indicate that the thread has stopped with
30893 signal @samp{0}, regardless of whether the target uses some other signal
30894 as an implementation detail.
30895
30896 Reply:
30897 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
30898
30899 @item vCont?
30900 @cindex @samp{vCont?} packet
30901 Request a list of actions supported by the @samp{vCont} packet.
30902
30903 Reply:
30904 @table @samp
30905 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@dots{}@r{]}
30906 The @samp{vCont} packet is supported. Each @var{action} is a supported
30907 command in the @samp{vCont} packet.
30908 @item
30909 The @samp{vCont} packet is not supported.
30910 @end table
30911
30912 @item vFile:@var{operation}:@var{parameter}@dots{}
30913 @cindex @samp{vFile} packet
30914 Perform a file operation on the target system. For details,
30915 see @ref{Host I/O Packets}.
30916
30917 @item vFlashErase:@var{addr},@var{length}
30918 @cindex @samp{vFlashErase} packet
30919 Direct the stub to erase @var{length} bytes of flash starting at
30920 @var{addr}. The region may enclose any number of flash blocks, but
30921 its start and end must fall on block boundaries, as indicated by the
30922 flash block size appearing in the memory map (@pxref{Memory Map
30923 Format}). @value{GDBN} groups flash memory programming operations
30924 together, and sends a @samp{vFlashDone} request after each group; the
30925 stub is allowed to delay erase operation until the @samp{vFlashDone}
30926 packet is received.
30927
30928 The stub must support @samp{vCont} if it reports support for
30929 multiprocess extensions (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}). Note that in
30930 this case @samp{vCont} actions can be specified to apply to all threads
30931 in a process by using the @samp{p@var{pid}.-1} form of the
30932 @var{thread-id}.
30933
30934 Reply:
30935 @table @samp
30936 @item OK
30937 for success
30938 @item E @var{NN}
30939 for an error
30940 @end table
30941
30942 @item vFlashWrite:@var{addr}:@var{XX@dots{}}
30943 @cindex @samp{vFlashWrite} packet
30944 Direct the stub to write data to flash address @var{addr}. The data
30945 is passed in binary form using the same encoding as for the @samp{X}
30946 packet (@pxref{Binary Data}). The memory ranges specified by
30947 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets preceding a @samp{vFlashDone} packet must
30948 not overlap, and must appear in order of increasing addresses
30949 (although @samp{vFlashErase} packets for higher addresses may already
30950 have been received; the ordering is guaranteed only between
30951 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets). If a packet writes to an address that was
30952 neither erased by a preceding @samp{vFlashErase} packet nor by some other
30953 target-specific method, the results are unpredictable.
30954
30955
30956 Reply:
30957 @table @samp
30958 @item OK
30959 for success
30960 @item E.memtype
30961 for vFlashWrite addressing non-flash memory
30962 @item E @var{NN}
30963 for an error
30964 @end table
30965
30966 @item vFlashDone
30967 @cindex @samp{vFlashDone} packet
30968 Indicate to the stub that flash programming operation is finished.
30969 The stub is permitted to delay or batch the effects of a group of
30970 @samp{vFlashErase} and @samp{vFlashWrite} packets until a
30971 @samp{vFlashDone} packet is received. The contents of the affected
30972 regions of flash memory are unpredictable until the @samp{vFlashDone}
30973 request is completed.
30974
30975 @item vKill;@var{pid}
30976 @cindex @samp{vKill} packet
30977 Kill the process with the specified process ID. @var{pid} is a
30978 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. This packet is used in
30979 preference to @samp{k} when multiprocess protocol extensions are
30980 supported; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
30981
30982 Reply:
30983 @table @samp
30984 @item E @var{nn}
30985 for an error
30986 @item OK
30987 for success
30988 @end table
30989
30990 @item vRun;@var{filename}@r{[};@var{argument}@r{]}@dots{}
30991 @cindex @samp{vRun} packet
30992 Run the program @var{filename}, passing it each @var{argument} on its
30993 command line. The file and arguments are hex-encoded strings. If
30994 @var{filename} is an empty string, the stub may use a default program
30995 (e.g.@: the last program run). The program is created in the stopped
30996 state.
30997
30998 @c FIXME: What about non-stop mode?
30999
31000 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
31001
31002 Reply:
31003 @table @samp
31004 @item E @var{nn}
31005 for an error
31006 @item @r{Any stop packet}
31007 for success (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
31008 @end table
31009
31010 @item vStopped
31011 @anchor{vStopped packet}
31012 @cindex @samp{vStopped} packet
31013
31014 In non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}), acknowledge a previous stop
31015 reply and prompt for the stub to report another one.
31016
31017 Reply:
31018 @table @samp
31019 @item @r{Any stop packet}
31020 if there is another unreported stop event (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
31021 @item OK
31022 if there are no unreported stop events
31023 @end table
31024
31025 @item X @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
31026 @anchor{X packet}
31027 @cindex @samp{X} packet
31028 Write data to memory, where the data is transmitted in binary.
31029 @var{addr} is address, @var{length} is number of bytes,
31030 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
31031
31032 Reply:
31033 @table @samp
31034 @item OK
31035 for success
31036 @item E @var{NN}
31037 for an error
31038 @end table
31039
31040 @item z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
31041 @itemx Z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
31042 @anchor{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}
31043 @cindex @samp{z} packet
31044 @cindex @samp{Z} packets
31045 Insert (@samp{Z}) or remove (@samp{z}) a @var{type} breakpoint or
31046 watchpoint starting at address @var{address} of kind @var{kind}.
31047
31048 Each breakpoint and watchpoint packet @var{type} is documented
31049 separately.
31050
31051 @emph{Implementation notes: A remote target shall return an empty string
31052 for an unrecognized breakpoint or watchpoint packet @var{type}. A
31053 remote target shall support either both or neither of a given
31054 @samp{Z@var{type}@dots{}} and @samp{z@var{type}@dots{}} packet pair. To
31055 avoid potential problems with duplicate packets, the operations should
31056 be implemented in an idempotent way.}
31057
31058 @item z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31059 @itemx Z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31060 @cindex @samp{z0} packet
31061 @cindex @samp{Z0} packet
31062 Insert (@samp{Z0}) or remove (@samp{z0}) a memory breakpoint at address
31063 @var{addr} of type @var{kind}.
31064
31065 A memory breakpoint is implemented by replacing the instruction at
31066 @var{addr} with a software breakpoint or trap instruction. The
31067 @var{kind} is target-specific and typically indicates the size of
31068 the breakpoint in bytes that should be inserted. E.g., the @sc{arm}
31069 and @sc{mips} can insert either a 2 or 4 byte breakpoint. Some
31070 architectures have additional meanings for @var{kind};
31071 see @ref{Architecture-Specific Protocol Details}.
31072
31073 @emph{Implementation note: It is possible for a target to copy or move
31074 code that contains memory breakpoints (e.g., when implementing
31075 overlays). The behavior of this packet, in the presence of such a
31076 target, is not defined.}
31077
31078 Reply:
31079 @table @samp
31080 @item OK
31081 success
31082 @item
31083 not supported
31084 @item E @var{NN}
31085 for an error
31086 @end table
31087
31088 @item z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31089 @itemx Z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31090 @cindex @samp{z1} packet
31091 @cindex @samp{Z1} packet
31092 Insert (@samp{Z1}) or remove (@samp{z1}) a hardware breakpoint at
31093 address @var{addr}.
31094
31095 A hardware breakpoint is implemented using a mechanism that is not
31096 dependant on being able to modify the target's memory. @var{kind}
31097 has the same meaning as in @samp{Z0} packets.
31098
31099 @emph{Implementation note: A hardware breakpoint is not affected by code
31100 movement.}
31101
31102 Reply:
31103 @table @samp
31104 @item OK
31105 success
31106 @item
31107 not supported
31108 @item E @var{NN}
31109 for an error
31110 @end table
31111
31112 @item z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31113 @itemx Z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31114 @cindex @samp{z2} packet
31115 @cindex @samp{Z2} packet
31116 Insert (@samp{Z2}) or remove (@samp{z2}) a write watchpoint at @var{addr}.
31117 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
31118
31119 Reply:
31120 @table @samp
31121 @item OK
31122 success
31123 @item
31124 not supported
31125 @item E @var{NN}
31126 for an error
31127 @end table
31128
31129 @item z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31130 @itemx Z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31131 @cindex @samp{z3} packet
31132 @cindex @samp{Z3} packet
31133 Insert (@samp{Z3}) or remove (@samp{z3}) a read watchpoint at @var{addr}.
31134 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
31135
31136 Reply:
31137 @table @samp
31138 @item OK
31139 success
31140 @item
31141 not supported
31142 @item E @var{NN}
31143 for an error
31144 @end table
31145
31146 @item z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31147 @itemx Z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
31148 @cindex @samp{z4} packet
31149 @cindex @samp{Z4} packet
31150 Insert (@samp{Z4}) or remove (@samp{z4}) an access watchpoint at @var{addr}.
31151 @var{kind} is interpreted as the number of bytes to watch.
31152
31153 Reply:
31154 @table @samp
31155 @item OK
31156 success
31157 @item
31158 not supported
31159 @item E @var{NN}
31160 for an error
31161 @end table
31162
31163 @end table
31164
31165 @node Stop Reply Packets
31166 @section Stop Reply Packets
31167 @cindex stop reply packets
31168
31169 The @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}, @samp{s}, @samp{vCont},
31170 @samp{vAttach}, @samp{vRun}, @samp{vStopped}, and @samp{?} packets can
31171 receive any of the below as a reply. Except for @samp{?}
31172 and @samp{vStopped}, that reply is only returned
31173 when the target halts. In the below the exact meaning of @dfn{signal
31174 number} is defined by the header @file{include/gdb/signals.h} in the
31175 @value{GDBN} source code.
31176
31177 As in the description of request packets, we include spaces in the
31178 reply templates for clarity; these are not part of the reply packet's
31179 syntax. No @value{GDBN} stop reply packet uses spaces to separate its
31180 components.
31181
31182 @table @samp
31183
31184 @item S @var{AA}
31185 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
31186 number). This is equivalent to a @samp{T} response with no
31187 @var{n}:@var{r} pairs.
31188
31189 @item T @var{AA} @var{n1}:@var{r1};@var{n2}:@var{r2};@dots{}
31190 @cindex @samp{T} packet reply
31191 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
31192 number). This is equivalent to an @samp{S} response, except that the
31193 @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pairs can carry values of important registers
31194 and other information directly in the stop reply packet, reducing
31195 round-trip latency. Single-step and breakpoint traps are reported
31196 this way. Each @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair is interpreted as follows:
31197
31198 @itemize @bullet
31199 @item
31200 If @var{n} is a hexadecimal number, it is a register number, and the
31201 corresponding @var{r} gives that register's value. @var{r} is a
31202 series of bytes in target byte order, with each byte given by a
31203 two-digit hex number.
31204
31205 @item
31206 If @var{n} is @samp{thread}, then @var{r} is the @var{thread-id} of
31207 the stopped thread, as specified in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
31208
31209 @item
31210 If @var{n} is @samp{core}, then @var{r} is the hexadecimal number of
31211 the core on which the stop event was detected.
31212
31213 @item
31214 If @var{n} is a recognized @dfn{stop reason}, it describes a more
31215 specific event that stopped the target. The currently defined stop
31216 reasons are listed below. @var{aa} should be @samp{05}, the trap
31217 signal. At most one stop reason should be present.
31218
31219 @item
31220 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} should ignore this @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair
31221 and go on to the next; this allows us to extend the protocol in the
31222 future.
31223 @end itemize
31224
31225 The currently defined stop reasons are:
31226
31227 @table @samp
31228 @item watch
31229 @itemx rwatch
31230 @itemx awatch
31231 The packet indicates a watchpoint hit, and @var{r} is the data address, in
31232 hex.
31233
31234 @cindex shared library events, remote reply
31235 @item library
31236 The packet indicates that the loaded libraries have changed.
31237 @value{GDBN} should use @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} to fetch a new
31238 list of loaded libraries. @var{r} is ignored.
31239
31240 @cindex replay log events, remote reply
31241 @item replaylog
31242 The packet indicates that the target cannot continue replaying
31243 logged execution events, because it has reached the end (or the
31244 beginning when executing backward) of the log. The value of @var{r}
31245 will be either @samp{begin} or @samp{end}. @xref{Reverse Execution},
31246 for more information.
31247 @end table
31248
31249 @item W @var{AA}
31250 @itemx W @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
31251 The process exited, and @var{AA} is the exit status. This is only
31252 applicable to certain targets.
31253
31254 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the exited
31255 process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported support for
31256 multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
31257 The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
31258
31259 @item X @var{AA}
31260 @itemx X @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
31261 The process terminated with signal @var{AA}.
31262
31263 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the
31264 terminated process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported
31265 support for multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess
31266 extensions}. The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
31267
31268 @item O @var{XX}@dots{}
31269 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data, to be
31270 written as the program's console output. This can happen at any time
31271 while the program is running and the debugger should continue to wait
31272 for @samp{W}, @samp{T}, etc. This reply is not permitted in non-stop mode.
31273
31274 @item F @var{call-id},@var{parameter}@dots{}
31275 @var{call-id} is the identifier which says which host system call should
31276 be called. This is just the name of the function. Translation into the
31277 correct system call is only applicable as it's defined in @value{GDBN}.
31278 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for a list of implemented
31279 system calls.
31280
31281 @samp{@var{parameter}@dots{}} is a list of parameters as defined for
31282 this very system call.
31283
31284 The target replies with this packet when it expects @value{GDBN} to
31285 call a host system call on behalf of the target. @value{GDBN} replies
31286 with an appropriate @samp{F} packet and keeps up waiting for the next
31287 reply packet from the target. The latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
31288 or @samp{s} action is expected to be continued. @xref{File-I/O Remote
31289 Protocol Extension}, for more details.
31290
31291 @end table
31292
31293 @node General Query Packets
31294 @section General Query Packets
31295 @cindex remote query requests
31296
31297 Packets starting with @samp{q} are @dfn{general query packets};
31298 packets starting with @samp{Q} are @dfn{general set packets}. General
31299 query and set packets are a semi-unified form for retrieving and
31300 sending information to and from the stub.
31301
31302 The initial letter of a query or set packet is followed by a name
31303 indicating what sort of thing the packet applies to. For example,
31304 @value{GDBN} may use a @samp{qSymbol} packet to exchange symbol
31305 definitions with the stub. These packet names follow some
31306 conventions:
31307
31308 @itemize @bullet
31309 @item
31310 The name must not contain commas, colons or semicolons.
31311 @item
31312 Most @value{GDBN} query and set packets have a leading upper case
31313 letter.
31314 @item
31315 The names of custom vendor packets should use a company prefix, in
31316 lower case, followed by a period. For example, packets designed at
31317 the Acme Corporation might begin with @samp{qacme.foo} (for querying
31318 foos) or @samp{Qacme.bar} (for setting bars).
31319 @end itemize
31320
31321 The name of a query or set packet should be separated from any
31322 parameters by a @samp{:}; the parameters themselves should be
31323 separated by @samp{,} or @samp{;}. Stubs must be careful to match the
31324 full packet name, and check for a separator or the end of the packet,
31325 in case two packet names share a common prefix. New packets should not begin
31326 with @samp{qC}, @samp{qP}, or @samp{qL}@footnote{The @samp{qP} and @samp{qL}
31327 packets predate these conventions, and have arguments without any terminator
31328 for the packet name; we suspect they are in widespread use in places that
31329 are difficult to upgrade. The @samp{qC} packet has no arguments, but some
31330 existing stubs (e.g.@: RedBoot) are known to not check for the end of the
31331 packet.}.
31332
31333 Like the descriptions of the other packets, each description here
31334 has a template showing the packet's overall syntax, followed by an
31335 explanation of the packet's meaning. We include spaces in some of the
31336 templates for clarity; these are not part of the packet's syntax. No
31337 @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to separate its components.
31338
31339 Here are the currently defined query and set packets:
31340
31341 @table @samp
31342
31343 @item QAllow:@var{op}:@var{val}@dots{}
31344 @cindex @samp{QAllow} packet
31345 Specify which operations @value{GDBN} expects to request of the
31346 target, as a semicolon-separated list of operation name and value
31347 pairs. Possible values for @var{op} include @samp{WriteReg},
31348 @samp{WriteMem}, @samp{InsertBreak}, @samp{InsertTrace},
31349 @samp{InsertFastTrace}, and @samp{Stop}. @var{val} is either 0,
31350 indicating that @value{GDBN} will not request the operation, or 1,
31351 indicating that it may. (The target can then use this to set up its
31352 own internals optimally, for instance if the debugger never expects to
31353 insert breakpoints, it may not need to install its own trap handler.)
31354
31355 @item qC
31356 @cindex current thread, remote request
31357 @cindex @samp{qC} packet
31358 Return the current thread ID.
31359
31360 Reply:
31361 @table @samp
31362 @item QC @var{thread-id}
31363 Where @var{thread-id} is a thread ID as documented in
31364 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
31365 @item @r{(anything else)}
31366 Any other reply implies the old thread ID.
31367 @end table
31368
31369 @item qCRC:@var{addr},@var{length}
31370 @cindex CRC of memory block, remote request
31371 @cindex @samp{qCRC} packet
31372 Compute the CRC checksum of a block of memory using CRC-32 defined in
31373 IEEE 802.3. The CRC is computed byte at a time, taking the most
31374 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern code
31375 @code{0xffffffff} is used to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC.
31376
31377 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC used in validating separate debug
31378 files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files, , Debugging Information in Separate
31379 Files}). However the algorithm is slightly different. When validating
31380 separate debug files, the CRC is computed taking the @emph{least}
31381 significant bit of each byte first, and the final result is inverted to
31382 detect trailing zeros.
31383
31384 Reply:
31385 @table @samp
31386 @item E @var{NN}
31387 An error (such as memory fault)
31388 @item C @var{crc32}
31389 The specified memory region's checksum is @var{crc32}.
31390 @end table
31391
31392 @item qfThreadInfo
31393 @itemx qsThreadInfo
31394 @cindex list active threads, remote request
31395 @cindex @samp{qfThreadInfo} packet
31396 @cindex @samp{qsThreadInfo} packet
31397 Obtain a list of all active thread IDs from the target (OS). Since there
31398 may be too many active threads to fit into one reply packet, this query
31399 works iteratively: it may require more than one query/reply sequence to
31400 obtain the entire list of threads. The first query of the sequence will
31401 be the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query; subsequent queries in the
31402 sequence will be the @samp{qsThreadInfo} query.
31403
31404 NOTE: This packet replaces the @samp{qL} query (see below).
31405
31406 Reply:
31407 @table @samp
31408 @item m @var{thread-id}
31409 A single thread ID
31410 @item m @var{thread-id},@var{thread-id}@dots{}
31411 a comma-separated list of thread IDs
31412 @item l
31413 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
31414 @end table
31415
31416 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
31417 more thread IDs, separated by commas.
31418 @value{GDBN} will respond to each reply with a request for more thread
31419 ids (using the @samp{qs} form of the query), until the target responds
31420 with @samp{l} (lower-case el, for @dfn{last}).
31421 Refer to @ref{thread-id syntax}, for the format of the @var{thread-id}
31422 fields.
31423
31424 @item qGetTLSAddr:@var{thread-id},@var{offset},@var{lm}
31425 @cindex get thread-local storage address, remote request
31426 @cindex @samp{qGetTLSAddr} packet
31427 Fetch the address associated with thread local storage specified
31428 by @var{thread-id}, @var{offset}, and @var{lm}.
31429
31430 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the
31431 thread for which to fetch the TLS address. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
31432
31433 @var{offset} is the (big endian, hex encoded) offset associated with the
31434 thread local variable. (This offset is obtained from the debug
31435 information associated with the variable.)
31436
31437 @var{lm} is the (big endian, hex encoded) OS/ABI-specific encoding of the
31438 the load module associated with the thread local storage. For example,
31439 a @sc{gnu}/Linux system will pass the link map address of the shared
31440 object associated with the thread local storage under consideration.
31441 Other operating environments may choose to represent the load module
31442 differently, so the precise meaning of this parameter will vary.
31443
31444 Reply:
31445 @table @samp
31446 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
31447 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the address of the thread
31448 local storage requested.
31449
31450 @item E @var{nn}
31451 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
31452
31453 @item
31454 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTLSAddr} is not supported by the stub.
31455 @end table
31456
31457 @item qGetTIBAddr:@var{thread-id}
31458 @cindex get thread information block address
31459 @cindex @samp{qGetTIBAddr} packet
31460 Fetch address of the Windows OS specific Thread Information Block.
31461
31462 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the thread.
31463
31464 Reply:
31465 @table @samp
31466 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
31467 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the linear address of the
31468 thread information block.
31469
31470 @item E @var{nn}
31471 An error occured. This means that either the thread was not found, or the
31472 address could not be retrieved.
31473
31474 @item
31475 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTIBAddr} is not supported by the stub.
31476 @end table
31477
31478 @item qL @var{startflag} @var{threadcount} @var{nextthread}
31479 Obtain thread information from RTOS. Where: @var{startflag} (one hex
31480 digit) is one to indicate the first query and zero to indicate a
31481 subsequent query; @var{threadcount} (two hex digits) is the maximum
31482 number of threads the response packet can contain; and @var{nextthread}
31483 (eight hex digits), for subsequent queries (@var{startflag} is zero), is
31484 returned in the response as @var{argthread}.
31485
31486 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query instead (see above).
31487
31488 Reply:
31489 @table @samp
31490 @item qM @var{count} @var{done} @var{argthread} @var{thread}@dots{}
31491 Where: @var{count} (two hex digits) is the number of threads being
31492 returned; @var{done} (one hex digit) is zero to indicate more threads
31493 and one indicates no further threads; @var{argthreadid} (eight hex
31494 digits) is @var{nextthread} from the request packet; @var{thread}@dots{}
31495 is a sequence of thread IDs from the target. @var{threadid} (eight hex
31496 digits). See @code{remote.c:parse_threadlist_response()}.
31497 @end table
31498
31499 @item qOffsets
31500 @cindex section offsets, remote request
31501 @cindex @samp{qOffsets} packet
31502 Get section offsets that the target used when relocating the downloaded
31503 image.
31504
31505 Reply:
31506 @table @samp
31507 @item Text=@var{xxx};Data=@var{yyy}@r{[};Bss=@var{zzz}@r{]}
31508 Relocate the @code{Text} section by @var{xxx} from its original address.
31509 Relocate the @code{Data} section by @var{yyy} from its original address.
31510 If the object file format provides segment information (e.g.@: @sc{elf}
31511 @samp{PT_LOAD} program headers), @value{GDBN} will relocate entire
31512 segments by the supplied offsets.
31513
31514 @emph{Note: while a @code{Bss} offset may be included in the response,
31515 @value{GDBN} ignores this and instead applies the @code{Data} offset
31516 to the @code{Bss} section.}
31517
31518 @item TextSeg=@var{xxx}@r{[};DataSeg=@var{yyy}@r{]}
31519 Relocate the first segment of the object file, which conventionally
31520 contains program code, to a starting address of @var{xxx}. If
31521 @samp{DataSeg} is specified, relocate the second segment, which
31522 conventionally contains modifiable data, to a starting address of
31523 @var{yyy}. @value{GDBN} will report an error if the object file
31524 does not contain segment information, or does not contain at least
31525 as many segments as mentioned in the reply. Extra segments are
31526 kept at fixed offsets relative to the last relocated segment.
31527 @end table
31528
31529 @item qP @var{mode} @var{thread-id}
31530 @cindex thread information, remote request
31531 @cindex @samp{qP} packet
31532 Returns information on @var{thread-id}. Where: @var{mode} is a hex
31533 encoded 32 bit mode; @var{thread-id} is a thread ID
31534 (@pxref{thread-id syntax}).
31535
31536 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} query instead
31537 (see below).
31538
31539 Reply: see @code{remote.c:remote_unpack_thread_info_response()}.
31540
31541 @item QNonStop:1
31542 @item QNonStop:0
31543 @cindex non-stop mode, remote request
31544 @cindex @samp{QNonStop} packet
31545 @anchor{QNonStop}
31546 Enter non-stop (@samp{QNonStop:1}) or all-stop (@samp{QNonStop:0}) mode.
31547 @xref{Remote Non-Stop}, for more information.
31548
31549 Reply:
31550 @table @samp
31551 @item OK
31552 The request succeeded.
31553
31554 @item E @var{nn}
31555 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
31556
31557 @item
31558 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QNonStop} is not supported by
31559 the stub.
31560 @end table
31561
31562 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
31563 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
31564 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set non-stop} command;
31565 @pxref{Non-Stop Mode}.
31566
31567 @item QPassSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
31568 @cindex pass signals to inferior, remote request
31569 @cindex @samp{QPassSignals} packet
31570 @anchor{QPassSignals}
31571 Each listed @var{signal} should be passed directly to the inferior process.
31572 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
31573 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
31574 strictly greater than the previous item. These signals do not need to stop
31575 the inferior, or be reported to @value{GDBN}. All other signals should be
31576 reported to @value{GDBN}. Multiple @samp{QPassSignals} packets do not
31577 combine; any earlier @samp{QPassSignals} list is completely replaced by the
31578 new list. This packet improves performance when using @samp{handle
31579 @var{signal} nostop noprint pass}.
31580
31581 Reply:
31582 @table @samp
31583 @item OK
31584 The request succeeded.
31585
31586 @item E @var{nn}
31587 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
31588
31589 @item
31590 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QPassSignals} is not supported by
31591 the stub.
31592 @end table
31593
31594 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote pass-signals}
31595 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote pass-signals}).
31596 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
31597 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
31598
31599 @item qRcmd,@var{command}
31600 @cindex execute remote command, remote request
31601 @cindex @samp{qRcmd} packet
31602 @var{command} (hex encoded) is passed to the local interpreter for
31603 execution. Invalid commands should be reported using the output
31604 string. Before the final result packet, the target may also respond
31605 with a number of intermediate @samp{O@var{output}} console output
31606 packets. @emph{Implementors should note that providing access to a
31607 stubs's interpreter may have security implications}.
31608
31609 Reply:
31610 @table @samp
31611 @item OK
31612 A command response with no output.
31613 @item @var{OUTPUT}
31614 A command response with the hex encoded output string @var{OUTPUT}.
31615 @item E @var{NN}
31616 Indicate a badly formed request.
31617 @item
31618 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qRcmd} is not recognized.
31619 @end table
31620
31621 (Note that the @code{qRcmd} packet's name is separated from the
31622 command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
31623 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
31624 packets.)
31625
31626 @item qSearch:memory:@var{address};@var{length};@var{search-pattern}
31627 @cindex searching memory, in remote debugging
31628 @cindex @samp{qSearch:memory} packet
31629 @anchor{qSearch memory}
31630 Search @var{length} bytes at @var{address} for @var{search-pattern}.
31631 @var{address} and @var{length} are encoded in hex.
31632 @var{search-pattern} is a sequence of bytes, hex encoded.
31633
31634 Reply:
31635 @table @samp
31636 @item 0
31637 The pattern was not found.
31638 @item 1,address
31639 The pattern was found at @var{address}.
31640 @item E @var{NN}
31641 A badly formed request or an error was encountered while searching memory.
31642 @item
31643 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSearch:memory} is not recognized.
31644 @end table
31645
31646 @item QStartNoAckMode
31647 @cindex @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet
31648 @anchor{QStartNoAckMode}
31649 Request that the remote stub disable the normal @samp{+}/@samp{-}
31650 protocol acknowledgments (@pxref{Packet Acknowledgment}).
31651
31652 Reply:
31653 @table @samp
31654 @item OK
31655 The stub has switched to no-acknowledgment mode.
31656 @value{GDBN} acknowledges this reponse,
31657 but neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or expect further
31658 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments in the current connection.
31659 @item
31660 An empty reply indicates that the stub does not support no-acknowledgment mode.
31661 @end table
31662
31663 @item qSupported @r{[}:@var{gdbfeature} @r{[};@var{gdbfeature}@r{]}@dots{} @r{]}
31664 @cindex supported packets, remote query
31665 @cindex features of the remote protocol
31666 @cindex @samp{qSupported} packet
31667 @anchor{qSupported}
31668 Tell the remote stub about features supported by @value{GDBN}, and
31669 query the stub for features it supports. This packet allows
31670 @value{GDBN} and the remote stub to take advantage of each others'
31671 features. @samp{qSupported} also consolidates multiple feature probes
31672 at startup, to improve @value{GDBN} performance---a single larger
31673 packet performs better than multiple smaller probe packets on
31674 high-latency links. Some features may enable behavior which must not
31675 be on by default, e.g.@: because it would confuse older clients or
31676 stubs. Other features may describe packets which could be
31677 automatically probed for, but are not. These features must be
31678 reported before @value{GDBN} will use them. This ``default
31679 unsupported'' behavior is not appropriate for all packets, but it
31680 helps to keep the initial connection time under control with new
31681 versions of @value{GDBN} which support increasing numbers of packets.
31682
31683 Reply:
31684 @table @samp
31685 @item @var{stubfeature} @r{[};@var{stubfeature}@r{]}@dots{}
31686 The stub supports or does not support each returned @var{stubfeature},
31687 depending on the form of each @var{stubfeature} (see below for the
31688 possible forms).
31689 @item
31690 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSupported} is not recognized,
31691 or that no features needed to be reported to @value{GDBN}.
31692 @end table
31693
31694 The allowed forms for each feature (either a @var{gdbfeature} in the
31695 @samp{qSupported} packet, or a @var{stubfeature} in the response)
31696 are:
31697
31698 @table @samp
31699 @item @var{name}=@var{value}
31700 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and associated
31701 with the specified @var{value}. The format of @var{value} depends
31702 on the feature, but it must not include a semicolon.
31703 @item @var{name}+
31704 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and does not
31705 need an associated value.
31706 @item @var{name}-
31707 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is not supported.
31708 @item @var{name}?
31709 The remote protocol feature @var{name} may be supported, and
31710 @value{GDBN} should auto-detect support in some other way when it is
31711 needed. This form will not be used for @var{gdbfeature} notifications,
31712 but may be used for @var{stubfeature} responses.
31713 @end table
31714
31715 Whenever the stub receives a @samp{qSupported} request, the
31716 supplied set of @value{GDBN} features should override any previous
31717 request. This allows @value{GDBN} to put the stub in a known
31718 state, even if the stub had previously been communicating with
31719 a different version of @value{GDBN}.
31720
31721 The following values of @var{gdbfeature} (for the packet sent by @value{GDBN})
31722 are defined:
31723
31724 @table @samp
31725 @item multiprocess
31726 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports multiprocess
31727 extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
31728 extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
31729 including @samp{multiprocess+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
31730 @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for details.
31731
31732 @item xmlRegisters
31733 This feature indicates that @value{GDBN} supports the XML target
31734 description. If the stub sees @samp{xmlRegisters=} with target
31735 specific strings separated by a comma, it will report register
31736 description.
31737
31738 @item qRelocInsn
31739 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports the
31740 @samp{qRelocInsn} packet (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
31741 instruction reply packet}).
31742 @end table
31743
31744 Stubs should ignore any unknown values for
31745 @var{gdbfeature}. Any @value{GDBN} which sends a @samp{qSupported}
31746 packet supports receiving packets of unlimited length (earlier
31747 versions of @value{GDBN} may reject overly long responses). Additional values
31748 for @var{gdbfeature} may be defined in the future to let the stub take
31749 advantage of new features in @value{GDBN}, e.g.@: incompatible
31750 improvements in the remote protocol---the @samp{multiprocess} feature is
31751 an example of such a feature. The stub's reply should be independent
31752 of the @var{gdbfeature} entries sent by @value{GDBN}; first @value{GDBN}
31753 describes all the features it supports, and then the stub replies with
31754 all the features it supports.
31755
31756 Similarly, @value{GDBN} will silently ignore unrecognized stub feature
31757 responses, as long as each response uses one of the standard forms.
31758
31759 Some features are flags. A stub which supports a flag feature
31760 should respond with a @samp{+} form response. Other features
31761 require values, and the stub should respond with an @samp{=}
31762 form response.
31763
31764 Each feature has a default value, which @value{GDBN} will use if
31765 @samp{qSupported} is not available or if the feature is not mentioned
31766 in the @samp{qSupported} response. The default values are fixed; a
31767 stub is free to omit any feature responses that match the defaults.
31768
31769 Not all features can be probed, but for those which can, the probing
31770 mechanism is useful: in some cases, a stub's internal
31771 architecture may not allow the protocol layer to know some information
31772 about the underlying target in advance. This is especially common in
31773 stubs which may be configured for multiple targets.
31774
31775 These are the currently defined stub features and their properties:
31776
31777 @multitable @columnfractions 0.35 0.2 0.12 0.2
31778 @c NOTE: The first row should be @headitem, but we do not yet require
31779 @c a new enough version of Texinfo (4.7) to use @headitem.
31780 @item Feature Name
31781 @tab Value Required
31782 @tab Default
31783 @tab Probe Allowed
31784
31785 @item @samp{PacketSize}
31786 @tab Yes
31787 @tab @samp{-}
31788 @tab No
31789
31790 @item @samp{qXfer:auxv:read}
31791 @tab No
31792 @tab @samp{-}
31793 @tab Yes
31794
31795 @item @samp{qXfer:features:read}
31796 @tab No
31797 @tab @samp{-}
31798 @tab Yes
31799
31800 @item @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
31801 @tab No
31802 @tab @samp{-}
31803 @tab Yes
31804
31805 @item @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
31806 @tab No
31807 @tab @samp{-}
31808 @tab Yes
31809
31810 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:read}
31811 @tab No
31812 @tab @samp{-}
31813 @tab Yes
31814
31815 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:write}
31816 @tab No
31817 @tab @samp{-}
31818 @tab Yes
31819
31820 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read}
31821 @tab No
31822 @tab @samp{-}
31823 @tab Yes
31824
31825 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write}
31826 @tab No
31827 @tab @samp{-}
31828 @tab Yes
31829
31830 @item @samp{qXfer:threads:read}
31831 @tab No
31832 @tab @samp{-}
31833 @tab Yes
31834
31835
31836 @item @samp{QNonStop}
31837 @tab No
31838 @tab @samp{-}
31839 @tab Yes
31840
31841 @item @samp{QPassSignals}
31842 @tab No
31843 @tab @samp{-}
31844 @tab Yes
31845
31846 @item @samp{QStartNoAckMode}
31847 @tab No
31848 @tab @samp{-}
31849 @tab Yes
31850
31851 @item @samp{multiprocess}
31852 @tab No
31853 @tab @samp{-}
31854 @tab No
31855
31856 @item @samp{ConditionalTracepoints}
31857 @tab No
31858 @tab @samp{-}
31859 @tab No
31860
31861 @item @samp{ReverseContinue}
31862 @tab No
31863 @tab @samp{-}
31864 @tab No
31865
31866 @item @samp{ReverseStep}
31867 @tab No
31868 @tab @samp{-}
31869 @tab No
31870
31871 @item @samp{TracepointSource}
31872 @tab No
31873 @tab @samp{-}
31874 @tab No
31875
31876 @item @samp{QAllow}
31877 @tab No
31878 @tab @samp{-}
31879 @tab No
31880
31881 @end multitable
31882
31883 These are the currently defined stub features, in more detail:
31884
31885 @table @samp
31886 @cindex packet size, remote protocol
31887 @item PacketSize=@var{bytes}
31888 The remote stub can accept packets up to at least @var{bytes} in
31889 length. @value{GDBN} will send packets up to this size for bulk
31890 transfers, and will never send larger packets. This is a limit on the
31891 data characters in the packet, including the frame and checksum.
31892 There is no trailing NUL byte in a remote protocol packet; if the stub
31893 stores packets in a NUL-terminated format, it should allow an extra
31894 byte in its buffer for the NUL. If this stub feature is not supported,
31895 @value{GDBN} guesses based on the size of the @samp{g} packet response.
31896
31897 @item qXfer:auxv:read
31898 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet
31899 (@pxref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}).
31900
31901 @item qXfer:features:read
31902 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:features:read} packet
31903 (@pxref{qXfer target description read}).
31904
31905 @item qXfer:libraries:read
31906 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet
31907 (@pxref{qXfer library list read}).
31908
31909 @item qXfer:memory-map:read
31910 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read} packet
31911 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}).
31912
31913 @item qXfer:spu:read
31914 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:read} packet
31915 (@pxref{qXfer spu read}).
31916
31917 @item qXfer:spu:write
31918 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:write} packet
31919 (@pxref{qXfer spu write}).
31920
31921 @item qXfer:siginfo:read
31922 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read} packet
31923 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo read}).
31924
31925 @item qXfer:siginfo:write
31926 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write} packet
31927 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo write}).
31928
31929 @item qXfer:threads:read
31930 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
31931 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}).
31932
31933 @item QNonStop
31934 The remote stub understands the @samp{QNonStop} packet
31935 (@pxref{QNonStop}).
31936
31937 @item QPassSignals
31938 The remote stub understands the @samp{QPassSignals} packet
31939 (@pxref{QPassSignals}).
31940
31941 @item QStartNoAckMode
31942 The remote stub understands the @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet and
31943 prefers to operate in no-acknowledgment mode. @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}.
31944
31945 @item multiprocess
31946 @anchor{multiprocess extensions}
31947 @cindex multiprocess extensions, in remote protocol
31948 The remote stub understands the multiprocess extensions to the remote
31949 protocol syntax. The multiprocess extensions affect the syntax of
31950 thread IDs in both packets and replies (@pxref{thread-id syntax}), and
31951 add process IDs to the @samp{D} packet and @samp{W} and @samp{X}
31952 replies. Note that reporting this feature indicates support for the
31953 syntactic extensions only, not that the stub necessarily supports
31954 debugging of more than one process at a time. The stub must not use
31955 multiprocess extensions in packet replies unless @value{GDBN} has also
31956 indicated it supports them in its @samp{qSupported} request.
31957
31958 @item qXfer:osdata:read
31959 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet
31960 ((@pxref{qXfer osdata read}).
31961
31962 @item ConditionalTracepoints
31963 The remote stub accepts and implements conditional expressions defined
31964 for tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoint Conditions}).
31965
31966 @item ReverseContinue
31967 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse continue packet
31968 (@pxref{bc}).
31969
31970 @item ReverseStep
31971 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse step packet
31972 (@pxref{bs}).
31973
31974 @item TracepointSource
31975 The remote stub understands the @samp{QTDPsrc} packet that supplies
31976 the source form of tracepoint definitions.
31977
31978 @item QAllow
31979 The remote stub understands the @samp{QAllow} packet.
31980
31981 @end table
31982
31983 @item qSymbol::
31984 @cindex symbol lookup, remote request
31985 @cindex @samp{qSymbol} packet
31986 Notify the target that @value{GDBN} is prepared to serve symbol lookup
31987 requests. Accept requests from the target for the values of symbols.
31988
31989 Reply:
31990 @table @samp
31991 @item OK
31992 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
31993 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
31994 The target requests the value of symbol @var{sym_name} (hex encoded).
31995 @value{GDBN} may provide the value by using the
31996 @samp{qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}} message, described
31997 below.
31998 @end table
31999
32000 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}
32001 Set the value of @var{sym_name} to @var{sym_value}.
32002
32003 @var{sym_name} (hex encoded) is the name of a symbol whose value the
32004 target has previously requested.
32005
32006 @var{sym_value} (hex) is the value for symbol @var{sym_name}. If
32007 @value{GDBN} cannot supply a value for @var{sym_name}, then this field
32008 will be empty.
32009
32010 Reply:
32011 @table @samp
32012 @item OK
32013 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
32014 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
32015 The target requests the value of a new symbol @var{sym_name} (hex
32016 encoded). @value{GDBN} will continue to supply the values of symbols
32017 (if available), until the target ceases to request them.
32018 @end table
32019
32020 @item qTBuffer
32021 @item QTBuffer
32022 @item QTDisconnected
32023 @itemx QTDP
32024 @itemx QTDPsrc
32025 @itemx QTDV
32026 @itemx qTfP
32027 @itemx qTfV
32028 @itemx QTFrame
32029 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
32030
32031 @item qThreadExtraInfo,@var{thread-id}
32032 @cindex thread attributes info, remote request
32033 @cindex @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} packet
32034 Obtain a printable string description of a thread's attributes from
32035 the target OS. @var{thread-id} is a thread ID;
32036 see @ref{thread-id syntax}. This
32037 string may contain anything that the target OS thinks is interesting
32038 for @value{GDBN} to tell the user about the thread. The string is
32039 displayed in @value{GDBN}'s @code{info threads} display. Some
32040 examples of possible thread extra info strings are @samp{Runnable}, or
32041 @samp{Blocked on Mutex}.
32042
32043 Reply:
32044 @table @samp
32045 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
32046 Where @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is a hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data,
32047 comprising the printable string containing the extra information about
32048 the thread's attributes.
32049 @end table
32050
32051 (Note that the @code{qThreadExtraInfo} packet's name is separated from
32052 the command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
32053 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
32054 packets.)
32055
32056 @item QTSave
32057 @item qTsP
32058 @item qTsV
32059 @itemx QTStart
32060 @itemx QTStop
32061 @itemx QTinit
32062 @itemx QTro
32063 @itemx qTStatus
32064 @itemx qTV
32065 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
32066
32067 @item qXfer:@var{object}:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
32068 @cindex read special object, remote request
32069 @cindex @samp{qXfer} packet
32070 @anchor{qXfer read}
32071 Read uninterpreted bytes from the target's special data area
32072 identified by the keyword @var{object}. Request @var{length} bytes
32073 starting at @var{offset} bytes into the data. The content and
32074 encoding of @var{annex} is specific to @var{object}; it can supply
32075 additional details about what data to access.
32076
32077 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
32078 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:read:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
32079 formats, listed below.
32080
32081 @table @samp
32082 @item qXfer:auxv:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
32083 @anchor{qXfer auxiliary vector read}
32084 Access the target's @dfn{auxiliary vector}. @xref{OS Information,
32085 auxiliary vector}. Note @var{annex} must be empty.
32086
32087 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32088 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
32089
32090 @item qXfer:features:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
32091 @anchor{qXfer target description read}
32092 Access the @dfn{target description}. @xref{Target Descriptions}. The
32093 annex specifies which XML document to access. The main description is
32094 always loaded from the @samp{target.xml} annex.
32095
32096 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32097 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
32098
32099 @item qXfer:libraries:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
32100 @anchor{qXfer library list read}
32101 Access the target's list of loaded libraries. @xref{Library List Format}.
32102 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
32103 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
32104
32105 Targets which maintain a list of libraries in the program's memory do
32106 not need to implement this packet; it is designed for platforms where
32107 the operating system manages the list of loaded libraries.
32108
32109 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32110 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
32111
32112 @item qXfer:memory-map:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
32113 @anchor{qXfer memory map read}
32114 Access the target's @dfn{memory-map}. @xref{Memory Map Format}. The
32115 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
32116 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
32117
32118 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32119 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
32120
32121 @item qXfer:siginfo:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
32122 @anchor{qXfer siginfo read}
32123 Read contents of the extra signal information on the target
32124 system. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
32125 empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
32126
32127 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32128 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
32129 (@pxref{qSupported}).
32130
32131 @item qXfer:spu:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
32132 @anchor{qXfer spu read}
32133 Read contents of an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
32134 annex specifies which file to read; it must be of the form
32135 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
32136 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
32137 in that context to be accessed.
32138
32139 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32140 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
32141 (@pxref{qSupported}).
32142
32143 @item qXfer:threads:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
32144 @anchor{qXfer threads read}
32145 Access the list of threads on target. @xref{Thread List Format}. The
32146 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
32147 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
32148
32149 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32150 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
32151
32152 @item qXfer:osdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
32153 @anchor{qXfer osdata read}
32154 Access the target's @dfn{operating system information}.
32155 @xref{Operating System Information}.
32156
32157 @end table
32158
32159 Reply:
32160 @table @samp
32161 @item m @var{data}
32162 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the
32163 target. There may be more data at a higher address (although
32164 it is permitted to return @samp{m} even for the last valid
32165 block of data, as long as at least one byte of data was read).
32166 @var{data} may have fewer bytes than the @var{length} in the
32167 request.
32168
32169 @item l @var{data}
32170 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the target.
32171 There is no more data to be read. @var{data} may have fewer bytes
32172 than the @var{length} in the request.
32173
32174 @item l
32175 The @var{offset} in the request is at the end of the data.
32176 There is no more data to be read.
32177
32178 @item E00
32179 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
32180
32181 @item E @var{nn}
32182 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered reading the data.
32183 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
32184
32185 @item
32186 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not recognized by
32187 the stub, or that the object does not support reading.
32188 @end table
32189
32190 @item qXfer:@var{object}:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
32191 @cindex write data into object, remote request
32192 @anchor{qXfer write}
32193 Write uninterpreted bytes into the target's special data area
32194 identified by the keyword @var{object}, starting at @var{offset} bytes
32195 into the data. @var{data}@dots{} is the binary-encoded data
32196 (@pxref{Binary Data}) to be written. The content and encoding of @var{annex}
32197 is specific to @var{object}; it can supply additional details about what data
32198 to access.
32199
32200 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
32201 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:write:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
32202 formats, listed below.
32203
32204 @table @samp
32205 @item qXfer:siginfo:write::@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
32206 @anchor{qXfer siginfo write}
32207 Write @var{data} to the extra signal information on the target system.
32208 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
32209 empty (@pxref{qXfer write}).
32210
32211 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32212 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
32213 (@pxref{qSupported}).
32214
32215 @item qXfer:spu:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
32216 @anchor{qXfer spu write}
32217 Write @var{data} to an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
32218 annex specifies which file to write; it must be of the form
32219 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
32220 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
32221 in that context to be accessed.
32222
32223 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
32224 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
32225 @end table
32226
32227 Reply:
32228 @table @samp
32229 @item @var{nn}
32230 @var{nn} (hex encoded) is the number of bytes written.
32231 This may be fewer bytes than supplied in the request.
32232
32233 @item E00
32234 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
32235
32236 @item E @var{nn}
32237 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered writing the data.
32238 @var{nn} is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
32239
32240 @item
32241 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not
32242 recognized by the stub, or that the object does not support writing.
32243 @end table
32244
32245 @item qXfer:@var{object}:@var{operation}:@dots{}
32246 Requests of this form may be added in the future. When a stub does
32247 not recognize the @var{object} keyword, or its support for
32248 @var{object} does not recognize the @var{operation} keyword, the stub
32249 must respond with an empty packet.
32250
32251 @item qAttached:@var{pid}
32252 @cindex query attached, remote request
32253 @cindex @samp{qAttached} packet
32254 Return an indication of whether the remote server attached to an
32255 existing process or created a new process. When the multiprocess
32256 protocol extensions are supported (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}),
32257 @var{pid} is an integer in hexadecimal format identifying the target
32258 process. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} will omit the @var{pid} field and
32259 the query packet will be simplified as @samp{qAttached}.
32260
32261 This query is used, for example, to know whether the remote process
32262 should be detached or killed when a @value{GDBN} session is ended with
32263 the @code{quit} command.
32264
32265 Reply:
32266 @table @samp
32267 @item 1
32268 The remote server attached to an existing process.
32269 @item 0
32270 The remote server created a new process.
32271 @item E @var{NN}
32272 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
32273 @end table
32274
32275 @end table
32276
32277 @node Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
32278 @section Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
32279
32280 This section describes how the remote protocol is applied to specific
32281 target architectures. Also see @ref{Standard Target Features}, for
32282 details of XML target descriptions for each architecture.
32283
32284 @subsection ARM
32285
32286 @subsubsection Breakpoint Kinds
32287
32288 These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
32289
32290 @table @r
32291
32292 @item 2
32293 16-bit Thumb mode breakpoint.
32294
32295 @item 3
32296 32-bit Thumb mode (Thumb-2) breakpoint.
32297
32298 @item 4
32299 32-bit ARM mode breakpoint.
32300
32301 @end table
32302
32303 @subsection MIPS
32304
32305 @subsubsection Register Packet Format
32306
32307 The following @code{g}/@code{G} packets have previously been defined.
32308 In the below, some thirty-two bit registers are transferred as
32309 sixty-four bits. Those registers should be zero/sign extended (which?)
32310 to fill the space allocated. Register bytes are transferred in target
32311 byte order. The two nibbles within a register byte are transferred
32312 most-significant - least-significant.
32313
32314 @table @r
32315
32316 @item MIPS32
32317
32318 All registers are transferred as thirty-two bit quantities in the order:
32319 32 general-purpose; sr; lo; hi; bad; cause; pc; 32 floating-point
32320 registers; fsr; fir; fp.
32321
32322 @item MIPS64
32323
32324 All registers are transferred as sixty-four bit quantities (including
32325 thirty-two bit registers such as @code{sr}). The ordering is the same
32326 as @code{MIPS32}.
32327
32328 @end table
32329
32330 @node Tracepoint Packets
32331 @section Tracepoint Packets
32332 @cindex tracepoint packets
32333 @cindex packets, tracepoint
32334
32335 Here we describe the packets @value{GDBN} uses to implement
32336 tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
32337
32338 @table @samp
32339
32340 @item QTDP:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{ena}:@var{step}:@var{pass}[:F@var{flen}][:X@var{len},@var{bytes}]@r{[}-@r{]}
32341 Create a new tracepoint, number @var{n}, at @var{addr}. If @var{ena}
32342 is @samp{E}, then the tracepoint is enabled; if it is @samp{D}, then
32343 the tracepoint is disabled. @var{step} is the tracepoint's step
32344 count, and @var{pass} is its pass count. If an @samp{F} is present,
32345 then the tracepoint is to be a fast tracepoint, and the @var{flen} is
32346 the number of bytes that the target should copy elsewhere to make room
32347 for the tracepoint. If an @samp{X} is present, it introduces a
32348 tracepoint condition, which consists of a hexadecimal length, followed
32349 by a comma and hex-encoded bytes, in a manner similar to action
32350 encodings as described below. If the trailing @samp{-} is present,
32351 further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow to specify this tracepoint's
32352 actions.
32353
32354 Replies:
32355 @table @samp
32356 @item OK
32357 The packet was understood and carried out.
32358 @item qRelocInsn
32359 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
32360 @item
32361 The packet was not recognized.
32362 @end table
32363
32364 @item QTDP:-@var{n}:@var{addr}:@r{[}S@r{]}@var{action}@dots{}@r{[}-@r{]}
32365 Define actions to be taken when a tracepoint is hit. @var{n} and
32366 @var{addr} must be the same as in the initial @samp{QTDP} packet for
32367 this tracepoint. This packet may only be sent immediately after
32368 another @samp{QTDP} packet that ended with a @samp{-}. If the
32369 trailing @samp{-} is present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow,
32370 specifying more actions for this tracepoint.
32371
32372 In the series of action packets for a given tracepoint, at most one
32373 can have an @samp{S} before its first @var{action}. If such a packet
32374 is sent, it and the following packets define ``while-stepping''
32375 actions. Any prior packets define ordinary actions --- that is, those
32376 taken when the tracepoint is first hit. If no action packet has an
32377 @samp{S}, then all the packets in the series specify ordinary
32378 tracepoint actions.
32379
32380 The @samp{@var{action}@dots{}} portion of the packet is a series of
32381 actions, concatenated without separators. Each action has one of the
32382 following forms:
32383
32384 @table @samp
32385
32386 @item R @var{mask}
32387 Collect the registers whose bits are set in @var{mask}. @var{mask} is
32388 a hexadecimal number whose @var{i}'th bit is set if register number
32389 @var{i} should be collected. (The least significant bit is numbered
32390 zero.) Note that @var{mask} may be any number of digits long; it may
32391 not fit in a 32-bit word.
32392
32393 @item M @var{basereg},@var{offset},@var{len}
32394 Collect @var{len} bytes of memory starting at the address in register
32395 number @var{basereg}, plus @var{offset}. If @var{basereg} is
32396 @samp{-1}, then the range has a fixed address: @var{offset} is the
32397 address of the lowest byte to collect. The @var{basereg},
32398 @var{offset}, and @var{len} parameters are all unsigned hexadecimal
32399 values (the @samp{-1} value for @var{basereg} is a special case).
32400
32401 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
32402 Evaluate @var{expr}, whose length is @var{len}, and collect memory as
32403 it directs. @var{expr} is an agent expression, as described in
32404 @ref{Agent Expressions}. Each byte of the expression is encoded as a
32405 two-digit hex number in the packet; @var{len} is the number of bytes
32406 in the expression (and thus one-half the number of hex digits in the
32407 packet).
32408
32409 @end table
32410
32411 Any number of actions may be packed together in a single @samp{QTDP}
32412 packet, as long as the packet does not exceed the maximum packet
32413 length (400 bytes, for many stubs). There may be only one @samp{R}
32414 action per tracepoint, and it must precede any @samp{M} or @samp{X}
32415 actions. Any registers referred to by @samp{M} and @samp{X} actions
32416 must be collected by a preceding @samp{R} action. (The
32417 ``while-stepping'' actions are treated as if they were attached to a
32418 separate tracepoint, as far as these restrictions are concerned.)
32419
32420 Replies:
32421 @table @samp
32422 @item OK
32423 The packet was understood and carried out.
32424 @item qRelocInsn
32425 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
32426 @item
32427 The packet was not recognized.
32428 @end table
32429
32430 @item QTDPsrc:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{type}:@var{start}:@var{slen}:@var{bytes}
32431 @cindex @samp{QTDPsrc} packet
32432 Specify a source string of tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr}.
32433 This is useful to get accurate reproduction of the tracepoints
32434 originally downloaded at the beginning of the trace run. @var{type}
32435 is the name of the tracepoint part, such as @samp{cond} for the
32436 tracepoint's conditional expression (see below for a list of types), while
32437 @var{bytes} is the string, encoded in hexadecimal.
32438
32439 @var{start} is the offset of the @var{bytes} within the overall source
32440 string, while @var{slen} is the total length of the source string.
32441 This is intended for handling source strings that are longer than will
32442 fit in a single packet.
32443 @c Add detailed example when this info is moved into a dedicated
32444 @c tracepoint descriptions section.
32445
32446 The available string types are @samp{at} for the location,
32447 @samp{cond} for the conditional, and @samp{cmd} for an action command.
32448 @value{GDBN} sends a separate packet for each command in the action
32449 list, in the same order in which the commands are stored in the list.
32450
32451 The target does not need to do anything with source strings except
32452 report them back as part of the replies to the @samp{qTfP}/@samp{qTsP}
32453 query packets.
32454
32455 Although this packet is optional, and @value{GDBN} will only send it
32456 if the target replies with @samp{TracepointSource} @xref{General
32457 Query Packets}, it makes both disconnected tracing and trace files
32458 much easier to use. Otherwise the user must be careful that the
32459 tracepoints in effect while looking at trace frames are identical to
32460 the ones in effect during the trace run; even a small discrepancy
32461 could cause @samp{tdump} not to work, or a particular trace frame not
32462 be found.
32463
32464 @item QTDV:@var{n}:@var{value}
32465 @cindex define trace state variable, remote request
32466 @cindex @samp{QTDV} packet
32467 Create a new trace state variable, number @var{n}, with an initial
32468 value of @var{value}, which is a 64-bit signed integer. Both @var{n}
32469 and @var{value} are encoded as hexadecimal values. @value{GDBN} has
32470 the option of not using this packet for initial values of zero; the
32471 target should simply create the trace state variables as they are
32472 mentioned in expressions.
32473
32474 @item QTFrame:@var{n}
32475 Select the @var{n}'th tracepoint frame from the buffer, and use the
32476 register and memory contents recorded there to answer subsequent
32477 request packets from @value{GDBN}.
32478
32479 A successful reply from the stub indicates that the stub has found the
32480 requested frame. The response is a series of parts, concatenated
32481 without separators, describing the frame we selected. Each part has
32482 one of the following forms:
32483
32484 @table @samp
32485 @item F @var{f}
32486 The selected frame is number @var{n} in the trace frame buffer;
32487 @var{f} is a hexadecimal number. If @var{f} is @samp{-1}, then there
32488 was no frame matching the criteria in the request packet.
32489
32490 @item T @var{t}
32491 The selected trace frame records a hit of tracepoint number @var{t};
32492 @var{t} is a hexadecimal number.
32493
32494 @end table
32495
32496 @item QTFrame:pc:@var{addr}
32497 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
32498 currently selected frame whose PC is @var{addr};
32499 @var{addr} is a hexadecimal number.
32500
32501 @item QTFrame:tdp:@var{t}
32502 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
32503 currently selected frame that is a hit of tracepoint @var{t}; @var{t}
32504 is a hexadecimal number.
32505
32506 @item QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}
32507 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
32508 currently selected frame whose PC is between @var{start} (inclusive)
32509 and @var{end} (inclusive); @var{start} and @var{end} are hexadecimal
32510 numbers.
32511
32512 @item QTFrame:outside:@var{start}:@var{end}
32513 Like @samp{QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}}, but select the first
32514 frame @emph{outside} the given range of addresses (exclusive).
32515
32516 @item QTStart
32517 Begin the tracepoint experiment. Begin collecting data from
32518 tracepoint hits in the trace frame buffer. This packet supports the
32519 @samp{qRelocInsn} reply (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
32520 instruction reply packet}).
32521
32522 @item QTStop
32523 End the tracepoint experiment. Stop collecting trace frames.
32524
32525 @item QTinit
32526 Clear the table of tracepoints, and empty the trace frame buffer.
32527
32528 @item QTro:@var{start1},@var{end1}:@var{start2},@var{end2}:@dots{}
32529 Establish the given ranges of memory as ``transparent''. The stub
32530 will answer requests for these ranges from memory's current contents,
32531 if they were not collected as part of the tracepoint hit.
32532
32533 @value{GDBN} uses this to mark read-only regions of memory, like those
32534 containing program code. Since these areas never change, they should
32535 still have the same contents they did when the tracepoint was hit, so
32536 there's no reason for the stub to refuse to provide their contents.
32537
32538 @item QTDisconnected:@var{value}
32539 Set the choice to what to do with the tracing run when @value{GDBN}
32540 disconnects from the target. A @var{value} of 1 directs the target to
32541 continue the tracing run, while 0 tells the target to stop tracing if
32542 @value{GDBN} is no longer in the picture.
32543
32544 @item qTStatus
32545 Ask the stub if there is a trace experiment running right now.
32546
32547 The reply has the form:
32548
32549 @table @samp
32550
32551 @item T@var{running}@r{[};@var{field}@r{]}@dots{}
32552 @var{running} is a single digit @code{1} if the trace is presently
32553 running, or @code{0} if not. It is followed by semicolon-separated
32554 optional fields that an agent may use to report additional status.
32555
32556 @end table
32557
32558 If the trace is not running, the agent may report any of several
32559 explanations as one of the optional fields:
32560
32561 @table @samp
32562
32563 @item tnotrun:0
32564 No trace has been run yet.
32565
32566 @item tstop:0
32567 The trace was stopped by a user-originated stop command.
32568
32569 @item tfull:0
32570 The trace stopped because the trace buffer filled up.
32571
32572 @item tdisconnected:0
32573 The trace stopped because @value{GDBN} disconnected from the target.
32574
32575 @item tpasscount:@var{tpnum}
32576 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} exceeded its pass count.
32577
32578 @item terror:@var{text}:@var{tpnum}
32579 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} had an error. The
32580 string @var{text} is available to describe the nature of the error
32581 (for instance, a divide by zero in the condition expression).
32582 @var{text} is hex encoded.
32583
32584 @item tunknown:0
32585 The trace stopped for some other reason.
32586
32587 @end table
32588
32589 Additional optional fields supply statistical and other information.
32590 Although not required, they are extremely useful for users monitoring
32591 the progress of a trace run. If a trace has stopped, and these
32592 numbers are reported, they must reflect the state of the just-stopped
32593 trace.
32594
32595 @table @samp
32596
32597 @item tframes:@var{n}
32598 The number of trace frames in the buffer.
32599
32600 @item tcreated:@var{n}
32601 The total number of trace frames created during the run. This may
32602 be larger than the trace frame count, if the buffer is circular.
32603
32604 @item tsize:@var{n}
32605 The total size of the trace buffer, in bytes.
32606
32607 @item tfree:@var{n}
32608 The number of bytes still unused in the buffer.
32609
32610 @item circular:@var{n}
32611 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
32612 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
32613 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
32614 and may fill up.
32615
32616 @item disconn:@var{n}
32617 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
32618 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
32619 that the trace run will stop.
32620
32621 @end table
32622
32623 @item qTV:@var{var}
32624 @cindex trace state variable value, remote request
32625 @cindex @samp{qTV} packet
32626 Ask the stub for the value of the trace state variable number @var{var}.
32627
32628 Replies:
32629 @table @samp
32630 @item V@var{value}
32631 The value of the variable is @var{value}. This will be the current
32632 value of the variable if the user is examining a running target, or a
32633 saved value if the variable was collected in the trace frame that the
32634 user is looking at. Note that multiple requests may result in
32635 different reply values, such as when requesting values while the
32636 program is running.
32637
32638 @item U
32639 The value of the variable is unknown. This would occur, for example,
32640 if the user is examining a trace frame in which the requested variable
32641 was not collected.
32642 @end table
32643
32644 @item qTfP
32645 @itemx qTsP
32646 These packets request data about tracepoints that are being used by
32647 the target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfP} to get the first piece
32648 of data, and multiple @code{qTsP} to get additional pieces. Replies
32649 to these packets generally take the form of the @code{QTDP} packets
32650 that define tracepoints. (FIXME add detailed syntax)
32651
32652 @item qTfV
32653 @itemx qTsV
32654 These packets request data about trace state variables that are on the
32655 target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfV} to get the first vari of data,
32656 and multiple @code{qTsV} to get additional variables. Replies to
32657 these packets follow the syntax of the @code{QTDV} packets that define
32658 trace state variables.
32659
32660 @item QTSave:@var{filename}
32661 This packet directs the target to save trace data to the file name
32662 @var{filename} in the target's filesystem. @var{filename} is encoded
32663 as a hex string; the interpretation of the file name (relative vs
32664 absolute, wild cards, etc) is up to the target.
32665
32666 @item qTBuffer:@var{offset},@var{len}
32667 Return up to @var{len} bytes of the current contents of trace buffer,
32668 starting at @var{offset}. The trace buffer is treated as if it were
32669 a contiguous collection of traceframes, as per the trace file format.
32670 The reply consists as many hex-encoded bytes as the target can deliver
32671 in a packet; it is not an error to return fewer than were asked for.
32672 A reply consisting of just @code{l} indicates that no bytes are
32673 available.
32674
32675 @item QTBuffer:circular:@var{value}
32676 This packet directs the target to use a circular trace buffer if
32677 @var{value} is 1, or a linear buffer if the value is 0.
32678
32679 @end table
32680
32681 @subsection Relocate instruction reply packet
32682 When installing fast tracepoints in memory, the target may need to
32683 relocate the instruction currently at the tracepoint address to a
32684 different address in memory. For most instructions, a simple copy is
32685 enough, but, for example, call instructions that implicitly push the
32686 return address on the stack, and relative branches or other
32687 PC-relative instructions require offset adjustment, so that the effect
32688 of executing the instruction at a different address is the same as if
32689 it had executed in the original location.
32690
32691 In response to several of the tracepoint packets, the target may also
32692 respond with a number of intermediate @samp{qRelocInsn} request
32693 packets before the final result packet, to have @value{GDBN} handle
32694 this relocation operation. If a packet supports this mechanism, its
32695 documentation will explicitly say so. See for example the above
32696 descriptions for the @samp{QTStart} and @samp{QTDP} packets. The
32697 format of the request is:
32698
32699 @table @samp
32700 @item qRelocInsn:@var{from};@var{to}
32701
32702 This requests @value{GDBN} to copy instruction at address @var{from}
32703 to address @var{to}, possibly adjusted so that executing the
32704 instruction at @var{to} has the same effect as executing it at
32705 @var{from}. @value{GDBN} writes the adjusted instruction to target
32706 memory starting at @var{to}.
32707 @end table
32708
32709 Replies:
32710 @table @samp
32711 @item qRelocInsn:@var{adjusted_size}
32712 Informs the stub the relocation is complete. @var{adjusted_size} is
32713 the length in bytes of resulting relocated instruction sequence.
32714 @item E @var{NN}
32715 A badly formed request was detected, or an error was encountered while
32716 relocating the instruction.
32717 @end table
32718
32719 @node Host I/O Packets
32720 @section Host I/O Packets
32721 @cindex Host I/O, remote protocol
32722 @cindex file transfer, remote protocol
32723
32724 The @dfn{Host I/O} packets allow @value{GDBN} to perform I/O
32725 operations on the far side of a remote link. For example, Host I/O is
32726 used to upload and download files to a remote target with its own
32727 filesystem. Host I/O uses the same constant values and data structure
32728 layout as the target-initiated File-I/O protocol. However, the
32729 Host I/O packets are structured differently. The target-initiated
32730 protocol relies on target memory to store parameters and buffers.
32731 Host I/O requests are initiated by @value{GDBN}, and the
32732 target's memory is not involved. @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol
32733 Extension}, for more details on the target-initiated protocol.
32734
32735 The Host I/O request packets all encode a single operation along with
32736 its arguments. They have this format:
32737
32738 @table @samp
32739
32740 @item vFile:@var{operation}: @var{parameter}@dots{}
32741 @var{operation} is the name of the particular request; the target
32742 should compare the entire packet name up to the second colon when checking
32743 for a supported operation. The format of @var{parameter} depends on
32744 the operation. Numbers are always passed in hexadecimal. Negative
32745 numbers have an explicit minus sign (i.e.@: two's complement is not
32746 used). Strings (e.g.@: filenames) are encoded as a series of
32747 hexadecimal bytes. The last argument to a system call may be a
32748 buffer of escaped binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
32749
32750 @end table
32751
32752 The valid responses to Host I/O packets are:
32753
32754 @table @samp
32755
32756 @item F @var{result} [, @var{errno}] [; @var{attachment}]
32757 @var{result} is the integer value returned by this operation, usually
32758 non-negative for success and -1 for errors. If an error has occured,
32759 @var{errno} will be included in the result. @var{errno} will have a
32760 value defined by the File-I/O protocol (@pxref{Errno Values}). For
32761 operations which return data, @var{attachment} supplies the data as a
32762 binary buffer. Binary buffers in response packets are escaped in the
32763 normal way (@pxref{Binary Data}). See the individual packet
32764 documentation for the interpretation of @var{result} and
32765 @var{attachment}.
32766
32767 @item
32768 An empty response indicates that this operation is not recognized.
32769
32770 @end table
32771
32772 These are the supported Host I/O operations:
32773
32774 @table @samp
32775 @item vFile:open: @var{pathname}, @var{flags}, @var{mode}
32776 Open a file at @var{pathname} and return a file descriptor for it, or
32777 return -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string,
32778 @var{flags} is an integer indicating a mask of open flags
32779 (@pxref{Open Flags}), and @var{mode} is an integer indicating a mask
32780 of mode bits to use if the file is created (@pxref{mode_t Values}).
32781 @xref{open}, for details of the open flags and mode values.
32782
32783 @item vFile:close: @var{fd}
32784 Close the open file corresponding to @var{fd} and return 0, or
32785 -1 if an error occurs.
32786
32787 @item vFile:pread: @var{fd}, @var{count}, @var{offset}
32788 Read data from the open file corresponding to @var{fd}. Up to
32789 @var{count} bytes will be read from the file, starting at @var{offset}
32790 relative to the start of the file. The target may read fewer bytes;
32791 common reasons include packet size limits and an end-of-file
32792 condition. The number of bytes read is returned. Zero should only be
32793 returned for a successful read at the end of the file, or if
32794 @var{count} was zero.
32795
32796 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
32797 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
32798 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
32799 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
32800 some characters were escaped.
32801
32802 @item vFile:pwrite: @var{fd}, @var{offset}, @var{data}
32803 Write @var{data} (a binary buffer) to the open file corresponding
32804 to @var{fd}. Start the write at @var{offset} from the start of the
32805 file. Unlike many @code{write} system calls, there is no
32806 separate @var{count} argument; the length of @var{data} in the
32807 packet is used. @samp{vFile:write} returns the number of bytes written,
32808 which may be shorter than the length of @var{data}, or -1 if an
32809 error occurred.
32810
32811 @item vFile:unlink: @var{pathname}
32812 Delete the file at @var{pathname} on the target. Return 0,
32813 or -1 if an error occurs. @var{pathname} is a string.
32814
32815 @end table
32816
32817 @node Interrupts
32818 @section Interrupts
32819 @cindex interrupts (remote protocol)
32820
32821 When a program on the remote target is running, @value{GDBN} may
32822 attempt to interrupt it by sending a @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or
32823 a @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g},
32824 control of which is specified via @value{GDBN}'s @samp{interrupt-sequence}.
32825
32826 The precise meaning of @code{BREAK} is defined by the transport
32827 mechanism and may, in fact, be undefined. @value{GDBN} does not
32828 currently define a @code{BREAK} mechanism for any of the network
32829 interfaces except for TCP, in which case @value{GDBN} sends the
32830 @code{telnet} BREAK sequence.
32831
32832 @samp{Ctrl-C}, on the other hand, is defined and implemented for all
32833 transport mechanisms. It is represented by sending the single byte
32834 @code{0x03} without any of the usual packet overhead described in
32835 the Overview section (@pxref{Overview}). When a @code{0x03} byte is
32836 transmitted as part of a packet, it is considered to be packet data
32837 and does @emph{not} represent an interrupt. E.g., an @samp{X} packet
32838 (@pxref{X packet}), used for binary downloads, may include an unescaped
32839 @code{0x03} as part of its packet.
32840
32841 @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g} is also known as Magic SysRq g.
32842 When Linux kernel receives this sequence from serial port,
32843 it stops execution and connects to gdb.
32844
32845 Stubs are not required to recognize these interrupt mechanisms and the
32846 precise meaning associated with receipt of the interrupt is
32847 implementation defined. If the target supports debugging of multiple
32848 threads and/or processes, it should attempt to interrupt all
32849 currently-executing threads and processes.
32850 If the stub is successful at interrupting the
32851 running program, it should send one of the stop
32852 reply packets (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}) to @value{GDBN} as a result
32853 of successfully stopping the program in all-stop mode, and a stop reply
32854 for each stopped thread in non-stop mode.
32855 Interrupts received while the
32856 program is stopped are discarded.
32857
32858 @node Notification Packets
32859 @section Notification Packets
32860 @cindex notification packets
32861 @cindex packets, notification
32862
32863 The @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol includes @dfn{notifications},
32864 packets that require no acknowledgment. Both the GDB and the stub
32865 may send notifications (although the only notifications defined at
32866 present are sent by the stub). Notifications carry information
32867 without incurring the round-trip latency of an acknowledgment, and so
32868 are useful for low-impact communications where occasional packet loss
32869 is not a problem.
32870
32871 A notification packet has the form @samp{% @var{data} #
32872 @var{checksum}}, where @var{data} is the content of the notification,
32873 and @var{checksum} is a checksum of @var{data}, computed and formatted
32874 as for ordinary @value{GDBN} packets. A notification's @var{data}
32875 never contains @samp{$}, @samp{%} or @samp{#} characters. Upon
32876 receiving a notification, the recipient sends no @samp{+} or @samp{-}
32877 to acknowledge the notification's receipt or to report its corruption.
32878
32879 Every notification's @var{data} begins with a name, which contains no
32880 colon characters, followed by a colon character.
32881
32882 Recipients should silently ignore corrupted notifications and
32883 notifications they do not understand. Recipients should restart
32884 timeout periods on receipt of a well-formed notification, whether or
32885 not they understand it.
32886
32887 Senders should only send the notifications described here when this
32888 protocol description specifies that they are permitted. In the
32889 future, we may extend the protocol to permit existing notifications in
32890 new contexts; this rule helps older senders avoid confusing newer
32891 recipients.
32892
32893 (Older versions of @value{GDBN} ignore bytes received until they see
32894 the @samp{$} byte that begins an ordinary packet, so new stubs may
32895 transmit notifications without fear of confusing older clients. There
32896 are no notifications defined for @value{GDBN} to send at the moment, but we
32897 assume that most older stubs would ignore them, as well.)
32898
32899 The following notification packets from the stub to @value{GDBN} are
32900 defined:
32901
32902 @table @samp
32903 @item Stop: @var{reply}
32904 Report an asynchronous stop event in non-stop mode.
32905 The @var{reply} has the form of a stop reply, as
32906 described in @ref{Stop Reply Packets}. Refer to @ref{Remote Non-Stop},
32907 for information on how these notifications are acknowledged by
32908 @value{GDBN}.
32909 @end table
32910
32911 @node Remote Non-Stop
32912 @section Remote Protocol Support for Non-Stop Mode
32913
32914 @value{GDBN}'s remote protocol supports non-stop debugging of
32915 multi-threaded programs, as described in @ref{Non-Stop Mode}. If the stub
32916 supports non-stop mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN} by including
32917 @samp{QNonStop+} in its @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
32918
32919 @value{GDBN} typically sends a @samp{QNonStop} packet only when
32920 establishing a new connection with the stub. Entering non-stop mode
32921 does not alter the state of any currently-running threads, but targets
32922 must stop all threads in any already-attached processes when entering
32923 all-stop mode. @value{GDBN} uses the @samp{?} packet as necessary to
32924 probe the target state after a mode change.
32925
32926 In non-stop mode, when an attached process encounters an event that
32927 would otherwise be reported with a stop reply, it uses the
32928 asynchronous notification mechanism (@pxref{Notification Packets}) to
32929 inform @value{GDBN}. In contrast to all-stop mode, where all threads
32930 in all processes are stopped when a stop reply is sent, in non-stop
32931 mode only the thread reporting the stop event is stopped. That is,
32932 when reporting a @samp{S} or @samp{T} response to indicate completion
32933 of a step operation, hitting a breakpoint, or a fault, only the
32934 affected thread is stopped; any other still-running threads continue
32935 to run. When reporting a @samp{W} or @samp{X} response, all running
32936 threads belonging to other attached processes continue to run.
32937
32938 Only one stop reply notification at a time may be pending; if
32939 additional stop events occur before @value{GDBN} has acknowledged the
32940 previous notification, they must be queued by the stub for later
32941 synchronous transmission in response to @samp{vStopped} packets from
32942 @value{GDBN}. Because the notification mechanism is unreliable,
32943 the stub is permitted to resend a stop reply notification
32944 if it believes @value{GDBN} may not have received it. @value{GDBN}
32945 ignores additional stop reply notifications received before it has
32946 finished processing a previous notification and the stub has completed
32947 sending any queued stop events.
32948
32949 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} must be prepared to receive a stop reply
32950 notification at any time. Specifically, they may appear when
32951 @value{GDBN} is not otherwise reading input from the stub, or when
32952 @value{GDBN} is expecting to read a normal synchronous response or a
32953 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgment to a packet it has sent.
32954 Notification packets are distinct from any other communication from
32955 the stub so there is no ambiguity.
32956
32957 After receiving a stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall
32958 acknowledge it by sending a @samp{vStopped} packet (@pxref{vStopped packet})
32959 as a regular, synchronous request to the stub. Such acknowledgment
32960 is not required to happen immediately, as @value{GDBN} is permitted to
32961 send other, unrelated packets to the stub first, which the stub should
32962 process normally.
32963
32964 Upon receiving a @samp{vStopped} packet, if the stub has other queued
32965 stop events to report to @value{GDBN}, it shall respond by sending a
32966 normal stop reply response. @value{GDBN} shall then send another
32967 @samp{vStopped} packet to solicit further responses; again, it is
32968 permitted to send other, unrelated packets as well which the stub
32969 should process normally.
32970
32971 If the stub receives a @samp{vStopped} packet and there are no
32972 additional stop events to report, the stub shall return an @samp{OK}
32973 response. At this point, if further stop events occur, the stub shall
32974 send a new stop reply notification, @value{GDBN} shall accept the
32975 notification, and the process shall be repeated.
32976
32977 In non-stop mode, the target shall respond to the @samp{?} packet as
32978 follows. First, any incomplete stop reply notification/@samp{vStopped}
32979 sequence in progress is abandoned. The target must begin a new
32980 sequence reporting stop events for all stopped threads, whether or not
32981 it has previously reported those events to @value{GDBN}. The first
32982 stop reply is sent as a synchronous reply to the @samp{?} packet, and
32983 subsequent stop replies are sent as responses to @samp{vStopped} packets
32984 using the mechanism described above. The target must not send
32985 asynchronous stop reply notifications until the sequence is complete.
32986 If all threads are running when the target receives the @samp{?} packet,
32987 or if the target is not attached to any process, it shall respond
32988 @samp{OK}.
32989
32990 @node Packet Acknowledgment
32991 @section Packet Acknowledgment
32992
32993 @cindex acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
32994 @cindex packet acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
32995 By default, when either the host or the target machine receives a packet,
32996 the first response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
32997 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request retransmission).
32998 This mechanism allows the @value{GDBN} remote protocol to operate over
32999 unreliable transport mechanisms, such as a serial line.
33000
33001 In cases where the transport mechanism is itself reliable (such as a pipe or
33002 TCP connection), the @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are redundant.
33003 It may be desirable to disable them in that case to reduce communication
33004 overhead, or for other reasons. This can be accomplished by means of the
33005 @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet; @pxref{QStartNoAckMode}.
33006
33007 When in no-acknowledgment mode, neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or
33008 expect @samp{+}/@samp{-} protocol acknowledgments. The packet
33009 and response format still includes the normal checksum, as described in
33010 @ref{Overview}, but the checksum may be ignored by the receiver.
33011
33012 If the stub supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and prefers to operate in
33013 no-acknowledgment mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN}
33014 by including @samp{QStartNoAckMode+} in its response to @samp{qSupported};
33015 @pxref{qSupported}.
33016 If @value{GDBN} also supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and it has not been
33017 disabled via the @code{set remote noack-packet off} command
33018 (@pxref{Remote Configuration}),
33019 @value{GDBN} may then send a @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet to the stub.
33020 Only then may the stub actually turn off packet acknowledgments.
33021 @value{GDBN} sends a final @samp{+} acknowledgment of the stub's @samp{OK}
33022 response, which can be safely ignored by the stub.
33023
33024 Note that @code{set remote noack-packet} command only affects negotiation
33025 between @value{GDBN} and the stub when subsequent connections are made;
33026 it does not affect the protocol acknowledgment state for any current
33027 connection.
33028 Since @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are enabled by default when a
33029 new connection is established,
33030 there is also no protocol request to re-enable the acknowledgments
33031 for the current connection, once disabled.
33032
33033 @node Examples
33034 @section Examples
33035
33036 Example sequence of a target being re-started. Notice how the restart
33037 does not get any direct output:
33038
33039 @smallexample
33040 -> @code{R00}
33041 <- @code{+}
33042 @emph{target restarts}
33043 -> @code{?}
33044 <- @code{+}
33045 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
33046 -> @code{+}
33047 @end smallexample
33048
33049 Example sequence of a target being stepped by a single instruction:
33050
33051 @smallexample
33052 -> @code{G1445@dots{}}
33053 <- @code{+}
33054 -> @code{s}
33055 <- @code{+}
33056 @emph{time passes}
33057 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
33058 -> @code{+}
33059 -> @code{g}
33060 <- @code{+}
33061 <- @code{1455@dots{}}
33062 -> @code{+}
33063 @end smallexample
33064
33065 @node File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
33066 @section File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
33067 @cindex File-I/O remote protocol extension
33068
33069 @menu
33070 * File-I/O Overview::
33071 * Protocol Basics::
33072 * The F Request Packet::
33073 * The F Reply Packet::
33074 * The Ctrl-C Message::
33075 * Console I/O::
33076 * List of Supported Calls::
33077 * Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes::
33078 * Constants::
33079 * File-I/O Examples::
33080 @end menu
33081
33082 @node File-I/O Overview
33083 @subsection File-I/O Overview
33084 @cindex file-i/o overview
33085
33086 The @dfn{File I/O remote protocol extension} (short: File-I/O) allows the
33087 target to use the host's file system and console I/O to perform various
33088 system calls. System calls on the target system are translated into a
33089 remote protocol packet to the host system, which then performs the needed
33090 actions and returns a response packet to the target system.
33091 This simulates file system operations even on targets that lack file systems.
33092
33093 The protocol is defined to be independent of both the host and target systems.
33094 It uses its own internal representation of datatypes and values. Both
33095 @value{GDBN} and the target's @value{GDBN} stub are responsible for
33096 translating the system-dependent value representations into the internal
33097 protocol representations when data is transmitted.
33098
33099 The communication is synchronous. A system call is possible only when
33100 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
33101 or @samp{s} packets. While @value{GDBN} handles the request for a system call,
33102 the target is stopped to allow deterministic access to the target's
33103 memory. Therefore File-I/O is not interruptible by target signals. On
33104 the other hand, it is possible to interrupt File-I/O by a user interrupt
33105 (@samp{Ctrl-C}) within @value{GDBN}.
33106
33107 The target's request to perform a host system call does not finish
33108 the latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} action. That means,
33109 after finishing the system call, the target returns to continuing the
33110 previous activity (continue, step). No additional continue or step
33111 request from @value{GDBN} is required.
33112
33113 @smallexample
33114 (@value{GDBP}) continue
33115 <- target requests 'system call X'
33116 target is stopped, @value{GDBN} executes system call
33117 -> @value{GDBN} returns result
33118 ... target continues, @value{GDBN} returns to wait for the target
33119 <- target hits breakpoint and sends a Txx packet
33120 @end smallexample
33121
33122 The protocol only supports I/O on the console and to regular files on
33123 the host file system. Character or block special devices, pipes,
33124 named pipes, sockets or any other communication method on the host
33125 system are not supported by this protocol.
33126
33127 File I/O is not supported in non-stop mode.
33128
33129 @node Protocol Basics
33130 @subsection Protocol Basics
33131 @cindex protocol basics, file-i/o
33132
33133 The File-I/O protocol uses the @code{F} packet as the request as well
33134 as reply packet. Since a File-I/O system call can only occur when
33135 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the continuing or stepping target,
33136 the File-I/O request is a reply that @value{GDBN} has to expect as a result
33137 of a previous @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} packet.
33138 This @code{F} packet contains all information needed to allow @value{GDBN}
33139 to call the appropriate host system call:
33140
33141 @itemize @bullet
33142 @item
33143 A unique identifier for the requested system call.
33144
33145 @item
33146 All parameters to the system call. Pointers are given as addresses
33147 in the target memory address space. Pointers to strings are given as
33148 pointer/length pair. Numerical values are given as they are.
33149 Numerical control flags are given in a protocol-specific representation.
33150
33151 @end itemize
33152
33153 At this point, @value{GDBN} has to perform the following actions.
33154
33155 @itemize @bullet
33156 @item
33157 If the parameters include pointer values to data needed as input to a
33158 system call, @value{GDBN} requests this data from the target with a
33159 standard @code{m} packet request. This additional communication has to be
33160 expected by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{m}
33161 packet.
33162
33163 @item
33164 @value{GDBN} translates all value from protocol representation to host
33165 representation as needed. Datatypes are coerced into the host types.
33166
33167 @item
33168 @value{GDBN} calls the system call.
33169
33170 @item
33171 It then coerces datatypes back to protocol representation.
33172
33173 @item
33174 If the system call is expected to return data in buffer space specified
33175 by pointer parameters to the call, the data is transmitted to the
33176 target using a @code{M} or @code{X} packet. This packet has to be expected
33177 by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{M} or @code{X}
33178 packet.
33179
33180 @end itemize
33181
33182 Eventually @value{GDBN} replies with another @code{F} packet which contains all
33183 necessary information for the target to continue. This at least contains
33184
33185 @itemize @bullet
33186 @item
33187 Return value.
33188
33189 @item
33190 @code{errno}, if has been changed by the system call.
33191
33192 @item
33193 ``Ctrl-C'' flag.
33194
33195 @end itemize
33196
33197 After having done the needed type and value coercion, the target continues
33198 the latest continue or step action.
33199
33200 @node The F Request Packet
33201 @subsection The @code{F} Request Packet
33202 @cindex file-i/o request packet
33203 @cindex @code{F} request packet
33204
33205 The @code{F} request packet has the following format:
33206
33207 @table @samp
33208 @item F@var{call-id},@var{parameter@dots{}}
33209
33210 @var{call-id} is the identifier to indicate the host system call to be called.
33211 This is just the name of the function.
33212
33213 @var{parameter@dots{}} are the parameters to the system call.
33214 Parameters are hexadecimal integer values, either the actual values in case
33215 of scalar datatypes, pointers to target buffer space in case of compound
33216 datatypes and unspecified memory areas, or pointer/length pairs in case
33217 of string parameters. These are appended to the @var{call-id} as a
33218 comma-delimited list. All values are transmitted in ASCII
33219 string representation, pointer/length pairs separated by a slash.
33220
33221 @end table
33222
33223
33224
33225 @node The F Reply Packet
33226 @subsection The @code{F} Reply Packet
33227 @cindex file-i/o reply packet
33228 @cindex @code{F} reply packet
33229
33230 The @code{F} reply packet has the following format:
33231
33232 @table @samp
33233
33234 @item F@var{retcode},@var{errno},@var{Ctrl-C flag};@var{call-specific attachment}
33235
33236 @var{retcode} is the return code of the system call as hexadecimal value.
33237
33238 @var{errno} is the @code{errno} set by the call, in protocol-specific
33239 representation.
33240 This parameter can be omitted if the call was successful.
33241
33242 @var{Ctrl-C flag} is only sent if the user requested a break. In this
33243 case, @var{errno} must be sent as well, even if the call was successful.
33244 The @var{Ctrl-C flag} itself consists of the character @samp{C}:
33245
33246 @smallexample
33247 F0,0,C
33248 @end smallexample
33249
33250 @noindent
33251 or, if the call was interrupted before the host call has been performed:
33252
33253 @smallexample
33254 F-1,4,C
33255 @end smallexample
33256
33257 @noindent
33258 assuming 4 is the protocol-specific representation of @code{EINTR}.
33259
33260 @end table
33261
33262
33263 @node The Ctrl-C Message
33264 @subsection The @samp{Ctrl-C} Message
33265 @cindex ctrl-c message, in file-i/o protocol
33266
33267 If the @samp{Ctrl-C} flag is set in the @value{GDBN}
33268 reply packet (@pxref{The F Reply Packet}),
33269 the target should behave as if it had
33270 gotten a break message. The meaning for the target is ``system call
33271 interrupted by @code{SIGINT}''. Consequentially, the target should actually stop
33272 (as with a break message) and return to @value{GDBN} with a @code{T02}
33273 packet.
33274
33275 It's important for the target to know in which
33276 state the system call was interrupted. There are two possible cases:
33277
33278 @itemize @bullet
33279 @item
33280 The system call hasn't been performed on the host yet.
33281
33282 @item
33283 The system call on the host has been finished.
33284
33285 @end itemize
33286
33287 These two states can be distinguished by the target by the value of the
33288 returned @code{errno}. If it's the protocol representation of @code{EINTR}, the system
33289 call hasn't been performed. This is equivalent to the @code{EINTR} handling
33290 on POSIX systems. In any other case, the target may presume that the
33291 system call has been finished --- successfully or not --- and should behave
33292 as if the break message arrived right after the system call.
33293
33294 @value{GDBN} must behave reliably. If the system call has not been called
33295 yet, @value{GDBN} may send the @code{F} reply immediately, setting @code{EINTR} as
33296 @code{errno} in the packet. If the system call on the host has been finished
33297 before the user requests a break, the full action must be finished by
33298 @value{GDBN}. This requires sending @code{M} or @code{X} packets as necessary.
33299 The @code{F} packet may only be sent when either nothing has happened
33300 or the full action has been completed.
33301
33302 @node Console I/O
33303 @subsection Console I/O
33304 @cindex console i/o as part of file-i/o
33305
33306 By default and if not explicitly closed by the target system, the file
33307 descriptors 0, 1 and 2 are connected to the @value{GDBN} console. Output
33308 on the @value{GDBN} console is handled as any other file output operation
33309 (@code{write(1, @dots{})} or @code{write(2, @dots{})}). Console input is handled
33310 by @value{GDBN} so that after the target read request from file descriptor
33311 0 all following typing is buffered until either one of the following
33312 conditions is met:
33313
33314 @itemize @bullet
33315 @item
33316 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The behaviour is as explained above, and the
33317 @code{read}
33318 system call is treated as finished.
33319
33320 @item
33321 The user presses @key{RET}. This is treated as end of input with a trailing
33322 newline.
33323
33324 @item
33325 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-d}. This is treated as end of input. No trailing
33326 character (neither newline nor @samp{Ctrl-D}) is appended to the input.
33327
33328 @end itemize
33329
33330 If the user has typed more characters than fit in the buffer given to
33331 the @code{read} call, the trailing characters are buffered in @value{GDBN} until
33332 either another @code{read(0, @dots{})} is requested by the target, or debugging
33333 is stopped at the user's request.
33334
33335
33336 @node List of Supported Calls
33337 @subsection List of Supported Calls
33338 @cindex list of supported file-i/o calls
33339
33340 @menu
33341 * open::
33342 * close::
33343 * read::
33344 * write::
33345 * lseek::
33346 * rename::
33347 * unlink::
33348 * stat/fstat::
33349 * gettimeofday::
33350 * isatty::
33351 * system::
33352 @end menu
33353
33354 @node open
33355 @unnumberedsubsubsec open
33356 @cindex open, file-i/o system call
33357
33358 @table @asis
33359 @item Synopsis:
33360 @smallexample
33361 int open(const char *pathname, int flags);
33362 int open(const char *pathname, int flags, mode_t mode);
33363 @end smallexample
33364
33365 @item Request:
33366 @samp{Fopen,@var{pathptr}/@var{len},@var{flags},@var{mode}}
33367
33368 @noindent
33369 @var{flags} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
33370
33371 @table @code
33372 @item O_CREAT
33373 If the file does not exist it will be created. The host
33374 rules apply as far as file ownership and time stamps
33375 are concerned.
33376
33377 @item O_EXCL
33378 When used with @code{O_CREAT}, if the file already exists it is
33379 an error and open() fails.
33380
33381 @item O_TRUNC
33382 If the file already exists and the open mode allows
33383 writing (@code{O_RDWR} or @code{O_WRONLY} is given) it will be
33384 truncated to zero length.
33385
33386 @item O_APPEND
33387 The file is opened in append mode.
33388
33389 @item O_RDONLY
33390 The file is opened for reading only.
33391
33392 @item O_WRONLY
33393 The file is opened for writing only.
33394
33395 @item O_RDWR
33396 The file is opened for reading and writing.
33397 @end table
33398
33399 @noindent
33400 Other bits are silently ignored.
33401
33402
33403 @noindent
33404 @var{mode} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
33405
33406 @table @code
33407 @item S_IRUSR
33408 User has read permission.
33409
33410 @item S_IWUSR
33411 User has write permission.
33412
33413 @item S_IRGRP
33414 Group has read permission.
33415
33416 @item S_IWGRP
33417 Group has write permission.
33418
33419 @item S_IROTH
33420 Others have read permission.
33421
33422 @item S_IWOTH
33423 Others have write permission.
33424 @end table
33425
33426 @noindent
33427 Other bits are silently ignored.
33428
33429
33430 @item Return value:
33431 @code{open} returns the new file descriptor or -1 if an error
33432 occurred.
33433
33434 @item Errors:
33435
33436 @table @code
33437 @item EEXIST
33438 @var{pathname} already exists and @code{O_CREAT} and @code{O_EXCL} were used.
33439
33440 @item EISDIR
33441 @var{pathname} refers to a directory.
33442
33443 @item EACCES
33444 The requested access is not allowed.
33445
33446 @item ENAMETOOLONG
33447 @var{pathname} was too long.
33448
33449 @item ENOENT
33450 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
33451
33452 @item ENODEV
33453 @var{pathname} refers to a device, pipe, named pipe or socket.
33454
33455 @item EROFS
33456 @var{pathname} refers to a file on a read-only filesystem and
33457 write access was requested.
33458
33459 @item EFAULT
33460 @var{pathname} is an invalid pointer value.
33461
33462 @item ENOSPC
33463 No space on device to create the file.
33464
33465 @item EMFILE
33466 The process already has the maximum number of files open.
33467
33468 @item ENFILE
33469 The limit on the total number of files open on the system
33470 has been reached.
33471
33472 @item EINTR
33473 The call was interrupted by the user.
33474 @end table
33475
33476 @end table
33477
33478 @node close
33479 @unnumberedsubsubsec close
33480 @cindex close, file-i/o system call
33481
33482 @table @asis
33483 @item Synopsis:
33484 @smallexample
33485 int close(int fd);
33486 @end smallexample
33487
33488 @item Request:
33489 @samp{Fclose,@var{fd}}
33490
33491 @item Return value:
33492 @code{close} returns zero on success, or -1 if an error occurred.
33493
33494 @item Errors:
33495
33496 @table @code
33497 @item EBADF
33498 @var{fd} isn't a valid open file descriptor.
33499
33500 @item EINTR
33501 The call was interrupted by the user.
33502 @end table
33503
33504 @end table
33505
33506 @node read
33507 @unnumberedsubsubsec read
33508 @cindex read, file-i/o system call
33509
33510 @table @asis
33511 @item Synopsis:
33512 @smallexample
33513 int read(int fd, void *buf, unsigned int count);
33514 @end smallexample
33515
33516 @item Request:
33517 @samp{Fread,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
33518
33519 @item Return value:
33520 On success, the number of bytes read is returned.
33521 Zero indicates end of file. If count is zero, read
33522 returns zero as well. On error, -1 is returned.
33523
33524 @item Errors:
33525
33526 @table @code
33527 @item EBADF
33528 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
33529 reading.
33530
33531 @item EFAULT
33532 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
33533
33534 @item EINTR
33535 The call was interrupted by the user.
33536 @end table
33537
33538 @end table
33539
33540 @node write
33541 @unnumberedsubsubsec write
33542 @cindex write, file-i/o system call
33543
33544 @table @asis
33545 @item Synopsis:
33546 @smallexample
33547 int write(int fd, const void *buf, unsigned int count);
33548 @end smallexample
33549
33550 @item Request:
33551 @samp{Fwrite,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
33552
33553 @item Return value:
33554 On success, the number of bytes written are returned.
33555 Zero indicates nothing was written. On error, -1
33556 is returned.
33557
33558 @item Errors:
33559
33560 @table @code
33561 @item EBADF
33562 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
33563 writing.
33564
33565 @item EFAULT
33566 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
33567
33568 @item EFBIG
33569 An attempt was made to write a file that exceeds the
33570 host-specific maximum file size allowed.
33571
33572 @item ENOSPC
33573 No space on device to write the data.
33574
33575 @item EINTR
33576 The call was interrupted by the user.
33577 @end table
33578
33579 @end table
33580
33581 @node lseek
33582 @unnumberedsubsubsec lseek
33583 @cindex lseek, file-i/o system call
33584
33585 @table @asis
33586 @item Synopsis:
33587 @smallexample
33588 long lseek (int fd, long offset, int flag);
33589 @end smallexample
33590
33591 @item Request:
33592 @samp{Flseek,@var{fd},@var{offset},@var{flag}}
33593
33594 @var{flag} is one of:
33595
33596 @table @code
33597 @item SEEK_SET
33598 The offset is set to @var{offset} bytes.
33599
33600 @item SEEK_CUR
33601 The offset is set to its current location plus @var{offset}
33602 bytes.
33603
33604 @item SEEK_END
33605 The offset is set to the size of the file plus @var{offset}
33606 bytes.
33607 @end table
33608
33609 @item Return value:
33610 On success, the resulting unsigned offset in bytes from
33611 the beginning of the file is returned. Otherwise, a
33612 value of -1 is returned.
33613
33614 @item Errors:
33615
33616 @table @code
33617 @item EBADF
33618 @var{fd} is not a valid open file descriptor.
33619
33620 @item ESPIPE
33621 @var{fd} is associated with the @value{GDBN} console.
33622
33623 @item EINVAL
33624 @var{flag} is not a proper value.
33625
33626 @item EINTR
33627 The call was interrupted by the user.
33628 @end table
33629
33630 @end table
33631
33632 @node rename
33633 @unnumberedsubsubsec rename
33634 @cindex rename, file-i/o system call
33635
33636 @table @asis
33637 @item Synopsis:
33638 @smallexample
33639 int rename(const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
33640 @end smallexample
33641
33642 @item Request:
33643 @samp{Frename,@var{oldpathptr}/@var{len},@var{newpathptr}/@var{len}}
33644
33645 @item Return value:
33646 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
33647
33648 @item Errors:
33649
33650 @table @code
33651 @item EISDIR
33652 @var{newpath} is an existing directory, but @var{oldpath} is not a
33653 directory.
33654
33655 @item EEXIST
33656 @var{newpath} is a non-empty directory.
33657
33658 @item EBUSY
33659 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} is a directory that is in use by some
33660 process.
33661
33662 @item EINVAL
33663 An attempt was made to make a directory a subdirectory
33664 of itself.
33665
33666 @item ENOTDIR
33667 A component used as a directory in @var{oldpath} or new
33668 path is not a directory. Or @var{oldpath} is a directory
33669 and @var{newpath} exists but is not a directory.
33670
33671 @item EFAULT
33672 @var{oldpathptr} or @var{newpathptr} are invalid pointer values.
33673
33674 @item EACCES
33675 No access to the file or the path of the file.
33676
33677 @item ENAMETOOLONG
33678
33679 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} was too long.
33680
33681 @item ENOENT
33682 A directory component in @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} does not exist.
33683
33684 @item EROFS
33685 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
33686
33687 @item ENOSPC
33688 The device containing the file has no room for the new
33689 directory entry.
33690
33691 @item EINTR
33692 The call was interrupted by the user.
33693 @end table
33694
33695 @end table
33696
33697 @node unlink
33698 @unnumberedsubsubsec unlink
33699 @cindex unlink, file-i/o system call
33700
33701 @table @asis
33702 @item Synopsis:
33703 @smallexample
33704 int unlink(const char *pathname);
33705 @end smallexample
33706
33707 @item Request:
33708 @samp{Funlink,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len}}
33709
33710 @item Return value:
33711 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
33712
33713 @item Errors:
33714
33715 @table @code
33716 @item EACCES
33717 No access to the file or the path of the file.
33718
33719 @item EPERM
33720 The system does not allow unlinking of directories.
33721
33722 @item EBUSY
33723 The file @var{pathname} cannot be unlinked because it's
33724 being used by another process.
33725
33726 @item EFAULT
33727 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
33728
33729 @item ENAMETOOLONG
33730 @var{pathname} was too long.
33731
33732 @item ENOENT
33733 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
33734
33735 @item ENOTDIR
33736 A component of the path is not a directory.
33737
33738 @item EROFS
33739 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
33740
33741 @item EINTR
33742 The call was interrupted by the user.
33743 @end table
33744
33745 @end table
33746
33747 @node stat/fstat
33748 @unnumberedsubsubsec stat/fstat
33749 @cindex fstat, file-i/o system call
33750 @cindex stat, file-i/o system call
33751
33752 @table @asis
33753 @item Synopsis:
33754 @smallexample
33755 int stat(const char *pathname, struct stat *buf);
33756 int fstat(int fd, struct stat *buf);
33757 @end smallexample
33758
33759 @item Request:
33760 @samp{Fstat,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len},@var{bufptr}}@*
33761 @samp{Ffstat,@var{fd},@var{bufptr}}
33762
33763 @item Return value:
33764 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
33765
33766 @item Errors:
33767
33768 @table @code
33769 @item EBADF
33770 @var{fd} is not a valid open file.
33771
33772 @item ENOENT
33773 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist or the
33774 path is an empty string.
33775
33776 @item ENOTDIR
33777 A component of the path is not a directory.
33778
33779 @item EFAULT
33780 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
33781
33782 @item EACCES
33783 No access to the file or the path of the file.
33784
33785 @item ENAMETOOLONG
33786 @var{pathname} was too long.
33787
33788 @item EINTR
33789 The call was interrupted by the user.
33790 @end table
33791
33792 @end table
33793
33794 @node gettimeofday
33795 @unnumberedsubsubsec gettimeofday
33796 @cindex gettimeofday, file-i/o system call
33797
33798 @table @asis
33799 @item Synopsis:
33800 @smallexample
33801 int gettimeofday(struct timeval *tv, void *tz);
33802 @end smallexample
33803
33804 @item Request:
33805 @samp{Fgettimeofday,@var{tvptr},@var{tzptr}}
33806
33807 @item Return value:
33808 On success, 0 is returned, -1 otherwise.
33809
33810 @item Errors:
33811
33812 @table @code
33813 @item EINVAL
33814 @var{tz} is a non-NULL pointer.
33815
33816 @item EFAULT
33817 @var{tvptr} and/or @var{tzptr} is an invalid pointer value.
33818 @end table
33819
33820 @end table
33821
33822 @node isatty
33823 @unnumberedsubsubsec isatty
33824 @cindex isatty, file-i/o system call
33825
33826 @table @asis
33827 @item Synopsis:
33828 @smallexample
33829 int isatty(int fd);
33830 @end smallexample
33831
33832 @item Request:
33833 @samp{Fisatty,@var{fd}}
33834
33835 @item Return value:
33836 Returns 1 if @var{fd} refers to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise.
33837
33838 @item Errors:
33839
33840 @table @code
33841 @item EINTR
33842 The call was interrupted by the user.
33843 @end table
33844
33845 @end table
33846
33847 Note that the @code{isatty} call is treated as a special case: it returns
33848 1 to the target if the file descriptor is attached
33849 to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise. Implementing through system calls
33850 would require implementing @code{ioctl} and would be more complex than
33851 needed.
33852
33853
33854 @node system
33855 @unnumberedsubsubsec system
33856 @cindex system, file-i/o system call
33857
33858 @table @asis
33859 @item Synopsis:
33860 @smallexample
33861 int system(const char *command);
33862 @end smallexample
33863
33864 @item Request:
33865 @samp{Fsystem,@var{commandptr}/@var{len}}
33866
33867 @item Return value:
33868 If @var{len} is zero, the return value indicates whether a shell is
33869 available. A zero return value indicates a shell is not available.
33870 For non-zero @var{len}, the value returned is -1 on error and the
33871 return status of the command otherwise. Only the exit status of the
33872 command is returned, which is extracted from the host's @code{system}
33873 return value by calling @code{WEXITSTATUS(retval)}. In case
33874 @file{/bin/sh} could not be executed, 127 is returned.
33875
33876 @item Errors:
33877
33878 @table @code
33879 @item EINTR
33880 The call was interrupted by the user.
33881 @end table
33882
33883 @end table
33884
33885 @value{GDBN} takes over the full task of calling the necessary host calls
33886 to perform the @code{system} call. The return value of @code{system} on
33887 the host is simplified before it's returned
33888 to the target. Any termination signal information from the child process
33889 is discarded, and the return value consists
33890 entirely of the exit status of the called command.
33891
33892 Due to security concerns, the @code{system} call is by default refused
33893 by @value{GDBN}. The user has to allow this call explicitly with the
33894 @code{set remote system-call-allowed 1} command.
33895
33896 @table @code
33897 @item set remote system-call-allowed
33898 @kindex set remote system-call-allowed
33899 Control whether to allow the @code{system} calls in the File I/O
33900 protocol for the remote target. The default is zero (disabled).
33901
33902 @item show remote system-call-allowed
33903 @kindex show remote system-call-allowed
33904 Show whether the @code{system} calls are allowed in the File I/O
33905 protocol.
33906 @end table
33907
33908 @node Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
33909 @subsection Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
33910 @cindex protocol-specific representation of datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
33911
33912 @menu
33913 * Integral Datatypes::
33914 * Pointer Values::
33915 * Memory Transfer::
33916 * struct stat::
33917 * struct timeval::
33918 @end menu
33919
33920 @node Integral Datatypes
33921 @unnumberedsubsubsec Integral Datatypes
33922 @cindex integral datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
33923
33924 The integral datatypes used in the system calls are @code{int},
33925 @code{unsigned int}, @code{long}, @code{unsigned long},
33926 @code{mode_t}, and @code{time_t}.
33927
33928 @code{int}, @code{unsigned int}, @code{mode_t} and @code{time_t} are
33929 implemented as 32 bit values in this protocol.
33930
33931 @code{long} and @code{unsigned long} are implemented as 64 bit types.
33932
33933 @xref{Limits}, for corresponding MIN and MAX values (similar to those
33934 in @file{limits.h}) to allow range checking on host and target.
33935
33936 @code{time_t} datatypes are defined as seconds since the Epoch.
33937
33938 All integral datatypes transferred as part of a memory read or write of a
33939 structured datatype e.g.@: a @code{struct stat} have to be given in big endian
33940 byte order.
33941
33942 @node Pointer Values
33943 @unnumberedsubsubsec Pointer Values
33944 @cindex pointer values, in file-i/o protocol
33945
33946 Pointers to target data are transmitted as they are. An exception
33947 is made for pointers to buffers for which the length isn't
33948 transmitted as part of the function call, namely strings. Strings
33949 are transmitted as a pointer/length pair, both as hex values, e.g.@:
33950
33951 @smallexample
33952 @code{1aaf/12}
33953 @end smallexample
33954
33955 @noindent
33956 which is a pointer to data of length 18 bytes at position 0x1aaf.
33957 The length is defined as the full string length in bytes, including
33958 the trailing null byte. For example, the string @code{"hello world"}
33959 at address 0x123456 is transmitted as
33960
33961 @smallexample
33962 @code{123456/d}
33963 @end smallexample
33964
33965 @node Memory Transfer
33966 @unnumberedsubsubsec Memory Transfer
33967 @cindex memory transfer, in file-i/o protocol
33968
33969 Structured data which is transferred using a memory read or write (for
33970 example, a @code{struct stat}) is expected to be in a protocol-specific format
33971 with all scalar multibyte datatypes being big endian. Translation to
33972 this representation needs to be done both by the target before the @code{F}
33973 packet is sent, and by @value{GDBN} before
33974 it transfers memory to the target. Transferred pointers to structured
33975 data should point to the already-coerced data at any time.
33976
33977
33978 @node struct stat
33979 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct stat
33980 @cindex struct stat, in file-i/o protocol
33981
33982 The buffer of type @code{struct stat} used by the target and @value{GDBN}
33983 is defined as follows:
33984
33985 @smallexample
33986 struct stat @{
33987 unsigned int st_dev; /* device */
33988 unsigned int st_ino; /* inode */
33989 mode_t st_mode; /* protection */
33990 unsigned int st_nlink; /* number of hard links */
33991 unsigned int st_uid; /* user ID of owner */
33992 unsigned int st_gid; /* group ID of owner */
33993 unsigned int st_rdev; /* device type (if inode device) */
33994 unsigned long st_size; /* total size, in bytes */
33995 unsigned long st_blksize; /* blocksize for filesystem I/O */
33996 unsigned long st_blocks; /* number of blocks allocated */
33997 time_t st_atime; /* time of last access */
33998 time_t st_mtime; /* time of last modification */
33999 time_t st_ctime; /* time of last change */
34000 @};
34001 @end smallexample
34002
34003 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
34004 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
34005 structure is of size 64 bytes.
34006
34007 The values of several fields have a restricted meaning and/or
34008 range of values.
34009
34010 @table @code
34011
34012 @item st_dev
34013 A value of 0 represents a file, 1 the console.
34014
34015 @item st_ino
34016 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
34017
34018 @item st_mode
34019 Valid mode bits are described in @ref{Constants}. Any other
34020 bits have currently no meaning for the target.
34021
34022 @item st_uid
34023 @itemx st_gid
34024 @itemx st_rdev
34025 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
34026
34027 @item st_atime
34028 @itemx st_mtime
34029 @itemx st_ctime
34030 These values have a host and file system dependent
34031 accuracy. Especially on Windows hosts, the file system may not
34032 support exact timing values.
34033 @end table
34034
34035 The target gets a @code{struct stat} of the above representation and is
34036 responsible for coercing it to the target representation before
34037 continuing.
34038
34039 Note that due to size differences between the host, target, and protocol
34040 representations of @code{struct stat} members, these members could eventually
34041 get truncated on the target.
34042
34043 @node struct timeval
34044 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct timeval
34045 @cindex struct timeval, in file-i/o protocol
34046
34047 The buffer of type @code{struct timeval} used by the File-I/O protocol
34048 is defined as follows:
34049
34050 @smallexample
34051 struct timeval @{
34052 time_t tv_sec; /* second */
34053 long tv_usec; /* microsecond */
34054 @};
34055 @end smallexample
34056
34057 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
34058 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
34059 structure is of size 8 bytes.
34060
34061 @node Constants
34062 @subsection Constants
34063 @cindex constants, in file-i/o protocol
34064
34065 The following values are used for the constants inside of the
34066 protocol. @value{GDBN} and target are responsible for translating these
34067 values before and after the call as needed.
34068
34069 @menu
34070 * Open Flags::
34071 * mode_t Values::
34072 * Errno Values::
34073 * Lseek Flags::
34074 * Limits::
34075 @end menu
34076
34077 @node Open Flags
34078 @unnumberedsubsubsec Open Flags
34079 @cindex open flags, in file-i/o protocol
34080
34081 All values are given in hexadecimal representation.
34082
34083 @smallexample
34084 O_RDONLY 0x0
34085 O_WRONLY 0x1
34086 O_RDWR 0x2
34087 O_APPEND 0x8
34088 O_CREAT 0x200
34089 O_TRUNC 0x400
34090 O_EXCL 0x800
34091 @end smallexample
34092
34093 @node mode_t Values
34094 @unnumberedsubsubsec mode_t Values
34095 @cindex mode_t values, in file-i/o protocol
34096
34097 All values are given in octal representation.
34098
34099 @smallexample
34100 S_IFREG 0100000
34101 S_IFDIR 040000
34102 S_IRUSR 0400
34103 S_IWUSR 0200
34104 S_IXUSR 0100
34105 S_IRGRP 040
34106 S_IWGRP 020
34107 S_IXGRP 010
34108 S_IROTH 04
34109 S_IWOTH 02
34110 S_IXOTH 01
34111 @end smallexample
34112
34113 @node Errno Values
34114 @unnumberedsubsubsec Errno Values
34115 @cindex errno values, in file-i/o protocol
34116
34117 All values are given in decimal representation.
34118
34119 @smallexample
34120 EPERM 1
34121 ENOENT 2
34122 EINTR 4
34123 EBADF 9
34124 EACCES 13
34125 EFAULT 14
34126 EBUSY 16
34127 EEXIST 17
34128 ENODEV 19
34129 ENOTDIR 20
34130 EISDIR 21
34131 EINVAL 22
34132 ENFILE 23
34133 EMFILE 24
34134 EFBIG 27
34135 ENOSPC 28
34136 ESPIPE 29
34137 EROFS 30
34138 ENAMETOOLONG 91
34139 EUNKNOWN 9999
34140 @end smallexample
34141
34142 @code{EUNKNOWN} is used as a fallback error value if a host system returns
34143 any error value not in the list of supported error numbers.
34144
34145 @node Lseek Flags
34146 @unnumberedsubsubsec Lseek Flags
34147 @cindex lseek flags, in file-i/o protocol
34148
34149 @smallexample
34150 SEEK_SET 0
34151 SEEK_CUR 1
34152 SEEK_END 2
34153 @end smallexample
34154
34155 @node Limits
34156 @unnumberedsubsubsec Limits
34157 @cindex limits, in file-i/o protocol
34158
34159 All values are given in decimal representation.
34160
34161 @smallexample
34162 INT_MIN -2147483648
34163 INT_MAX 2147483647
34164 UINT_MAX 4294967295
34165 LONG_MIN -9223372036854775808
34166 LONG_MAX 9223372036854775807
34167 ULONG_MAX 18446744073709551615
34168 @end smallexample
34169
34170 @node File-I/O Examples
34171 @subsection File-I/O Examples
34172 @cindex file-i/o examples
34173
34174 Example sequence of a write call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
34175 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be written:
34176
34177 @smallexample
34178 <- @code{Fwrite,3,1234,6}
34179 @emph{request memory read from target}
34180 -> @code{m1234,6}
34181 <- XXXXXX
34182 @emph{return "6 bytes written"}
34183 -> @code{F6}
34184 @end smallexample
34185
34186 Example sequence of a read call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
34187 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be read:
34188
34189 @smallexample
34190 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
34191 @emph{request memory write to target}
34192 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
34193 @emph{return "6 bytes read"}
34194 -> @code{F6}
34195 @end smallexample
34196
34197 Example sequence of a read call, call fails on the host due to invalid
34198 file descriptor (@code{EBADF}):
34199
34200 @smallexample
34201 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
34202 -> @code{F-1,9}
34203 @end smallexample
34204
34205 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} before syscall on
34206 host is called:
34207
34208 @smallexample
34209 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
34210 -> @code{F-1,4,C}
34211 <- @code{T02}
34212 @end smallexample
34213
34214 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} after syscall on
34215 host is called:
34216
34217 @smallexample
34218 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
34219 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
34220 <- @code{T02}
34221 @end smallexample
34222
34223 @node Library List Format
34224 @section Library List Format
34225 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
34226
34227 On some platforms, a dynamic loader (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) runs in the
34228 same process as your application to manage libraries. In this case,
34229 @value{GDBN} can use the loader's symbol table and normal memory
34230 operations to maintain a list of shared libraries. On other
34231 platforms, the operating system manages loaded libraries.
34232 @value{GDBN} can not retrieve the list of currently loaded libraries
34233 through memory operations, so it uses the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
34234 packet (@pxref{qXfer library list read}) instead. The remote stub
34235 queries the target's operating system and reports which libraries
34236 are loaded.
34237
34238 The @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet returns an XML document which
34239 lists loaded libraries and their offsets. Each library has an
34240 associated name and one or more segment or section base addresses,
34241 which report where the library was loaded in memory.
34242
34243 For the common case of libraries that are fully linked binaries, the
34244 library should have a list of segments. If the target supports
34245 dynamic linking of a relocatable object file, its library XML element
34246 should instead include a list of allocated sections. The segment or
34247 section bases are start addresses, not relocation offsets; they do not
34248 depend on the library's link-time base addresses.
34249
34250 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
34251 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
34252
34253 A simple memory map, with one loaded library relocated by a single
34254 offset, looks like this:
34255
34256 @smallexample
34257 <library-list>
34258 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6">
34259 <segment address="0x10000000"/>
34260 </library>
34261 </library-list>
34262 @end smallexample
34263
34264 Another simple memory map, with one loaded library with three
34265 allocated sections (.text, .data, .bss), looks like this:
34266
34267 @smallexample
34268 <library-list>
34269 <library name="sharedlib.o">
34270 <section address="0x10000000"/>
34271 <section address="0x20000000"/>
34272 <section address="0x30000000"/>
34273 </library>
34274 </library-list>
34275 @end smallexample
34276
34277 The format of a library list is described by this DTD:
34278
34279 @smallexample
34280 <!-- library-list: Root element with versioning -->
34281 <!ELEMENT library-list (library)*>
34282 <!ATTLIST library-list version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
34283 <!ELEMENT library (segment*, section*)>
34284 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
34285 <!ELEMENT segment EMPTY>
34286 <!ATTLIST segment address CDATA #REQUIRED>
34287 <!ELEMENT section EMPTY>
34288 <!ATTLIST section address CDATA #REQUIRED>
34289 @end smallexample
34290
34291 In addition, segments and section descriptors cannot be mixed within a
34292 single library element, and you must supply at least one segment or
34293 section for each library.
34294
34295 @node Memory Map Format
34296 @section Memory Map Format
34297 @cindex memory map format
34298
34299 To be able to write into flash memory, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain a
34300 memory map from the target. This section describes the format of the
34301 memory map.
34302
34303 The memory map is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
34304 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}) packet and is an XML document that
34305 lists memory regions.
34306
34307 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
34308 memory maps. @xref{Expat}.
34309
34310 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
34311
34312 @smallexample
34313 <?xml version="1.0"?>
34314 <!DOCTYPE memory-map
34315 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
34316 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-memory-map.dtd">
34317 <memory-map>
34318 region...
34319 </memory-map>
34320 @end smallexample
34321
34322 Each region can be either:
34323
34324 @itemize
34325
34326 @item
34327 A region of RAM starting at @var{addr} and extending for @var{length}
34328 bytes from there:
34329
34330 @smallexample
34331 <memory type="ram" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
34332 @end smallexample
34333
34334
34335 @item
34336 A region of read-only memory:
34337
34338 @smallexample
34339 <memory type="rom" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
34340 @end smallexample
34341
34342
34343 @item
34344 A region of flash memory, with erasure blocks @var{blocksize}
34345 bytes in length:
34346
34347 @smallexample
34348 <memory type="flash" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}">
34349 <property name="blocksize">@var{blocksize}</property>
34350 </memory>
34351 @end smallexample
34352
34353 @end itemize
34354
34355 Regions must not overlap. @value{GDBN} assumes that areas of memory not covered
34356 by the memory map are RAM, and uses the ordinary @samp{M} and @samp{X}
34357 packets to write to addresses in such ranges.
34358
34359 The formal DTD for memory map format is given below:
34360
34361 @smallexample
34362 <!-- ................................................... -->
34363 <!-- Memory Map XML DTD ................................ -->
34364 <!-- File: memory-map.dtd .............................. -->
34365 <!-- .................................... .............. -->
34366 <!-- memory-map.dtd -->
34367 <!-- memory-map: Root element with versioning -->
34368 <!ELEMENT memory-map (memory | property)>
34369 <!ATTLIST memory-map version CDATA #FIXED "1.0.0">
34370 <!ELEMENT memory (property)>
34371 <!-- memory: Specifies a memory region,
34372 and its type, or device. -->
34373 <!ATTLIST memory type CDATA #REQUIRED
34374 start CDATA #REQUIRED
34375 length CDATA #REQUIRED
34376 device CDATA #IMPLIED>
34377 <!-- property: Generic attribute tag -->
34378 <!ELEMENT property (#PCDATA | property)*>
34379 <!ATTLIST property name CDATA #REQUIRED>
34380 @end smallexample
34381
34382 @node Thread List Format
34383 @section Thread List Format
34384 @cindex thread list format
34385
34386 To efficiently update the list of threads and their attributes,
34387 @value{GDBN} issues the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
34388 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}) and obtains the XML document with
34389 the following structure:
34390
34391 @smallexample
34392 <?xml version="1.0"?>
34393 <threads>
34394 <thread id="id" core="0">
34395 ... description ...
34396 </thread>
34397 </threads>
34398 @end smallexample
34399
34400 Each @samp{thread} element must have the @samp{id} attribute that
34401 identifies the thread (@pxref{thread-id syntax}). The
34402 @samp{core} attribute, if present, specifies which processor core
34403 the thread was last executing on. The content of the of @samp{thread}
34404 element is interpreted as human-readable auxilliary information.
34405
34406 @include agentexpr.texi
34407
34408 @node Trace File Format
34409 @appendix Trace File Format
34410 @cindex trace file format
34411
34412 The trace file comes in three parts: a header, a textual description
34413 section, and a trace frame section with binary data.
34414
34415 The header has the form @code{\x7fTRACE0\n}. The first byte is
34416 @code{0x7f} so as to indicate that the file contains binary data,
34417 while the @code{0} is a version number that may have different values
34418 in the future.
34419
34420 The description section consists of multiple lines of @sc{ascii} text
34421 separated by newline characters (@code{0xa}). The lines may include a
34422 variety of optional descriptive or context-setting information, such
34423 as tracepoint definitions or register set size. @value{GDBN} will
34424 ignore any line that it does not recognize. An empty line marks the end
34425 of this section.
34426
34427 @c FIXME add some specific types of data
34428
34429 The trace frame section consists of a number of consecutive frames.
34430 Each frame begins with a two-byte tracepoint number, followed by a
34431 four-byte size giving the amount of data in the frame. The data in
34432 the frame consists of a number of blocks, each introduced by a
34433 character indicating its type (at least register, memory, and trace
34434 state variable). The data in this section is raw binary, not a
34435 hexadecimal or other encoding; its endianness matches the target's
34436 endianness.
34437
34438 @c FIXME bi-arch may require endianness/arch info in description section
34439
34440 @table @code
34441 @item R @var{bytes}
34442 Register block. The number and ordering of bytes matches that of a
34443 @code{g} packet in the remote protocol. Note that these are the
34444 actual bytes, in target order and @value{GDBN} register order, not a
34445 hexadecimal encoding.
34446
34447 @item M @var{address} @var{length} @var{bytes}...
34448 Memory block. This is a contiguous block of memory, at the 8-byte
34449 address @var{address}, with a 2-byte length @var{length}, followed by
34450 @var{length} bytes.
34451
34452 @item V @var{number} @var{value}
34453 Trace state variable block. This records the 8-byte signed value
34454 @var{value} of trace state variable numbered @var{number}.
34455
34456 @end table
34457
34458 Future enhancements of the trace file format may include additional types
34459 of blocks.
34460
34461 @node Target Descriptions
34462 @appendix Target Descriptions
34463 @cindex target descriptions
34464
34465 @strong{Warning:} target descriptions are still under active development,
34466 and the contents and format may change between @value{GDBN} releases.
34467 The format is expected to stabilize in the future.
34468
34469 One of the challenges of using @value{GDBN} to debug embedded systems
34470 is that there are so many minor variants of each processor
34471 architecture in use. It is common practice for vendors to start with
34472 a standard processor core --- ARM, PowerPC, or MIPS, for example ---
34473 and then make changes to adapt it to a particular market niche. Some
34474 architectures have hundreds of variants, available from dozens of
34475 vendors. This leads to a number of problems:
34476
34477 @itemize @bullet
34478 @item
34479 With so many different customized processors, it is difficult for
34480 the @value{GDBN} maintainers to keep up with the changes.
34481 @item
34482 Since individual variants may have short lifetimes or limited
34483 audiences, it may not be worthwhile to carry information about every
34484 variant in the @value{GDBN} source tree.
34485 @item
34486 When @value{GDBN} does support the architecture of the embedded system
34487 at hand, the task of finding the correct architecture name to give the
34488 @command{set architecture} command can be error-prone.
34489 @end itemize
34490
34491 To address these problems, the @value{GDBN} remote protocol allows a
34492 target system to not only identify itself to @value{GDBN}, but to
34493 actually describe its own features. This lets @value{GDBN} support
34494 processor variants it has never seen before --- to the extent that the
34495 descriptions are accurate, and that @value{GDBN} understands them.
34496
34497 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
34498 target descriptions. @xref{Expat}.
34499
34500 @menu
34501 * Retrieving Descriptions:: How descriptions are fetched from a target.
34502 * Target Description Format:: The contents of a target description.
34503 * Predefined Target Types:: Standard types available for target
34504 descriptions.
34505 * Standard Target Features:: Features @value{GDBN} knows about.
34506 @end menu
34507
34508 @node Retrieving Descriptions
34509 @section Retrieving Descriptions
34510
34511 Target descriptions can be read from the target automatically, or
34512 specified by the user manually. The default behavior is to read the
34513 description from the target. @value{GDBN} retrieves it via the remote
34514 protocol using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{General Query Packets,
34515 qXfer}). The @var{annex} in the @samp{qXfer} packet will be
34516 @samp{target.xml}. The contents of the @samp{target.xml} annex are an
34517 XML document, of the form described in @ref{Target Description
34518 Format}.
34519
34520 Alternatively, you can specify a file to read for the target description.
34521 If a file is set, the target will not be queried. The commands to
34522 specify a file are:
34523
34524 @table @code
34525 @cindex set tdesc filename
34526 @item set tdesc filename @var{path}
34527 Read the target description from @var{path}.
34528
34529 @cindex unset tdesc filename
34530 @item unset tdesc filename
34531 Do not read the XML target description from a file. @value{GDBN}
34532 will use the description supplied by the current target.
34533
34534 @cindex show tdesc filename
34535 @item show tdesc filename
34536 Show the filename to read for a target description, if any.
34537 @end table
34538
34539
34540 @node Target Description Format
34541 @section Target Description Format
34542 @cindex target descriptions, XML format
34543
34544 A target description annex is an @uref{http://www.w3.org/XML/, XML}
34545 document which complies with the Document Type Definition provided in
34546 the @value{GDBN} sources in @file{gdb/features/gdb-target.dtd}. This
34547 means you can use generally available tools like @command{xmllint} to
34548 check that your feature descriptions are well-formed and valid.
34549 However, to help people unfamiliar with XML write descriptions for
34550 their targets, we also describe the grammar here.
34551
34552 Target descriptions can identify the architecture of the remote target
34553 and (for some architectures) provide information about custom register
34554 sets. They can also identify the OS ABI of the remote target.
34555 @value{GDBN} can use this information to autoconfigure for your
34556 target, or to warn you if you connect to an unsupported target.
34557
34558 Here is a simple target description:
34559
34560 @smallexample
34561 <target version="1.0">
34562 <architecture>i386:x86-64</architecture>
34563 </target>
34564 @end smallexample
34565
34566 @noindent
34567 This minimal description only says that the target uses
34568 the x86-64 architecture.
34569
34570 A target description has the following overall form, with [ ] marking
34571 optional elements and @dots{} marking repeatable elements. The elements
34572 are explained further below.
34573
34574 @smallexample
34575 <?xml version="1.0"?>
34576 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "gdb-target.dtd">
34577 <target version="1.0">
34578 @r{[}@var{architecture}@r{]}
34579 @r{[}@var{osabi}@r{]}
34580 @r{[}@var{compatible}@r{]}
34581 @r{[}@var{feature}@dots{}@r{]}
34582 </target>
34583 @end smallexample
34584
34585 @noindent
34586 The description is generally insensitive to whitespace and line
34587 breaks, under the usual common-sense rules. The XML version
34588 declaration and document type declaration can generally be omitted
34589 (@value{GDBN} does not require them), but specifying them may be
34590 useful for XML validation tools. The @samp{version} attribute for
34591 @samp{<target>} may also be omitted, but we recommend
34592 including it; if future versions of @value{GDBN} use an incompatible
34593 revision of @file{gdb-target.dtd}, they will detect and report
34594 the version mismatch.
34595
34596 @subsection Inclusion
34597 @cindex target descriptions, inclusion
34598 @cindex XInclude
34599 @ifnotinfo
34600 @cindex <xi:include>
34601 @end ifnotinfo
34602
34603 It can sometimes be valuable to split a target description up into
34604 several different annexes, either for organizational purposes, or to
34605 share files between different possible target descriptions. You can
34606 divide a description into multiple files by replacing any element of
34607 the target description with an inclusion directive of the form:
34608
34609 @smallexample
34610 <xi:include href="@var{document}"/>
34611 @end smallexample
34612
34613 @noindent
34614 When @value{GDBN} encounters an element of this form, it will retrieve
34615 the named XML @var{document}, and replace the inclusion directive with
34616 the contents of that document. If the current description was read
34617 using @samp{qXfer}, then so will be the included document;
34618 @var{document} will be interpreted as the name of an annex. If the
34619 current description was read from a file, @value{GDBN} will look for
34620 @var{document} as a file in the same directory where it found the
34621 original description.
34622
34623 @subsection Architecture
34624 @cindex <architecture>
34625
34626 An @samp{<architecture>} element has this form:
34627
34628 @smallexample
34629 <architecture>@var{arch}</architecture>
34630 @end smallexample
34631
34632 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
34633 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
34634
34635 @subsection OS ABI
34636 @cindex @code{<osabi>}
34637
34638 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
34639 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
34640
34641 An @samp{<osabi>} element has this form:
34642
34643 @smallexample
34644 <osabi>@var{abi-name}</osabi>
34645 @end smallexample
34646
34647 @var{abi-name} is an OS ABI name from the same selection accepted by
34648 @w{@code{set osabi}} (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
34649
34650 @subsection Compatible Architecture
34651 @cindex @code{<compatible>}
34652
34653 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
34654 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
34655
34656 A @samp{<compatible>} element has this form:
34657
34658 @smallexample
34659 <compatible>@var{arch}</compatible>
34660 @end smallexample
34661
34662 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
34663 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
34664
34665 A @samp{<compatible>} element is used to specify that the target
34666 is able to run binaries in some other than the main target architecture
34667 given by the @samp{<architecture>} element. For example, on the
34668 Cell Broadband Engine, the main architecture is @code{powerpc:common}
34669 or @code{powerpc:common64}, but the system is able to run binaries
34670 in the @code{spu} architecture as well. The way to describe this
34671 capability with @samp{<compatible>} is as follows:
34672
34673 @smallexample
34674 <architecture>powerpc:common</architecture>
34675 <compatible>spu</compatible>
34676 @end smallexample
34677
34678 @subsection Features
34679 @cindex <feature>
34680
34681 Each @samp{<feature>} describes some logical portion of the target
34682 system. Features are currently used to describe available CPU
34683 registers and the types of their contents. A @samp{<feature>} element
34684 has this form:
34685
34686 @smallexample
34687 <feature name="@var{name}">
34688 @r{[}@var{type}@dots{}@r{]}
34689 @var{reg}@dots{}
34690 </feature>
34691 @end smallexample
34692
34693 @noindent
34694 Each feature's name should be unique within the description. The name
34695 of a feature does not matter unless @value{GDBN} has some special
34696 knowledge of the contents of that feature; if it does, the feature
34697 should have its standard name. @xref{Standard Target Features}.
34698
34699 @subsection Types
34700
34701 Any register's value is a collection of bits which @value{GDBN} must
34702 interpret. The default interpretation is a two's complement integer,
34703 but other types can be requested by name in the register description.
34704 Some predefined types are provided by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Predefined
34705 Target Types}), and the description can define additional composite types.
34706
34707 Each type element must have an @samp{id} attribute, which gives
34708 a unique (within the containing @samp{<feature>}) name to the type.
34709 Types must be defined before they are used.
34710
34711 @cindex <vector>
34712 Some targets offer vector registers, which can be treated as arrays
34713 of scalar elements. These types are written as @samp{<vector>} elements,
34714 specifying the array element type, @var{type}, and the number of elements,
34715 @var{count}:
34716
34717 @smallexample
34718 <vector id="@var{id}" type="@var{type}" count="@var{count}"/>
34719 @end smallexample
34720
34721 @cindex <union>
34722 If a register's value is usefully viewed in multiple ways, define it
34723 with a union type containing the useful representations. The
34724 @samp{<union>} element contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements,
34725 each of which has a @var{name} and a @var{type}:
34726
34727 @smallexample
34728 <union id="@var{id}">
34729 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
34730 @dots{}
34731 </union>
34732 @end smallexample
34733
34734 @cindex <struct>
34735 If a register's value is composed from several separate values, define
34736 it with a structure type. There are two forms of the @samp{<struct>}
34737 element; a @samp{<struct>} element must either contain only bitfields
34738 or contain no bitfields. If the structure contains only bitfields,
34739 its total size in bytes must be specified, each bitfield must have an
34740 explicit start and end, and bitfields are automatically assigned an
34741 integer type. The field's @var{start} should be less than or
34742 equal to its @var{end}, and zero represents the least significant bit.
34743
34744 @smallexample
34745 <struct id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
34746 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
34747 @dots{}
34748 </struct>
34749 @end smallexample
34750
34751 If the structure contains no bitfields, then each field has an
34752 explicit type, and no implicit padding is added.
34753
34754 @smallexample
34755 <struct id="@var{id}">
34756 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
34757 @dots{}
34758 </struct>
34759 @end smallexample
34760
34761 @cindex <flags>
34762 If a register's value is a series of single-bit flags, define it with
34763 a flags type. The @samp{<flags>} element has an explicit @var{size}
34764 and contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements. Each field has a
34765 @var{name}, a @var{start}, and an @var{end}. Only single-bit flags
34766 are supported.
34767
34768 @smallexample
34769 <flags id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
34770 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
34771 @dots{}
34772 </flags>
34773 @end smallexample
34774
34775 @subsection Registers
34776 @cindex <reg>
34777
34778 Each register is represented as an element with this form:
34779
34780 @smallexample
34781 <reg name="@var{name}"
34782 bitsize="@var{size}"
34783 @r{[}regnum="@var{num}"@r{]}
34784 @r{[}save-restore="@var{save-restore}"@r{]}
34785 @r{[}type="@var{type}"@r{]}
34786 @r{[}group="@var{group}"@r{]}/>
34787 @end smallexample
34788
34789 @noindent
34790 The components are as follows:
34791
34792 @table @var
34793
34794 @item name
34795 The register's name; it must be unique within the target description.
34796
34797 @item bitsize
34798 The register's size, in bits.
34799
34800 @item regnum
34801 The register's number. If omitted, a register's number is one greater
34802 than that of the previous register (either in the current feature or in
34803 a preceeding feature); the first register in the target description
34804 defaults to zero. This register number is used to read or write
34805 the register; e.g.@: it is used in the remote @code{p} and @code{P}
34806 packets, and registers appear in the @code{g} and @code{G} packets
34807 in order of increasing register number.
34808
34809 @item save-restore
34810 Whether the register should be preserved across inferior function
34811 calls; this must be either @code{yes} or @code{no}. The default is
34812 @code{yes}, which is appropriate for most registers except for
34813 some system control registers; this is not related to the target's
34814 ABI.
34815
34816 @item type
34817 The type of the register. @var{type} may be a predefined type, a type
34818 defined in the current feature, or one of the special types @code{int}
34819 and @code{float}. @code{int} is an integer type of the correct size
34820 for @var{bitsize}, and @code{float} is a floating point type (in the
34821 architecture's normal floating point format) of the correct size for
34822 @var{bitsize}. The default is @code{int}.
34823
34824 @item group
34825 The register group to which this register belongs. @var{group} must
34826 be either @code{general}, @code{float}, or @code{vector}. If no
34827 @var{group} is specified, @value{GDBN} will not display the register
34828 in @code{info registers}.
34829
34830 @end table
34831
34832 @node Predefined Target Types
34833 @section Predefined Target Types
34834 @cindex target descriptions, predefined types
34835
34836 Type definitions in the self-description can build up composite types
34837 from basic building blocks, but can not define fundamental types. Instead,
34838 standard identifiers are provided by @value{GDBN} for the fundamental
34839 types. The currently supported types are:
34840
34841 @table @code
34842
34843 @item int8
34844 @itemx int16
34845 @itemx int32
34846 @itemx int64
34847 @itemx int128
34848 Signed integer types holding the specified number of bits.
34849
34850 @item uint8
34851 @itemx uint16
34852 @itemx uint32
34853 @itemx uint64
34854 @itemx uint128
34855 Unsigned integer types holding the specified number of bits.
34856
34857 @item code_ptr
34858 @itemx data_ptr
34859 Pointers to unspecified code and data. The program counter and
34860 any dedicated return address register may be marked as code
34861 pointers; printing a code pointer converts it into a symbolic
34862 address. The stack pointer and any dedicated address registers
34863 may be marked as data pointers.
34864
34865 @item ieee_single
34866 Single precision IEEE floating point.
34867
34868 @item ieee_double
34869 Double precision IEEE floating point.
34870
34871 @item arm_fpa_ext
34872 The 12-byte extended precision format used by ARM FPA registers.
34873
34874 @item i387_ext
34875 The 10-byte extended precision format used by x87 registers.
34876
34877 @item i386_eflags
34878 32bit @sc{eflags} register used by x86.
34879
34880 @item i386_mxcsr
34881 32bit @sc{mxcsr} register used by x86.
34882
34883 @end table
34884
34885 @node Standard Target Features
34886 @section Standard Target Features
34887 @cindex target descriptions, standard features
34888
34889 A target description must contain either no registers or all the
34890 target's registers. If the description contains no registers, then
34891 @value{GDBN} will assume a default register layout, selected based on
34892 the architecture. If the description contains any registers, the
34893 default layout will not be used; the standard registers must be
34894 described in the target description, in such a way that @value{GDBN}
34895 can recognize them.
34896
34897 This is accomplished by giving specific names to feature elements
34898 which contain standard registers. @value{GDBN} will look for features
34899 with those names and verify that they contain the expected registers;
34900 if any known feature is missing required registers, or if any required
34901 feature is missing, @value{GDBN} will reject the target
34902 description. You can add additional registers to any of the
34903 standard features --- @value{GDBN} will display them just as if
34904 they were added to an unrecognized feature.
34905
34906 This section lists the known features and their expected contents.
34907 Sample XML documents for these features are included in the
34908 @value{GDBN} source tree, in the directory @file{gdb/features}.
34909
34910 Names recognized by @value{GDBN} should include the name of the
34911 company or organization which selected the name, and the overall
34912 architecture to which the feature applies; so e.g.@: the feature
34913 containing ARM core registers is named @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}.
34914
34915 The names of registers are not case sensitive for the purpose
34916 of recognizing standard features, but @value{GDBN} will only display
34917 registers using the capitalization used in the description.
34918
34919 @menu
34920 * ARM Features::
34921 * i386 Features::
34922 * MIPS Features::
34923 * M68K Features::
34924 * PowerPC Features::
34925 @end menu
34926
34927
34928 @node ARM Features
34929 @subsection ARM Features
34930 @cindex target descriptions, ARM features
34931
34932 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core} feature is required for ARM targets.
34933 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp},
34934 @samp{lr}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
34935
34936 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.fpa} feature is optional. If present, it
34937 should contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f7} and @samp{fps}.
34938
34939 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.xscale.iwmmxt} feature is optional. If present,
34940 it should contain at least registers @samp{wR0} through @samp{wR15} and
34941 @samp{wCGR0} through @samp{wCGR3}. The @samp{wCID}, @samp{wCon},
34942 @samp{wCSSF}, and @samp{wCASF} registers are optional.
34943
34944 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} feature is optional. If present, it
34945 should contain at least registers @samp{d0} through @samp{d15}. If
34946 they are present, @samp{d16} through @samp{d31} should also be included.
34947 @value{GDBN} will synthesize the single-precision registers from
34948 halves of the double-precision registers.
34949
34950 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.neon} feature is optional. It does not
34951 need to contain registers; it instructs @value{GDBN} to display the
34952 VFP double-precision registers as vectors and to synthesize the
34953 quad-precision registers from pairs of double-precision registers.
34954 If this feature is present, @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} must also
34955 be present and include 32 double-precision registers.
34956
34957 @node i386 Features
34958 @subsection i386 Features
34959 @cindex target descriptions, i386 features
34960
34961 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.core} feature is required for i386/amd64
34962 targets. It should describe the following registers:
34963
34964 @itemize @minus
34965 @item
34966 @samp{eax} through @samp{edi} plus @samp{eip} for i386
34967 @item
34968 @samp{rax} through @samp{r15} plus @samp{rip} for amd64
34969 @item
34970 @samp{eflags}, @samp{cs}, @samp{ss}, @samp{ds}, @samp{es},
34971 @samp{fs}, @samp{gs}
34972 @item
34973 @samp{st0} through @samp{st7}
34974 @item
34975 @samp{fctrl}, @samp{fstat}, @samp{ftag}, @samp{fiseg}, @samp{fioff},
34976 @samp{foseg}, @samp{fooff} and @samp{fop}
34977 @end itemize
34978
34979 The register sets may be different, depending on the target.
34980
34981 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature is optional. It should
34982 describe registers:
34983
34984 @itemize @minus
34985 @item
34986 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm7} for i386
34987 @item
34988 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm15} for amd64
34989 @item
34990 @samp{mxcsr}
34991 @end itemize
34992
34993 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.avx} feature is optional and requires the
34994 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature. It should
34995 describe the upper 128 bits of @sc{ymm} registers:
34996
34997 @itemize @minus
34998 @item
34999 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm7h} for i386
35000 @item
35001 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm15h} for amd64
35002 @item
35003 @end itemize
35004
35005 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.linux} feature is optional. It should
35006 describe a single register, @samp{orig_eax}.
35007
35008 @node MIPS Features
35009 @subsection MIPS Features
35010 @cindex target descriptions, MIPS features
35011
35012 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cpu} feature is required for MIPS targets.
35013 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31}, @samp{lo},
35014 @samp{hi}, and @samp{pc}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending
35015 on the target.
35016
35017 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cp0} feature is also required. It should
35018 contain at least the @samp{status}, @samp{badvaddr}, and @samp{cause}
35019 registers. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
35020
35021 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.fpu} feature is currently required, though
35022 it may be optional in a future version of @value{GDBN}. It should
35023 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31}, @samp{fcsr}, and
35024 @samp{fir}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
35025
35026 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.linux} feature is optional. It should
35027 contain a single register, @samp{restart}, which is used by the
35028 Linux kernel to control restartable syscalls.
35029
35030 @node M68K Features
35031 @subsection M68K Features
35032 @cindex target descriptions, M68K features
35033
35034 @table @code
35035 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.m68k.core}
35036 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.core}
35037 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.fido.core}
35038 One of those features must be always present.
35039 The feature that is present determines which flavor of m68k is
35040 used. The feature that is present should contain registers
35041 @samp{d0} through @samp{d7}, @samp{a0} through @samp{a5}, @samp{fp},
35042 @samp{sp}, @samp{ps} and @samp{pc}.
35043
35044 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.fp}
35045 This feature is optional. If present, it should contain registers
35046 @samp{fp0} through @samp{fp7}, @samp{fpcontrol}, @samp{fpstatus} and
35047 @samp{fpiaddr}.
35048 @end table
35049
35050 @node PowerPC Features
35051 @subsection PowerPC Features
35052 @cindex target descriptions, PowerPC features
35053
35054 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} feature is required for PowerPC
35055 targets. It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31},
35056 @samp{pc}, @samp{msr}, @samp{cr}, @samp{lr}, @samp{ctr}, and
35057 @samp{xer}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
35058
35059 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.fpu} feature is optional. It should
35060 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31} and @samp{fpscr}.
35061
35062 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.altivec} feature is optional. It should
35063 contain registers @samp{vr0} through @samp{vr31}, @samp{vscr},
35064 and @samp{vrsave}.
35065
35066 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.vsx} feature is optional. It should
35067 contain registers @samp{vs0h} through @samp{vs31h}. @value{GDBN}
35068 will combine these registers with the floating point registers
35069 (@samp{f0} through @samp{f31}) and the altivec registers (@samp{vr0}
35070 through @samp{vr31}) to present the 128-bit wide registers @samp{vs0}
35071 through @samp{vs63}, the set of vector registers for POWER7.
35072
35073 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.spe} feature is optional. It should
35074 contain registers @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}, @samp{acc}, and
35075 @samp{spefscr}. SPE targets should provide 32-bit registers in
35076 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} and provide the upper halves in
35077 @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}. @value{GDBN} will combine
35078 these to present registers @samp{ev0} through @samp{ev31} to the
35079 user.
35080
35081 @node Operating System Information
35082 @appendix Operating System Information
35083 @cindex operating system information
35084
35085 @menu
35086 * Process list::
35087 @end menu
35088
35089 Users of @value{GDBN} often wish to obtain information about the state of
35090 the operating system running on the target---for example the list of
35091 processes, or the list of open files. This section describes the
35092 mechanism that makes it possible. This mechanism is similar to the
35093 target features mechanism (@pxref{Target Descriptions}), but focuses
35094 on a different aspect of target.
35095
35096 Operating system information is retrived from the target via the
35097 remote protocol, using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{qXfer osdata
35098 read}). The object name in the request should be @samp{osdata}, and
35099 the @var{annex} identifies the data to be fetched.
35100
35101 @node Process list
35102 @appendixsection Process list
35103 @cindex operating system information, process list
35104
35105 When requesting the process list, the @var{annex} field in the
35106 @samp{qXfer} request should be @samp{processes}. The returned data is
35107 an XML document. The formal syntax of this document is defined in
35108 @file{gdb/features/osdata.dtd}.
35109
35110 An example document is:
35111
35112 @smallexample
35113 <?xml version="1.0"?>
35114 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "osdata.dtd">
35115 <osdata type="processes">
35116 <item>
35117 <column name="pid">1</column>
35118 <column name="user">root</column>
35119 <column name="command">/sbin/init</column>
35120 <column name="cores">1,2,3</column>
35121 </item>
35122 </osdata>
35123 @end smallexample
35124
35125 Each item should include a column whose name is @samp{pid}. The value
35126 of that column should identify the process on the target. The
35127 @samp{user} and @samp{command} columns are optional, and will be
35128 displayed by @value{GDBN}. The @samp{cores} column, if present,
35129 should contain a comma-separated list of cores that this process
35130 is running on. Target may provide additional columns,
35131 which @value{GDBN} currently ignores.
35132
35133 @include gpl.texi
35134
35135 @node GNU Free Documentation License
35136 @appendix GNU Free Documentation License
35137 @include fdl.texi
35138
35139 @node Index
35140 @unnumbered Index
35141
35142 @printindex cp
35143
35144 @tex
35145 % I think something like @colophon should be in texinfo. In the
35146 % meantime:
35147 \long\def\colophon{\hbox to0pt{}\vfill
35148 \centerline{The body of this manual is set in}
35149 \centerline{\fontname\tenrm,}
35150 \centerline{with headings in {\bf\fontname\tenbf}}
35151 \centerline{and examples in {\tt\fontname\tentt}.}
35152 \centerline{{\it\fontname\tenit\/},}
35153 \centerline{{\bf\fontname\tenbf}, and}
35154 \centerline{{\sl\fontname\tensl\/}}
35155 \centerline{are used for emphasis.}\vfill}
35156 \page\colophon
35157 % Blame: doc@cygnus.com, 1991.
35158 @end tex
35159
35160 @bye
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