X-Git-Url: http://drtracing.org/?a=blobdiff_plain;f=gdb%2FREADME;h=d485536ecfe30667cb7b9a28172a46fa9aef0a16;hb=35fd2deb6916e972248d52b1bc1d584fa9059f8f;hp=c9b149a974332737acd5218c51e90043876092c4;hpb=ee7270cdcafecfa6c0967183e5c0d819727cabfe;p=deliverable%2Fbinutils-gdb.git diff --git a/gdb/README b/gdb/README index c9b149a974..d485536ecf 100644 --- a/gdb/README +++ b/gdb/README @@ -1,239 +1,305 @@ - README for gdb-4.4 release - John Gilmore & Stu Grossman 31 Jan 1992 + README for GDB release -This is GDB, the GNU source-level debugger, presently running under un*x. -A summary of new features is in the file `WHATS.NEW'. +This is GDB, the GNU source-level debugger. + +A summary of new features is in the file `gdb/NEWS'. + +Check the GDB home page at http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/ for up to +date release information, mailing list links and archives, etc. + +The file `gdb/PROBLEMS' contains information on problems identified +late in the release cycle. GDB's bug tracking data base at +http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/ contains a more complete list of +bugs. Unpacking and Installation -- quick overview ========================== -In this release, the GDB debugger sources, the generic GNU include -files, the BFD ("binary file description") library, the readline library, -and a miscellaneous library all have directories of their own underneath -the gdb-4.4 directory. The idea is that a variety of GNU tools can -share a common copy of these things. Configuration scripts and -makefiles exist to cruise up and down this directory tree and -automatically build all the pieces in the right order. + The release is provided as a gzipped tar file called +'gdb-VERSION.tar.gz', where VERSION is the version of GDB. -When you unpack the gdb-4.4.tar.Z file, you'll get a directory called -`gdb-4.4', which contains: + The GDB debugger sources, the generic GNU include +files, the BFD ("binary file description") library, the readline +library, and other libraries all have directories of their own +underneath the gdb-VERSION directory. The idea is that a variety of GNU +tools can share a common copy of these things. Be aware of variation +over time--for example don't try to build GDB with a copy of bfd from +a release other than the GDB release (such as a binutils release), +especially if the releases are more than a few weeks apart. +Configuration scripts and makefiles exist to cruise up and down this +directory tree and automatically build all the pieces in the right +order. - DOC.configure bfd/ configure* glob/ readline/ - Makefile.in config/ configure.in include/ texinfo/ - README config.sub* gdb/ libiberty/ + When you unpack the gdb-VERSION.tar.gz file, it will create a +source directory called `gdb-VERSION'. -To build GDB, you can just do: +You can build GDB right in the source directory: - cd gdb-4.4 - ./configure HOSTTYPE (e.g. sun4, decstation) - make - cp gdb/gdb /usr/local/bin/gdb (or wherever you want) + cd gdb-VERSION + ./configure + make + cp gdb/gdb /usr/local/bin/gdb (or wherever you want) -This will configure and build all the libraries as well as GDB. -If you get compiler warnings during this stage, see the `Reporting Bugs' -section below; there are a few known problems. +However, we recommend that an empty directory be used instead. +This way you do not clutter your source tree with binary files +and will be able to create different builds with different +configuration options. -GDB can be used as a cross-debugger, running on a machine of one type -while debugging a program running on a machine of another type. See below. +You can build GDB in any empty build directory: + mkdir build + cd build + /gdb-VERSION/configure + make + cp gdb/gdb /usr/local/bin/gdb (or wherever you want) -More Documentation -================== +(Building GDB with DJGPP tools for MS-DOS/MS-Windows is slightly +different; see the file gdb-VERSION/gdb/config/djgpp/README for details.) + + This will configure and build all the libraries as well as GDB. If +`configure' can't determine your system type, specify one as its +argument, e.g., `./configure sun4' or `./configure decstation'. + + Make sure that your 'configure' line ends in 'gdb-VERSION/configure': - The GDB 4.4 release includes an already-formatted reference card, -ready for printing on a PostScript printer, as -`gdb-4.4/gdb/refcard.ps'. It uses the most common PostScript fonts: -the Times family, Courier, and Symbol. If you have a PostScript -printer, you can print the reference card by just sending `refcard.ps' -to the printer. + /berman/migchain/source/gdb-VERSION/configure # RIGHT + /berman/migchain/source/gdb-VERSION/gdb/configure # WRONG - The release also includes the online Info version of this manual -already formatted: the main Info file is `gdb-4.4/gdb/gdb.info', and it -refers to subordinate files matching `gdb.info*' in the same directory. + The GDB package contains several subdirectories, such as 'gdb', +'bfd', and 'readline'. If your 'configure' line ends in +'gdb-VERSION/gdb/configure', then you are configuring only the gdb +subdirectory, not the whole GDB package. This leads to build errors +such as: - If you want to make these Info files yourself from the GDB manual's -source, you need the GNU `makeinfo' program. Once you have it, you -can type + make: *** No rule to make target `../bfd/bfd.h', needed by `gdb.o'. Stop. - cd gdb-4.4/gdb - make gdb.info + If you get other compiler errors during this stage, see the `Reporting +Bugs' section below; there are a few known problems. -to make the Info file. + GDB requires an ISO C (ANSI C) compiler. If you do not have an ISO +C compiler for your system, you may be able to download and install +the GNU CC compiler. It is available via anonymous FTP from the +directory `ftp://ftp.gnu.org/pub/gnu/gcc'. GDB also requires an ISO +C standard library. The GDB remote server, GDBserver, builds with some +non-ISO standard libraries - e.g. for Windows CE. + + GDB uses Expat, an XML parsing library, to implement some target-specific +features. Expat will be linked in if it is available at build time, or +those features will be disabled. The latest version of Expat should be +available from `http://expat.sourceforge.net'. + + GDB can be used as a cross-debugger, running on a machine of one +type while debugging a program running on a machine of another type. +See below. + + +More Documentation +****************** - If you want to format and print copies of the manual, you need -several things: + All the documentation for GDB comes as part of the machine-readable +distribution. The documentation is written in Texinfo format, which +is a documentation system that uses a single source file to produce +both on-line information and a printed manual. You can use one of the +Info formatting commands to create the on-line version of the +documentation and TeX (or `texi2roff') to typeset the printed version. - * TeX, the public domain typesetting program written by Donald - Knuth, must be installed on your system and available through - your execution path. + GDB includes an already formatted copy of the on-line Info version +of this manual in the `gdb/doc' subdirectory. The main Info file is +`gdb-VERSION/gdb/doc/gdb.info', and it refers to subordinate files +matching `gdb.info*' in the same directory. If necessary, you can +print out these files, or read them with any editor; but they are +easier to read using the `info' subsystem in GNU Emacs or the +standalone `info' program, available as part of the GNU Texinfo +distribution. - * `gdb-4.4/texinfo': TeX macros defining the GNU Documentation - Format. + If you want to format these Info files yourself, you need one of the +Info formatting programs, such as `texinfo-format-buffer' or +`makeinfo'. - * *A DVI output program.* TeX does not actually make marks on - paper; it produces output files called DVI files. If your system - has TeX installed, chances are it has a program for printing out - these files; one popular example is `dvips', which can print DVI - files on PostScript printers. + If you have `makeinfo' installed, and are in the top level GDB +source directory (`gdb-VERSION'), you can make the Info file by +typing: -Once you have these things, you can type + cd gdb/doc + make info - cd gdb-4.4/gdb - make gdb.dvi + If you want to typeset and print copies of this manual, you need +TeX, a program to print its DVI output files, and `texinfo.tex', the +Texinfo definitions file. This file is included in the GDB +distribution, in the directory `gdb-VERSION/texinfo'. -to format the text of this manual, and print it with the usual output -method for TeX DVI files at your site. + TeX is a typesetting program; it does not print files directly, but +produces output files called DVI files. To print a typeset document, +you need a program to print DVI files. If your system has TeX +installed, chances are it has such a program. The precise command to +use depends on your system; `lpr -d' is common; another (for PostScript +devices) is `dvips'. The DVI print command may require a file name +without any extension or a `.dvi' extension. - If you want to print the reference card, but do not have a -PostScript printer, or you want to use Computer Modern fonts instead, -you can still print it if you have TeX. Format the reference card by -typing + TeX also requires a macro definitions file called `texinfo.tex'. +This file tells TeX how to typeset a document written in Texinfo +format. On its own, TeX cannot read, much less typeset a Texinfo file. + `texinfo.tex' is distributed with GDB and is located in the +`gdb-VERSION/texinfo' directory. - cd gdb-4.4/gdb - make refcard.dvi + If you have TeX and a DVI printer program installed, you can typeset +and print this manual. First switch to the `gdb' subdirectory of +the main source directory (for example, to `gdb-VERSION/gdb') and then type: -The GDB reference card is designed to print in landscape mode on US -"letter" size paper; that is, on a sheet 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches -high. You will need to specify this form of printing as an option to -your DVI output program. + make doc/gdb.dvi + + If you prefer to have the manual in PDF format, type this from the +`gdb/doc' subdirectory of the main source directory: + + make gdb.pdf + +For this to work, you will need the PDFTeX package to be installed. Installing GDB -============== +************** GDB comes with a `configure' script that automates the process of preparing GDB for installation; you can then use `make' to build the `gdb' program. - The gdb distribution includes all the source code you need for gdb -in a single directory `gdb-4.4'. That directory in turn contains: + The GDB distribution includes all the source code you need for GDB in +a single directory. That directory contains: -`gdb-4.4/configure (and supporting files)' - script for configuring GDB and all its supporting libraries. +`gdb-VERSION/{COPYING,COPYING.LIB}' + Standard GNU license files. Please read them. -`gdb-4.4/gdb' - the source specific to GDB itself +`gdb-VERSION/bfd' + source for the Binary File Descriptor library + +`gdb-VERSION/config*' + script for configuring GDB, along with other support files -`gdb-4.4/bfd' - source for the Binary File Descriptor Library +`gdb-VERSION/gdb' + the source specific to GDB itself -`gdb-4.4/include' +`gdb-VERSION/include' GNU include files -`gdb-4.4/libiberty' +`gdb-VERSION/libiberty' source for the `-liberty' free software library -`gdb-4.4/readline' +`gdb-VERSION/opcodes' + source for the library of opcode tables and disassemblers + +`gdb-VERSION/readline' source for the GNU command-line interface + NOTE: The readline library is compiled for use by GDB, but will + not be installed on your system when "make install" is issued. -It is most convenient to run `configure' from the `gdb-4.4' directory. - The simplest way to configure and build GDB is the following: +`gdb-VERSION/sim' + source for some simulators (ARM, D10V, SPARC, M32R, MIPS, PPC, V850, etc) - cd gdb-4.4 - ./configure HOST - make +`gdb-VERSION/texinfo' + The `texinfo.tex' file, which you need in order to make a printed + manual using TeX. + +`gdb-VERSION/etc' + Coding standards, useful files for editing GDB, and other + miscellanea. + + Note: the following instructions are for building GDB on Unix or +Unix-like systems. Instructions for building with DJGPP for +MS-DOS/MS-Windows are in the file gdb/config/djgpp/README. -where HOST is something like `sun4' or `decstation', that identifies -the platform where GDB will run. This builds the three libraries -`bfd', `readline', and `libiberty', then `gdb' itself. The configured -source files, and the binaries, are left in the corresponding source -directories. + The simplest way to configure and build GDB is to run `configure' +from the `gdb-VERSION' directory. + + First switch to the `gdb-VERSION' source directory if you are +not already in it; then run `configure'. + + For example: + + cd gdb-VERSION + ./configure + make + + Running `configure' followed by `make' builds the `bfd', +`readline', `mmalloc', and `libiberty' libraries, then `gdb' itself. +The configured source files, and the binaries, are left in the +corresponding source directories. `configure' is a Bourne-shell (`/bin/sh') script; if your system does not recognize this automatically when you run a different shell, -you may need to run `sh' on it explicitly: `sh configure HOST'. - - You can *run* the `configure' script from any of the subordinate -directories in the GDB distribution (if you only want to configure -that subdirectory); but be sure to specify a path to it. For example, -to configure only the `bfd' subdirectory, +you may need to run `sh' on it explicitly: - cd gdb-4.4/bfd - ../configure HOST + sh configure - You can install `gdb' anywhere; it has no hardwired paths. Simply -copy `gdb/gdb' to the desired directory. + If you run `configure' from a directory that contains source +directories for multiple libraries or programs, `configure' creates +configuration files for every directory level underneath (unless +you tell it not to, with the `--norecursion' option). - However, you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by -the `SHELL' environment variable) is publicly readable; some systems -refuse to let GDB debug child processes whose programs are not -readable, and GDB uses the shell to start your program. + You can install `gdb' anywhere; it has no hardwired paths. However, +you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by the `SHELL' +environment variable) is publicly readable. Remember that GDB uses the +shell to start your program--some systems refuse to let GDB debug child +processes whose programs are not readable. -Configuration Subdirectories -============================ +Compiling GDB in another directory +================================== If you want to run GDB versions for several host or target machines, -you'll need a different gdb compiled for each combination of host and +you need a different `gdb' compiled for each combination of host and target. `configure' is designed to make this easy by allowing you to -generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory. If your -`make' program handles the `VPATH' feature (GNU `make' does), running -`make' in each of these directories then builds the gdb program +generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory, rather than in +the source directory. If your `make' program handles the `VPATH' +feature correctly (GNU `make' and SunOS 'make' are two that should), +running `make' in each of these directories builds the `gdb' program specified there. - `configure' creates these subdirectories for you when you -simultaneously specify several configurations; but it is a good habit -even for a single configuration. You can specify the use of -subdirectories using the `+subdirs' option (abbreviated `+sub'). For -example, you can build GDB this way on a Sun 4 as follows: + To build `gdb' in a separate directory, run `configure' with the +`--srcdir' option to specify where to find the source. (You also need +to specify a path to find `configure' itself from your working +directory. If the path to `configure' would be the same as the +argument to `--srcdir', you can leave out the `--srcdir' option; it +will be assumed.) - cd gdb-4.4 - ./configure +sub sun4 - cd H-sun4/T-sun4 + For example, you can build GDB in a separate +directory for a Sun 4 like this: + + cd gdb-VERSION + mkdir ../gdb-sun4 + cd ../gdb-sun4 + ../gdb-VERSION/configure make - When `configure' uses subdirectories to build programs or -libraries, it creates nested directories `H-HOST/T-TARGET'. -`configure' uses these two directory levels because GDB can be -configured for cross-compiling: GDB can run on one machine (the host) -while debugging programs that run on another machine (the target). -You specify cross-debugging targets by giving the `+target=TARGET' -option to `configure'. Specifying only hosts still gives you two -levels of subdirectory for each host, with the same configuration -suffix on both; that is, if you give any number of hosts but no -targets, GDB will be configured for native debugging on each host. On -the other hand, whenever you specify both hosts and targets on the -same command line, `configure' creates all combinations of the hosts -and targets you list. - - If you run `configure' from a directory (notably, `gdb-4.4') that -contains source directories for multiple libraries or programs, -`configure' creates the `H-HOST/T-TARGET' subdirectories in each -library or program's source directory. For example, typing: - - cd gdb-4.4 - configure sun4 +target=vxworks960 - -creates the following directories: - - gdb-4.4/H-sun4/T-vxworks960 - gdb-4.4/bfd/H-sun4/T-vxworks960 - gdb-4.4/gdb/H-sun4/T-vxworks960 - gdb-4.4/libiberty/H-sun4/T-vxworks960 - gdb-4.4/readline/H-sun4/T-vxworks960 + When `configure' builds a configuration using a remote source +directory, it creates a tree for the binaries with the same structure +(and using the same names) as the tree under the source directory. In +the example, you'd find the Sun 4 library `libiberty.a' in the +directory `gdb-sun4/libiberty', and GDB itself in `gdb-sun4/gdb'. - When you run `make' to build a program or library, you must run it -in a configured directory. If you made a single configuration, -without subdirectories, run `make' in the source directory. If you -have `H-HOST/T-TARGET' subdirectories, run `make' in those -subdirectories. + One popular reason to build several GDB configurations in separate +directories is to configure GDB for cross-compiling (where GDB runs on +one machine--the host--while debugging programs that run on another +machine--the target). You specify a cross-debugging target by giving +the `--target=TARGET' option to `configure'. - The `Makefile' generated by `configure' for each source directory -runs recursively, so that typing `make' in `gdb-4.4' (or in a -`gdb-4.4/H-HOST/T-TARGET' subdirectory) builds all the required -libraries, then GDB. + When you run `make' to build a program or library, you must run it +in a configured directory--whatever directory you were in when you +called `configure' (or one of its subdirectories). - When you have multiple hosts or targets configured, you can run -`make' on them in parallel (for example, if they are NFS-mounted on -each of the hosts); they will not interfere with each other. + The `Makefile' that `configure' generates in each source directory +also runs recursively. If you type `make' in a source directory such +as `gdb-VERSION' (or in a separate configured directory configured with +`--srcdir=PATH/gdb-VERSION'), you will build all the required libraries, +and then build GDB. - You can also use the `+objdir=ALTROOT' option to have the -configured files placed in a parallel directory structure rather than -alongside the source files; *note configure Options::.. + When you have multiple hosts or targets configured in separate +directories, you can run `make' on them in parallel (for example, if +they are NFS-mounted on each of the hosts); they will not interfere +with each other. -Specifying Names for Hosts and Targets +Specifying names for hosts and targets ====================================== The specifications used for hosts and targets in the `configure' @@ -243,320 +309,356 @@ three pieces of information in the following pattern: ARCHITECTURE-VENDOR-OS - For example, you can use the alias `sun4' as a HOST argument or in -a `+target=TARGET' option, but the equivalent full name is + For example, you can use the alias `sun4' as a HOST argument or in a +`--target=TARGET' option. The equivalent full name is `sparc-sun-sunos4'. - The following table shows all the architectures, hosts, and OS -prefixes that `configure' recognizes in GDB 4.4. Entries in the "OS -prefix" column ending in a `*' may be followed by a release number. - - - ARCHITECTURE VENDOR OS prefix - ------------+--------------------------+--------------------------- - | | - 580 | altos hp | aix* msdos* - a29k | amd ibm | amigados newsos* - alliant | amdahl intel | aout nindy* - arm | aout isi | bout osf* - c1 | apollo little | bsd* sco* - c2 | att mips | coff sunos* - cray2 | bcs motorola | ctix* svr4 - h8300 | bout ncr | dgux* sym* - i386 | bull next | dynix* sysv* - i860 | cbm nyu | ebmon ultrix* - i960 | coff sco | esix* unicos* - m68000 | convergent sequent | hds unos* - m68k | convex sgi | hpux* uts - m88k | cray sony | irix* v88r* - mips | dec sun | isc* vms* - ns32k | encore unicom | kern vxworks* - pyramid | gould utek | mach* - romp | hitachi wrs | - rs6000 | | - sparc | | - tahoe | | - tron | | - vax | | - xmp | | - ymp | | - - *Warning:* `configure' can represent a very large number of - combinations of architecture, vendor, and OS. There is by no - means support available for all possible combinations! - - The `configure' script accompanying GDB 4.4 does not provide any -query facility to list all supported host and target names or aliases. - `configure' calls the Bourne shell script `config.sub' to map + The `configure' script accompanying GDB does not provide any query +facility to list all supported host and target names or aliases. +`configure' calls the Bourne shell script `config.sub' to map abbreviations to full names; you can read the script, if you wish, or you can use it to test your guesses on abbreviations--for example: % sh config.sub sun4 - sparc-sun-sunos4 + sparc-sun-sunos4.1.1 % sh config.sub sun3 - m68k-sun-sunos4 + m68k-sun-sunos4.1.1 % sh config.sub decstation - mips-dec-ultrix + mips-dec-ultrix4.2 % sh config.sub hp300bsd m68k-hp-bsd % sh config.sub i386v - i386-none-sysv - % sh config.sub i486v - *** Configuration "i486v" not recognized + i386-pc-sysv + % sh config.sub i786v + Invalid configuration `i786v': machine `i786v' not recognized -`config.sub' is also distributed in the directory `gdb-4.4'. +`config.sub' is also distributed in the GDB source directory. -`configure' Options +`configure' options =================== - Here is a summary of all the `configure' options and arguments that -you might use for building GDB: - - configure [+destdir=DIR] [+subdirs] - [+objdir=ALTROOT] [+norecursion] [+rm] - [+target=TARGET...] HOST... - -You may introduce options with the character `-' rather than `+' if -you prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use `+'. - -`+destdir=DIR' - DIR is an installation directory *path prefix*. After you - configure with this option, `make install' will install GDB as - `DIR/bin/gdb', and the libraries in `DIR/lib'. If you specify - `+destdir=/usr/local', for example, `make install' creates - `/usr/local/bin/gdb'. - -`+subdirs' - Write configuration specific files in subdirectories of the form - - H-HOST/T-TARGET - - (and configure the `Makefile' to generate object code in - subdirectories of this form as well). Without this option, if you - specify only one configuration for GDB, `configure' will use the - same directory for source, configured files, and binaries. This - option is used automatically if you specify more than one HOST or - more than one `+target=TARGET' option on the `configure' command - line. - -`+norecursion' - Configure only the directory where `configure' is executed; do not - propagate configuration to subdirectories. - -`+objdir=ALTROOT' - ALTROOT is an alternative directory used as the root for - configured files. `configure' will create directories under - ALTROOT in parallel to the source directories. If you use - `+objdir=ALTROOT' with `+subdirs', `configure' also builds the - `H-HOST/T-TARGET' subdirectories in the directory tree rooted in - ALTROOT. - -`+rm' - Remove the configuration that the other arguments specify. - -`+target=TARGET ...' - Configure GDB for cross-debugging programs running on each - specified TARGET. You may specify as many `+target' options as - you wish. Without this option, GDB is configured to debug - programs that run on the same machine (HOST) as GDB itself. + Here is a summary of the `configure' options and arguments that are +most often useful for building GDB. `configure' also has several other +options not listed here. *note : (configure.info)What Configure Does, +for a full explanation of `configure'. + + configure [--help] + [--prefix=DIR] + [--srcdir=PATH] + [--norecursion] [--rm] + [--enable-build-warnings] + [--target=TARGET] + [--host=HOST] + [HOST] + +You may introduce options with a single `-' rather than `--' if you +prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use `--'. + +`--help' + Display a quick summary of how to invoke `configure'. + +`-prefix=DIR' + Configure the source to install programs and files under directory + `DIR'. + +`--srcdir=PATH' + *Warning: using this option requires GNU `make', or another `make' + that compatibly implements the `VPATH' feature.* + Use this option to make configurations in directories separate + from the GDB source directories. Among other things, you can use + this to build (or maintain) several configurations simultaneously, + in separate directories. `configure' writes configuration + specific files in the current directory, but arranges for them to + use the source in the directory PATH. `configure' will create + directories under the working directory in parallel to the source + directories below PATH. + +`--host=HOST' + Configure GDB to run on the specified HOST. There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available - targets. + hosts. `HOST ...' - Configure GDB to run on each specified HOST. You may specify as - many host names as you wish. + Same as `--host=HOST'. If you omit this, GDB will guess; it's + quite accurate. + +`--norecursion' + Configure only the directory level where `configure' is executed; + do not propagate configuration to subdirectories. + +`--rm' + Remove the configuration that the other arguments specify. + +`--enable-build-warnings' + When building the GDB sources, ask the compiler to warn about any + code which looks even vaguely suspicious. You should only using + this feature if you're compiling with GNU CC. It passes the + following flags: + -Wimplicit + -Wreturn-type + -Wcomment + -Wtrigraphs + -Wformat + -Wparentheses + -Wpointer-arith + +`--enable-werror' + Treat compiler warnings as werrors. Use this only with GCC. It + adds the -Werror flag to the compiler, which will fail the + compilation if the compiler outputs any warning messages. + +`--target=TARGET' + Configure GDB for cross-debugging programs running on the specified + TARGET. Without this option, GDB is configured to debug programs + that run on the same machine (HOST) as GDB itself. There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available - hosts. + targets. + +`--with-gdb-datadir=PATH' + Set the GDB-specific data directory. GDB will look here for + certain supporting files or scripts. This defaults to the `gdb' + subdirectory of `datadir' (which can be set using `--datadir'). + +`--with-relocated-sources=DIR' + Sets up the default source path substitution rule so that + directory names recorded in debug information will be + automatically adjusted for any directory under DIR. DIR should + be a subdirectory of GDB's configured prefix, the one mentioned + in the `--prefix' or `--exec-prefix' options to configure. This + option is useful if GDB is supposed to be moved to a different + place after it is built. + +`--enable-64-bit-bfd' + Enable 64-bit support in BFD on 32-bit hosts. + +`--disable-gdbmi' + Build GDB without the GDB/MI machine interface. + +`--enable-tui' + Build GDB with the text-mode full-screen user interface (TUI). + Requires a curses library (ncurses and cursesX are also + supported). + +`--enable-gdbtk' + Build GDB with the gdbtk GUI interface. Requires TCL/Tk to be + installed. + +`--with-libunwind-ia64' + Use the libunwind library for unwinding function call stack on ia64 + target platforms. + See http://www.nongnu.org/libunwind/index.html for details. + +`--with-curses' + Use the curses library instead of the termcap library, for + text-mode terminal operations. + +`--enable-profiling' Enable profiling of GDB itself. Necessary if you + want to use the "maint set profile" command for profiling GDB. + Requires the functions `monstartup' and `_mcleanup' to be present + in the standard C library used to build GDB, and also requires a + compiler that supports the `-pg' option. + +`--with-system-readline' + Use the readline library installed on the host, rather than the + library supplied as part of GDB tarball. + +`--with-expat' + Build GDB with the libexpat library. (Done by default if + libexpat is installed and found at configure time.) This library + is used to read XML files supplied with GDB. If it is + unavailable, some features, such as remote protocol memory maps, + target descriptions, and shared library lists, that are based on + XML files, will not be available in GDB. If your host does not + have libexpat installed, you can get the latest version from + http://expat.sourceforge.net. + +`--with-python[=PATH]' + Build GDB with Python scripting support. (Done by default if + libpython is present and found at configure time.) Python makes + GDB scripting much more powerful than the restricted CLI + scripting language. If your host does not have Python installed, + you can find it on http://www.python.org/download/. The oldest + version of Python supported by GDB is 2.4. The optional argument + PATH says where to find the Python headers and libraries; the + configure script will look in PATH/include for headers and in + PATH/lib for the libraries. + +`--without-included-regex' + Don't use the regex library included with GDB (as part of the + libiberty library). This is the default on hosts with version 2 + of the GNU C library. + +`--with-sysroot=DIR' + Use DIR as the default system root directory for libraries whose + file names begin with `/lib' or `/usr/lib'. (The value of DIR + can be modified at run time by using the "set sysroot" command.) + If DIR is under the GDB configured prefix (set with `--prefix' or + `--exec-prefix' options), the default system root will be + automatically adjusted if and when GDB is moved to a different + location. + +`--with-system-gdbinit=FILE' + Configure GDB to automatically load a system-wide init file. + FILE should be an absolute file name. If FILE is in a directory + under the configured prefix, and GDB is moved to another location + after being built, the location of the system-wide init file will + be adjusted accordingly. `configure' accepts other options, for compatibility with configuring -other GNU tools recursively; but these are the only options that -affect GDB or its supporting libraries. +other GNU tools recursively; but these are the only options that affect +GDB or its supporting libraries. + + +Remote debugging +================= + + The files m68k-stub.c, i386-stub.c, and sparc-stub.c are examples +of remote stubs to be used with remote.c. They are designed to run +standalone on an m68k, i386, or SPARC cpu and communicate properly +with the remote.c stub over a serial line. + + The directory gdb/gdbserver/ contains `gdbserver', a program that +allows remote debugging for Unix applications. GDBserver is only +supported for some native configurations, including Sun 3, Sun 4, and +Linux. +The file gdb/gdbserver/README includes further notes on GDBserver; in +particular, it explains how to build GDBserver for cross-debugging +(where GDBserver runs on the target machine, which is of a different +architecture than the host machine running GDB). + + There are a number of remote interfaces for talking to existing ROM +monitors and other hardware: + + remote-mips.c MIPS remote debugging protocol + remote-sds.c PowerPC SDS monitor + remote-sim.c Generalized simulator protocol + + +Reporting Bugs in GDB +===================== + + There are several ways of reporting bugs in GDB. The prefered +method is to use the World Wide Web: + + http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/ + +As an alternative, the bug report can be submitted, via e-mail, to the +address "bug-gdb@gnu.org". + + When submitting a bug, please include the GDB version number, and +how you configured it (e.g., "sun4" or "mach386 host, +i586-intel-synopsys target"). Since GDB now supports so many +different configurations, it is important that you be precise about +this. If at all possible, you should include the actual banner +that GDB prints when it starts up, or failing that, the actual +configure command that you used when configuring GDB. + + For more information on how/whether to report bugs, see the +Reporting Bugs chapter of the GDB manual (gdb/doc/gdb.texinfo). + + +Graphical interface to GDB -- X Windows, MS Windows +========================== + + Several graphical interfaces to GDB are available. You should +check: + + http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/links/ + +for an up-to-date list. + + Emacs users will very likely enjoy the Grand Unified Debugger mode; +try typing `M-x gdb RET'. + + +Writing Code for GDB +===================== + + There is information about writing code for GDB in the file +`CONTRIBUTE' and at the website: + + http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/ + +in particular in the wiki. + + If you are pondering writing anything but a short patch, especially +take note of the information about copyrights and copyright assignment. +It can take quite a while to get all the paperwork done, so +we encourage you to start that process as soon as you decide you are +planning to work on something, or at least well ahead of when you +think you will be ready to submit the patches. + + +GDB Testsuite +============= + + Included with the GDB distribution is a DejaGNU based testsuite +that can either be used to test your newly built GDB, or for +regression testing a GDB with local modifications. + + Running the testsuite requires the prior installation of DejaGNU, +which is generally available via ftp. The directory +ftp://sources.redhat.com/pub/dejagnu/ will contain a recent snapshot. +Once DejaGNU is installed, you can run the tests in one of the +following ways: + + (1) cd gdb-VERSION + make check-gdb + +or + + (2) cd gdb-VERSION/gdb + make check + +or + + (3) cd gdb-VERSION/gdb/testsuite + make site.exp (builds the site specific file) + runtest -tool gdb GDB=../gdb (or GDB= as appropriate) + +When using a `make'-based method, you can use the Makefile variable +`RUNTESTFLAGS' to pass flags to `runtest', e.g.: + + make RUNTESTFLAGS=--directory=gdb.cp check + +If you use GNU make, you can use its `-j' option to run the testsuite +in parallel. This can greatly reduce the amount of time it takes for +the testsuite to run. In this case, if you set `RUNTESTFLAGS' then, +by default, the tests will be run serially even under `-j'. You can +override this and force a parallel run by setting the `make' variable +`FORCE_PARALLEL' to any non-empty value. Note that the parallel `make +check' assumes that you want to run the entire testsuite, so it is not +compatible with some dejagnu options, like `--directory'. + +The last method gives you slightly more control in case of problems +with building one or more test executables or if you are using the +testsuite `standalone', without it being part of the GDB source tree. + +See the DejaGNU documentation for further details. + +Copyright and License Notices +============================= - Languages other than C +Most files maintained by the GDB Project contain a copyright notice +as well as a license notice, usually at the start of the file. -C++ support has been integrated into gdb. Partial Modula-2 support is -now in GDB. GDB should work with FORTRAN programs. (If you have -problems, please send a bug report; you may have to refer to some -FORTRAN variables with a trailing underscore). I am not aware of -anyone who is working on getting gdb to use the syntax of any other -language. Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, -or nested functions will not currently work. +To reduce the length of copyright notices, consecutive years in the +copyright notice can be combined into a single range. For instance, +the following list of copyright years... + 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991-1993, 1999, 2000, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 - Kernel debugging +... is abbreviated into: -I have't done this myself so I can't really offer any advice. -Remote debugging over serial lines works fine, but the kernel debugging -code in here has not been tested in years. Van Jacobson claims to have -better kernel debugging. + 1986, 1988-1989, 1991-1993, 1999-2000, 2007-2011 +Every year of each range, inclusive, is a copyrightable year that +could be listed individually. - Remote debugging - -The files m68k-stub.c and i386-stub.c contain two examples of remote -stubs to be used with remote.c. They are designeded to run standalone -on a 68k or 386 cpu and communicate properly with the remote.c stub -over a serial line. - -The file rem-multi.shar contains a general stub that can probably -run on various different flavors of unix to allow debugging over a -serial line from one machine to another. - -Some working remote interfaces for talking to existing ROM monitors -are: - remote-eb.c AMD 29000 "EBMON" - remote-nindy.c Intel 960 "Nindy" - remote-adapt.c AMD 29000 "Adapt" - remote-mm.c AMD 29000 "minimon" - -Remote-vx.c and the vx-share subdirectory contain a remote interface for the -VxWorks realtime kernel, which communicates over TCP using the Sun -RPC library. This would be a useful starting point for other remote- -via-ethernet back ends. - - - Reporting Bugs - -The correct address for reporting bugs found in gdb is -"bug-gdb@prep.ai.mit.edu". Please email all bugs to that address. -Please include the GDB version number (e.g. gdb-4.4), and how -you configured it (e.g. "sun4" or "mach386 host, i586-intel-synopsys -target"). - -A known bug: - - * If you run with a watchpoint enabled, breakpoints will become - erratic and might not stop the program. Disabling or deleting the - watchpoint will fix the problem. - -GDB can produce warnings about symbols that it does not understand. By -default, these warnings are disabled. You can enable them by executing -`set complaint 10' (which you can put in your ~/.gdbinit if you like). -I recommend doing this if you are working on a compiler, assembler, -linker, or gdb, since it will point out problems that you may be able -to fix. Warnings produced during symbol reading indicate some mismatch -between the object file and GDB's symbol reading code. In many cases, -it's a mismatch between the specs for the object file format, and what -the compiler actually outputs or the debugger actually understands. - -If you port gdb to a new machine, please send the required changes to -bug-gdb@prep.ai.mit.edu. There's lots of information about doing your -own port in the file gdb-4.4/gdb/doc/gdbint.texinfo, which you can -print out, or read with `info' (see the Makefile.in there). If your -changes are more than a few lines, obtain and send in a copyright -assignment from gnu@prep.ai.mit.edu, as described in the section -`Writing Code for GDB'. - - - X Windows versus GDB - -xgdb is obsolete. We are not doing any development or support of it. - -There is an "xxgdb", which shows more promise, which was posted to -comp.sources.x. - -For those intersted in auto display of source and the availability of -an editor while debugging I suggest trying gdb-mode in gnu-emacs -(Try typing M-x gdb RETURN). Comments on this mode are welcome. - - - Writing Code for GDB - -We appreciate having users contribute code that is of general use, but -for it to be included in future GDB releases it must be cleanly -written. We do not want to include changes that will needlessly make -future maintainance difficult. It is not much harder to do things -right, and in the long term it is worth it to the GNU project, and -probably to you individually as well. - -If you make substantial changes, you'll have to file a copyright -assignment with the Free Software Foundation before we can produce a -release that includes your changes. Send mail requesting the copyright -assignment to gnu@prep.ai.mit.edu. Do this early, like before the -changes actually work, or even before you start them, because a manager -or lawyer on your end will probably make this a slow process. - -Please code according to the GNU coding standards. If you do not have -a copy, you can request one by sending mail to gnu@prep.ai.mit.edu. - -Please try to avoid making machine-specific changes to -machine-independent files. If this is unavoidable, put a hook in the -machine-independent file which calls a (possibly) machine-dependent -macro (for example, the IGNORE_SYMBOL macro can be used for any -symbols which need to be ignored on a specific machine. Calling -IGNORE_SYMBOL in dbxread.c is a lot cleaner than a maze of #if -defined's). The machine-independent code should do whatever "most" -machines want if the macro is not defined in param.h. Using #if -defined can sometimes be OK (e.g. SET_STACK_LIMIT_HUGE) but should be -conditionalized on a specific feature of an operating system (set in -tm.h or xm.h) rather than something like #if defined(vax) or #if -defined(SYSV). If you use an #ifdef on some symbol that is defined -in a header file (e.g. #ifdef TIOCSETP), *please* make sure that you -have #include'd the relevant header file in that module! - -It is better to replace entire routines which may be system-specific, -rather than put in a whole bunch of hooks which are probably not going -to be helpful for any purpose other than your changes. For example, -if you want to modify dbxread.c to deal with DBX debugging symbols -which are in COFF files rather than BSD a.out files, do something -along the lines of a macro GET_NEXT_SYMBOL, which could have -different definitions for COFF and a.out, rather than trying to put -the necessary changes throughout all the code in dbxread.c that -currently assumes BSD format. - -When generalizing GDB along a particular interface, please use an -attribute-struct rather than inserting tests or switch statements -everywhere. For example, GDB has been generalized to handle multiple -kinds of remote interfaces -- not by #ifdef's everywhere, but by -defining the "target_ops" structure and having a current target (as -well as a stack of targets below it, for memory references). Whenever -something needs to be done that depends on which remote interface we -are using, a flag in the current target_ops structure is tested (e.g. -`target_has_stack'), or a function is called through a pointer in the -current target_ops structure. In this way, when a new remote interface -is added, only one module needs to be touched -- the one that actually -implements the new remote interface. Other examples of -attribute-structs are BFD access to multiple kinds of object file -formats, or GDB's access to multiple source languages. - -Please avoid duplicating code. For example, in GDB 3.x all the stuff -in infptrace.c was duplicated in *-dep.c, and so changing something -was very painful. In GDB 4.x, these have all been consolidated -into infptrace.c. infptrace.c can deal with variations between -systems the same way any system-independent file would (hooks, #if -defined, etc.), and machines which are radically different don't need -to use infptrace.c at all. The same was true of core_file_command -and exec_file_command. - - - Debugging gdb with itself - -If gdb is limping on your machine, this is the preferred way to get it -fully functional. Be warned that in some ancient Unix systems, like -Ultrix 4.0, a program can't be running in one process while it is being -debugged in another. Rather than doing "./gdb ./gdb", which works on -Suns and such, you can copy gdb to gdb2 and then do "./gdb ./gdb2". - -When you run gdb in the gdb source directory, it will read a ".gdbinit" -file that sets up some simple things to make debugging gdb easier. The -"info" command, when executed without a subcommand in a gdb being -debugged by gdb, will pop you back up to the top level gdb. See -.gdbinit for details. - -I strongly recommend printing out the reference card and using it. -Send reference-card suggestions to bug-gdb@prep.ai.mit.edu, just like bugs. - -If you use emacs, you will probably want to do a "make TAGS" after you -configure your distribution; this will put the machine dependent -routines for your local machine where they will be accessed first by a -M-period. - -Also, make sure that you've either compiled gdb with your local cc, or -have run `fixincludes' if you are compiling with gcc. (this is for editing this file with GNU emacs) Local Variables: